NW Natural will use the SAP solution portfolio to implement more streamlined processes that will provide the foundation for integrated information access across the enterprise.

In the first phase of its SAP rollout, NW Natural expects to lower integration costs by replacing its previous combination of separate third-party financial, procurement and budgeting solutions in favor of an integrated SAP software-based business process. The move will grant management more rapid access to business decision information and enable users to develop new information through enhanced reporting and analysis tools.

As a public company subject to Sarbanes-Oxley Act reporting and compliance mandates, NW Natural will also deploy SAP GRC Access Control to reduce the cost and time of collecting information for audits, duplication of work, employee collaboration and security. To facilitate a smooth and rapid transition to SAP for end users, NW Natural will leverage Duet software from SAP and Microsoft to provide all users with access to the newly deployed applications from a familiar Microsoft Office interface.

Chris Camino, senior vice president and general manager of utilities for SAP Americas, said: SAP is proud to support NW Natural with our industry-leading technology solutions as the company creates business process efficiencies and becomes better positioned to handle the capital work associated with growth.