The harmonization of its ERP system throughout the world is one of the many files managed by LISI AEROSPACE’s IT team. Youssef Tijani, as the person in charge of the rollout of Infor M3 within the group, can you describe the context for us?

Youssef TIJANI : Our objective is to homogenize the ERP of our sites on the same version of M3.

For the deployment of Infor M3 at the Dorval site (LISI AEROSPACE Canada), what was the plan?

Youssef TIJANI : This site was to be the first to benefit from our optimized deployment method. We planned to mobilize a team of three functional consultants plus a conductor, all traveling from France. We were to work with the key users on site and roll out our deployment method over about 7 months: Data migration (3 months), Gap analysis (3 months), Go live (1 month).

Then came Covid crisis and travel restrictions. How did you manage to adapt?

Youssef TIJANI : The deployment of M3 at Dorval, located near Montreal, Quebec, was planned for early 2021, right in the middle of the Covid19 health crisis. Consultants who had to travel back and forth from France were no longer able to travel.

I knew that we could perform many tasks remotely, but I also knew the importance of proximity to the key users and end users on site. I started to look for a locally based company in Canada. By chance, I discovered that Authentic Group had an office in Canada. This is how your consultant Denis Schwab was integrated into our rollout plan

How did the deployment of M3 in the Dorval plant go with the help of Authentic?

Youssef TIJANI :Denis’ both technical and functional skills proved to be perfect for our needs.
Indeed, Denis helped the local developer in the development of interfaces and APIs with M3: his support was efficient and decisive. And during the training phases, Denis’ help was also highly appreciated.

People were trained remotely, but you can’t transmit everything this way in an optimal way. Denis was at the users’ side during the training sessions. The communication with both the people on site (mostly English-speaking) and the team in France was really facilitated. The fact that Denis speaks English as well as French was a real plus.

Denis was our eyes and ears on site, for us, stuck in France during the whole deployment. He has greatly facilitated communication and exchanges.

How would you assess the rollout project carried out with the help of Authentic?

Youssef TIJANI : The results are very positive. This was our first remote go live. It has shown that we don’t need to have a team on site during the whole project. And what an impact in terms of cost of course !