3D
WEATHER MAKER USES SOFTWARE
“With the qualified SAP Business
All-in-One partner solution, 3D has
been able to streamline its operations.
It now has the support it needs to
face contemporary business
challenges.”
Aspasia Papadopoulou, Chief Financial Officer,
3D S.A.
SAP Customer Success Story
Aerospace and Defense
FROM SAP PARTNER TO STREAMLINE
OPERATIONS
QUICK FACTS
Company
• Name: 3D S.A.
• Headquarters: Thessaloniki, Greece
• Industry: Aerospace and defense
• Products and services: Weather modifica-
tion and general aviation
• Revenue: US$6 million
• Employees: 99
• Web site: www.3dsa.gr
• Implementation partner: d.d. synergy
Hellas S.A.
Challenges and Opportunities
• Reduce financial-cycle closing times
• Lower administrative and support service
costs
• Increase employee productivity
• Enable a flexible IT structure
• Improve data management
• Speed information flow
• Enhance spare-parts management for
improved aviation maintenance
Objectives
• Reengineer and automate processes
• Streamline operations
• Increase competitiveness
• Expand into new markets
SAP Partner Solution and Services
Qualified SAP® Business All-in-One partner
solution from d.d. synergy Hellas
Implementation Highlights
• Fast, 1-month implementation
• Excellent communication and cooperation
among consultants, users, and project
team
Why SAP
• Best suited to meet business needs
• SAP’s market leadership
• Robust functionality
• Ability to develop system capabilities over
time
Benefits
• More accurate and timely decision making
supported by real-time, complete
information
• Increased visibility into 3D corporate and
field operations
• Enhanced scheduling capabilities
• Increased employee productivity
• Cost reductions, leading to increased
business competitiveness
• Higher levels of customer and supplier
satisfaction
• Improved ability to evaluate and authorize
vendor quotes
• Improved management of warehouse,
stocks, aircraft, and radar spare parts
• Increased savings in time and resources
Existing Environment
Nonintegrated information systems
Climate changes and extreme weather phenomena, such as hail- 3D Sets a New Course for
Success
storms, can have a huge economic and social impact wherever they
occur. No company knows that better than Thessaloniki, Greece– To properly support its growing busi-
ness and expansion into new markets,
based 3D S.A. “When it comes to weather modification issues and 3D needed to introduce integrated IT.
the prevention of extreme natural phenomena, 3D is one of the most It needed to improve its ability to share
information company-wide, particularly
innovative companies in the world,” says Aspasia Papadopoulou, between the radar units and cooperat-
chief financial officer at 3D. To do its job right, the company relies ing companies. With an integrated solu-
tion, 3D could more effectively reach
on a team of experts, state-of-the-art equipment, and a qualified its business goals – including faster fi-
SAP® Business All-in-One partner solution. nancial closing times, reduced adminis-
trative costs, enhanced decision mak-
ing, and greater employee productivity
for increased competitiveness.
Founded in 1976 to address the emerg- The uniquely fitted Cheyennes are used
ing field of weather modification, 3D to participate in the Hail Protection It also needed new IT to better manage
has significantly expanded the scope of National Program organized by the inventory and spare parts to enable
its operations. Today, this innovative Hellenic Agricultural Insurance Organi- improved aircraft maintenance. Further-
company not only provides government zation (ELGA). As part of ELGA, these more, an integrated business solution
and industry with weather modification aircraft operate in hailstorms – and was essential in helping 3D build a new
services, such as hail suppression and manage to turn hail into rainfall by company image and support new
rain enhancement programs, it also of- means of cloud seeding, which involves partnerships.
fers aerial spraying and fertilization for deploying silver iodide projectile car-
the farming community. In addition, 3D tridges. Two sophisticated meteorologi- 3D Meets SAP
provides aerial photography and banner cal radar units help forecast weather
towing, fire-extinguishing services, and and safely guide the aircraft. After a rigorous evaluation of several
aviation-related activities, such as air- vendors recommended by its IT part-
port security, supervision of aircraft Maintaining these special airplanes and ner INERGO IT S.A., 3D chose the
services, maintenance, and spare-parts equipment occupies just a part of 3D’s qualified SAP Business All-in-One part-
trading. operations. In addition to the compa- ner solution from d.d. synergy Hellas
ny’s administrative center in Thessalo- S.A. “The qualified SAP Business
3D Ramps Up to Improve Its niki, 3D keeps offices in the Macedonia All-in-One partner solution was the
Operations airport. Here, the company will also most appropriate and was best suited
lease a 7,400-square-foot hangar for to cover our business needs,” says
3D’s specialized, company-owned air the construction of a modern aircraft Papadopoulou, who then adds, “The
fleet includes seven Cessna aircraft maintenance base. In addition, the han- software is internationally acclaimed
and two Air Tractor AT-400s that are gar will house administrative and train- and known for its leading technology,
equipped with special gear for farming ing facilities, as well as a fully equipped, operability, and powerful information
applications. In addition, the company state-of-the-art command and control system.” 3D also chose the solution
owns three Piper Cheyenne 31Ts that center from which the company will because of its scalability – which would
have been enhanced to carry out coordinate its corporate operations. enable the company to develop its
weather modification programs.
 “The qualified SAP Business
All-in-One partner solution was
the most appropriate and was
best suited to cover our business
needs.”

Aspasia Papadopoulou, Chief Financial

Officer, 3D S.A.

“Other significant factors for selecting the qualified SAP Business All-in-One cesses, as well as a fully committed
project team and comprehensive user
partner solution included SAP’s leading position globally, which made the soft- training. According to Papadopoulou,
ware a safe investment, as well as SAP’s dynamic presence in the Greek market highlights included solid trust, as well
as good communication and coopera-
and its commitment to further invest in the software.” tion between consultants, users, and
Aspasia Papadopoulou, Chief Financial Officer, 3D S.A. the project team members. And, in spite
of a small, three-person implementation
team, the installation was completed
information system over time – and and seasonal staffing. 3D employees very quickly (in just one month), thanks
because the software would allow for and partners will be able to access to proper project management and use
easier upgrades. SAP ERP HCM through the Web to of the ASAP Focus methodology and
take advantage of various services. SAP Best Practices. INERGO IT was
Papadopoulou says, “Other significant also particularly helpful, providing clear
factors for selecting the qualified SAP 3D selected d.d. synergy Hellas to im- and specific targets and deliverables.
Business All-in-One partner solution in- plement the software because of its
cluded SAP’s leading position globally, long history of successful SAP installa- 3D Showers Itself with Business
which made the software a safe invest- tions, as well as its corporate culture of Benefits

“Right after going live, we began to see

“Employees now have more time for controlling and administrative tasks.”
Aspasia Papadopoulou, Chief Financial Officer, 3D S.A.
ment, as well as SAP’s dynamic
presence in the Greek market and its
commitment to further invest in the
software.” Lastly, compared to other
offerings, the solution was more
cost-effective.
3D Gives the Software Its Wings
3D implemented functionality for finan-
cial management, cost accounting,
materials management, and sales and
distribution for three users, who were
all operating productively within one
month. Additionally, 3D is currently in-
stalling the SAP ERP Human Capital
Management (SAP ERP HCM) solution
to manage HR-related tasks such as
personnel leaves, pilots’ work sched-
ules, training programs, accreditations,
commitment and reputation for quality
service. In addition, d.d. synergy Hellas
brought to the table experience in using
SAP Best Practices packages, which
provide proven preconfigurations and
thorough documentation to support busi-
ness scenarios.
INERGO IT also played a critical role in
the project: it successfully recorded
3D’s business processes in detail and
determined the company’s operational
requirements as well as its technological
needs – such as data storage capacity
and hardware.
3D reports that the implementation’s
success was due in part to manage-
ment’s unwavering support and INERGO
IT’s thorough analysis of company pro-
benefits,” says Papadopoulou. These
included better management of 3D’s
warehouse, stock, aircraft, and radar
spare parts, which is leading to improved
aircraft and equipment maintenance. In
addition, 3D has streamlined its procure-
ment processes and has enhanced its
ability to evaluate and authorize vendor
and supplier quotes. The company also
now has a more transparent view of its
“Right after going live, we began to see
benefits.”
Aspasia Papadopoulou, Chief Financial Officer,
3D S.A.
corporate operations and can take
advantage of real-time information to
enhance decision making. 3D also
reports savings in time and resources;
productivity is on the rise as well.
 www.sap.com /contactsap

“Employees now have more time for
controlling and administrative tasks,”
says Papadopoulou. The increased
productivity, combined with cost reduc-
tions, is resulting in increased
competitiveness.
The implementation of the qualified
SAP Business All-in-One partner solu-
tion has not gone unnoticed by 3D
customers and partners. “They are
more satisfied than they have ever
been,” says Papadopoulou, who then
adds, “and so are we.”

50 093
xxx xxx
601(YY/MM)
(09/02)
©20YY by
©2009 by SAP
SAP AG.
AG.
All rights reserved. SAP, R/3, xApps,
SAP NetWeaver,
xApp, SAPDuet,
NetWeaver,
PartnerEdge,
Duet,
PartnerEdge,
ByDesign, SAPByDesign,
Business ByDesign,
SAP Business
and other
ByDesign,
SAP products
and otherandSAP
products
services mentioned
and servicesherein
mentioned
as well herein
as theirasrespective
well as their
logos
respective
are
logos
trademarks
are trademarks
or registered
ortrademarks
registered of
trademarks
SAP AG inofGermany
SAP AGand in
Germany
other countries.
and in several other countries all over the world.

Business Objects and the Business Objects logo, BusinessObjects,

Crystal Reports, Crystal Decisions, Web Intelligence, Xcelsius, and
other Business
Business Objects
Objectsproducts
productsandandservices
servicesmentioned
mentioned herein
herein
asas
well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks
of Business Objects S.A. in the United States and in other
severalcountries.
other
countries
Business all
Objects
over the
is an
world.
SAPBusiness
company. Objects is an SAP company.

All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks
of their respective companies. Data contained in this document
serves informational purposes only. National product specifications
may vary.

These materials are subject to change without notice. These materials

are provided by SAP AG and its affiliated companies (“SAP Group”)
for informational purposes only, without representation or warranty of
any kind, and SAP Group shall not be liable for errors or omissions with
respect to the materials. The only warranties for SAP Group products
and services are those that are set forth in the express warranty
statements accompanying such products and services, if any. Nothing
herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty.