The world leader in mineral-based specialty solutions for industry, Imerys delivers high-value-added, functional solutions to a diversified set of industrial sectors, from processing industries to consumer goods. The Group draws on its knowledge of applications, beneficiation of its mineral resources, synthetic minerals, and formulations.

With a large wave of acquisitions in the 2000s through today, Imerys manages over €3.8 billion (approximately 4.1 billion USD) in revenue and 16,400 employees. With each acquisition, various entities brought their own internal systems and business workflows to Imerys, so the company relied on about 80 different Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems to run their business.

Imerys needed a solution to resolve challenges stemming from its fragmented data environment and lack of consistency across systems. Data from more than 80 ERP systems created silos, inconsistencies, and inefficiencies, limiting their ability to scale and operate efficiently. With decades of acquisitions creating data silos, the company struggled with inefficiencies and missed opportunities to leverage business intelligence. Their top priorities were:

Breaking down data silos
Data scattered across more than 80 ERP systems prevented Imerys from gaining a unified view of customers, suppliers, and operations, leading to duplications and inconsistencies.

Improving data reliability
Without standardized governance processes, discrepancies in data quality made reporting and operational alignment difficult across entities.

Streamlining reporting processes
Managing data across 63 entities with over 500 attributes created a time-intensive, error-prone reporting process that hampered decision-making.

Scaling for future growth
Imerys needed a scalable foundation to integrate new acquisitions seamlessly and make sure that its data systems could grow alongside its business ambitions.

Imerys partnered with Semarchy to build a scalable and unified data management solution, addressing their immediate needs while preparing for future expansion. The strategy centered on transforming their data ecosystem through key initiatives:

• Centralizing data into a single source of truth: By consolidating data from 80+ ERP systems, Semarchy eliminated redundancies and certified data accuracy and consistency across the organization.
• Establishing a governance framework: Semarchy introduced clear rules for managing and validating data, reducing errors, and improving the reliability of key business information.
• Improving collaboration and reporting: A centralized hub allowed seamless data sharing between departments, simplifying the reporting process and enabling faster, more accurate insights.
• Creating a scalable data architecture: Imerys adopted a sustainable data model capable of integrating future acquisitions and adapting to evolving business needs.

The implementation of Semarchy’s Data Management solution resulted in transformative outcomes, both operationally and strategically:

• Unified 80+ ERP systems: Data from dozens of legacy systems was consolidated into a single platform, reducing complexity and improving operational efficiency.
• Streamlined reporting across 63 entities: Imerys standardized over 500 data attributes, enabling faster and more reliable reporting that saved time and reduced errors.
• Boosted team productivity: Centralized, synchronized data empowered employees with actionable insights, enhancing collaboration and resource allocation.
• Future-proofed data model: The scalable solution positioned Imerys to handle new acquisitions and expand operations easily for continued success.

By addressing their fragmented data challenges, Imerys can confidently navigate future growth, leveraging high-quality data to drive better decisions and operational efficiency.