Gasunie Opts for Specialization and Strengthens SAP Management for Critical Domains
Gasunie manages and develops the gas transmission network in the Netherlands and Northern Germany. The organization invests in sustainable energy infrastructure such as hydrogen, green gas, and CO₂ networks. Gasunie plays a key role in the energy transition and is modernizing its IT landscape to enable that future.
With a fifty-person SAP Competence Center, Gasunie focuses on the stability and innovation of its SAP landscape. Ideo serves as a partner for critical domains such as Service & Asset Management and Resource Scheduling – business-critical processes that ensure infrastructure continuity and the optimal deployment of field technicians.
An interview with Roger Aretz, Corporate IT Manager:
A Complex Transition as the Starting Point
The migration to S/4HANA was a strategic step to make Gasunie more agile. The project was executed together with several partners and, in addition to the internal team, involved approximately 150 external specialists. Roger explains: “During the transition to S/4HANA, we needed that large-scale effort for speed and focus. However, it was clear that after go-live, we wanted to take ownership of operations and further development ourselves. That requires the right mix of internal expertise, flexible external capacity, and specialized knowledge. In areas such as SAP Service & Asset Manager (SSAM) and SAP Multi Resource Scheduling (MRS), Ideo provides expertise that you simply don’t easily find in the market.”
Gasunie follows a clean core strategy and places nearly all extensions and custom developments on the SAP Business Technology Platform. “It gives us agility and prevents issues during upgrades, but it also requires partners who truly understand the technology inside and out,” Roger adds.
Specialist Over Generalist
Gasunie deliberately chooses a partner strategy per functional domain. The collaboration with Ideo started on a small scale but grew quickly. Today, multiple Ideo specialists work in agile teams alongside Gasunie colleagues. “Specialized expertise helps us validate what we have, determine which steps make sense, and ensure we remain prepared for the future,” Roger explains. “We also leverage Ideo resources more broadly, for example in ABAP development and S/4 programming.”
Inspiring for the Future
The collaboration extends beyond day-to-day support. Ideo regularly organizes knowledge sessions to inspire Gasunie with new technologies. Recently, AI in SAP was the focus of a summer session centered on SAP Joule. Roger: “It was very well prepared and inspiring. It wasn’t a highly technical story for specialists, but accessible to everyone, including management. It gave us a clear picture of how AI can transform the way we develop. The fact that Ideo not only executes but also thinks along with us and inspires us makes the partnership especially valuable.”
These sessions are not one-off initiatives but part of a broader vision: knowledge sharing as a structural element of the collaboration. Roger adds: “We want to continue this, for example in the form of a hackathon. It helps us stay ahead.”
Trust and Balance
According to Roger, trust is just as important as technology: “If something is truly on fire, I know I can call Ideo No tickets or waiting queues—just immediate coordination and resolution. With larger firms, things quickly become formal. We’re not a huge company ourselves, so we need partners that fit us. Ideo feels close, accessible, and straightforward. We’re important to them, and they’re important to us. That balance ensures we understand each other.”
Future Plans and Innovations
Gasunie is now preparing for its next major step: transitioning to a product-driven organization, with business lines focused on hydrogen, CO₂ storage, and biogas. This will have a significant impact on IT systems. “All processes and systems need to be adapted. For the impact analysis and implementation, we work with several parties. For MRS and SSAM, the ball is once again in Ideo’s court,” Roger explains.
In addition to this major transition, Gasunie is working on an SSAM upgrade and reducing its backlog. “We also have many user requests we want to address. Later in 2026, we aim to create more room for innovation, for example on SAP BTP and with AI. We also see a role for Ideo there. In addition, we’re jointly defining the roadmap. Ideo brings knowledge and hands-on experience to the table, helping us make realistic choices.”
The Success Factor
What does Roger consider the key lesson from this collaboration? “SAP is becoming increasingly complex. You can’t do everything yourself, and you can no longer operate without specialists. Look for partners who are not only technically strong but also a cultural fit. For us, that’s the decisive success factor in our partnership with Ideo”
Facts
Client: Gasunie
Industry: Utilities
Service: SAP Consultancy, Team as a Service
Products:
SAP Service & Asset Manager (SSAM)
SAP Multi Resource Scheduling (SAP MRS)
