The objective of this report is to discuss the different modules to be implemented

by the Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) as part of their Enterprise Resource

Planning (ERP) system. The report will also cover the current ICT status of NEA
along with their current hardware and network infrastructure. Furthermore, the
report will outline NEA's implementation approach and solution framework for the
ERP system.

c. Introduction of NEA
The Nepal Electricity Authority (NEA) is the sole electricity distribution and
transmission company in Nepal. It was established in 1985 under the Nepal
Electricity Authority Act, with the aim of generating, transmitting, and
distributing electricity across the country. NEA has been playing a crucial role in
meeting the growing demand for electricity in Nepal, which has been increasing at
an average rate of 10% per annum.

Over the years, NEA has faced various challenges in providing reliable and
affordable electricity to the people of Nepal. Some of these challenges include the
lack of proper infrastructure, inadequate investment in the sector, and high
transmission and distribution losses. To address these challenges, NEA has been
working on various initiatives, including the implementation of an Enterprise
Resource Planning (ERP) system.

The implementation of an ERP system is expected to improve NEA's operational

efficiency and streamline their business processes. The ERP system will automate
and integrate various business functions, resulting in improved data accuracy,
better decision-making, and reduced operational costs. This report will discuss the
different modules that will be implemented as part of NEA's ERP system, their
current ICT status, hardware and network infrastructure, implementation approach,
and solution framework.

d. ICT status of NEA before ERP

Before the implementation of an ERP system, NEA relied on a number of different ICT
systems to manage their business processes. These systems included billing systems,
customer relationship management systems, human resource management systems, and
financial management systems, among others. While these systems provided NEA with
the necessary functionality to manage their business processes, they were not
integrated with each other. This meant that data had to be manually transferred
between systems, which was time-consuming and prone to errors.

In addition, NEA's hardware and network infrastructure were outdated and required
significant investment to upgrade. Their servers were running on old operating
systems, and their network infrastructure was not designed to handle the increasing
volume of data generated by NEA's business processes. This resulted in slow system
performance, frequent downtime, and data security issues.

NEA recognized the need to modernize their ICT infrastructure and implement an
integrated system that could manage their core business processes more efficiently.
An ERP system was identified as the ideal solution, which would integrate their
various systems, automate their business processes, and provide real-time access to
accurate data. The implementation of an ERP system would also provide NEA with a
single source of truth for all their data, reducing the need for manual data entry
and improving data accuracy.

e. Current hardware and network infrastructure

NEA's current hardware and network infrastructure require significant investment to
upgrade. Their servers are running on old operating systems, and their network
infrastructure is not designed to handle the increasing volume of data generated by
NEA's business processes. This results in slow system performance, frequent
downtime, and data security issues.

NEA's current network infrastructure consists of a mix of wired and wireless

networks. They have a Local Area Network (LAN) connecting their head office and
other regional offices. The LAN is based on a legacy Ethernet infrastructure and is
not designed to handle the increasing data traffic generated by NEA's business
processes. They also have a Wide Area Network (WAN) connecting their different
offices and sites, which uses a mix of leased lines and VSAT (Very Small Aperture
Terminal) connections. The WAN is not designed to handle the increasing data
traffic generated by NEA's business processes and is prone to frequent disruptions.

In addition, NEA's servers are running on old operating systems, which are no
longer supported by the vendors. This results in frequent system crashes, data
loss, and data security issues. The lack of proper data backup and disaster
recovery mechanisms also makes NEA's ICT infrastructure vulnerable to cyberattacks
and other security breaches.

To address these issues, NEA needs to invest in upgrading their hardware and
network infrastructure. They need to replace their old servers with new ones that
can handle the increasing data traffic generated by NEA's business processes. They
also need to upgrade their network infrastructure to handle the increasing data
traffic, by replacing their legacy Ethernet infrastructure with a modern fiber-
based infrastructure. They also need to implement proper data backup and disaster
recovery mechanisms to ensure that their data is secure and can be recovered in the
event of a disaster or cyberattack.

f. Introduction to ERP systems

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems are software solutions that integrate
and automate various business processes across different departments of an
organization. ERP systems provide a centralized database for all business data,
which ensures that all departments have access to the same information in real-
time. ERP systems also provide a platform for collaboration between different
departments, which can lead to better decision-making and increased efficiency.

ERP systems are designed to automate and integrate various business functions,
including finance, human resources, procurement, inventory management, and customer
relationship management. By automating these functions, ERP systems reduce the need
for manual data entry, which improves data accuracy and saves time. By integrating
these functions, ERP systems provide a single source of truth for all business
data, which reduces the need for manual data transfer and improves data
consistency.

ERP systems can also provide a range of benefits to organizations, including

improved operational efficiency, reduced operational costs, better decision-making,
and improved customer satisfaction. By automating and integrating business
processes, ERP systems can reduce the time and effort required to complete tasks,
which can lead to increased productivity and efficiency. By providing real-time
access to accurate data, ERP systems can improve decision-making and reduce errors.

Overall, ERP systems are an important tool for organizations looking to streamline
their business processes and improve their operational efficiency. They provide a
centralized platform for managing business data, which can lead to better decision-
making and increased efficiency. For NEA, implementing an ERP system is a crucial
step towards modernizing their business processes and improving their operational
efficiency.

NEA's ERP system will consist of various modules that will automate and integrate
different business functions across the organization. These modules include:
Finance and Accounting: This module will automate NEA's financial and accounting
processes, including general ledger, accounts payable, accounts receivable, cash
management, and fixed assets. It will provide real-time access to financial data,
which will enable NEA to make better financial decisions.

Procurement and Inventory Management: This module will automate NEA's procurement
and inventory management processes, including purchase requisition, purchase order,
receipt, and invoice processing. It will provide real-time visibility into
inventory levels, which will enable NEA to optimize its inventory management and
reduce stock-outs.

Human Resources: This module will automate NEA's human resources processes,
including employee data management, payroll, benefits administration, and
performance management. It will provide real-time access to employee data, which
will enable NEA to make better HR decisions and improve employee satisfaction.

Customer Relationship Management: This module will automate NEA's customer

relationship management processes, including customer data management, complaint
management, and service request management. It will provide real-time access to
customer data, which will enable NEA to improve its customer service and
satisfaction.

Project Management: This module will automate NEA's project management processes,
including project planning, execution, and monitoring. It will provide real-time
visibility into project status, which will enable NEA to complete projects on time
and within budget.

Asset Management: This module will automate NEA's asset management processes,
including asset tracking, maintenance, and disposal. It will provide real-time
visibility into asset data, which will enable NEA to optimize its asset utilization
and reduce downtime.

Business Intelligence and Analytics: This module will provide NEA with advanced
reporting and analytics capabilities, which will enable NEA to make better data-
driven decisions. It will provide real-time access to key performance indicators,
which will enable NEA to identify trends and opportunities for improvement.

Each of these modules will be customized to meet NEA's specific business

requirements. They will be integrated into a single ERP system, which will provide
a centralized platform for managing all of NEA's business data. This will enable
NEA to streamline its business processes, improve its operational efficiency, and
make better data-driven decisions.

Implementation approach

The implementation approach for NEA's ERP system will involve a phased approach
that includes the following key steps:

Planning and scoping: This phase will involve identifying the business requirements
for NEA's ERP system and defining the scope of the project. It will also involve
identifying the stakeholders and their roles and responsibilities in the project.

System design and configuration: In this phase, NEA will work with the vendor to
design and configure the ERP system based on its business requirements. This will
involve customizing the different modules of the ERP system to meet NEA's specific
needs.
Data migration and integration: In this phase, NEA will migrate its existing data
to the new ERP system and integrate it with the new system. This will involve
mapping the data fields from the existing systems to the new ERP system and
validating the data for accuracy.

User acceptance testing: In this phase, NEA will test the ERP system to ensure that
it meets its business requirements. This will involve testing the different modules
of the system and identifying any issues that need to be addressed before the
system goes live.

Training and change management: In this phase, NEA will provide training to its
employees on how to use the new ERP system. It will also involve managing the
change associated with the implementation of the new system, including
communication and stakeholder engagement.

System deployment: In this phase, NEA will deploy the ERP system in a production
environment. This will involve configuring the hardware and network infrastructure
required to support the system and ensuring that the system is secure and stable.

Post-implementation support: In this phase, NEA will provide ongoing support for
the ERP system, including maintenance, upgrades, and bug fixes. It will also
involve monitoring the system to ensure that it is operating as expected and making
adjustments as necessary.

Overall, the implementation approach for NEA's ERP system will be tailored to its
specific needs and requirements. It will involve collaboration between NEA and the
vendor to ensure that the system is designed and configured to meet NEA's business
needs. The phased approach will enable NEA to manage the implementation process
effectively and minimize any disruption to its business operations.

The solution framework for NEA's ERP system will be based on a combination of
software and hardware technologies that work together to meet the organization's
business needs. The key components of the solution framework are as follows:

ERP software: The core component of the solution framework is the ERP software,
which will be customized to meet NEA's specific business requirements. The ERP
software will provide a centralized platform for managing NEA's business
operations, including financial management, human resources, supply chain
management, and customer relationship management.

Database management system: The ERP software will rely on a database management
system (DBMS) to store and manage the organization's data. The DBMS will be
designed to support the high volume of transactions and data storage requirements
of NEA's business operations.

Hardware infrastructure: The ERP system will require a robust hardware

infrastructure to support its performance and reliability. This will include
servers, storage devices, and networking equipment, which will be configured to
support the demands of NEA's business operations.

Network infrastructure: The ERP system will rely on a reliable and secure network
infrastructure to ensure that data can be transmitted between different parts of
the organization. This will involve configuring the network to support the high
volume of data traffic generated by NEA's business operations and ensuring that the
network is secure against external threats.

Security and access controls: The solution framework will include robust security
and access controls to protect NEA's data and prevent unauthorized access. This
will involve implementing authentication and authorization mechanisms to ensure
that only authorized users can access sensitive data.

Integration with other systems: The ERP system will be integrated with other
systems within NEA's IT ecosystem, including legacy systems and third-party
applications. This will involve designing and implementing interfaces to ensure
that data can be shared between different systems seamlessly.

Cloud-based deployment: The solution framework will be designed to support cloud-

based deployment, which will enable NEA to benefit from the scalability and
flexibility of cloud computing. This will involve configuring the ERP system to
operate in a cloud-based environment and ensuring that data is secure and
accessible from anywhere.

Overall, the solution framework for NEA's ERP system will be designed to meet the
organization's business needs and provide a robust and reliable platform for
managing its operations. It will be customized to meet NEA's specific requirements
and designed to support the organization's long-term growth and development.