Mizuho OSI Cuts Approval Times Using SAP Build Process Automation

Medical equipment manufacturer Mizuho OSI has modernized its fixed asset management processes using SAP Build solutions, replacing manual workflows with low-code applications built on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP).

The company, which produces specialized surgical tables and medical positioning devices, had been relying on email-based approval processes and manual data entry to create and manage fixed assets. As the business scaled, those processes created delays, increased administrative workload, and limited visibility across teams.

From Email-Driven Approvals to Structured Workflow Automation

During an internal review, the company identified bottlenecks in how capital purchases were requested, approved, and recorded. The largely email-based process required coordination between business users, approvers, and accounting, creating delays, duplicate data entry, and limited transparency, particularly for higher-value assets that required multiple sign-offs.

To address this, Mizuho OSI worked with SAP specialists to redesign the workflow from end to end. Using SAP Build Work Zone and SAP Build Process Automation, the team implemented a structured, rules-based approval process that routes requests automatically, enforces thresholds, and connects directly with backend systems.

The low-code approach enabled faster deployment while simplifying ongoing maintenance for the internal IT team.

Measurable Efficiency Gains and a Scalable Foundation

This digital transformation resulted in lower approval times and significantly decreased the manual effort required by the accounting department, the company said.

Beyond immediate productivity gains, the project established a scalable technical foundation that allows the IT team to support continued growth.

According to the company, the implementation delivered measurable operational improvements:

• 40% faster overall process throughput
• 65% reduction in approval times for lower-value assets
• 70% decrease in manual workload tied to asset processing

By standardizing and automating approvals, the organization has improved governance while freeing its lean IT team to focus on higher-value initiatives. The project also establishes a foundation for expanding SAP Build use cases into additional operational processes, including areas such as master data automation.

What This Means for SAPinsiders

Low-code automation is moving into core finance and asset processes. Automation is no longer limited to peripheral workflows. Organizations are increasingly applying SAP Build and SAP BTP capabilities to foundational ERP processes such as asset accounting, approvals, and compliance-driven activities.

Process velocity is becoming a measurable KPI. In Mizuho OSI’s reported gains in approval time and workload reduction highlight a shift from simply digitizing workflows to quantifying cycle-time improvements. For SAPinsiders, this signals the importance of defining baseline metrics before automation initiatives begin.

Governance and efficiency can advance together. Automating approval thresholds and routing rules improves compliance while also shortening decision times. For finance and operations leaders, this demonstrates that control and agility do not have to be competing priorities.