Bristan Group move to SAP S4/HANA,  a cloud-based Enterprise Resource Planning system. 

We wanted to let you know about a change that Bristan Group have been working on. 

We are busy preparing to move from our current on-premise Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system, IFS, to a cloud-based ERP system, SAP S4/HANA. By moving to this cloud-based system Bristan Group will stay at the forefront of best practice and receive regular, market leading, system updates.

This switch over is planned to take place on October 1st 2025 but rest assured we will keep you updated on our plans as we approach this date, regardless of whether it changes or not.

To minimise disruption to partners, we plan to go live over a weekend, this means we will be closed to new orders or customer services for one working day (our shut down day), which also means we will not be delivering product the day after this shut down. 

Please share this news with any of your teams that you believe may be impacted.

We understand that you may have some questions so please find some helpful FAQs, however if you have any questions that are not listed, please reach out to your contact who will aim to respond as soon as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an ERP?

ERP stands for Enterprise Resource Planning. It is a system that runs our essential core business processes such as finance and procurement. It is often referred to as the system of record of the organisation. 

Does this impact Bristan and Heritage Bathrooms?

Yes, the change impacts all of the Bristan Group so impacts both Bristan and Heritage Bathrooms.

Are there days when I can’t order?

You will not be able to order for two days during our switch over. These days will be the 29th and 30th September. 

Do I need the change the way I order?

No, how you order products from us will not change.

Will there be any impact on EDI?

No, EDI ordering and invoicing will remain the same

When will I receive my orders?

We are planning to have 2 days where we do not take orders. This means that deliveries will be paused for two days. Deliveries will then resume as usual but may take a little longer than usual as we work through any backlog. Please allow up to 72 hours before contacting us regarding your delivery.

What will happen to my payment terms (if this were to be an order on last day of the month, as example)? 

Payment terms will not be affected.

Will I still get an order acknowledgement?

Yes, order acknowledgements will still be sent out as normal.

Are any product codes changing? 

No, product codes will stay the same.

Will the time I need to order by, for next day delivery, change after the switch?

The requirement to order by 4pm for next day delivery will remain the same.

What will Bristan Group do if they are not able to go live?

We will only go live if ready. We will remain on the current system and the site closure will not happen. We will confirm changes to the communicated Go Live dates in good time

What if there are issues after the switch over?

We are not anticipating any issues with the switch over due to how we are managing this project however, it is always possible. We will be managing these closely to resolve them as quickly as possible if they occur. We will also have the ability to follow a roll back plan to resume business activities should we need to.

Will my customer number remain the same? 

Your customer number will be different – this will be quoted on your documents. 

Will documents look the same? 

The format of some of our documents will be changing but in most cases the information will be the same. 

An order confirmation will look a little different. The order confirmation will now provide an expected delivery date for any out-of-stock items making it clear when you can expect your order to be fulfilled.

Delivery notes have been simplified and will now only display what is being delivered on that order. It will no longer display any information regarding items that are out of stock or will be delivered as part of an additional delivery at a later date

Will returns be impacted? 

Yes, Bristan Group returns will shut down from 23rd September to 6th October. Please note no returns will be raised or collections made during this time. This will mean any returns requests will be delayed for credit notes. 

I have a query about an order or the change?

Please connect with your usual Bristan Group contact with any questions or queries you have.