Explore Cirque du Soleil’s journey with SAP
While audiences discover the extraordinary, Cirque du Soleil and SAP continue to work behind the scenes to run many of its operational processes including travel and expense management, the purchase of goods and services, and running its core financial, operational and HR systems.
50
current shows around the globe.
>4,000
employees worldwide.
82
nationalities of employees.
The Challenge
Re-imagining international operations
As the leading brand in live entertainment, Cirque du Soleil has to meet spectators where they are all around the world. This means shipping the big top and the entire tour, orchestrating travel for 1,300 artists, and making sure all goods and services are on site. Cirque du Soleil's staff of nearly 4,000 have a massive job to make all of the supportive operational processes look as coordinated as the artists on stage.
To become a diversified global entertainment brand beyond live stage shows, Cirque du Soleil chose to undergo a complete HR transformation using SAP SuccessFactors solutions. The company needed to raise the bar and move beyond manual recordkeeping by optimizing its core HR operations in the cloud.
An entertainment company as vast and as far reaching as Cirque du Soleil also requires only the most intelligent solutions to provide clarity and transparency on expense and travel management.
Dominique Bensadoun
Senior Director of Global Compensation and HRIS
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group
The Solution
Juggling applications to transform a complex business model
RISE with SAP has put Cirque du Soleil in the driver's seat to accelerate its transition to a cloud-first business. This provides the best possible platform for growth, innovation, and expansion. SAP Ariba and SAP Concur are at the core of this digital transformation. By integrating people and processes seamlessly, Cirque du Soleil can focus on its biggest priority: the spectator.
Cirque du Soleil is moving beyond using SAP SuccessFactors simply to keep records and data. With stronger data integrity and governance, Cirque du Soleil has reduced the risk of errors and is taking advantage of automated processes and information workflows to manage its talented people.
With the help of Concur Travel & Expense, Cirque du Soleil is equipped to make informed decisions to keep their business running at its best every day. With over 6,000 trips a year, 40 flights a day and thousands of room bookings a month SAP Concur solutions enable Cirque du Soleil to navigate global compliance, negotiate better rates with suppliers and simplify expense reporting for its staff and performers.
SAP Ariba solutions help Cirque du Soleil manage the thousands of costumes and custom-built equipment that make the shows so special. To take audiences beyond expectations and feel the deepest emotions, Cirque du Soleil procures everything from niche make-up, stage equipment, pyrotechnics and countless never-seen-before commodities from global suppliers.
Innovating even the most complex, centralized systems allows Cirque du Soleil to successfully orchestrate and deliver shows that go beyond one’s wildest imagination.
Chantale Périgny
Accounts Payable Manager
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group
The Result
Expanding in the cloud to reach the outer limits of imagination
Cirque du Soleil’s intelligent enterprise strategy is helping the company gain the kind of operational efficiency it needs to drive future growth. A heightened employee experience will facilitate ambitious plans to diversify their business, with all of this happening in a financially sustainable manner.
SAP SuccessFactors is enabling a centralized tool with a purpose to unite, integrate and drive processes. All users can now readily access accurate and secure data in real time to understand what's happening in the business.
SAP S/4HANA Cloud now provides Cirque du Soleil an integrated platform for streamlining business functions such as finance and merchandising across its international operations.
Relying on SAP Concur, as part of their overall intelligent enterprise journey; RISE with SAP, Cirque du Soleil is achieving operational excellence with a compliant and transparent spend management system at the core of their business processes.
Given a high degree of complexity with their procurement and sourcing requirements, Cirque du Soleil found that SAP Ariba and SAP Business Network have the digital muscle to allow them to perform at the highest level.
It is time to discover the extraordinary.
Stéphanie LeRoy
Procurement Senior Director
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group
SAP helps Cirque du Soleil run better
Key business outcomes and benefits
- Established a cloud-based platform with the security, flexibility, and scalability needed to support future growth
- Improved control over core business functions, such as finance and merchandising
- Increased quality and speed of purchasing decisions with near-real-time visibility into the complete purchase process
- Standardized the process for worldwide travel and expense
- A centralized HR tool with a purpose to unite, integrate, and drive process
Featured solutions and services
- RISE with SAP comprises key products and services from SAP and its partners to help customers migrate to the cloud with a leading modular cloud ERP.
- SAP S/4HANA Cloud is a comprehensive ERP system with built-in intelligent technologies, including AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics.
- SAP Ariba solutions help large and midsize companies realize
fast time to value in the cloud. - SAP Concur solutions connect travel, expense, and invoice management for total visibility and control.
- SAP SuccessFactors solutions offer indivualized experiences and strategic software that empower employees to reach their potential.
About Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is a world leader in live entertainment. On top of producing world-renowned circus arts shows, the Canadian organization brings its creative approach to a large variety of entertainment forms such as multimedia productions, immersive experiences, theme parks and special events. Going beyond its various creations, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group aims to make a positive impact on people, communities and the planet with its most important tools: creativity and art.
For more information please visit the official Cirque du Soleil website.
| Industry | Company Size | Region |
| Sports and entertainment | 4,000 employees | Global |
About Cirque du Soleil
Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group is a world leader in live entertainment. On top of producing world-renowned circus arts shows, the Canadian organization brings its creative approach to a large variety of entertainment forms such as multimedia productions, immersive experiences, theme parks and special events. Going beyond its various creations, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group aims to make a positive impact on people, communities and the planet with its most important tools: creativity and art.
For more information please visit the official Cirque du Soleil website.
| Industry | Company Size | Region |
| Sports and entertainment | 4,000 employees | Global |