Extend

ROLLOUTS

Rolling out SAP to your other group companies or manufacturing locations is a significant undertaking that requires careful planning and execution. Here are some best practices to consider for a successful SAP rollout –

Develop a Global/Rollout Template - Create a standardized SAP solution template that caters to common processes, harmonizes data centrally and corporate reporting requirement, but can be adapted to local needs. This ensures consistency across all locations while allowing for necessary customizations.

Local Adaptation - Customize the global template to meet local legal, fiscal, and business requirements. This may involve localizing language, currency, and compliance-related aspects.

Phased Approach - Consider a phased rollout, either by location or business unit, to manage risks and ensure smooth transitions. This can be done through "Big Bang" (all at once) or staggered over time.

Change Management - Implement a strong change management strategy to address the human and organizational aspects of the rollout. This includes training, communication, and support systems to ease the transition.

Technical Infrastructure - Ensure that the technical infrastructure is in place to support the new system. This includes hardware, network capabilities, and data migration plans.

Project Governance - Establish clear governance with defined roles and responsibilities to oversee the rollout process. Regular reviews and connects across teams and management are crucial.

Testing and Quality Assurance - Conduct thorough testing at each stage of the rollout to ensure the system meets business needs and performs as expected.

Post-Go-Live Support - Provide ongoing support after the system goes live to address any issues promptly and to help users adapt to the new system.

Continuous Improvement - After the initial rollout, continue to refine and improve the system based on user feedback and changing business requirements. The rollout should feed any new improvements or innovations back into the template.

Remember, each SAP rollout is unique, and these practices should be tailored to fit the specific context and needs of your organization.

MERGERS /
DEMERGERS /
CARVEOUTS

Implementing mergers or demergers in SAP is a complex process that involves several steps to ensure a smooth transition and integration of systems. Here's a high-level overview of the process -

Preparation and Planning - Begin with a thorough analysis of both entities' systems and processes. This includes taking inventory of the systems and applications, and deciding which will be integrated or retired.

System Assessment - Evaluate the SAP landscapes of both entities to understand the complexity and identify any new business processes or systems like MES (Manufacturing Execution Systems) that need to be integrated.

Define Scope and Strategy - Clearly define the scope of the merger or demerger and develop a strategy that addresses the identified gaps, preferably using standard out-of-the-box configurations.

Data Management - Plan the data transfer process, ensuring data security and integrity. This may involve data carve-out, where data is transferred in a predefined sequence to avoid disruptions.

Technical Integration or Carve-Out - Depending on whether it's a merger or demerger, execute the technical tasks of merging two separate SAP systems into one or carving out certain parts of the system.

Legal and Compliance - Address legal and compliance issues, including the terms associated with the usage of SAP systems and ensuring that internal procedures are protected during the process.

Testing - Conduct extensive testing to ensure that the merged or demerged systems function correctly and that all business processes are running as expected.

Change Management - Implement a change management strategy to manage the human aspect of the transition, including training for users on the new or modified systems.

Go-Live - After successful testing and training, go live with the new system. Ensure that support structures are in place to handle any issues that arise post-implementation.

Post-Merger Integration - Continue to monitor the system and processes, making adjustments as necessary to optimize performance and ensure business continuity.

It's important to note that each merger or demerger is unique, and the specific steps and strategies will vary based on the individual circumstances of the entities involved.

EXTEND WITH ADDITIONAL MODULES AND LOB SOLUTIONS

Implementing additional modules or SAP Line of Business (LoB) solutions involves a strategic approach to enhance your existing SAP system. Here's a step-by-step guide to help you through the process -

Assess Business Requirements - Evaluate your current business processes and identify areas where additional SAP modules or LoB solutions can add value.

Select Appropriate Modules - Choose the modules or LoB solutions that align with your business needs. SAP S/4HANA offers various LoBs such as Finance, Manufacturing, Supply Chain, R&D/Engineering, and more.

Plan the Implementation - Develop a detailed project plan that includes timelines, resources, budget, and risk management strategies.

Customize and Configure - Tailor the selected modules to fit your business processes. This may involve setting up master data, configuring business rules, and adapting user interfaces.

Integrate with Existing Systems - Ensure seamless integration with your current SAP landscape. Use SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) for connecting processes, data, and experiences across SAP and third-party solutions.

Data Migration - If necessary, migrate data from legacy systems to the new modules. This step should be carefully planned to ensure data integrity and accuracy.

User Training and Testing - Provide comprehensive training to end-users and conduct thorough testing to ensure the modules function as expected and meet business requirements.

Go-Live and Support - Once testing is successful, go live with the new modules. Provide ongoing support to address any post-implementation issues and to assist users in adapting to the new system.

Continuous Improvement - After the implementation, continuously monitor and optimize the performance of the new modules. Gather feedback from users to make necessary adjustments and improvements.

Remember, each SAP module or LoB solution has its own set of features and capabilities which also overlaps or integrates with your existing SAP systems. It is thus important to look at integration scenarios having their own dependencies and interface needs.