SAP S/4 HANA Strategy and Assessment

Achieving a successful SAP S/4HANA digital transformation demands a comprehensive review that spans the entire organization, scrutinizing both present and future business requirements, the technological landscape, and the organization’s readiness for change, beginning with leadership. 

In other words, investing time in a holistic review that explores the various value drivers across your organization’s people, processes, and technology can significantly enhance the potential outcomes of the transformation. 

Developing a clear strategy based on insights gathered during the strategy and assessment phase is crucial for reinforcing the success of an SAP S/4HANA transition and achieving the desired results.

Lapses in strategic planning, such as incomplete assessments or the absence of a well-formulated strategy, typically result in implementation delays, less-than-optimal operations, poor user engagement, and failure to realize expected benefits.  Such flawed implementations can incur substantial costs and hinder adaptability, potentially leading to failure. 

A robust upfront strategy and assessment is the key to optimizing an SAP S/4HANA implementation.

The SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment phase extends beyond merely transitioning to S/4HANA or migrating from SAP ECC; it is also critical during organizational changes such as mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures.  When your organization considers adopting SAP S/4HANA, it’s essential to tailor the Strategy and Assessment phase to align closely with your broader business objectives. 

Key Considerations for a Robust SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment: 

Your Existing Data and Operational Processes 

• The initial step is to decide how to handle your existing data and operational processes. This will guide you to the appropriate S/4HANA deployment option—whether on-premise, cloud-based, or hybrid.  This decision is pivotal in the strategic planning for SAP S/4HANA.
• A Greenfield deployment model may be best if you start from scratch and prefer to leave behind all legacy data and operational processes. This approach is also suitable if you adopt SAP-standardized data and processes.
• A Brownfield approach might be more appropriate when retaining existing transactional data and operational processes is crucial.
• Alternatively, if you wish to maintain some existing systems while refreshing others, consider a Bluefield model (Selective Transition). This model helps optimize the S/4HANA deployment strategy, paving the way for a successful implementation.
• A Landscape Transformation might be necessary in complex situations involving multiple SAP and non-SAP environments, such as during mergers and acquisitions. This model is ideal for harmonizing and consolidating the ERP landscape selectively.  It also applies to scenarios that involve merging various SAP systems across different business units and geographic locations.
• If you’re undergoing a divestiture, a carve-out strategy is required to establish distinct SAP landscapes from your current deployment.
• For environments with numerous critical interfaces to SAP and third-party applications, a Brownfield or Bluefield approach would be suitable to preserve these existing interfaces and their associated processes.

Selecting the appropriate model from these options is a critical component of the S/4HANA assessment services and is crucial for a successful deployment.

The Role of Change Management within Your Organization

Many SAP S/4HANA implementations struggle to transition from old to new systems because change management is often relegated to the later stages of the project and not integrated from the start.  The role of change management is essential at every phase of the deployment.  Incorporating change management early in the SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment phase is vital to effectively identifying and activating the necessary adjustments to transition from established processes to new ones.

Training

Practical employee training must be clearly defined and executed.  Traditional training methods often fail to deliver desired outcomes, especially in remote or hybrid work environments.  During the S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment phase, it’s essential to identify the most suitable training approach tailored to your organization’s needs.

Digital training tools like OnScreen can enhance employee learning and adaptability by providing guided, step-by-step instructions for various transactions relevant to their roles.  These solutions offer flexibility, enabling employees to access training materials anytime, anywhere, without constraints.

Support

 The SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment phase needs to focus on comprehensive post-implementation support, which should be carefully planned during this phase.  This entails assessing your internal technical capabilities and determining the necessary resources to maintain the system, improve existing processes, and innovate operations by developing new methods.

 Such considerations are integral to the S/4HANA assessment services and require a well-defined support strategy. Additionally, a robust SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment should outline plans for analytics and reporting and address system integrations and extensibility.

Choosing a Technology Partner

A successful SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment relies on partnering with a reputable and experienced technology provider for strategic planning based on comprehensive assessment services.  You need to factor in cost, resource engagement, and post-implementation support. 

These factors are critical for a successful SAP S/4HANA implementation.  New Era Technology, an SAP Solution Partner, offers comprehensive SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment services backed by extensive implementation experience.  Our proprietary RAPID S/4 solution expedites implementation, delivering significant time savings.  For more information about our SAP S/4HANA Strategy and Assessment services, please contact us—we’re here to assist you.