Post-Implementation Challenges in SAP Projects

🌟 Transitioning Smoothly Post-Implementation: Sustaining SAP Beyond Hyper Care 🌟 Facing the post-implementation phase after SAP deployment can be challenging, especially when your project team and implementation partner have disbanded. But fear not! Here are some tips to ensure a seamless transition and sustain success with SAP: 1. **Documentation is Key**: Start by ensuring all documentation related to the SAP implementation is comprehensive and up-to-date. This includes user manuals, process flows, configuration documents, and any custom developments. Having this information readily available will empower your internal team to troubleshoot and maintain the system effectively. 2. **Internal Knowledge Transfer**: Conduct thorough knowledge transfer sessions within your organization. Identify key individuals who were involved in the project and have them share their expertise with other team members. Consider establishing a center of excellence or a dedicated SAP support team to centralize knowledge and provide ongoing assistance. 3. **Engage with SAP Community**: Leverage the vast SAP community for support and guidance. Participate in forums, user groups, and online communities to exchange knowledge, seek advice, and stay updated on best practices. Collaborating with peers facing similar challenges can provide valuable insights and solutions. 4. **Continuous Training and Development**: Invest in continuous training and skill development for your SAP users and administrators. Offer regular training sessions, workshops, and certifications to keep them updated on new features, functionalities, and industry trends. A well-trained team is better equipped to optimize SAP usage and address emerging requirements. 5. **Establish Vendor Relationships**: Build strong relationships with SAP and its ecosystem of partners and consultants. Engage with SAP representatives, attend user conferences, and explore support options available through SAP or certified partners. Establishing these connections can provide access to specialized expertise and resources when needed. 6. **Monitor Performance and Feedback**: Implement robust monitoring mechanisms to track system performance, user feedback, and issues post-implementation. Regularly solicit feedback from stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and address any pain points promptly. Proactively monitoring and addressing concerns will help maintain user satisfaction and drive continuous improvement. Remember, the journey with SAP doesn't end with implementation; it's an ongoing process of optimization and adaptation. By following these strategies and fostering a culture of collaboration and innovation within your organization, you can sustain success with SAP and drive long-term value for your business. SastraGeek Solutions #SAP #Implementation #Sustainability #DigitalTransformation #Collaboration #ContinuousImprovement #parmindersingh #sastrageeksolutuons

How a seemingly great SAP S/4 transformation proposal went bad, a lesson from the the field..... A while back, we were brought in by a net new SAP client who had accepted a proposal from a systems integrator that looked great on the surface - but ended up being to good to be true. The offer looked great on paper - low cost, aggressive timeline, the works. But once the project kicked off, the cracks started to show: ↳ Gaps in project leadership ↳ Data and analytics neglected ↳ Change management ignored And worst of all, the systems integrator was waiting for the client to tell them what to do rather than leading the charge as promised. By the time Local World was called in to right the ship, the project was off track. We staffed a team to fill leadership gaps, address data issues, and drive change management. But the result? ↳ The project went live far later than initially proposed ↳ The total investment was far higher than initially proposed ↳ Internal adoption was an uphill climb Here’s the hard truth: Underbidding is a tactic some systems integrators use to secure deals. But when corners are cut, clients end up paying far more - whether in delays, rework, or missed opportunities. At Local World , we act as an insurance policy for clients, ensuring their projects stay on track, led by experienced consultants who actually lead. What you can do to avoid the same fate: ↳ Hire an SAP S/4 experienced project leader ↳ Run change management yourself ↳ Make sure you're working with clean data Have you experienced similar challenges? I’d love to hear your thoughts. #DigitalTransformation #SAP #SystemsIntegration #Leadership #ProjectManagement #Recruitment #hirebetter #localworldinc

𝗪𝗵𝘆 𝗱𝗼 𝘀𝗼 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘆 𝗘𝗥𝗣 𝗺𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹? 𝗕𝗲𝗰𝗮𝘂𝘀𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗮𝗻𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘁 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗮 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 𝘀𝗼𝗳𝘁𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘁𝗰𝗵, not the business transformation it truly is. Listening to my network, there seems to be a rush to complete ERP migrations, as fast as possible, with SAP S/4HANA plans driving most of it. But an ERP system is more than just an IT upgrade. It’s a chance to redesign how your business operates and build a solution architecture that supports agility and innovation. While necessary, these migrations often become redundant without proper alignment to business goals. Something, I've seen happen! Here some get rights to consider: ◉ 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝗯𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵 𝗴𝗼𝗮𝗹𝘀 Ensure that IT and business leaders are on the same page. ERP systems serve broader business objectives, such as innovation, improving procurement strategies, and enhancing supplier relationships. ◉ 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝘁𝗼𝗼𝗹𝘀. Instead of getting caught up in the technology itself, be clear about the business benefits you'd like to achieve. New ERP functionality can be of support to achieve goals like efficiency, cost reduction, and agility. ◉ 𝗦𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗶𝗳𝘆 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗰𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀 𝗲𝗻𝗱-𝘁𝗼-𝗲𝗻𝗱 Don't just migrate complex, outdated processes but streamline them end-to-end. Reevaluate processes for efficiency and desired outcomes. ◉ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗴𝗲 𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗮𝗴𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 - 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗶𝗻 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗶𝗻𝗴 ERP migrations often fail due to poor user adoption. Beyond training, invest in communication & ongoing support showing the value and relevance of the system to users. ◉ 𝗜𝗻𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘃𝗲 𝗰𝗿𝗼𝘀𝘀-𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗹 𝘁𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 ERP impacts every area of the business, so cross-team collaboration is essential. Involve stakeholders from finance, procurement, IT, and operations ensures the system meets everyone’s needs. ◉ 𝗙𝗼𝗰𝘂𝘀 𝗼𝗻 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗮 𝗾𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 - 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗶𝘀𝗲 An ERP system is only as good as the data it processes. Ensure that data is clean, consistent, and reliable before migration. Dirty or incomplete data is one of the biggest challenges post-go-live. ◉ 𝗣𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝗳𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘀𝗮𝗯𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 Choose an architecture which allows for future-proofing and integration of new features, scalability and integration. Business models evolve, and your ERP must evolve with them." ◉ 𝗦𝗲𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀 - 𝗶𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝗾𝘂𝗶𝗰𝗸 𝗶𝗳 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 Don’t rush an implementation. ERP migrations are complex and require time to integrate properly. A phased approach allows for troubleshooting and mitigates a risk for failure. ❓Any other "get rights" i missed and you would add from your experience. #erp #businesstransformation #migration #sap4hana

"How CIOs Get Misled by UAT!" SAP projects start with unmatched excitement. The implementation partner is selected after a thorough vetting process. The SOW is signed. The kickoff is energetic. Momentum is high. And the ultimate milestone to declare go-live readiness? User Acceptance Testing. Test scripts are executed. Everything passes. Green checkmarks across the board. The system is declared ready. And then the switch flips. 🚨 Users can't do their jobs. 🚨 Orders are delayed. 🚨 Inventory is off. 🚨 Pricing is wrong. 🚨 Customers are frustrated. The blame game begins. "Implementation partner missed requirements." "Users didn’t get enough training." "Business signed off on UAT!" "Everything worked in testing—what’s the issue?" Here’s the issue: UAT has been reduced to just checking if the system works. But it was never just about the system. It’s about Users. It’s about their Acceptance. It’s about their Readiness. We treat it as User Acceptance Testing. But we ignore the most important part—whether users are truly ready to accept this new system, this new way of working. Maybe we need to start calling it User Acceptance & Readiness Testing. Because that's what it really is. And until we measure both—system readiness and user readiness—we'll keep getting caught off guard after go-live. What’s your take? Have you seen this play out? #SAP #CIO #ERP #UAT #GoLive #UserReadiness #DigitalTransformation #ChangeManagement