With change management, SAP S/4HANA Cloud projects succeed

SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud usually changes far more than companies’ IT environment. This cloud business solution inspires the transformation of the entire organization. Its implementation corresponds to the move to a smarter home, where not only modern furniture, i.e., technologies, are needed, but also a different way of using space, i.e., new ways of working. This means that established, long-familiar processes are no longer set in stone for employees. This creates skepticism, uncertainty, and rejection, resistance that can reduce the success of a transformation project and, in extreme cases, cause it to fail.

Anyone who wants to avoid this problem will include employees in the transformation journey. The motto should be: Only introduce SAP S/4HANA Cloud with continuous change management! Using targeted measures, change management addresses people’s reservations about what’s new and makes them aware of the advantages of the technology. Then, as another success factor, the organization can develop the necessary mindset that regards the cloud as a catalyst for speed, efficiency, and innovation.

Promote a cloud mindset through leadership and feedback

Change management and a cloud mindset are the foundation for a successful implementation – if introduced at an early stage and maintained continuously. They create the culture necessary to realize the technology’s potential.

The main drivers for this are:

• Visionary leaders who inspire and positively exemplify change
• Comprehensive training to ensure knowledge transfer and efficient work with the new systems
• Regular information on all communication channels, which keeps all stakeholders informed
• Mentoring programs and peer support groups that enable employees to resolve open questions
• Feedback structures that capture feedback and use it for process optimization

Success through change management – SAP Activate as a framework

Strategic change management should be established in the implementation project as early as possible; within the SAP Activate methodology, the Prepare and Explore phases are best suited for this purpose. The Prepare phase, which lays the foundation for the implementation project, offers companies the opportunity to develop change management and cloud mindset strategies. They should communicate a clear vision of the project, convey the importance of change, and attract management and employees to this end. To avoid misunderstandings, create trust, and lay a common basis for acceptance of the new technology, clear, authentic communication is essential.

When the Explore phase looks at the business processes in detail and specifies the requirements for the system, it is important to intensify change management initiatives. The goal: Everyone involved must understand what SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud means for their work. During this phase, the design workshops should draw attention to the new technologies and take standard processes into account.

Migrate to the cloud with expert support

The implementation of SAP Cloud ERP is challenging both for companies that do not currently use an SAP solution and for those that switch from an existing SAP on-premises system to the public cloud. While some must get used to completely new processes, terminology, and user interfaces, others need to embrace SAP best practices in their process design.

Experienced project support with dedicated technology knowledge, good knowledge of the company’s processes, and SAP best practices can help companies in their transformation. valantic’s SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud experts have the necessary project experience to ensure a smooth transition. They are available as expert contacts, they provide a solid understanding of the software and its functionalities with training courses, inform about the potential and limitations of the solution, and assist data migration with technical expertise and tools.