RISE with SAP: Key Considerations for Effective Change Management

Aug 17, 2023

SAP | 2 min READ

Organizations today are constantly looking to enhance their processes and systems to keep up with the ever-evolving business landscape. The move to S/4HANA is one such step organizations are taking to transform their systems and processes. However, this move should not be seen as just another technical upgrade. It is an opportunity for organizations to change their working methods and streamline their processes.

In this context, the role of organizational change management is crucial. This article explores key considerations organizations should consider when moving to S/4HANA and how they can leverage this opportunity to drive organizational change. By embracing this shift in approach, organizations can achieve greater efficiency and consistency across their operations and realize the full potential of the new system.

Rajesh Nair

SAP Practice Head

Birlasoft

Approach

Upgrading to S/4HANA should be viewed as a transformative opportunity for organizations rather than simply a technical upgrade. The move to S/4HANA presents various possibilities, such as shifting to the cloud or implementing a complete overhaul in UI/UX or side-by-side extensions. Organizations must recognize that transitioning to SAP S/4HANA requires a strategic and integrated approach.

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Training

Prioritize educating rather than just a simple systems training. Educate users on the benefits of reducing custom codes and bespoke solutions and encourage them to adopt standard functionality through the Fit-to-Standard approach. SAP has made significant strides in enhancing its standard functionality, as shown by a global enterprise that eliminated 65-70% of its custom codes. This presents an opportunity for organizations to simplify their processes and streamline their IT landscape. However, achieving these benefits demands significant efforts from the program and change management teams.

Engagement

Early engagement with Global Process Owners and collaboration with them is critical to streamlining processes effectively. Harmonizing processes can significantly improve operational efficiency and consistency for organizations. SAP's Signavio provides a complete Process Management Solution that can help streamline processes across the board.

Adoption

Comprehensive training for business users is essential, particularly considering the multitude of Fiori apps available. Change management teams should ensure that users receive adequate training and support to use the new system effectively. Emphasizing the new system’s benefits and how it can enhance work processes is crucial in promoting user adoption.

Evolution

Lastly, IT and technical support teams must undergo specialized training to familiarize themselves with the updated working methods, encompassing technical and documentation aspects. The role of system integrators will also evolve significantly as functional and technical specifications will now be consolidated into a single document known as the functional design document (FDD). Therefore, technical teams must receive thorough training and preparedness to collaborate effectively with the new system.

Conclusion

In conclusion, upgrading to S/4HANA goes beyond a mere technical upgrade and entails a transformative journey that demands an integrated approach. Organizations must acknowledge this and proactively prepare for it by implementing robust change management strategies addressing the above-mentioned vital considerations. By doing so, organizations can optimize the new system’s advantages and attain enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in their operations.

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