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Overview
When Al Qahtani Holding set out to modernize its digital backbone, the goal wasn’t merely to upgrade software. It was to reimagine the foundation on which the company would run its future operations. Their SAP S/4HANA RISE system, running on the 1909 release, had served them well—but the evolving regulatory demands, performance expectations, and innovation opportunities demanded something more agile, more intelligent, and far more future-ready.
This is the story of how Al Qahtani Holding, in partnership with Birlasoft, transformed its SAP landscape—navigating complexity, engineering precision, and business-backed strategy—to unlock the power of SAP S/4HANA RISE 2023.
Setting the Stage: A Strategic Need for Change
Al Qahtani Holding was operating across two critical SAP environments—P10 and P19—each of which was deeply integrated with core business functions and third-party applications. Upgrading them was not just a technical necessity; it was a business imperative. The leadership team envisioned a platform that could:
- Strengthen compliance for an increasingly regulated market
- Enhance system performance and stability
- Provide a launchpad for GenAI, SAP Joule, and digital innovation
- Reduce technical debt and move closer to a Clean Core
With these objectives in focus, Al Qahtani Holding turned to Birlasoft to engineer a seamless, low-risk, and accelerated upgrade.
The Journey Begins: Engineering a Seamless Transition
Birlasoft adopted an offshore-led, collaborative delivery model, working closely with Al Qahtani Holding's internal teams. Together, they mapped a disciplined execution plan—leveraging SAP Cloud ALM, SAP Upgrade Roadmaps, and RISE Upgrade methodologies.
What unfolded was an example of governance, velocity, and precision in motion.
- Seamless Upgrade Across Both Landscapes - Both P10 and P19 landscapes were successfully upgraded to SAP S/4HANA 2023 under RISE—well ahead of schedule.
- Strong Governance & Daily Tracking - Daily progress checks and transparent reporting ensured risks were anticipated early and mitigated effectively.
- Near-Zero Defects in Hypercare - Less than 10 defects were recorded across both landscapes during Hypercare—reflecting exceptional release quality.
- Cost Optimization Through Smart Delivery - Running the project without a backup/shadow system, and with offshore-led execution, significantly reduced project costs while maintaining quality and control.
Plot Twists Along the Way: Challenges That Shaped the Outcome
Every transformation story has its hurdles. Al Qahtani Holding's upgrade presented several, each demanding technical creativity and strategic problem-solving.
- The Vistex Challenge - With SAP denying support due to an inactive Vistex license, the team manually removed over 27,000 standard Vistex objects—a monumental task that paved the way for a clean upgrade path.
- No Shadow System, No Problem - To control costs, Al Qahtani Holding opted to proceed without a backup/shadow system, requiring meticulous planning and flawless execution.
- A Mountain of ATC Objects (30K+) - Birlasoft used ATC Quick Fixes and prioritized critical objects to streamline remediation at scale.
- Navigating Licensed Components - Early identification and validation of systems like VISTEX and TDMS ensured smooth compatibility checks and minimized upgrade surprises.
- Integration Testing Across 10 Companies - End-to-end testing covered 10+ SAP and external systems—ensuring operational continuity post-upgrade.
- Parallel Landscape Upgrades - Both landscapes were upgraded concurrently, significantly reducing timelines and costs.
- SAP Simplification List Guidance - The Simplification List became the compass—guiding functional redesigns, mandatory adaptations, and impacts on custom components.
- GRC Alignment Across Ecosystems - GRC configurations had to be adjusted across all connected managed systems—not just the upgraded environment—to prevent disruptions to access.
- Building a Unified Test Script Repository - Existing test scripts were consolidated and updated; missing ones were newly authored. The result was a comprehensive repository for future projects.
- Managing BAU While Upgrading - Even during the upgrade, BAU workflows continued smoothly, minimizing freeze windows and ensuring ongoing business stability.
Tools & Methods That Powered the Transformation
SAP Cloud ALM
- Managed project scope, testing (FUT + SIT), and defects
- Provided a single source of truth for timelines, dependencies, and deliverables
SAP RISE Upgrade Methodology
- Accelerated scope generation using SAP Best Practices
- Streamlined test script creation and coverage
SAP Upgrade Roadmap in Cloud ALM
- Offered structured guidance for each upgrade phase
- Ensured adherence to SAP-recommended frameworks
Impact
Reaching the Summit: Strategic Outcomes for Al Qahtani Holding
This upgrade did more than uplift technical infrastructure—it realigned Al Qahtani Holding's business for long-term digital evolution.
Enhanced Compliance & Performance - The system now supports advanced regulatory requirements while delivering superior platform stability. A Powerful Foundation for Digital Transformation. Al Qahtani Holding is now positioned to adopt:
- SAP Joule
- GenAI-led processes
- SAP BTP-based extensions for Clean Core
Clean Core Readiness - With reduced custom code and standardized processes, Al Qahtani Holding now has the agility to adopt innovations faster.
Operational Excellence - The upgrade enhances the company’s ability to innovate without being hindered by legacy technical constraints.
Conclusion: A Future-Ready Al Qahtani Holding
Operational Excellence - Al Qahtani Holding's SAP S/4HANA RISE 2023 upgrade stands as a testament to what strong collaboration, disciplined execution, and future-focused strategy can achieve. Together, Birlasoft and Al Qahtani Holding turned a complex technical upgrade into a business transformation milestone—one that now empowers Al Qahtani Holding to scale, innovate, and lead with confidence in an increasingly digital world.
