SAP Implementation - What's the Cost? How Much Can You Gain?


Abhishek Founder & CFO cisin.com
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SAP Implementation: Whats the Cost? How Much Can You Gain?

This factor brings lots of diversity for the stakeholders who are willing to exacerbate the SAP implementation issues during the system development. During the time of project deployment if it fails to satisfy one or multiple criteria then it is obvious that reflected status will be a failure. Based upon a close examination it is seen that this failure usually arises because of the socio-technical system and in the big picture it cannot be attributed to the failure of technology.


Introduction with the upgrades

Introduction with the upgrades

The implementation work of SAP arises in three main ways where first is the installation which a product like SAP. Most of the customers require installation and within the existing customers, the SAP development company can make the implementation occur because of the extensively customize landscape which is better, in the long run, to develop a new system from scratch. On the other hand, the contest is the step that involves migrating the SAP product between multiple hosted environments. Migration is a step that means moving the SAP from any of the databases to another and it usually occurs in various steps. By nature, it is complex and requires continuous testing. Lastly, SAP upgrade is the project implementation that moves SAP instance to a better version and it is relatively simple like just adding the enhancement packages. Some of the upgrades might be challenging but they require a great deal of execution, planning in testing to be finished successfully.

SAP implementation has a unique collection of SAP software solutions and practices that are intended to build, design and tune the vast SAP landscape. All of them are identical and hence SAP implementations are more or less the same where each of them has their own organization based requirements. This is entirely limited to their distinctive configuration and customization of SAP along with third-party modules. More or less it is about a vision for the SAP into business and turning it into reality. Having the distinct phases it is a multi-step process. The SAP development company has a lot of riding along with them where mistakes are extremely costly. A poor implementation can result in the loss of revenue, brand damage, excessive infrastructure or IT, business operating expenses and so on. Implementing the focus strategy along with excellence this process can be carried out in strict discipline and professional manner.


Understanding SAP implementation

Understanding SAP implementation

SAP implementation or Systems, Applications and Product implementation include a process that defines an implementation strategy for enterprise resource planning software in any organization. This method describes the entrance of a generic methodology but not a specific one and based upon the supreme practices and case studies it involves the complete implementation method which allows the platforms to plan and execute the software. The implementation of SAP is a massive operation that can bring lots of modifications in the functioning of the organization and proper buildup can even take up to several years.

At present organizations are growing bigger day by day where the process and business functions are also rising significantly. In order to streamline the complex workflow structure, most of the companies are heading towards Big data solutions and drifting towards SAP implementation to make things simpler. The market at present is flooded with multiple segments of SAP ERP. SAP implementation is vital for an organization's process because it is capable to integrate various organizational systems and facilitates the transaction among them. It also reduces the efforts during the production phase where a successful implementation strategy can offer incredible benefits to the organization.

For any business or Big data solutions provider just a business management software is not enough for maintaining an integral part of the business. In order to smooth the business process SAP implementation has covered a long way along with boosting the overall business growth. the complexity for multiple activities associated with such projects is cutting across time and resources and presenting better opportunities. In the long run, it is streamlining the process providing a competitive edge accelerating the growth for the company.


Main steps of SAP implementation

Main steps of SAP implementation

The project implementation of SAP is actually intense and long where they require plenty of effort and resources from developers' point of view. If they are not planned under proper segments then SAP projects can become tricky where SAP itself gives a well-defined methodology for project designing by delivering reliable results.

Read the blog- SAP Vs Oracle-Operational benefits and Post-implementation profits

SAP implementation involves several faces including every stage of the software development life cycle (SDLC) for the project. It also divides the project according to the necessary phases and each phase is considered as a milestone. The project management team can actively concentrate on the recent phase and make their next move to prepare the following one. The most essential steps are-

  • Project preparation
  • Business blueprint
  • Realization
  • Final preparation
  • Go live
  • Production support
  • Project preparation

1. Project Preparation

It is the first step of SAP project implementation which involves the preparation of early activities. Under this phase, it is important to consider the tasks of specifying the requirements and boundaries along with the elements of the project. It involves performing the migration of workstreams and processes that need to be moved to identify the actors. In this phase, one gets prepare to implement the process by identifying objectives, scope, and priorities.

This is the initial planning phase it gets easy to work on giving the stakeholder assistance while lining up the essential resources. In Big data cloud services SAP implementation refers to map the process of the organization to the ones which are defined by SAP. This clearly means that project implementation requires having onboard people having complete expertise in the organization's business processes. Among various other things, the project preparation phase aims to identify the skills of the team.


2. Business Blueprint

In SAP Cloud computing services business blueprint includes the essential modules of the SAP product and the mapping of existing business processes to process the ones provided by SAP. It involves defining the actual business process for addressing the landscape. In this phase, it gets essential to implement the program effectively and identify the retailing which has to be done. Along with everybody involved with the project it includes a series of workshops that need to be organized.

To ensure a precise project implementation from every individual it is basically a good start with project meetings and inviting everybody physically. This tells the people what is expected from them and what else is at stake and how to organize it. The later workshop can be organized by any workstream and the following process by process ultimate goal can be reached in SAP implementation.

During the workshop sessions get and satellites are identified with their details along with organizational structure. The list of differences between the current organization and future projects is affected in the business process gets where each of them has to be solved prior to the launch of testing. If not solved properly any one of them can prevent the project from execution.


3. Realization

The actual work of processing SAP Cloud integration services is to be in sync with the organization's processes done under this phase. It actively includes customization of the existing package and solution including the development of unique objects based upon the needs. It is the phase where the implementation team holds business blueprints as the initial point in order to build test and define the landscape.

Read the blog- Why Is SAP Better Than Other ERP Solutions?

Up until this point, further process is executed by the functional team who are basically concerned with the functioning of systems. The technical team also starts to occupy bigger roles. As it is executed once the analysis is done, it is required in this phrase for the project Central team to begin implementing essential SAP software solutions.

Later on, organizations' information is entered in the SAP system where the gaps between process solutions are worked on n data is prepared to migrate to the advanced systems and project phases keep going. At a definite point in his time, a test is conducted with current project advancement along with SAP in the required setup and then it is tested. The first step involved the customization of systems and next involves the half implementation of the functioning.


4. Final preparation

Using the changes obtained from the realization and testing phases the production system is prepared. Certain activities also need to be done directly for the production system which includes the final preparation phase. At this phase, any SAP development company makes the necessary preparation for migration and go live as it involves final preparation which is not only a system-wise but also well-organized people wise. Every individual associated with the project has to be trained according to the new processes like a full set of process, data which has to be tested and validation of the system. Until the system is 100% ready for the migration and transition next step followed by a good life must be postponed.


5. Go-live

This step is one of the most critical parts of SAP project implementation where everybody involved with it has to put maximum effort and attention. Any smallest course can have maximum impact at this phase. Go-live include the following phases-

Former system stop- as it won't be required anymore, the financial period must also be closed because no more business can execute in the outdated or old system.

Final data migration- in this phase data is taken from the previous system right after the closure and moved to the updated SAP system. The transition also continues with the beginning of the latest system and by implementing some quick test it is validated.

Once this process is done, a quick ramp for the business process is done. For the next few days, maximum attention is invested in order to minimize the business and then it is instantly rent up with previous volumes in the coming few weeks. Potential issues are also solved by the project Central team which is still present.


6. Production support

The functional system is established the next step is to support its cause and use has the potential uses for any ghost version of the previous system. Even under this phase, all the members are reachable but the team can be reduced accordingly and setback either to their real jobs having migrated to new roles or working on different project phases.

A dedicated team can also be employed to help under any circumstances which might arise later for the potential gaps which have not been found earlier are taken into consideration very carefully. For most of the Big data solutions, SAP implementation has to be followed very carefully to ensure successful project execution and to switch from one system to another. This implementation process has a well defined and standard methodology known as accelerated SAP. For the successful project implementation, it is essential to invest lots of resources and time.

Big data cloud services assist in the SAP implementation which is in itself a whole process defining a complete method for implementing the software in any organization. it is based upon the case study obtained from multiple sources and then present a collection of entire process and product which make up a precise implementation method allowing the organization to plan and execute the implementation of such software. The project preparation for this is a vision of the future state of the solutions which are being created at present and sizing them to create better performance.


7. Change in management

For the majority of the Cloud computing services, it is essential to our custom similar activities performed through the different processes in daily routine. Any change followed by them is not easily accepted especially when it is considered influential and management becomes crucial. Like a computer, SAP is not a fixed asset that can be purchased or set up in the premises whether it is a system that can easily influence the environment and the working style for good. Ultimately it only affects the operations to minimum or maximum. Hence it is essential to prepare the employees to deal with the instances by conducting brainstorming sessions or updates where their queries can get resolved.

By depicting better Cloud integration services, it gets easy for the employees to adapt to the change and bring optimal results. Some of the implementation projects fail to deliver expected business benefits but the reasons may vary. Right from improper customization to utilization of non-optimal software it can include anything. Hence training becomes a crucial aspect for SAP software implementation projects as it ensures fewer errors and maximum benefits. Also, the Big data cloud services providers for the management team must ensure the access eligible vendor and detail of the technical aspects.

SAP implementation is designed after acute research and requirements of the specific industries where in most cases it might not be needed for customization. Which proper planning and execution the need may never arrive to rapidly change or customize the software. Implementing such solutions for Cloud computing services or other functioning can be a deal of big investment for the companies involving a huge pool of resources. Hence it is a necessity to evaluate the values of the system against the expected value of the company.

In Cloud integration services most of the implementation process is not optional but still recommended is deliverable for the SAP implementation. Each implementation process is different in terms of its length, scope economical value and other criteria. With proper planning and execution of these projects can be kept at a minimal value where the investment can be fetched with early detailing of the requirements. SAP implementation essentially requires lots of expertise on several bases. Once the solution is identified the most important step is data migration which supports the smooth transition and utilization of the software. If the company is trying any software for the first time then SAP implementation can be a huge change.


Conclusion

Conclusion

At present, there is no precise solution available that can eliminate the failure of the hard comings of SAP implementation in reality. In spite of knowing the cause failure proportion remains constant because the majority of them get the same process and treatment which can ultimately arise with the combinations of multiple factors. If a platform adopts traditional methodologies then it is difficult to execute SAP implementation and the most critical phases of this process lie in the earlier stages i.e. the budding stage where the actual business blueprint and project preparation are important.

The competency also encompasses technical and project management skills and expertise which are required and in reality goes well beyond that. Choosing a perfect strategy can make a huge difference in subjective or organizational terms, for example providing stakeholders together and facilitating the discussions with their business priorities for a better landscape. In the big picture, these tasks can be quite challenging for the in-house team because of political constraints or hierarchies.