If getting new technology up and running was easy, everyone would do it. Every business would be using the most up-to-date systems on the market. Unfortunately, the reality is that digital transformation can be challenging. The biggest stumbling blocks can be organizational culture and mindset. But there are several steps you can take to avoid them. The article below serves as a walkthrough to preparing for SAP digital transformation.
"Digital transformation” means integrating technological solutions into each aspect of a business. So, an SAP digital transformation is about making the necessary changes to get the most out of SAP. This requires both cultural and organizational shifts. You can't achieve digital transformation through technology alone. To get the most out of tools, people have to know how to use them. And they have to embrace the changes to their workflows.
According to SAP Insights, you should consider three areas of your business when you embark on SAP digital transformation: your business model, your business processes, and your culture. The following sections will provide a brief description of each one.
Before we get into the first two areas, we'll need to distinguish between them. It's not uncommon for businesses to confuse business models and business processes. The key differences are:
Examples: Subscription-based, brick-and-mortar.
Examples: Order processing, risk assessment.
Your business model and business processes are closely linked. Still, they must be addressed separately to successfully prepare for digital transformation.
A business model change should respond to customer and cultural demands. For example, many businesses ditched their brick-and-mortar shops in favor of allocating resources toward e-commerce in recent years. Others embraced subscription-based models once their technology made it possible. When you start digital transformation, you have to consider your business model. Otherwise, you might miss out on ways to innovate and stay competitive.
This area of focus requires you to examine your organizational structure. Your workflows, processes, and even the departments that handle certain tasks may need adjustments ahead of SAP digital transformation. The best way to approach a business process modernization is to stay focused on the purpose of the new technology. For example, if you’re implementing SAP S/4HANA technology to streamline production processes, ensure any changes you make are aligned with that goal.
For SAP digital transformation to go smoothly, you need buy-in from stakeholders, including employees. Regrettably, this isn’t always the case when it comes to new technology. Here are a few potential issues employees may have with a digital transformation:
For companies using enterprise resource planning (ERP) software like SAP, digital transformation is essential for success. SAP is a far-reaching business process management solution. To make the most of it, your company’s business processes and employees will need to adapt. Taking full advantage of the benefits of SAP technology requires more than just passive accommodation. Employee cooperation, structural malleability, and the reprioritization of business goals will help facilitate a seamless transition.
The primary goal behind SAP digital transformation (or digital transformation of any kind) is to enhance the business. For this reason, it’s essential to strategize your transformation to play on your organization’s strengths and provide support to its weaknesses. To summarize, preparing for a digital transformation requires those in leadership roles to do 3 things:
Ready to launch your SAP digital transformation? Don’t forget about testing. Copado (formerly Qualibrate) is an SAP-certified end-to-end test automation solution. Business users can record tests with a simple, no-code interface. Test cases automatically generate documentation that always stays synced. SAP is complicated. But testing can be simple.
Level up your Salesforce DevOps skills with our resource library.