The introduction of SAP S/4HANA is one of the most significant IT transformations that companies can tackle today. The complexity, the large number of systems and processes involved and the strategic importance make careful preparation of the SAP S/4HANA transformation essential. However, the pre-project phase in particular is often underestimated by companies - with serious consequences: This is because numerous problems that lead to delays, budget overruns and quality losses later on in the project originate in the pre-project phase.
An external partner for SAP Application Management Services (AMS) can make a decisive contribution in the critical pre-project phase to identifying risks at an early stage, ensuring project quality and laying the foundations for a successful roll-out. In the following, we explain in detail how an external SAP AMS provider can effectively support your SAP S/4HANA pre-project.
Many companies focus on the actual implementation and migration in the SAP S/4HANA project without being aware of the complexity of the pre-project phase and its importance for the overall project. The effects of this misjudgment are particularly evident in three topics that are traditionally part of the preliminary phase:
Custom code
The custom developments that have grown over the years are often not documented or do not meet the requirements of SAP S/4HANA. Without an early and thorough analysis of the custom code, there is a risk of expensive rework.
Interfaces
The integrations with third-party systems, legacy systems or cloud solutions often prove to be complex and heterogeneous. A lack of transparency regarding the interfaces leads to unexpected problems in the further course of the project.
Legacy data and quality deficiencies
Outdated databases, redundant processes and functions that are no longer used increase the complexity of the SAP S/4HANA transformation and the risk of errors.
These challenges have a direct impact on the planning, budget and timeline of the SAP S/4HANA project. Missing or incomplete information leads to unrealistic expectations and makes project management more difficult.
When looking for ways to make the preliminary phase of the SAP S/4HANA transformation successful, it is worth thinking beyond the boundaries of your own company. An external provider for SAP AMS not only brings comprehensive technical expertise, but also methodological experience and a neutral assessment of the initial situation. Its role in the pre-project typically includes certain core tasks:
Custom code assessment
Using specialized tools and expert knowledge, the entire inventory of custom developments is systematically analyzed. The aim is to identify those enhancements that are no longer supported in SAP S/4HANA and/or require optimization.
Interface mapping
The SAP AMS partner documents all existing interfaces, assesses their complexity and dependencies and identifies potential risks.
Analysis of the system landscape
The entire IT landscape is examined for legacy issues, technical debt and redundancies. This analysis creates the necessary transparency and forms the basis for a targeted clean-up.
Realistic cost estimates based on reliable data
Prioritization of measures and definition of milestones
Advice on resource planning to relieve the burden on internal teams and involve external specialists in a targeted manner
Definition of clear roles and responsibilities between the project team, SAP AMS partner and business departments
Establishment of communication and escalation channels
Quality assurance through regular reviews and status reports
Preparing the organization for the changes associated with SAP S/4HANA
Training and workshops to promote understanding of the new system landscape
Documentation of all findings and best practices for subsequent operation
Involving an external partner for SAP AMS in the preliminary phase of an SAP S/4HANA project makes sense for a number of reasons and lays the foundation for a successful further course of the project. The most important benefits include
Independence and objectivity
External SAP AMS providers examine the existing system landscape from a neutral perspective and can openly identify weaknesses and risks - without internal political constraints.
Experience from numerous projects
The SAP AMS experts bring best practices and lessons learned from many SAP S/4HANA implementations, which can be customized for the respective company.
Scalability and flexibility
External providers are able to react quickly to changing requirements and provide additional resources as needed.
Relief for internal IT
Internal resources are often scarce, especially in the pre-project phase. The SAP AMS provider takes over time-consuming analyses and documentation so that the internal teams can concentrate on strategic tasks.
The pre-project phase is the cornerstone of a successful SAP S/4HANA transformation. An external partner for SAP AMS ensures that the pre-project contributes significantly to risk protection and quality improvement of the overall project. Sound analyses, clear planning, transparent communication and methodical support ensure that problems are identified and addressed at an early stage.
In this way, companies create a reliable basis for their SAP S/4HANA project, lay the foundation for a successful digital transformation and avoid unpleasant surprises in later project phases. Relying on the expertise of an external SAP AMS partner makes the value of Customer Success visible even before the project starts – for a stable, efficient and future-proof SAP landscape.