Implementation
SAP Implementation
Many SAP implementations fail to live up to the organization’s expectations, that’s just a fact. This is usually because they failed to start the project correctly, making every strategic decision and action from that point onwards more difficult with increased risk.
The SAP Activate methodology is part of the SAP Activate framework and is designed to improve the quality and success of any SAP project. By adhering to the methodology, project managers can implement SAP solutions with a greater level of success.
At Aevitas IT, we followed this methodology for many projects but continuously challenged it. How can we accelerate SAP implementations through improved efficiencies and ultimately reduce project costs for our clients?
Introducing Excellence in Execution
Aevitas IT has rich experience in delivering successful SAP S/4 HANA implementations, as we not only understand the importance of planning in the Prepare phase, we fully embrace it and it is core to how we accelerate throughout the project.
Leveraging the SAP Activate methodology framework, we have developed and refined our own implementation methodology.
SAP Activate phases are further detailed into different tracks / workstreams such as Project Management, Organization Change Management, SAP Functional, SAP Technical – ABAP, Basis and Security, Data Migration, and Integration.
We’ve taken this approach further, and for each track / workstream within each phase, we have well defined activities and deliverable.
To ensure that the project progresses seamlessly and that high standards are assured, quality gate reviews are independently conducted when moving from one phase to another. The methodology is designed to be flexible enough to accommodate customer organization practices and IT controls.
With SAP recommendations and our decades of experience in detailing project execution, Aevitas IT assures project success. Welcome to ‘Execution Excellence’.
The SAP Activate methodology is tried and tested, and sets a global standard for all implementation partners. We’ve made these subtle improvements through detailing activities and deliverables, to how we work with it, to allow us to deliver huge benefits in terms of speed, efficiency, accuracy and overall project costs. Talk to us to find out more.
SAP Activate Phases
This phase is possibly the most important, as it will lay the foundation for a successful project. The project team verifies that business requirements can be met within the boundaries of the solution and project scope through a series of solution validation workshops. Integration with legacy systems is started, and activities such as defining configuration values, data cleansing, identifying master data and organizational setup requirements.
Impact analysis is completed to understand how the new system will benefit the client and actions to enable a smooth transition to the new system are identified. Key users are identified and an end-user learning plans are prepared to help drive the success of system adoption.
The Realize phase encompasses taking the plans and requirements determined in the Explore phase and applying them to the system. Using a series of Agile sprints to incrementally configure, test, and confirm the entire end-to-end solution, Aevitas IT actively works with business representatives to ensure the built solution meets expectations.
The following activities are key to the Realize phase for SAP S/4HANA Cloud:
- Configure the solution in the quality environment using Agile iterations
- Walk through solution processes with the stakeholders to confirm the solution has been configured to meet their requirements
- Execute data migration loads
- Conduct end-to-end testing of the solution
- Integrate with other systems, as required
- Continue with project team enablement on key concepts and system operations
- Prepare cutover plan and plan change management and end-user enablement
- Receive quality and production environments
The Deploy phase is an essential phase in the Activate methodology. In this phase we prepare and execute the system for production release. The Aevitas team runs the cutover plan, transitions business operations to the new system, and moves from implementation support to production support. The final dress rehearsal and production cutover planned in the earlier phase is carried out by the team to ensure a smooth transition.
This is the final phase in the methodology. During this phase, the project team finalizes all activities and hands over all details to the support team (client or Aevitas IT). This is also the time in which we’ll resolve any last minute bugs or error fixes in the system. We will complete the integration with the SAP Solution Manager for operations, monitoring, and support and close the project by handing over all relevant documents to the business owners.