Lessons from the coalface: 5 SAP S/4HANA implementation battlescars
So, you’ve decided to jump onto the SAP S/4HANA bandwagon. Good choice! It’s like upgrading from an old, clunky flip phone to the latest smartphone - faster, smarter, and way more efficient. But let’s be honest, any major system transformation can be a minefield of frustration if you don’t manage change properly.
To keep your SAP S/4HANA implementation from turning into a digital horror story, here are five key change considerations to keep in mind - served with a side of real-life wisdom.
1. Get Buy-In: Don’t Be Like Blockbuster
Let’s start with the elephant in the room - resistance to change. If your employees aren’t on board, your SAP project is doomed before it even starts. Remember Blockbuster? They had the chance to buy Netflix for a measly $50m in 2000 but decided, “Nah, people love late fees.” We all know how that turned out.
Your teams need to see SAP S/4HANA as an opportunity, not a disruption. Communicate the benefits early and often, involve key stakeholders, and get leadership to champion the change. Otherwise, you’ll be left wondering why nobody is using your shiny new system.
2. Data Quality: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Think of your SAP system like a Michelin-star kitchen. You can have the best chefs (employees) and the best equipment (software), but if you’re working with rotten ingredients (bad data), your customers (business operations) will suffer.
A real-world disaster? Boeing’s 737 Max crashes were partially linked to bad data in its flight control system. If a small error can lead to catastrophic consequences in aviation, imagine what messy data can do to your financial reporting, supply chain, or customer management.
Clean up your data before migrating to SAP S/4HANA. Conduct a full audit, remove duplicates, fix errors, and standardise formats. It’s tedious, but future-you will thank you.
3. Process Alignment: Don’t Just Lift-and-Shift
Moving to SAP S/4HANA isn’t just about swapping out old software for a new one - it’s an opportunity to optimise processes. Otherwise, you’re just carrying over inefficiencies.
Take Kodak, for example. They invented digital photography but stuck to their old ways, fearing change would hurt their film business. Spoiler alert: it did anyway, and Kodak filed for bankruptcy in 2012.
Don’t be a Kodak. Challenge existing processes, streamline workflows, and make full use of SAP’s best practices. Aligning business processes with new technology is the secret sauce to maximising value.
4. Training and Support: Because “Figure It Out” Is Not a Strategy
Imagine handing your grandma an iPhone for the first time without any instructions. Chaos, right? Now imagine rolling out SAP S/4HANA without proper training - same energy.
One famous example? The failed £12 bn NHS IT system overhaul. One key reason? Insufficient training and poor user adoption.
Your employees need structured training, hands-on workshops, and continuous support. The more comfortable they feel, the smoother your implementation will be. No one should have to Google “SAP S/4HANA for dummies” on Day 1.
5. Change Fatigue: Don’t Burn Everyone Out
If your company has undergone multiple tech rollouts in a short time, employees might be experiencing change fatigue - a fancy way of saying, “We’re exhausted, please stop.”
Balance is key. Implement changes gradually, celebrate small wins, and provide breathing room for teams to adapt. SAP S/4HANA is a marathon, not a sprint.
Final Thoughts
Your SAP S/4HANA implementation doesn’t have to be a cautionary tale. With the right change management strategy - buy-in, data integrity, process optimisation, training, and mindful pacing - you can make this transition as smooth as a Netflix binge session (without the Blockbuster ending).
Ready to take the leap? Just remember: the future belongs to those who embrace change, not those who fear it.
Good luck on your SAP transformation journey.