No Fear of SAP Transformation Projects

More companies should take advantage of this opportunity - however, it is usually not technical but content-related concerns on the part of decision-makers and employees that block the way for new SAP technologies.

The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) as a bridge between the on-prem and cloud worlds is a good example of a new technology component that many companies are currently looking at. At the start of what may be the first SAP project in the cloud, questions often arise around data protection. Particularly in industries with access to critical information, IT service providers and project owners must first dispel security concerns - companies fear data leaks, unauthorized access and unauthorized use of their information. As a result, the great added value of BTP for the user and the company is sometimes lost sight of.

"The magic word is change management," explains Caspar Bickert, Consultant for IT Transformation and Change at BTC. "The successful introduction of new technologies goes far beyond technical details. It is important to involve all employees, from decision-makers to IT staff and users, at an early stage, to record their requirements and concerns, to address these transparently during the course of the project and to empower all stakeholders through training and communication. Change management is a decisive factor for the success of a transformation project."

With a transparent change story, the existing SAP customer gains acceptance and support for change processes. The first step is to get employees on board and involve them. A clear and transparent change story is essential for this. In other words, develop a clear narrative structure to communicate the purpose of the changeover to a cloud solution such as BTP to everyone involved.

This reduces natural resistance and promotes acceptance. The benefits of a solution must be communicated, exchange formats offered and transparent and continuous information provided about all steps in the project. Key users, i.e. employees with a particular affinity for technology or who are heavily affected, are an important building block here. Involve them at an early stage and use them as multipliers.

A comprehensible change story that develops as the project progresses, paired with credible advocates, creates a positive connotation for new technologies such as BTP and the cloud. At the same time, it prevents a transformation process from being slowed down or - in the worst case - failing. In the best-case scenario, doubters can even become promoters over the course of the project thanks to positive, appreciative experiences.

Early empowerment and individual adaptation of working methods are important. It is important to enable employees to recognize and fully exploit the potential of new technologies such as BTP. One option could be individually developed and held training courses for employees that teach them how to use the new platform and help them to improve their day-to-day work with the new technology.

IT transformation projects are essential for companies that want to make the best possible use of their SAP, relieve their employees and efficiently drive their business forward with their data knowledge - and not just in the SAP context. Companies that develop mechanisms now or have experienced service providers at their side to support change projects in a systematic and user-centered manner will be able to generate added value from these projects much more quickly.