One Data Transformation Approach?
In many transformation projects, it is necessary to bring together several consulting firms with different core competencies. If a high degree of flexibility is also required throughout the entire project, this can become an almost impossible task. This is where the Natuvion One Data Transformation Approach comes in. Patric Dahse, CEO of Natuvion, spoke to E3 magazine about it.
E3: In the transformation study, 43 percent of managers said that they had not or only partially achieved their goals. Why is this rate so high?
Patric Dahse, NatuvionAs part of the study, we determined that, in addition to organizational adjustments, the introduction of new technologies such as AI or go-to-market agility, as well as increasing innovative capacity, are typical transformation goals. The fact that so many managers say they have not achieved all their goals is probably due to the fact that they underestimated the IT transformation. A large proportion of respondents were surprised by the poor data quality and the lack of transformation expertise. A transformation is a large and often lengthy project. Requirements and parameters sometimes change. Reacting flexibly to this is difficult and complex.
E3: How can this be countered?
DahseMany questions need to be clarified in advance. What do I have in my systems? There is the determination of the data history, the used or unused data objects, the in-house developments. What data do I want to take with me? What can I delete in advance? What do I need to archive? Do I want to use the migration to solve other challenges at the same time? These include data reduction, increasing data quality, process adjustments and concepts for using AI. Many procedures, methods, approaches and philosophies have been developed on how to transfer data and processes to new systems. The challenge: for medium-sized and large companies in particular, these are huge projects that usually require many months or even several years of preparation, implementation and follow-up work. Companies that operate many interfaces and isolated solutions struggle with a high level of complexity. The problem: if mistakes are made during preparation, the project is drastically prolonged. In such cases, you often have to go back several steps.
E3: Is the problem just the migration?
DahseNo, the key is the integration of different sources and data. Because the data must match the processes. That's why a systematic approach is critical to success. Interestingly, the respondents to the Transformation Study 2024 also see it this way. Over 40 percent of top management responded that they would start much earlier if they were in the same position again. Over 50 percent of responsible IT managers would take much more time next time. Our experience is - and this is impressively confirmed by the figures from the Transformation Study 2024: the better the preparation, the better the transformation results.
E3: And Natuvion's answer to the challenges of IT transformation is the One Data Transformation Approach?
DahseWe see not only from the data in the transformation study, but also in our day-to-day practice, that for companies, an IT transformation is a complex project with which they have very little experience. In the 2024 Transformation Study, around 40 percent of the more than 1,200 managers surveyed confirmed that they had to build up new skills for their IT transformation, and 34 percent were very surprised by their own team's lack of experience. This situation is not getting any better. According to a Bitkom study, there will be a shortage of around 663,000 IT specialists in Germany in 2040 - 510,000 more than in 2024. This means that companies need a transformation approach that guides them through this complex process while still allowing them the greatest possible flexibility. Companies with little transformation experience in particular often find that initial assumptions and decisions cause them problems in the middle of the process.
E3: And how do you start here?
DahseWe offer a method consisting of a combination of consulting and software tools that avoids all the typical pitfalls and prepares companies in the best possible way. This gives customers a high degree of flexibility. This allows us to react better to changes in the project or to take on other projects, such as the introduction of a new general ledger or the fiscal year change, along with the transformation. The One Data Transformation Approach represents a flexible approach for a large number of requirements.
E3: How does the One Data Transformation Approach work?
DahseIt is an integrated method that helps companies to manage their IT transformation smoothly, quickly and, above all, predictably. It contains the know-how of more than 1000 IT transformations. From medium-sized companies such as FC Bayern Munich to global players such as VW, BMW, EON and Vattenfall. The One Data Transformation Approach is supported by powerful tools such as Natuvion Sophia, which examines the system to be transformed with over 500 analyses during preparation. It creates the basis for most of the transformation decisions. At its heart is the Natuvion DCS transformation platform. Tools for test data automation, project management and the decommissioning of legacy systems round off the concept. The One Data Transformation Approach combines successful methods and tools. It combines many existing SAP functionalities with predefined transformation templates.
E3: Green, Brown, Bluefield, Selective Data Transformation, Allfield, Near Zero Downtime, now One Data Transformation Approach - can the customer still keep up?
DahseThese terms are rather confusing. The list is missing greenfield or brownfield plus and many more, which describe the fact that there are also gradations between the various transformation scenarios. With the One Data Transformation Approach, there is no need to bother with these terms. It guides you through a clearly structured and moderated process from the very first step - regardless of scenarios. The approach includes existing implementation methods and can be flexibly and individually tailored to the appropriate migration scenario. Even if the requirements change, the approach does not have to be changed. This is cost-saving and target-oriented. As mentioned, 43 percent of companies miss their targets. This is problematic for such large and expensive projects. Therefore, a structured process is needed to achieve the goals "on time" and "on budget".
E3: How is the story received by the customer?
DahseCustomers really appreciate our approach. After all, the SAP trade press has been full of good advice for years. Do it this way and not that way. A tool here, an approach there. There are few integrated, moderated and complete processes that take the customer by the hand from day one to get them onto the new platform. Here too, our customers very rarely have such transformations in front of them. For many employees in the IT department, it is even the first time. There are major risks for companies in such a project. Most projects are therefore supplemented by consultants. Why? Because customers are looking for experience, guidance and orientation. And that's exactly what they get with the One Data Transformation Approach.
Transformation trends 2025
- Data is becoming an indispensable economic basis: In the age of digitalization, the importance of data continues to increase, especially when it comes to its completeness, consistency, structure, content or the structure of the data. It has now become a knock-out criterion, meaning that anyone who does not have the necessary data will be left behind. This makes it all the more important to make data of the appropriate quality, harmonized and centrally available.
- The number of transformations is increasing: Companies are being confronted with transforming methods, processes and technologies more and more frequently and at ever shorter intervals. The transformation of company data is central to this, which brings with it a growing need for transformation expertise.
- AI is increasingly anchored in processes: AI technology in innovation is becoming increasingly important. For transformations, this means that activities and processes based on historical knowledge and traditional work are changing: Manual tasks are being automated as far as possible and "historical knowledge" is being implemented into processes through AI by specifying target structures and framework conditions. AI-based and automated quality assurance methods are a game changer that will spark an enormously positive dynamic. The earlier and more intensively companies get to grips with the possibilities of AI technology, the greater the competitive advantage.
- Pressure to act on S/4 transformations is growing: SAP will continue to be a key driver of digital transformation in the coming year. This is largely due to the fact that established, old SAP versions will no longer be maintained from 2028. Instead, the focus will be on S/4 and a cloud-first strategy, which will increase the pressure on companies to plan and implement. In addition, SAP is also relying on AI, for example to carry out predictive analyses or intelligently automate business processes, which further increases the pressure to act.
- Standard solutions in the public cloud are booming: the dynamic nature of the IT world means that customizing or individual adaptation of solutions is dying out. In short, the cloud and the increasing use of standard solutions are reducing the half-life of software solutions. It is therefore essential that the transformation of IT systems becomes simpler and takes less time. SAP has already recognized this trend and is reaching out to its customers with the S/4 Cloud Public Edition. This example will be followed by other IT heavyweights in the coming year.
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