Success factor of the S/4 transformation

Whether it's a gradual migration (brownfield) or a complete reimplementation of the existing SAP systems (greenfield) - companies that take advantage of the opportunity to support the digital transformation by switching to S/4 Hana and at the same time consolidating the SAP system landscape and harmonizing SAP-supported processes in various functional areas (transformational migration) confront their users with extensive changes.

Changed tasks, partially redesigned processes, a new more user-friendly and consistent user interface, but also a multitude of small-scale changes and site specifics that need to be communicated efficiently to ensure user performance.

This applies not only once, but often over several releases thanks to an agile project approach. At the same time, new employees should also be able to familiarize themselves ad hoc with the handling of SAP-supported processes at any time.

In this respect, digitization has significantly increased users' expectations of usability and built-in "at the moment of need" support for system acceptance; conversely, the willingness to spend a lot of time in traditional classroom training has declined.

Organizational Change

In addition to the task of setting up an "Organizational Change" project, which analyzes the possibilities and effects of optimizing, harmonizing and automating processes and anchors them in the organization at an early stage, our customers therefore demand innovative user excellence concepts from Atos, which not least also master many an apparent conflict of objectives from the point of view of the various parties involved.

Volkhard Lorenz, Program Manager Training at Atos Germany, reports on this issue in a large and complex rollout program of a DAX 30 company - it is exemplary for other experiences:

We have harmonized processes and need standardized, reusable training media to "industrialize" our global rollouts. At the same time, however, the business units expect employees to be trained with their sample data in the respective local language, of course.

How can we avoid having to develop media and documentation completely from scratch for every rollout?

Another aspect: Besides classical user training, are there more efficient methods to provide SAP-experienced users with the relevant knowledge about changed process and organizational data (chart of accounts, cost centers, order types, master data...) at the moment of need?

"Tell me and I forget. Show me and I remember. Let me do and I understand" (Confucius).

True to this motto and in order to realize these customer expectations, Atos implements integrated, innovative training and user performance support concepts using new technological possibilities with the following core elements:

Thin Cloning

For the technical implementation, Atos relies on the web-based user excellence platform Vimago from partner Assima. The decisive factors are two innovations from Assima.

With Assima thin-cloning technology and the Assima Train single-source authoring tool, we enable our customers to have maintainable, localizable training media.

The special feature here is that Assima rebuilds the user interface in a fully functional way through the recording process and enables the realistic simulation of processes, thus eliminating the need for training systems. Object data can be adapted (e.g. localized) and translation is possible without re-recording.

In addition, the prototyping function enables system changes to be transferred "clone"-wide to all documentation that has been derived from the respective simulation. The Assist component gives all project participants (trainers, key users, process owners) a simple tool to proactively provide the user with process support, guidance and relevant change information in real time in the target application.

Embedded training and support directly on the job, the simple, direct communication of local specifics, but also the special ability to proactively avoid errors are the key to user acceptance and at the same time relieve key users and support.

Anchoring these new possibilities for achieving user excellence in our customers' concepts at an early stage in order to achieve significant savings is one of the tasks of the experts in the Atos User Excellence and Learning Solutions Team.

Core statements - S/4 transformation

• Conception: Efficient set-up by Atos experts with training strategy, job role process analysis, template curriculum, definition of template training media, set-up of training and user excellence platform.
• Methodology: Combination of training and the use of intelligent "in-application" support, reduction of formal training before go-live, focus on supporting users on the job.
• For pure delta training: Short "virtual classroom" sessions with system demos using "in-application" guidance and the "push" of user-relevant delta information to go-live. Half-hour "Virtual Learner" orientation training (online).
• Training of new processes/functions through "Instructor-Led Training" (ILT). Practical hands-on exercises use realistic simulations (Assima Thin-Clones) for interactive practice.
• Documentation: Centrally developed training media exclusively for SAP template processes.