Transformation at all levels

While the pandemic was initially perceived as a catalyst or wake-up call for digital transformation in order to simplify and accelerate processes, in the end all that often remained were collapsed supply chains and stagnating sales. This hit SAP user companies at an already fragile time of upheaval. There is a strong push from Walldorf towards new product generations and the cloud.

At DSAG, however, we have come to realize this: Many companies do not yet have a good understanding of how they can move from their traditional processes to intelligent solutions with an S/4 Hana project. SAP preaches simplification, but this is not so easy to achieve. The associated changes are often not agile and simple, but strenuous, time-consuming and cost-intensive. In times of frozen budgets, this is not encouraging.

This is precisely why we now need the courage and intelligence to change. This is precisely the motto of the user association's annual congress, which is currently taking place. Due to the pandemic, it will once again take place virtually under the name DSAGLive until we hopefully return to a face-to-face event next year, or rather an intelligent mix of physical and virtual events.

Developing new business models based on digitalization in order not to fall behind in the global market does indeed require courage and intelligence. Companies need a strong partner to support them and provide the right tools with its products and solutions. Rise with SAP is a first step on the path to the new S/4 product generation and into the cloud from the traditional on-premises perspective, i.e. software systems installed exclusively in-house. 

SAP and its partners are now called upon to show ways in which highly customized systems and processes can be transferred to S/4 Hana cloud environments and what customers need to do to achieve this. Rise with SAP can be a very interesting offer for companies. However, the concrete models in coordination with the SAP partners among the DSAG members are still missing. We are currently experiencing a certain amount of uncertainty here.

Rise with SAP is a starting point from which SAP will certainly have to improve. Nevertheless, the Group has already delivered and implemented a number of DSAG demands in the past, and this should not be concealed. It is also a fact that much of what has been developed in Walldorf has not yet trickled down sufficiently into customer projects. Transformation is not only technical, but also has an organizational component. Here, SAP can only provide support; the companies themselves have to do this - with courage and intelligence.

As a think tank and mouthpiece for SAP user companies in German-speaking countries, DSAG knows from its numerous working groups that some things are perhaps still too stuck in the old ways. The focus is often on optimizing existing processes rather than on innovative transformation. Courage and intelligence are required from everyone: from SAP and partners as well as from user companies and DSAG. We cannot stand idly by and watch as the USA, China and other players in the global market continue to lose ground. Transformation at all levels, that's what it's all about.