Best Practices to Make Your SAP Project Successful - Project Preparation and Planning

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SAP is one of one of the most popular modern technology in the world today allowing firms to run and also manage their end-to-end business procedures on one incorporated modern technology system. SAP NetWeaver allows firms to integrate third party systems and external internet applications together with SAP core ECC system( s) there by offering a durable innovation infrastructure. This aids business which have actually currently purchased various other 3rd party systems to maintain their investment to support their business development. Now having said everything about SAP, you all understand that any kind of SAP makeover task is a big task and also every consumer wishes to put maximum effort and also committed workforce to make the implementation effective.

Today I want to emphasize on some ideal practices all SAP clients might intend to think about to decrease any threats as well as make sure success of your IT makeover job. Every company has various business requires to fulfill their corporate development technique that makes each SAP project unique in its very own method and also I will certainly share some best practices on a really high level that your SAP project management can utilize to their benefit to make certain that their SAP task is configuration for success.

So just how does a IT Improvement project start? Commonly, An IT technique to support a company's short term and also long-term business development is established by the C-level executive leadership (mainly by Chief Executive Officer, CIO, CFO, Vice Presidents of business and also IT/ Systems). Once the IT approach is erp sap system Malaysia specified as well as approved, an executive guiding committee is created with a few of the above execs and vital leadership individuals standing for business. The job is then officially kicked off right into planning, preparation, plan, functional design, technical design & construct, test, deploy, go-live as well as upkeep phases. There are various finest methods or actions I advise depending upon the customer and job scenarios. It may not be sap Malaysia sdn bhd virtually possible to cover best practices for all situations in this post. Yet, I will make an attempt to cover the most effective methods and also proactive actions at a macro level that need to be followed during each of the execution stages to reduce dangers and also prevent any unexpected obstacles to budget plan as well as go-live dates.

Partly 1, I will certainly discuss ideal techniques for SAP job planning stage which includes business preparedness, technology (and SAP modules/packages) choice, selection of SAP execution companion (likewise known as SAP Systems Integrator) and also lastly the task prep work stage. Component 2 and also 3 will cover the rest stages of your SAP task.

Planning Stage

At an early stage in this stage, the steering board should meet and also develop the initial make-up of task management that should include a program enroller, business lead as well as IT lead that belong to your business today and will remain to lead the IT strategy of the company going forward.

Business Preparedness (Specify Goals, Scope & Involvement Model).

In the planning stage, originally the task leadership should meet essential stakeholders and define their department goals that should be satisfied by the SAP task. As an example, if the brand-new makeover task includes a new business initiative or significant improvements to existing business procedures, then time to go-live will be a major element. Is the go-live timeframe straightening with the moment when you are planning to launch the brand-new business effort? Next point I will advise is to focus on the crucial project elements such as timetable, budget plan, as well as top quality to make sure that these restrictions can be plainly verbalized during the supplier option process. Also, specify the high degree scope of the project into 3 unique groups for each and every business work stream such as 'High', 'Tool' and also 'Low' concern. Likewise, business stakeholders and also management requires to recognize extent things that can be eliminated if the job budget plan and also timetable is tested. To the minimum it would certainly be excellent to have a PMO process in position to de-scope any one of the things when time or spending plan is tested.

Throughout this stage the task leadership group should examine the range of the task and pick the engagement version with the software execution supplier. Generally you can choose between a 'Fixed Cost' or 'Time & Materials' involvement design. Repaired Fee version suggests the vendor needs to carry out the whole job or each stage of the job for a fixed price. With Fixed Cost model, you as a customer requirement to specify your scope clearly to ensure that you can include it in the declaration of job. Fixed cost will additionally suggest that you will certainly be typically butted in many cases regarding 20% surcharge by systems integrator to cover the risk to supply the job on a range that was equally agreed upon at a set price. The drawback with this technique is in some cases there is a possibility for top quality of deliverables to be affected in the process of delivering solution as rapidly as feasible within the predefined spending plan. An adjustment control board must be established and also protocol for taking care of adjustment demands must be specified. It is suggested to do top quality testimonials on deliverables as well as general implementation to guarantee that solution provided is of top quality. The various other involvement version is 'Time & Materials' in which the consumer is spending for resources promptly and also product basis. Task management workplace (PMO) has to keep an eye on the task spending plan with respect to advance on deliverables really closely to guarantee that project is provided within the spending plan. It is simple to add scope and sources to satisfy deadlines thus overshooting the organized spending plan. With this model I will certainly recommend an additional third party or in-house SAP job manager (in addition to SI task and/or distribution manager) to make sure project distribution in time and budget plan. When utilizing this model, re-estimates and also quotes should be done in a prompt way at suitable turning points within each stage. If the SAP implementation job is complex as well as extent is not clearly understood after that this may be a much better alternative. Currently, in this stage you must evaluate all the benefits and drawbacks of both of these models and also pick one that suits the very best for your business.

Normally planning phase can last between couple of weeks to a couple of months and if you have business employee currently identified for the execution, you can engage them in defining the future state business needs. This would certainly help speed up the business requirements gathering stage and also creation of BPRDs throughout the blueprint.

Technology Choice.

In this write-up a presumption is made that you have actually already decided to go with SAP, however nevertheless not all tasks opt for a presumed modern technology of selection. In very short, if your company requires to choose an innovation to support your IT growth strategy there are numerous elements that need to be taken into account such as the following:.

Scalability of the innovation system.

Capability to sustain the long term business growth in terms of performance, data volume, performance, etc

. Durable integration abilities with inner and also outside systems.

SOA (Service Oriented Design) capabilities.

Ability to enhance the system internal after go-live with very little or no support from the item advancement team from the innovation supplier.

Business functionality fit with SAP typical modules such as FI-CO, SD, MM, IS Solutions, BI, PI, etc

. Choosing a Systems Integrator (or SAP Application Companion).

Once you have chosen SAP as your innovation system, the following action in the process is to determine possible SAP application partners with the help of a program consultant or SAP America. Welcome possible supplier sales executives and sustaining teams for a pre-planning workshops to orient suppliers with goals and also high degree business demands of the job. Invite proposals from each of these vendor firms complied with by official onsite testimonial of each proposal. Onsite review should include formal discussion on how the vendor prepares to deliver the option making use of an application methodology of their choice as well as also demo of supplier's resource knowledge in the SAP modules that require to be applied. I would suggest selecting minimum of at least 2 suppliers through this process to move onto proposal invitations and also additional negotiations. Allow's describe these vendors that are chosen to bid as 'Prospective Systems Integrator or Potential SI'. So as to get the most competitive project bids, you require to discuss task quotes between at the very least 2 companies to arrive at a competitive bid. Yet bear in mind that vendor prior execution experience as well as in-house SAP modules experience ought to be competitive before deciding to bargain the quotes.

A formal supplier assessment sheet must be prepared to pick a possible systems integrator. The job management should separate and SAP Services Malaysia dominate to do each supplier research study as well as load the examination sheet to cover the complying with facets. First, we need to evaluate whether the potential systems integrator (referred to as 'SI') has actually successfully delivered a comparable task (exact same market, service as well as size) in the past as well as check for customer references. Additionally inspect if the prospective SI has provided the task within the approximated budget. If the budget plan was surpassed it would certainly behave to recognize by what percent the spending plan was exceeded and factors for the exact same. Inspect if there are enough SAP experienced sources with the SI in each SAP module that require to be applied by performing a few SAP designer as well as elderly expert meetings. In the majority of jobs, offshore distribution capacities play a significant role. After that examine the overseas existence as well as check for effectiveness & efficiency of the offshore group on a previous project, if this uses to your task. Are you planning to have a SAP 'Center of Excellence' within your company to sustain the SAP system blog post go-live? If there is no COE or the staffing within the COE is restricted, you may want to check if the systems integrator has a production support and also upkeep abilities onsite/ offshore to sustain the production setting 24 X 7.

Prep work Phase.

Depending upon the application methodology, this phase might resemble to the one prior to blueprint stage. Make sure that all task and also group (or work stream) charters are specified throughout this stage if the systems integrator is running the PMO and also general project. Each charter needs to plainly define the scope of the job or the relevant work stream, recognize crucial stakeholders as well as specify the essential functions of participants. To the minimum I would certainly suggest a charter for every of the following that should be prepared and also signed off by the SAP project leadership.

Total job charter.

Total business group (as well as individual business job stream in case of big jobs).

Organizational Adjustment Management charter.

Integration group charter (includes legacy/ external apps, PI & ECC integration).

Technical Design Charter (SAP Systems Style).

Application Development Charter (covering RICEF + W ).

If tradition or Third event external applications are considerably improved to support a brand-new business version or integrate with SAP ECC system ), Legacy Systems Charter (Just.

SOA Charter (Although this might be incorporated partially within business as well as integration charters, I strongly suggest a different charter with an architecture group to lead SOA if your business has a heavy emphasis on Service Oriented Architecture. Having a different charter for SOA has actually heavily benefited my previous jobs to have robust, non-redundant as well as efficient enterprise services.).

The next factor I want to highlight is very critical specifically if you are making use of a SAP implementation partner (or Systems Integrator - SI) to prime your task. You ought to speak with and pick the SI management consisting of the client companion as well as exec management from the systems integrator. Having a knowledgeable as well as tried and tested leader with the SAP modern technology as well as business both together is the extremely critical to the success of the job. Generally, I would certainly not recommend two or more people in the senior leadership of the SI with some representing SAP technology and others standing for business competence. It is merely due to the fact that these individuals may come from different divisions or groups within the SI company as well as there might be a potential problem of passion in between these groups. Even if you do hire 2 or even more senior execs from the SI, then I would certainly advise having an independent job advisor for your task to guarantee that your project goals and also solution shipment milestones are not compromised.

At some time the initial quote from the systems integrator might consist of task end-to-end initial estimates. If not, then make sure that estimates are done for the whole job supported by a staffing version. Again, as sharp above there will certainly be a couple of milestones in your task when re-estimations will be done complied with by modifications to the staffing design. Based upon this staffing design, I would suggest interviewing as well as selecting all other SI secret employees like the job manager, OCM lead, RICEF lead, PI lead, BI lead, SAP Basis or technological style lead and also SAP practical leads for every job stream. Designers and also various other SAP consultants for both useful and also technological work streams can be chosen during plan based on prepared begin dates as established by the staffing model. If you have a systems integrator apart from SAP, then I would state it is nice to contend least an engineer (elderly SAP professional) from SAP America on the job to look for SAP practical experience as well as additionally to take advantage of any kind of SAP solution support from SAP experts and also core development.