Unlocking business value: Maximizing returns from your SAP investments

Amid
the
dynamic
realms
of
modern
business
and
technology,
organizations
seek
to
maintain
a
competitive
edge
and
elevate
business
outcomes
and
user
experiences
through
their
SAP
investments.
The
crux
of
this
endeavor
lies
in
fostering
continuous
value
creation
throughout
the
journey.
Drawing
from
my
experience
with
clients
across
expansive,
multi-year
SAP
engagements,
there
are
three
areas
where
collaborative
value
creation
and
charting
future
roadmaps
intertwine
seamlessly.

1.
Value
assurance
throughout
the
engagement
journey:

Value
assurance
is
the
cornerstone
of
every
SAP
engagement,
ensuring
alignment
with
strategic
imperatives,
adherence
to
predefined
objectives
and
delivery
of
anticipated
outcomes.
To
achieve
this,
a
meticulous
comprehension
of
the
client’s
requirements,
goals
and
challenges
is
essential.
It
is
important
to
structure
the
engagement
journey
with
periodic
assessments,
clear
milestones
and
ongoing
feedback
to
ensure
the
transformation
stays
on
track.

Using
structured
methodologies
such
as
the
IBM®
SAP
Value
Continuum
augments
this
assurance
significantly.
This
comprehensive
framework
embraces
the
pillars
of
cooperate,
co-execute
and
co-create
to
facilitate
collaborative
ideation,
outcome
delineation
and
executional
prowess.
This
fosters
a
symbiotic
journey
towards
value
realization.

2.
Drive
micro
transformations
with
process
mining:

Micro
transformations,
characterized
by
incremental
yet
impactful
alterations,
serve
as
the
catalysts
for
paradigm
shifts
in
business
outcomes.
Using
process
mining
methodologies
unveils
latent
opportunities
for
enhancing
operational
efficiencies,
thereby
allowing
clients
to
achieve
quick
wins
and
build
momentum
for
larger-scale
transformations.

Process
mining
is
a
powerful
service
offering
that
helps
organizations
identify
inefficiencies
in
business
processes
and
uncover
areas
for
improvement.
Whether
streamlining
order-to-cash
processes,
optimizing
supply
chain
logistics
or
enhancing
customer
experience
touchpoints,
process
mining
catalyzes
tangible
enhancements
such
as
cost
reduction,
heightened
productivity
and
augmented
customer
satisfaction.

Process
mining
can
help
at
every
stage
of
the
SAP
lifecycle
and
enables
the
right
decisions
at
the
right
time.
Some
of
the
key
use
cases
are
as
follows:

• Process
  analysis:
  Mine
  critical
  processes
  for
  process
  behaviors,
  deviations
  and
  KPIs.
  Establish
  a
  performance
  baseline.
• Process
  visualization:
  Convert
  results
  into
  models
  or
  develop
  to
  collaborate
  and
  enrich.
  Establish
  as-is
  processes.
• Comparison
  and
  enrichment:
  Compare
  to
  industry
  best
  practices.
  Adjust
  for
  unique
  processes.
  Adopt
  standards
  and
  define
  critical
  unique
  processes.
• Simulation
  and
  measurement:
  Generate
  embedded
  business
  cases
  for
  value
  realization,
  including
  cost,
  time,
  resource
  and
  bottleneck
  impact. 
• Opportunity
  identification:
  Analyze
  process
  performance,
  blockers,
  root
  cause
  and
  recommendations.
  Get
  improvements
  and
  a
  business
  case.

3.
Infusing
latest
technology
trends:

In
an
era
where
mere
stability
is
not
enough,
relentless
innovation
takes
the
lead.
Constant
evaluation
of
evolving
business
needs,
coupled
with
technologies
and
product
features,
defines
the
pathway
to
market
differentiation.
Embracing
the
right
blend
of
new
technological
trends
such
as
generative
AI
(gen
AI),
RPA
and
new
SAP
products
and
features
(such
as
BTP,
Joule,
SAP
Build)
resonates
at
every
stage
of
the
SAP
lifecycle.
As
you
work
to
achieve
this
balance,
focus
on:

• 
  A
  strong
  foundation:
  Build
  the
  fact
  base
  to
  confidently
  move
  forward
  with
  SAP
  S/4HANA-enabled
  transformation
  decisions
  and
  SAP
  technology
  roadmap
  using
  advisory
  frameworks
  such
  as
  IBM®
  Rapid
  Discovery.
• 
  Transformation:
  Co-execute
  your
  transformation
  journey
  by
  moving
  ERP
  to
  cloud
  with
  RISE
  with
  SAP
  and
  IBM
  ManagePlus
  offerings.
• 
  Next-gen
  managed
  services:
  Deploy
  noiseless
  operations
  with
  gen
  AI-enabled
  digital
  operations
  and
  modernized
  ways
  of
  working.
• 
  Sustainable
  and
  continuous
  innovation:
  Achieve
  continuous
  micro-transformations
  with
  intelligent
  process
  mining,
  SAP
  clean
  core
  capabilities
  and
  extreme
  automation.

A
holistic
approach
to
value
creation
in
SAP
engagements
is
essential
to
ensure
that
clients
achieve
their
desired
business
outcomes.
By
focusing
on
value
assurance
throughout
the
engagement
journey,
driving
micro-transformations
with
process
mining,
infusing
the
latest
technology
trends
like
gen
AI
and
achieving
high
business
outcomes,
organizations
embark
on
a
transformative
journey
to
achieve
their
strategic
objectives.

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IBM
at
the
Sapphire
Booth
in
Orlando
June
3-5

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