SAP S/4HANA Transformation

SAP S/4HANA is the 4th SAP ERP generation and supports companies in taking a big step towards digitalisation or smart enterprise. It covers all functions of ECC 6.0. In addition, some functions that were previously only available in SAP industry solutions or via the connection of third-party systems have been integrated into the standard.
In the course of SAP’s simplification and digitisation initiatives, S/4HANA received a completely new architecture and role-based user interface (SAP Fiori) as well as an intelligent data model. In combination with the in-memory technology of the SAP HANA database, business processes can be executed much faster and more efficiently and intelligent real-time analyses can be performed.
SAP S/4HANA can be operated both on-premise and in the cloud.

The transformation of S/4HANA must be thoroughly prepared. After all, it is about converting an integrated, business-critical business process system. The conversion to S/4HANA is a highly complex project with a large number of affected users and usually tight time and budget constraints. In addition, it usually runs parallel to ongoing operations, i.e. it must not interfere with day-to-day business and should require only a few downtimes, set-up times and conversion times.
For more than 25 years, DHC has been your competent consulting partner for all SAP topics in the life sciences. Our consultants not only have the necessary SAP knowledge, but also in-depth process and industry know-how in the regulated environment. On the topic of SAP ERP, we support you from the strategy, through the creation of the roadmap, to the transformation and validation according to our process model for SAP S/4HANA, as well as beyond that with support and services.

Depending on the operating model, the path to SAP S/4HANA can therefore take the form of a complete new implementation (greenfield), a transformation / system conversion from a previous SAP ERP system (brownfield) or a “selective data transition”.

Which type of migration is used depends on various criteria, such as the customer’s existing IT system landscape, the desired degree of standardisation or customisation of the system or the decision for an on-premises or cloud operating model. Each approach has advantages and disadvantages that should be carefully weighed against each other.

We support you on your way to SAP S/4HANA and work with you to develop the roadmap that best suits your company.

When choosing the operating model, our customers in the pharmaceutical industry and medical technology must also take into account that they must not only implement and maintain the system used, but also validate it with the introduction and with each update. With on-premise use – i.e. in-house – S/4HANA Enterprise Management is validated “classically”. If you opt for the cloud variant, there are a few special features to consider when validating cloud computing systems, especially in the life sciences. Although the company hands over the responsibility for operating the system and places it in the hands of the cloud provider, the responsibility for quality always remains with the client.

For over 25 years, DHC has been your competent consulting partner for all SAP topics in the life sciences. Our consultants not only have the necessary SAP knowledge, but also in-depth process and industry know-how in the regulated environment. We support you from the strategy to the creation of the roadmap to the transformation and validation of SAP S/4HANA according to our process model and beyond with support and services.

There is currently a high demand for experienced SAP transformation consultants. According to a recent study by IT Online magazine, this shortage of experts is considered the second biggest challenge in the transformation to SAP S/4HANA. Since we are also faced with the challenge of being able to offer you corresponding capacities, we work together with a network of consulting specialists for the life sciences.

The conversion and validation go hand in hand to ensure the most efficient and frictionless transition to the “intelligent enterprise”. The Computerised System Validation is accordingly embedded in the approach and thus supports a risk-minimised project process. With regard to validation, the focus can be placed both on the resulting delta and on a re-validation based on the Digital Process Landscape.

The conversion to S/4HANA is tool-supported with minimal downtime and using automatisms that have been used successfully several times. Different transformation approaches can be used in a targeted manner, both brownfield, with the transfer of all data, and an approach based purely on selected data in time slices. But that is not all! We also support you during the transformation processes using oursolution components to optimise and generate initial added value for your company.

In order to constantly benefit from innovations on a scalable platform, we show you the way out of today’s ECC world towards the “intelligent enterprise”. By using powerful tools such as Cristal Bridge and Signavio, we are able to show you far-reaching optimisation potential even before the technical change of the platform and thus not only focus on necessary changes.

Release change and validation of SAP are deliberately not separated from each other in organisational and methodological terms in order to avoid excess work, inconsistencies and errors!

We accompany you on the way to the “intelligent enterprise” and support you in making the most of the added values of this transformation. Characterised by an evaluationbased on Business Process Intelligence, we show you the possible potentials at the earliest possible stage even before the technological platform change starts. Methods such as Business Model Canvas, Innovation Boards and other business analysis approaches help us to establish the business models with corresponding innovative processes and functions tailored to your needs and to increase your future security and competitiveness.

Following or parallel to the technological transformation, we work with you to develop the path to the future so that you can permanently benefit from innovations for your business and focus on the essential value-adding activities, e.g. by automating regression tests, in order to reduce the efforts in the affected departments to a minimum.

Establish new business models by easily integrating the required solutions from the SAP Ecosystem portfolio. Conversational AI, Intelligent Robot Process Automation or Workflow Management to create more freedom. Enable your departments to realise small adjustments and parameterisations themselves through LowCode/NoCode solutions, such as AppGyver, and thus reduce dependencies.