Currently, companies worldwide, regardless of their industry, are adopting Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems with the aim of optimizing and enhancing their internal management. These solutions bring a wide range of benefits to organizations, including effective integration of various areas such as finance, human resources, production, procurement, sales, and logistics. Additionally, real-time information sharing and process standardization are significant advantages that promote a noticeable increase in operational efficiency.
The maturity of SAP ERP systems worldwide
Despite all the benefits, companies using ERP face several challenges, primarily related to the processes of implementation, sustenance, integration, improvements, and system version upgrades. These steps require careful planning and efficient management as they involve adapting the solution to the specific needs of the company, ensuring its proper functionality and performance.
Furthermore, integrating ERP with other systems and implementing continuous improvements and updates are ongoing challenges that require a balance between implementing new functionalities and maintaining system stability. Overcoming these challenges is crucial to fully leverage the benefits of ERP and ensure the continuous success of the company.
For over 40 years, SAP has developed the largest and most recognized ERP system in the world. With a 24% market share, SAP has achieved a prominent global position. Its ERP is used by approximately 500,000 customers in 180 countries, covering all continents.
According to data from April 2023, over 90% of the largest companies listed in the Forbes Global 2000 use SAP’s ERP, SCM, PLM, and CRM products. This statistic reveals the widespread adoption and trust placed by leading organizations worldwide. In Brazil, specifically, there are more than 15,000 customers using SAP solutions.
With a large number of installations worldwide, SAP implementation projects no longer represent the majority of current demands. This indicates that organizations are focused on other stages, such as sustaining, improving, and updating existing SAP solutions, demonstrating the maturity and consolidation of these solutions in the business market.
Challenges in SAP implementation, sustenance, improvements, and version upgrades
As mentioned, implementing and sustaining an ERP system like SAP can be a complex and demanding challenge for a company. Our team of managers, consultants, and developers at ETHO IT Solutions has years of experience in implementing complex ERP systems and highlights the main challenges in these projects:
- Resource requirements: SAP implementation typically requires a dedicated team of experts, including functional and technical consultants, project managers, infrastructure specialists, and IT resources. It is essential for the company to have access to adequate and qualified resources.
- Change management: SAP implementation involves significant changes in business processes and company operations. Managing resistance to change and ensuring proper adoption of the new system by employees can be challenging. Careful planning and an effective change management strategy are necessary to minimize disruption and ensure a smooth transition.
- Customization and integration: SAP is highly configurable and can be adapted to meet the specific needs of a company. However, customization can be a complex and time-consuming process. Additionally, integrating SAP with other existing systems in the company can be a technically complex task, requiring expertise in system integration and data handling.
- Cost: SAP implementation often involves high costs, including licensing, consulting, training, and infrastructure. It is essential to manage the budget and ensure a positive return on investment, especially for smaller companies.
- Implementation time: SAP implementation can take months or even years, depending on the size and complexity of the company. The implementation schedule needs careful management, considering the interdependencies between different SAP modules and the availability of resources.
- Ongoing support and evolution: After the initial implementation, the company will need to provide continuous support and perform updates and maintenance of the SAP system. This requires additional resources and expertise to ensure the system continues to function effectively and meets the ever-changing needs of the company.
Overcome the challenges and enjoy the numerous benefits of SAP: discover the advantages of a comprehensive and integrated ERP system
Although SAP implementation may present challenges, the benefits of having a comprehensive and integrated ERP system outweigh the difficulties faced during implementation. Among the main benefits, we highlight:
- Integration – integrates various departments and functions of an organization, allowing real-time information flow and eliminating the need for manual interfaces between systems.
- Operational efficiency – automates tasks and processes, reducing dependence on manual work and increasing efficiency. It improves data accuracy and streamlines operations.
- Informed decision-making – with access to real-time data and analytical resources, managers can make informed and strategic decisions to drive company growth and profitability.
- Standardization – provides a standardized framework for business processes, ensuring consistency and compliance throughout the organization.
- Visibility – provides a comprehensive view of business processes, allowing managers to monitor performance, identify issues, and take corrective actions quickly.
- Support for expansion – being highly scalable, it can be adapted to accommodate growth and changes in company needs
- Improved customer service – can significantly enhance customer service. With quick access to up-to-date information on orders, customer history, and inventory status, your team can promptly respond to customer requests, provide accurate information on delivery times, and improve the overall customer experience.
- Compliance and governance – an ERP system can help your company comply with regulations and legal requirements. With compliance features such as financial controls, audit tracking, and risk management, you can ensure that your company operates within established guidelines.
SAP Implementation and Sustenance: A Team of Experienced Professionals is Essential at Every Stage
Here at ETHO, we have a team with vast experience in SAP projects, and we know that one of the key success factors in these initiatives is the ability to find and assemble a team composed of professionals with complementary knowledge under a management layer that can manage and integrate the various work fronts in a coordinated manner.
As explained by Bruno Mello, Director of ETHO: “One important characteristic of these projects is the high incidence of global initiatives that require interaction between multicultural teams and knowledge of local specificities, which brings greater management complexity and the need for professionals who speak other languages fluently.”
The Director also highlights that ETHO has in its management team senior professionals with experience in local and global projects of various sizes, covering all scenarios of the SAP lifecycle in an organization.
“We have an extensive network of professionals with significant experience in implementing and sustaining SAP projects, both within and outside Brazil, who can be mobilized to meet the demand of our clients.”
“Moreover, we also have experience and capability to manage large transformation projects and comprehensive solution implementations in various industry segments.”
How ETHO Can Help Your Company’s Challenges
We, at ETHO IT SOLUTIONS, have a specialized technical and managerial team in implementing enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems and understand the challenges of your business. Our executives are experienced professionals with extensive knowledge of technological challenges and corporate project implementation, and our team of developers is highly skilled and experienced.
Below are some important and essential points that we adopt for our clients to correctly address their demands and needs:
- Consultancy and requirements assessment: Conduct a detailed analysis of the company’s needs, evaluating existing business processes, identifying areas for improvement, and defining specific requirements for ERP implementation.
- Planning and project management: Our team of consultants assists in planning and managing the SAP implementation project, including defining milestones, creating a detailed schedule, allocating appropriate resources, and regularly monitoring progress. Effective project management facilitates smooth and timely implementation.
- SAP customization and configuration: Based on the company’s requirements, ETHO IT Solutions performs customization and configuration of SAP to meet the specific needs of the company. This includes defining organizational structures, module configurations, workflow definitions, and adapting the system to the company’s business processes.
- Integration with existing systems: ETHO IT Solutions assists in integrating SAP with other existing systems in the company, such as accounting systems, CRM, or legacy systems. This involves defining integration interfaces, data transformation, migration, and ensuring proper communication between systems.
- User training and support: We provide specialized training for SAP end-users, empowering them to use the system effectively. Additionally, ETHO offers ongoing user support, clarifying doubts, resolving issues, and providing technical assistance whenever needed.
- System maintenance and updates: After the initial implementation, we offer maintenance and continuous support services to ensure that the SAP system is functioning correctly. This includes applying updates, bug fixes, and enhancements, as well as monitoring and optimizing system performance.
ETHO IT Solutions is a technology consulting firm formed by former directors and executives from prominent global technology and business companies, such as Accenture, IBM, EY, Capgemini, among others. We are an excellent alternative to meet your technology needs, focusing on SAP, Salesforce, Google Cloud, and Cyber Security solutions.
As an experienced and qualified partner, our professionals can assist your company in SAP implementation and sustenance, providing technical expertise, functional expertise, and support at all stages of the process. Our goal is to support a successful implementation aligned with the needs and objectives of your business.
Would you like to know how we can help bring this solution to your company? Contact us and speak with one of our consultants.
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