November - December 2016CIOAPPLICATIONS.COM 19Facts that CIOs should know about SAP implementation Don't overlook the importance of end-user experience at the launch of new application. You only have one opportunity to make a good first impression. This can be a challenge with any global solution (single instance of an application used by global workforce). To avoid surprises at roll out, ensure your implementation plan includes measuring end user performance from all locations. The focus of process workshops is largely intended to align cross-functional teams on workflows. Take care to ensure those same workflows will perform well and are instrumented for ongoing management in production for all stakeholders. You don't want to learn post-launch that user experience in your customer base is a `detractor' from success of the project. Before and After the Advent of SAPFrom a business outcomes perspective, efficiency gains and movement towards industry best practices are primary drivers for implementation of global ERP solutions such as SAP. Disparate local or regional systems can be an inhibitor to enabling business outcomes in multiple functional units. The application implementation project is a forcing function to address those challenges. From an IT management perspective, supporting multiple regional or local solutions for common business process areas creates management complexity and higher associated costs structures. It also makes it more challenging to address enterprise goals for business intelligence and management reporting. Having multiple transaction systems for business processes makes getting to a single system of truth much more challenging. Values Derived from SAP Implementations From my initial experience with implementing of SAP at Apple and seen thereafter, a key lesson learned is that the shift from multiple, disparate local or regional systems to a common, global integrated solution can be a major change management challenge. Alignment on process and ways of working as part of the implementation strategy is vital. The value coming from the implementation of an integrated solution--shaped by a mindset of best practices adoption --produces tremendous value from an efficiency and productivity perspective. Variations in common processes are often the result of differing definition of terms or workflows. So the implementation of a global solution also enables greater insights to business performance through normalization of definition of terms and corresponding Key Performance Indicators (KPIs). Value from SAP Lifecycle ManagementClearly initial adoption of complex and powerful enterprise systems like SAP is Planning Activities of SAPRichard Hillebrecht, SVP­CIO & CISO, Riverbed TechnologyCIOINSIGHTSThe On-going
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