The SAP S/4HANA opportunity reshapes business

Customers are used to software changes. They upgrade or engage in a migration to stay compliant and then they go back to doing business. It is the standard cycle, but it is not what to expect with SAP S/4HANA.

SAP S/4HANA is an opportunity to reshape how you do business. Unfortunately, many SAP clients do not look at it this way. They don’t see the value of the technology and how it will help them solve the challenge of securing a massive return on investment from their data.

Every company has data, but the best ones are organizing around that asset. For example, one global consumer-products company took a concierge approach in capturing large volumes of data and making sense of the chaos. That was only the first step; it also assessed how to make decisions from the data, ensuring the right people were getting access to make business decisions.

The data can be accessed by employees around the world and has already helped the company know its consumers better. Business users can now get answers to myriad questions that they couldn’t before. The system is housed on a standards- and rules-oriented platform, so if everyone in the company asks the same question, they all receive the same answer.

The best companies are taking a similar approach with SAP S/4HANA. It has the in-memory capabilities to deliver real-time information, but it is the innovation around it that makes the difference.

Companies are at different stages of this process. Some are playing defense and don’t know where to start. Some are already on the journey and have begun the process. And then there are companies on offense who are already organized around SAP S/4HANA.

Capgemini’s Renewable Insights is an opportunity at any stage of the SAP S/4HANA journey to get the best return on investment from data. Companies which haven’t started can deploy cloud technology platforms for data capture, analytics, machine learning, and artificial intelligence today, and it will mean less work when they do move to SAP S/4HANA.

For companies already on the journey, Renewable Insights can make sure you are on the right path and understand the opportunity that SAP S/4HANA brings. It is not just migrating to a new platform. It is about truly capitalizing on the assets your data brings, both in the Digital Core and around the edges.

And once companies have SAP S/4HANA, Renewable Insights can help determine the return on investment and how you can get more out of it.

Do not approach SAP S/4HANA as an upgrade or migration. That is a mistake. It is about the opportunity to reshape and redefine your business for the future. https://www.youtube.com/embed/M7cHgBlpFAs?feature=oembed&enablejsapi=1&origin=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.capgemini.com

Mike Price is a Vice President with the Insights & Data team and is responsible for SAP initiatives. He has been guiding clients at Capgemini for more than 16 years and can be reached at michael.r.price@capgemini.com.

Mike Price

Expert in Insights and Data

I am committed to delivering clients real business value from data and analytics ventures. As an Insights and Data Growth Practice Lead, I focus on new areas of growth to add to the portfolio of Capgemini Group alliances. I search for new and emerging partnerships that can further this goal. I also serve as an I&D SAP Practice Leader, supporting partnership within the global Capgemini SAP practice. I am an expert at working with client executives and Capgemini teams to drive strategy and leverage the insights and data portfolio to help companies become more data-driven through transformation, management, and performance.
My recent work includes:
Building and managing an Analytics Center of Excellence for over 70 resources across multiple sectors
Leading a team in the logical and technical design of an Enterprise Sales Warehouse
Leading the business process design, technical design, and delivery of an enterprise-planning, budgeting, and forecasting program deployed across all major markets
Developing a data-governance program to standardize and manage enterprise data assets and architecture
Developing an Analytics Strategy and Governance program concerning functional processes, organizational, and information requirements.
I have operated across Capgemini market units and industries, including consumer products, retail, manufacturing, energy and utilities, media and entertainment, and life sciences. I joined Capgemini in 2004 and have held various positions within the firm. I was initially a North American SAP Business Intelligence and Analytics Leader before taking on various new roles within the firm. I was also COO of the Insights and Data North America geography for three years.
Outside of work, I often speak and present on data and analytics at various venues including market analyst and partnership events. In my spare time, I enjoy running and other athletics.