Why SAP standardization isn't enough

SAP's Strategy and the Power of Diverse Perspectives This week's discussions surrounding my blogs on Frank Albrecht's observations about the role of "non-SAP" partners and the potential of Agentic AI within the SAP ecosystem have been incredibly insightful. The diverse perspectives shared, particularly by Shaurin Shah, Wayne Holtham, and David Hilcher, have enriched the conversation and prompted me to delve deeper into these issues. Concerns from ERP Veterans The concerns raised by these ERP veterans highlight a growing unease with SAP's current strategy. Shaurin Shah emphasizes the limitations of SAP's ERP systems, particularly their focus on "purchases" rather than "people," which can hinder innovation. He suggests that decoupling AI and machine learning components from the core SAP system could foster innovation and allow customers to retain ownership of valuable business knowledge. Wayne Holtham criticizes SAP for competing with its partners and pushing immature products onto customers, eroding trust and damaging relationships. David Hilcher points to SAP's "Eurocentric" culture as a root cause of its problems, where a "one-size-fits-all" mentality and a lack of customer-centricity stifle innovation and fail to meet diverse customer needs. Addressing the Concerns These concerns raise important questions about SAP's future direction. To remain a leader in the ERP space, SAP needs to address these issues head-on. Collaboration and Customer Centricity: SAP should re-evaluate its relationship with partners, prioritizing collaboration over competition. Actively listening to customer feedback and needs is essential for delivering mature, customer-centric solutions. Embracing Openness and Flexibility: SAP could benefit from embracing a more open and collaborative culture, both internally and externally. Balancing standardization with flexibility and customization will be key to meeting the diverse needs of its customer base. Innovation and Adaptation: Decoupling AI and machine learning components, as suggested by Shah, could allow for greater innovation and adaptability. Embracing new technologies and business models is crucial for SAP to remain competitive in the rapidly evolving enterprise software landscape. The Way Forward The SAP ecosystem is at a crossroads. By addressing the concerns raised by ERP veterans and embracing a more open, collaborative, and customer-centric approach, SAP can continue to thrive and deliver value to its customers. For a more in-depth analysis of these issues, please refer to my white paper: [Concerns from ERP veterans over SAP's current strategy] https://lnkd.in/eXz7hQWG Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this blog post are my own and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of any company or organization.

🚫 SAP Alone Is Not Enough I’ve spent 20 years working with SAP, and I’ll tell you something many consultants won’t: 👉 SAP doesn’t win the digital transformation battle alone. Modern companies are no longer running on a single platform — they run on ecosystems: • SAP S/4HANA for the digital core • Salesforce or HubSpot for CRM • Microsoft Power Platform for workflows and quick apps • Specialized tools for logistics, HR, compliance, or customer experience But here’s the problem: ➡️ These systems often don’t talk to each other. ➡️ Data is duplicated, delayed, or misaligned. ➡️ Business processes suffer — and nobody takes full ownership. The future of IT leadership isn’t about choosing the “best tool.” It’s about designing an integrated digital core — where SAP works with other systems to enable real-time, end-to-end visibility and agility. Integration is no longer a technical afterthought. It’s a strategic pillar of digital success. If you’re a CIO, Head of IT, or transformation leader, here’s the question you should ask: Do our systems enable flow — or create friction? #SAP #DigitalTransformation #IntegrationStrategy #ITLeadership #Salesforce #PowerPlatform #S4HANA #CIO #BusinessProcessTransformation

"I get why it’s right for SAP. But it’s not right for us." Ever heard a customer say this? I have. More than once. And they’re not talking about bugs or broken processes. They’re talking about something harder to measure — fit. ✔️ The system works ✔️ The design follows best practices ✔️ Every box is checked But still… something feels off. Why? Because in our push to deliver standard, we sometimes erase what made the business special. 🚫 Decision-making feels slower 🚫 The workflows don’t match how teams actually operate 🚫 The system works, but the people don’t love it This is the quiet cost of “fit-to-standard” — when you fit the business into the system instead of fitting the system around the business. SAP should enable the business — not reshape it. As consultants, our job isn’t to enforce the model. It’s to protect what makes our customers competitive. Standard only works when it fits. #SAP #ERP #DigitalTransformation #ConsultingLife #CustomerVoice #BusinessDesign #FitToStandard

💡 𝗦𝗔𝗣 𝗦/𝟰𝗛𝗔𝗡𝗔: 𝗣𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗳𝘂𝗹—𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗙𝗿𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴? 💡 Having spent over 25 years implementing SAP, I've seen its strengths and weaknesses firsthand. Here's why many organizations find SAP S/4HANA challenging: ✅ 𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝘇𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – Great for uniformity but can clash with unique business operations. ✅ 𝗙𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗱 𝗠𝗶𝗴𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 – SAP’s 2030 support cutoff for ECC/R3 is pressuring businesses into premature upgrades. ✅ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲𝘅𝗶𝘁𝘆 – Powerful yet sometimes overwhelming, with key functionalities missing compared to older SAP versions. ✅ 𝗕𝗲𝘀𝘁-𝗼𝗳-𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗖𝗵𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗲𝘀 – Integration of acquired systems like Ariba, SuccessFactors, and Concur can feel fragmented. But here's the good news: you can make SAP S/4HANA work better for your business. 1️⃣ Conduct an 𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗽𝗲𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗻𝘁, 𝘁𝗲𝗰𝗵-𝗮𝗴𝗻𝗼𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗮𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 to clearly identify capability gaps. 2️⃣ 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗴𝗶𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆—upgrade when it aligns with your readiness and resources. 3️⃣ Explore alternative or hybrid solutions where flexibility is essential. 🎬 Watch the full video here: https://lnkd.in/gtfJyry9 I'd love to hear your SAP experiences or insights—drop your thoughts below! ⬇️ #SAP #S4HANA #DigitalTransformation #ERP #SAPImplementation #ChangeManagement #TechTrends