S/4HANA Change Management: Consulting & Advisory Services
Long-term success through employee acceptance
Optimal collaboration between IT and business departments
We connect IT and business, create clarity in communication, and ensure that requirements are clearly defined, processes are appropriate, and all stakeholders are involved at an early stage.
Hand in hand with the SAP system integrator
We work closely with the system integrator. Their experts focus on processes and technology, while we focus on change, communication, and the employees affected by the transition.
Long-term success through employee acceptance
Many companies lack the capacity and expertise needed for S/4HANA change management. We ensure that people are just as important as technology, that they understand the benefits, and that they work productively with the new system.
Optimal collaboration between IT and business departments
We connect IT and business, create clarity in communication, and ensure that requirements are clearly defined, processes are appropriate, and all stakeholders are involved at an early stage.
Hand in hand with the SAP system integrator
We work in close collaboration with the system integrator. Their experts focus on processes and technology, while we, as an SAP S/4HANA consulting firm, focus on change, communication, and the employees affected by the transition.
Our customers
What does SAP Change Management mean?
The 8 biggest challenges in the S/4HANA conversion
Companies that want to get the most out of the SAP S/4HANA transformation should look beyond just processes and systems. A survey of SAP customers shows that 62% of challenges relate to human factors. Since S/4HANA affects the entire company, many challenges must be tackled simultaneously. The biggest challenges are:
SAP S/4HANA Change Initiation
A successful start is crucial for the success of the S/4HANA transformation. In addition to many technical tasks, a clear focus on people is required. Different views can quickly lead to some employees withdrawing. Instead, it is important to involve them in a targeted manner and to identify and avoid uncertainties at an early stage. Managers must be aware of the mood and share information openly to prevent resistance. To ensure a successful start, we support the SAP S/4HANA conversion with our proven change initiation approach:
S/4HANA Change Initiation offers you numerous advantages:
Defined change measures
All change measures that promote acceptance and commitment have been defined. They are an important part of the SAP S/4HANA transformation and an integral part of the project roadmap.
Clear change
Control
All the necessary committees and key roles for the transformation have been filled—including the Guiding Coalition, leadership roles from the Network Map, and the SAP Change Management Office. This enables efficient management.
Central project communication
Uniform alignment
The change story has been developed in collaboration with the guiding coalition, and the approach and goals of the transformation have been agreed upon. This ensures a consistent focus and communication.
Motivated project team
The project team understands the reasons for the transformation and has a clear and consistent vision of the goal. This leads to a high level of motivation and focus in the collaboration.
Defined change measures
All change measures that promote acceptance and commitment have been defined. They are an important part of the SAP S/4HANA transformation and an integral part of the project roadmap.
Clear change management
Central project communication
Project communication has been established and serves as a central point of contact for informing all stakeholders about the SAP S/4HANA conversion and the changes specific to each target group.
Uniform alignment
The change story has been developed in collaboration with the guiding coalition, and the approach and goals of the transformation have been agreed upon. This ensures a consistent focus and communication.
Motivated project team
The project team understands the reasons for the transformation and has a clear and consistent vision of the goal. This leads to a high level of motivation and focus in the collaboration.
Change Implementation is a package of six highly effective modules that we use to make your change project a success.
Diana Herr, Senior Manager at CPC
SAP S/4HANA Change Management
An SAP S/4HANA transformation is a demanding project that not only has to be implemented successfully from a technical perspective, but also requires the commitment of everyone involved. The challenge is to not neglect the human component despite limited time. Because one thing is clear: if the project stalls, costs will quickly rise. There is also a risk that motivated employees will withdraw if they are not sufficiently involved. IT and business employees may also find collaboration unproductive if unresolved conflicts exist. In addition, end users may lose interest in change, and resistance makes it difficult to learn new functions.
With our "CH/4NGE" approach, we offer comprehensive support from the start of the project to the hypercare phase. We align all SAP change management tasks with the IT project phases of your S/4HANA conversion. This allows us to adapt our approach flexibly and quickly to your chosen procedure, such as SAP Activate. This takes the pressure off project managers and ensures that all stakeholders are involved from the outset. The result: employees understand and accept the need for change, actively drive it forward, and use the new SAP S/4HANA system effectively in their daily work.
CH4/NGE offers you numerous advantages for your S/4HANA implementation:
1. Apply leadership knowledge
Reality training is like a flight simulator for business. Managers work together as a task force for two days, accompanied by coaches. In numerous meetings and situations, they encounter employees of the training company and must apply their management knowledge.
2. Coaching
The coaches remain "invisible" in all situations. They observe the managers, identify strengths and areas for improvement. In the evening, they give feedback and motivate the participants to adapt their leadership behavior the very next day in the training company.
3. Adapt leadership behavior
Your managers exemplify a positive corporate culture, show appreciation, give feedback, and develop the team further. They create a working environment that employees find highly attractive.
4. Peer-to-peer exchange
During the management training, participants can exchange ideas and learn from each other.
5. Coaching support
Typically, the reality training does not end after the two days. The coaches continue to accompany the participants in the following weeks and support them so that the leadership skills they have acquired can be applied effectively in their everyday working lives.
1. High acceptance
Project participants, managers, and end users are behind the SAP S/4HANA conversion and the associated technical and procedural changes.
2. Valuable change expertise
3. Transparency of the effects
The effects of the transformation are transparent and target group-specific. This allows the right information and empowerment measures to be provided and implemented.
4. Informed employees
Long-term communication tools keep managers and end users regularly informed and provide them with the knowledge they need for a successful S/4HANA transformation.
5. Strong change agent network The change agent network is a network of people who are committed to driving change and who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with others. This network is essential for ensuring that change is implemented effectively and that it is supported by a broad base of people.
An organization-wide network of dedicated change agents actively supports the transformation and provides needs-based communication and empowerment measures within the project.
1. High acceptance
Project participants, managers, and end users are behind the SAP S/4HANA conversion and the associated technical and procedural changes.
2. Valuable change expertise
Managers acquire practical change management knowledge that they can also apply in future projects. For example, they recognize resistance early on and know which measures will help.
3. Transparency of the effects
The effects of the transformation are transparent and target group-specific. This allows the right information and empowerment measures to be provided and implemented.
4. Informed employees
Long-term communication tools keep managers and end users regularly informed and provide them with the knowledge they need for a successful S/4HANA transformation.
5. Strong change agent network The change agent network is a network of people who are committed to driving change and who are willing to share their knowledge and experience with others. This network is essential for ensuring that change is implemented effectively and that it is supported by a broad base of people.
An organization-wide network of dedicated change agents actively supports the transformation and provides needs-based communication and empowerment measures within the project.
"With our CH/4NGE approach, we leverage the potential of your employees and ensure the long-term success of S/4HANA."
Sebastian Beeck, Manager at CPC
White paper available for download
Many S/4HANA transformations fail because the importance of employees for the success of the project is underestimated. But they are the key when it comes to changing daily behavioral routines and successfully establishing new processes. Successful SAP change management is crucial for the future competitiveness of your company. But how do you ensure that the change is successful from the outset and that this mammoth undertaking becomes a flagship project?
Download the white paper as a PDF here!
We would like to express our gratitude for these awards.
- CPC is five-time No. 1 hidden champion for change management
- Year after year, Brandeins/thema names us Germany's best management consultancy for change management.
- We have been Focus Top Consultants for many years.
- HR Excellence Award and European Training Award winner together with Deutsche Telekom and Lufthansa Technik
- We are ranked No. 1 on the Great Place to Work list in the 51–100 employees category and are a Kununu Top Company.
Our S/4HANA reference cases
With numerous successful S/4HANA projects in various sectors, we have established ourselves as a trusted partner for companies and public institutions of all sizes. Whether technology, healthcare, education, or retail—we have industry-specific expertise and consistently focus on the requirements of our customers. The following reference projects show how we work and make S/4HANA conversions successful.
Ramp-up of change processes and creation of urgency at a medium-sized industry leader in the healthcare sector
Change initiation for developing the roadmap and preparing the set-up phase in the public sector
Ramp-up of change processes and creation of urgency at a medium-sized industry leader in the healthcare sector
Change initiation for developing the roadmap and preparing the set-up phase in the public sector
Discuss your project with us!
Step 1
Call back or email.
We will contact you within 24 hours, record your requirements, and coordinate an appointment with one of our experts.
Step 2
Free initial consultation.
In a video conference, you explain your project and discuss possible solution scenarios with our expert.
Step 3
You decide how to proceed.
Offer, pitch, or project launch? You decide the next steps.
S/4HANA Change News
"Our S/4HANA change approach puts people at the center, which has a direct positive impact on the business."
Michael Kempf, Partner at CPC
Questions and answers
What is SAP S/4HANA?
S/4HANA (SAP Business Suite 4 SAP HANA) represents the fourth generation of SAP enterprise software and is a highly integrated ERP (enterprise resource planning) solution based specifically on the powerful SAP HANA in-memory database. This real-time ERP suite aims to fundamentally transform and automate business processes by leveraging innovative technologies such as artificial intelligence.
S/4HANA features a significantly simplified data model that greatly reduces complexity and increases efficiency. The integration of numerous innovations through the SAP HANA Cloud platform opens up new opportunities for companies. In addition, the role-based and intuitive SAP Fiori interface offers user-friendly and efficient operation that is specifically tailored to the needs of modern working environments.
The previous SAP systems R/3 and ECC will only be supported by SAP until 2027. Companies that want to switch to S/4HANA must therefore act quickly and take appropriate measures to facilitate the transition.
What advantages does S/4HANA offer?
S/4HANA offers companies significant advantages over previous versions:
- Industry-specific, automated best practice processes
- Modern, role-based user interface on multiple devices
- Real-time data collection and self-service reporting
- Access to technologies such as AI, IoT, and machine learning for forecasting and simulation
- Increased transparency through harmonized master data
- Standardization and reduced complexity of the IT landscape
- Performance enhancement through the HANA in-memory database
- Lower IT operating costs thanks to optimized storage requirements
In summary, S/4HANA forms the basis for digitalization and the development of future business potential. Forward-looking technologies such as embedded analytics, Fiori apps, and artificial intelligence will play an increasingly important role in this process.
Why is now the right time to switch to S/4HANA?
SAP S/4HANA forms the basis for state-of-the-art business processes and the digital future of many companies. In addition, unlike simple system upgrades, the S/4HANA transformation offers the opportunity to standardize and harmonize historically grown processes and system landscapes, thereby achieving further efficiencies.
What typical changes does the S/4HANA transformation bring?
The transition from SAP ECC to S/4HANA presents both technical and strategic challenges. Therefore, quality SAP change management consulting is essential to prepare users for the new features and processes.
The choice of conversion approach (brownfield, greenfield, or selective data transition) has a major impact on the degree of change for users. Brownfield allows you to work largely as before, while greenfield and selective data transition require more adjustments.
The transformation also opens up opportunities to improve process organization, the role of IT, and data transparency within the company. The vision and commitment of top management is crucial to this.
Read more about typical challenges in the SAP S/4HANA conversion in our article "
" (The SAP S/4HANA conversion: a challenge for the IT department) in the magazine ERP Information.
Is CPC the "right" partner?
We are one of the leading S/4HANA change management consulting firms in Germany. For more than 30 years, we have been supporting international corporations and large medium-sized companies in a wide variety of change projects.
Does CPC have the necessary expertise?
We have relevant experience in SAP S/4HANA transformations of various sizes. We would be happy to provide you with insights into references and exemplary solutions to convince you of our capabilities. Just get in touch with us.
How can I measure success?
In the initiation phase, we work with you to define key performance indicators that you can use to determine when you are successful and how much added value your business is generating.
Is CPC's SAP S/4HANA consulting tailored to our specific needs?
Yes, absolutely. We don't rely on rigid templates. Our CH/4NGE approach adapts flexibly to your corporate culture, your industry, and your specific IT project phase to best support your individual goals.
What SAP S/4HANA modules are available?
- SAP S/4HANA Finance
- SAP S/4HANA Asset Management
- SAP S/4HANA Human Resources
- SAP S/4HANA Manufacturing
- SAP S/4HANA Research and Development
- SAP S/4HANA Sales
- SAP S/4HANA Service
- SAP S/4HANA Sourcing and Procurement
- SAP S/4HANA Supply Chain
- SAP S/4HANA Solutions for Specific Industries