SAP offers industry-leading ERP software that meets the multiple challenges of modern businesses, from fast and accurate data processing and automation to real-time visibility into data and processes for informed decision-making.
Yet, although all of the SAP products and systems are integration-friendly, businesses often face challenges when migrating to SAP from their legacy systems. SAP consulting services simplify this journey for companies, helping them transition seamlessly.
In this article, we’ll discuss the key reasons and cases when businesses require SAP consulting services, as well as the benefits they receive from employing them.
When Companies Need SAP Consulting Services
Although most people hire SAP consulting companies, for example LeverX, during the initial SAP implementation, there are other situations when assistance from trusted consulting agencies is a necessity. Below, we outline the most common use cases:
First-time implementation
Migration from the legacy system is associated with bottlenecks due to siloed data, fragmented processes, and a complex legacy architecture that needs to be renewed or even rebuilt to migrate to SAP. Often, this process also requires some disruption in services and operations.
SAP consulting services help solve these problems and devise new system architectures flawlessly, while ensuring the interoperability of the services.
SAP system upgrade
For companies using older versions of SAP, integrating the new SAP products with their existing services can be challenging. In this case, they hire SAP consulting to guide them through the migration process. Most often, this sort of service is needed when migrating from on-premises to cloud services.
In this case, businesses can encounter various types of issues, such as misconfigured cloud services, data breaches during migration, vendor lock-in, and other problems that may require a specific approach form to be developed for the company implementing SAP.
Business process reengineering
When a company undergoes a significant shift in its business focus, its IT structure should be adjusted accordingly. Companies using SAP products may require SAP consulting teams to assist them in restructuring and rebuilding operations using new SAP tools.
Integrations with other systems
In cases where integration is required with other systems (such as Salesforce or Shopify) or with newly developed legacy products, a company may need specific integration frameworks. These frameworks can be created either by in-house IT teams or through third-party services.
Yet, in-house IT teams often lack the training necessary for SAP integration with third-party software. SAP consulting service can guide companies through the integration process by sharing expertise and experience in various SAP integrations. Primarily, they provide companies with the development of custom APIs and middleware, as well as custom-made integration frameworks.
Industry-specific requirements
Although SAP systems offer a wide range of features that cater to various business niches, there are still industry-specific requirements that need to be addressed accordingly.
For example, domains such as manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals, and logistics require different sets of features to be configured.
SAP consultants who specialize in implementing SAP solutions for various companies worldwide typically possess industry-specific expertise and advise businesses on how to optimize the positive outcomes of SAP implementation in each specific case.
Global expansion
Company growth is a nice but challenging scenario for any business. For example, if a business goes global, a new configuration of its IT system is required.
Consider the multi-currency and multi-language support, as well as the compliance regulations that may be country or region-specific. This way, a company needs a comprehensive upgrade of its IT systems, which can run faster and more smoothly when supported by an experienced SAP consulting team.
Mergers, acquisitions, or divestitures
When companies consolidate, they encounter various challenges. When both companies were SAP clients, the merger could run smoothly; however, it still required oversight to ensure all operations and processes were properly aligned.
If one of the companies wasn’t using SAP before the merger, the corporation must undergo the same process of first-time SAP implementation again. That may require building custom integrations, data preparation, and migration, and ensuring the parent system continues to work properly following a sudden rebuild.
As this process requires building complex architecture and reengineering the existing process, SAP consulting services with experience in system mergers can help considerably.
If companies split or branch, they may encounter issues with dividing data and processing technology, which may also necessitate consulting.
Summing up
There are also situations when companies may require SAP development or integration services, such as addressing compliance issues, improving system performance, as well as integration with other systems. In every case, there are many vendors who have the necessary expertise and are ready to assist you. LeverX is one of them.
