What to Look for in an SAP Partner

⇨ Companies must find SAP implementation partners that offer comprehensive end-to-end assistance, including project management and customizable solutions, to ensure successful digital transformations.

⇨ It's crucial to evaluate potential partners based on their experience, SAP certification, and track records, as these factors significantly impact the partner's ability to deliver successful implementations.

⇨ While cost is an important factor, businesses should also consider the overall value, including detailed pricing models, time to value, and the availability of ongoing support and training after implementation.

As companies recognize the need to update and upgrade some of their essential SAP systems like SAP SuccessFactors, they are on the lookout for partners who can help them. With dozens, if not hundreds, of partners located throughout the SAP ecosystem, companies may struggle to determine which partner can help them meet their business goals.

To help SAP organizations make the best decisions for their own unique needs, AspireHR put together a list of criteria that can differentiate which partners are the best fit for digital transformation projects:

1. Offerings

Businesses need to understand first and foremost what a partner can and cannot do for them when it comes to a digital transformation. Companies need a partner that will offer end-to-end assistance from the planning phase through implementation and beyond. Partners must have strong project management capabilities. This helps projects adhere to timelines and ensures that managers have methodologies that allow for flexibility and continuous feedback throughout the entire project.

Businesses have complex and unique needs, so they should find partners with the ability to customize their offerings. This includes SAP-specific integration requirements, ensuring that all systems are able to run smoothly once the implementation is complete. These solutions should be scalable and applicable to every area where a company operates. Leading SAP implementation partners have the ability to ensure compliance with all local laws and regulations.

Digital transformations should bolster the way that a company can operate, rather than a lift and shift of what they have already been doing. Companies should find partners that can implement AI, automation, machine learning, and other advanced solutions to drive innovation and efficiency.

2. Capabilities

Often, the offerings that a company says it can provide do not tell the full story. Before deciding on an implementation partner, SAP organizations should do their research on the following topics:

Experience: How many implementations has the partner done? If they do not proudly tout this number, it may be a sign they are inexperienced. For instance, AspireHR notes that it has over 700 successful projects in nearly every country in the world.

SAP Certification: Implementation partners should have some level of certification and partnership with SAP. This can ensure that the partner’s solutions integrate seamlessly with SAP environments. Companies should review which certifications a partner has and how those apply to their project.

Track Records and References: Companies should ensure that the partner they choose has a high rate of success with implementations. Finding testimonials and references from past customers is a great way to vet any potential partners.

3. Value

Cost may be the most important factor in finding digital transformation partners. But companies should be aware that not all pricing breakdowns are done the same way. Pricing models can affect total cost of ownership, and some may add on extra fees and surcharges that are not immediately apparent. Getting a detailed cost breakdown helps determine not just the cost, but the overall value of an implementation.

Time to value is an important component, as companies want to be able to take advantage of advanced capabilities as quickly as possible. Companies should research whether partners have accelerator options like AspireHR’s Diamond Client, which reduces implementation times but up to 40%.

4. Personal Experience

While cost, timeline, and value are important aspects of an implementation partner, it is vital that organizations consider the interpersonal aspect of the process. During the vetting process, companies should pay close attention to the communication style and collaborative approach that a company has.

Even after the implementation, organizations may need ongoing support and training to get all employees up to speed. Top partners will offer training programs and long-term support to ensure that implementations generate value for the organization well into the future.

What This Means for SAPinsiders

Choosing an SAP implementation partner may be the one of the most important decisions an organization makes for years. A good partner can maximize the value in a new SAP deployment by reducing the time to value, adding advanced capabilities, allow scalability, and provide continuing support.

When searching for these types of partners, more and more SAP organizations are turning to AspireHR. It has completed hundreds of implementations successfully, offering unique accelerators for its end-to-end implementation services. Its customers also benefit from ongoing support even after the go-live date. These features support customers with a smooth and successful implementation, helping them meet their business goals.