SAP S/4HANA Change Management: How to Handle the People Side of Your Transformation
Organizational change is a key component of any SAP S/4HANA transformation or implementation of any of the top ERP systems. But too often, organizations limit their scope of change to myopically focus on end-user training. When we are close to the day-to-day details of a digital transformation, we assume that we just need to train […]
Fatal Flaws in the Digital Transformation and ERP Software Industry
Earlier this week, I met with the CFO of a client that we recently helped select ERP software for and are about to start implementation with. He mentioned that he is generally excited about his upcoming transformation – until he reads one of my blogs or watches one of my videos on my YouTube channel. […]
Avis vs. Hertz: A Tale of Two Digital Transformations
I’m always fascinated by how digital transformations that look so similar on the surface can end with such different results. I’ve spent the better part of my career as an independent ERP consultant and ERP expert witness studying the nuances that define success versus failure. The other day, I read a Wall Street Journal article […]
The Digital Transformation Declaration of Independence
In the US, we celebrate our independence every July 4. While this is not a recognized holiday in most parts of the world, it is worth striving for independence in certain facets of business and digital transformation. The ERP software and digital transformation industries have long been ruled by incumbents that we should be striving […]
How to Fix a Failing SAP S/4HANA Implementation
Sometimes I get the feeling that people get tired of hearing me talk about some of the recent string of high-profile SAP failures. But then I post another article about the SAP failure at Revlon, Lidl, Haribo, or any of the others, and the article inevitably goes viral. Still, I don’t feel right dissecting these […]
ERP Failure: Is it Time to Take it on the Run?
I have recently been listening to some of the classic hits from REO Speedwagon. As they once said in their heyday, “you’re under the gun, so you take it on the run.” I heard this particular song (“Take it on the Run”) while I was writing my recent blog about Revlon’s SAP failure, so I […]
Why Customer Experience Should Dictate Your Digital Transformation
Customer experience (CX) should drive your digital transformation. But with the increasing number of digital transformation failures in recent years, it is clear that we are focused on the wrong things. Most organizations implement new digital technologies with the intent of creating additional value and enhancing the customer experience. But, as we have seen in […]
Lessons from Revlon’s SAP Implementation Disaster
A few weeks ago, Revlon announced that its SAP implementation was a disaster. This came on the heels of delayed financial reporting because of said SAP implementation failure. The company’s stock fell 6.9% within 24 hours of reporting the news, which led to an investor lawsuit against the company. Not good, especially for a publicly-traded […]
Alternatives to the big SAP and Oracle Systems Integrators
“No one ever got fired for hiring [insert big, well-known system integrator here],” or so the saying goes. While I can’t say that I know of anyone that has been fired for this decision, I do know of plenty of organizations that have sued as a result. As a recovering Big 5 SAP consultant, I […]
SAP S/4HANA Training: Lessons from SAP Boot Camp
Last week we hosted our first SAP S/4HANA Boot Camp training. This small, hands-on workshop featured a number of digital transformation team members attending in person, along with teams attending remotely via web conference. Though I was one of the facilitators of the training, I learn something new every time I conduct workshops like these. […]
Big ERP Systems Integrators Exposed
Disclaimer: This article contains quotes from multiple sources, which we have not cited for confidentiality purposes. Third Stage Consulting is an independent, technology-agnostic firm that is not affiliated with any of the ERP software vendors or systems integrators mentioned in this article. After the French Revolutions in the 1800s, a famous French writer once wrote: […]
Preparing for a SAP SuccessFactors or Workday Implementation
If there is one thing that we have learned from our lessons from 1,000 HCM implementations, it is that your level of transformation success hinges on the things you do before you ever start. There are a number of best practices that should drive how you prepare for your SAP SuccessFactors or Workday implementation. Cliff […]