On October 31, LeapGreat hosted a LinkedIn Live session spotlighting the potential of automation in SAP S/4HANA transformations. Featuring LeapGreat CEO Robert Cummings and UiPath’s Arvind Sundaresan, with ERP veteran Ross Orrett moderating, the event dissected automation’s role in reducing SAP project timelines, complexity, and risk. SAP transformations are challenging, with global rollouts requiring strict adherence to budgets and timelines. Here’s a closer look at how LeapGreat and UiPath are transforming these projects with automation.
Core Challenges in SAP S/4HANA Transformations
With over three decades of SAP experience, Robert Cummings shared why ERP transformations are notoriously complex. Unlike CRM or HR projects, ERP implementations impact nearly every department, demanding cross-functional alignment across IT and business units. This depth of integration often leads to delays and budget overruns as unforeseen challenges emerge.
Cummings highlighted a critical pain point: the lack of early visibility in SAP projects. The initial phases involve blueprinting and requirement gathering, but a functional system usually appears only later, often revealing gaps like missing fields or misaligned processes. These late-stage surprises contribute significantly to project delays and budget escalations.
LeapGreat Frontload™️: A Fresh Approach
Instead of waiting months for configuration, LeapGreat, using Frontload™️ provides an initial build within days, giving stakeholders a hands-on preview of their system. This early visibility allows project teams to spot and resolve issues in real-time, reducing costly late-stage adjustments.
With the support of UiPath’s automation tools, LeapGreat Frontload™️ approach shortens timelines, enabling faster adjustments and feedback. Cummings explained, “Our clients see how SAP will function in their environment from day one, shifting the focus from theoretical planning to actionable improvements.”
Automation’s Role in Streamlining SAP Projects
Arvind Sundaresan detailed how UiPath’s Robotic Process Automation (RPA) drives efficiency by handling repetitive tasks like data migration, testing, and configuration. These foundational tasks, often requiring extensive manual work, are automated, minimizing human error and freeing project teams to focus on complex tasks.
Data migration—a phase often consuming extensive resources—can be automated with UiPath to enhance speed and accuracy. This approach accelerates transformation timelines and reduces the risk of errors, ensuring a smoother, more reliable implementation.
Early Benefits with Version Zero
The “Version Zero” system offers SAP clients a functional draft of their system from the outset. Rather than beginning with a lengthy design phase, LeapGreat’s clients get an early look at process flows, initial test cases, and basic roles, allowing real-time testing and adjustments. Cummings said, “Instead of a conceptual project that hits reality halfway, we bring that reality from day one.”
This agile, iterative approach minimizes misunderstandings between IT and business teams, accelerates decision-making, and keeps stakeholders engaged in development. By focusing on hands-on testing and refinement, LeapGreat significantly reduces the risks and costs typically associated with SAP implementations.
Real-World Impact: Success Stories with LeapGreat and UiPath
Cummings shared compelling examples from clients benefiting from LeapGreat’s agile methodology. In one case, a client struggling with requirements alignment achieved clarity within days, thanks to a working Version Zero prototype. This fast-track approach shaved six months off the project timeline.
Another client facing a merger-related system consolidation saw significant time and cost savings by utilizing automation and early visibility. Instead of traditional, slow-moving configurations, LeapGreat delivered a functional prototype quickly, enabling swift adjustments across regions.
Tackling Global Rollouts with Automation
Managing regional customizations while maintaining overall alignment is essential for multinational SAP projects. LeapGreat’s approach involves providing each region with a Version Zero system customized to local needs. UiPath’s automation simplifies repetitive tasks, making it easier to manage the complexity of large-scale rollouts without disrupting operations.
Key Takeaways for SAP Experts
As the session concluded, Cummings outlined several strategies for companies embarking on SAP S/4HANA transformations:
- LeapGreat’s Frontload™️: provides an initial system build in days rather than months, allowing stakeholders to preview and interact with the system early.
- Adopt Iterative Refinement: Starting with a Version Zero system shifts ERP projects from one-time builds to agile, iterative cycles, reducing risk and enhancing flexibility.
- Utilize Automation for Efficiency: UiPath’s RPA handles repetitive, time-consuming tasks, accelerating project timelines and reducing manual workloads.
- Establish Centralized Controls: A transparent control system aligns IT, business teams, and stakeholders, helping projects stay on schedule.
- Prioritize Agile Over Waterfall: Embrace an iterative approach for continuous improvement and adaptation.
LeapGreat and UiPath are setting a new standard for SAP S/4HANA transformations by combining early system visibility with automation. With Version Zero, organizations experience their ERP system’s functionality from the start, reducing risk, increasing stakeholder buy-in, and improving project outcomes. UiPath’s automation capabilities further streamline these projects, ensuring data accuracy and minimizing manual effort. Together, LeapGreat and UiPath empower enterprises to achieve SAP transformations that are not only faster but also more reliable and cost-effective.
