SAP S/4 implementations can and do bring improved operational efficiency to organizations, but only if they get their implementations right. Given the speed of innovation, new cyber threats and a changing regulatory landscape, managing risk is a central challenge to SAP S/4 implementations. With SAP S/4, what was once the organization’s core ERP has become both broader in scope and more heterogeneous. SAP S/4 implementations involve many changes to the user experience: it is a dramatic degree of change that requires a broad set of skills from a cross-functional implementation team. 

This article highlights the essential elements of planning SAP S/4 implementation efforts.