A global template enables customers with multi-site SAP installations to efficiently manage their business processes as part of global rollout. It is a container that bundles standardised business processes and contains links to process-specific developments, configuration and test data.
I have three top tips to ensure a successful rollout when using a global template:
1. Create Definitions
If you don’t create definitions before the project starts, this can cause delays when implementation is underway. However, you might already have your definitions in SAP, or another first tier solution, in which case it is a good idea to use those in your global template.
When implementing SAP ByDesign into one of Cantel’s subsidiaries, we incorporated into the global template a lot of the definitions from S/4 HANA, which Cantel runs in its main office.
2. Be flexible
A common expectation from customers at the start of a global implementation is to think the new system will work perfectly out of the box. But even if the HQ is running SAP too, there will be fields in the second-tier system that are named differently, or fields you want to keep from your old system that aren’t in the new system.
So, a key to a successful global template approach is to realise some changes will be needed. Being open to suggestions from your systems integrator will be an important factor in having a project run more smoothly and to get all the results you want.
3. Document your SOPs
The testing and training phases can involve a lot of duplicate work and be very time-consuming. It’s important to be very clear on what you are expecting and make sure everybody's following the same processes.
I recommend documenting your Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) following direction. And that was another part of the implementation is to SOPs, because they also wrote SOPs to document your work. You can even create training videos showing the step-by-step actions needed for each process, such as how to create a sales order.
Creating SOPs saves a lot of time in the long run. In the future, if anyone has a question regarding a process, you already have it documented. They can just check the SOP manual or watch the relevant training video. This eliminates so much back-and-forth between people that I would say this is an essential key to a successful project.
Discover More Find out about Seidor’s SAP ByDesign implementation for Cantel, using a global template.
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