This is Where Most People Go Wrong with SAP: Change Management
Why 70% of SAP Projects Fail: The Untold Truth About Change Management
What if I told you that nearly 70% of businesses around the world fail at SAP implementation for one simple reason?
That reason is poor change management.
Yes, you’ve heard it before. “The SAP project failed due to bad change management.” It’s a popular excuse—but what’s often missing is clarity on what proper change management in SAP implementation actually involves.
Hi, I’m Raman from Emerging Alliance. With 15+ years of experience and having worked with over 1000+ companies globally, I’ve seen both successful SAP implementations and catastrophic failures. Today, I’ll share a simple, effective change management checklist that ensures your SAP project doesn’t become just another failure statistic.
1. Lack of Clear Communication
One of the most common reasons SAP implementations go wrong is poor communication.
- Define Clear Objectives: Let everyone know why SAP is being implemented and the benefits expected.
- Frequent Updates: Use emails, newsletters, and regular town halls to share progress and upcoming changes.
- Feedback Channels: Create open lines for employees to voice concerns—surveys, suggestion boxes, or open forums.
- Q&A Sessions: Host regular question-and-answer sessions to clear up confusion and reduce fear.
🎯 Reinforce the Benefits:
Celebrate every small milestone. Highlight early ROI gains. This builds confidence in the system.
2. Insufficient Leadership or Stakeholder Support
A lack of active leadership involvement is a recipe for failure.
- Identify Stakeholders Early: Know your champions, users, and decision-makers.
- Engage Proactively: Involve them from day one to align expectations and secure buy-in.
- Consistent Communication: Keep all parties informed about goals, progress, and challenges.
- Lead by Example: Executives should actively use and endorse SAP tools.
Remember, employees follow leaders. If leaders don’t care about SAP, neither will the team.
3. Misalignment with Business Processes
Another key change management failure is when SAP doesn’t align with current workflows.
- Document Existing Processes: Know your current pain points and strengths.
- Standardize Workflows: Ensure SAP supports a cleaner, more unified process.
- Gap Analysis: Identify and bridge gaps between current operations and SAP functionality.
- Pilot First: Test the system in a single department before scaling.
- Learn and Adapt: Fine-tune based on pilot feedback.
A good SAP implementation should simplify, not disrupt.
4. Inadequate Training & Low User Adoption
This is where many organizations stumble—they underestimate how different people learn.
- Customized Training: Deliver role-specific training based on job responsibilities.
- Hands-On Learning: Offer a test environment for real-time practice.
- Provide Support: Use one-on-one coaching for those needing extra help.
- Change Champions: Identify influencers who can train and motivate peers.
- Reward Adoption: Incentivize the use of SAP tools through rewards and recognition.
🛠️ Support Materials Matter:
- Provide clear process documentation and video manuals.
- Build a centralized knowledge base for FAQs and troubleshooting.
Conclusion: Don’t Let Change Management Derail Your SAP Project
SAP is powerful—but only when implemented with people in mind.
Change Management isn’t a buzzword—it’s the make-or-break factor behind every successful implementation.
If you’re planning an SAP project, struggling to go-live, or have experienced a failed implementation, let us help you.
👉 Message us with “CM-Checklist” and receive an expert-verified Change Management checklist designed from years of industry experience.
We at Emerging Alliance are here to guide you through flawless SAP implementation.
