Why having high-quality data can make your SAP S/4HANA migrations easier
Key Takeaways
⇨ Low quality data can delay migrations, making it expensive, and could even result in project failure
⇨ High-quality data can also maximise the effectiveness of generative AI
⇨ Syniti’s Data First strategy helps kickstart early data work to start the transformation journey
Data quality is the lifeblood of business transformation, especially when it’s a high-stakes SAP S/4HANA migration. But it takes dedicated effort and resources to get data quality right.
SAP S/4HANA is billed as a solution that helps make processes run more efficiently, while also automating some, so high-quality data flowing into those processes can ensure those processes run smoothly. Inaccurate, incomplete or outdated data could also result in duplicated manual work, negating the whole point of the transformation.
Organisations have also adopted data-driven decision making, collecting large amounts of data to gain insights. Data also impacts customer and stakeholder satisfaction, ensuring processes like product deliveries, invoicing, communications and more run smoothly, forging trust and strong relationships.
Additionally, high-quality data underpins organisations’ ability to adhere to strict regulatory and compliance requirements, avoiding reporting errors that may cause legal and financial consequences.
Where data is even more crucial is in machine learning (ML) and artificial intelligence (AI) – high-quality data ensures accurate modelling and predictions, while also making AI and ML applications more robust, scalable and widely accepted.
SAP recommends data cleansing as the main solution to improve quality, which involves identifying and removing duplicates, irrelevant data and erroneous data. This also involves implementing data retention policies. In the context of an SAP S/4HANA migration, this also prevents any incorrect or duplicate data from moving to the new system.
Last year, Syniti announced its Data First strategy aimed to get customers to begin data work before (or at the same time) the design phase of a digital transformation project, like an SAP S/4HANA migration. Syniti claims most projects usually do the opposite, starting the design phase first and worrying about data later. By taking a data first approach it kickstarts the digital transformation journey by helping to manage, govern and leverage data assets effectively
The company said its customers have seen better results with this approach, realising the benefits faster.
“I can promise you, we’ve never had a client tell us they started their data work too soon. Data requires deep, specialised technology and business expertise – technical-only or design-first approaches will not deliver the valuable outcomes organisations are looking to gain from these efforts,” Syniti CEO Kevin Campbell said.
“Our Data First strategy is a true paradigm shift in how digital transformations need to be structured to be successful, and further confirms the importance of relying on true data experts to help ensure on-time and high-quality delivery.”
Syniti also made investments towards training data professionals as part of the Data First initiative, aimed to become the go-to place for top data talent.
Also included in the initiative are enhancements to Syniti’s alliances program, including advanced training and product certifications, a capability management process and consulting service Syniti Premium Engagement Services for its partners.
