SAPinsider Issue 3 2020

functionality setup. “If you want to replace the system, you also need to replace the central func- tionality from the older system. HR built core func- tionality for everybody and rolled it out market by market. This took two years — the same amount of time as the SAP S/4HANA migration.” When replacing its old supply chain system with SAP Ariba, the team started with sourcing, which worked well, then rolled it out to a footprint of mar- kets, and then started adding functionality, such as guided buying. This implementation project team is still working closely with SAP and will determine when the product reaches the right level of matu- rity for rollout at Vodafone. Last, but not least, SAP Fieldglass is approach- ing full functionality in Vodafone’s largest market, which is in Germany. One of the key drivers to implement SAP Fieldglass is to ensure reporting capabilities and compliance around external work- force management. Cost Savings Prove the Impact of SAP S/4HANA on Sustainability and Its Evolutionary Potential for the Telecommunications Industry Migrating to SAP S/4HANA has delivered a plat- form that moves Vodafone closer to its goal of embedding machine learning and artificial intelli- gence functionality to increase its automation rates even further. The company has also experienced significant cost savings as a result of the upgrade. Grewe knows that SAP S/4HANA will continue to evolve. “New functionality becomes available with every new release cycle that SAP has, so we want to stay on top of that cycle and make the best use of the new software elements that are coming,” he says. “Our next upgrade is planned for November 2020 to move to the next release of SAP S/4HANA.” When it comes to lessons learned, having clar- ity on the business achievements you want to realize with an upgrade is a huge takeaway from Vodafone’s latest digital transformation project. “I come back to the KPIs that we wanted to move dramatically to enable the business to become more effective and efficient,” he says. “If you have a very KPI-driven business case, you’ll get support from middle management, who you need to deliver the benefits, as well as top management, who are interested in making an investment and payback as quickly as possible.” Vodafone Group Plc Headquarters: London, UK Industry: Telecommunications Employees: 95,219 (2020) Revenue: €44.97 billion (2020) Company details: • Founded in 1982 in Newbury, UK • One of the world’s largest technology communications providers • Provides Europe’s largest 5G network • Has Europe’s largest fixed-line next-generation footprint, covering 136 million households and providing customers with gigabit-capable speeds • One of Europe’s leading TV platforms with 22 million active viewers • A market-leading IoT platform • With Safaricom, launched M-Pesa, Africa’s leading mobile payment platform with 42 million active customers • Serves 362 million customers across Europe and Africa • www.vodafone.com Key SAP solutions: SAP S/4HANA, SAP Concur, SAP SuccessFactors, SAP Ariba, and SAP Fieldglass 6 SAPinsiderOnline.com