SAP Activate is the combination of SAP Best Practices and tools to help customers
simplify and accelerate the adoption of SAP S/4HANA.
• The goal of Sap Activate is help customers take advantage of all the power and
potential of SAP S/4Hana tailored to their circumstances and business needs.
• SAP Activate is the innovation adoption framework that expedites SAP S/4Hana
implementations throughout the customer lifecycle.
• SAP Activate methodology provides prescriptive guidelines and preconfigured
content to ensure predictable results.
• SAP Activate methodology enables co-innovation with customers and is accessible
for partners who can add their own content, perhaps to support specific industry or
country requirements.
• SAP Activate methodology is the successor of the ASAP and SAP Launch
methodologies.
Broad product coverage, including support for all transition scenarios to SAP
S/4Hana
Scalable, supports all sizes of projects, from small fast cloud deployments to
comprehensive global deployments in on-premise or hybrid environment.
Prescriptive and comprehensive – provides guided work procedures for project
team members, deliverables for project managers and accelerators like how-to
documents or templates for all users
Accelerates project delivery through use of SAP Best Practices, fit/gap analysis,
agile project management, application visualization and use of cloud technology.
Methodology foundation fully aligned with proven project management practices of
Project Management Institute (PMI), like formal Quality, Risk and Issues
Management.
S/4 Platform consist of HANA In Memory DB, S/4 Applications like Simple Finance, Role
based Fiori UI. All available in either on-premise or on the cloud.
The S/4 Platform has planned integration to the various Line of business (LoB) Cloud
solutions.
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Activate Methodology
• SAP Best Practices: Ready configured business processes optimized and following
industry best practices.
• Guided Configuration: tools to help activate best practices content and make
customized adjustment.
• Methodology: SAP guidance to ensure a well-managed and accelerated
implementation and continuous optimization.
Build
Smart,
run
Simple
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Activate Methodology
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Activate Methodology
• Sap Best Practices are easily integrated with other cloud solutions, such as
SuccessFactors and the Ariba Network. These ready-to-run business processes –
comprehensive, flexible, and optimized for SAP S/4Hana – are cultivated from the
collective implementation knowledge of thousands of SAP customers.
• Jump start with Best Practices that contain rich business scenarios and business
content, explain what to use and how it works. Provides the foundation for each
implementation and give the customer a reference solution to start from.
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Activate Methodology
• SAP best practices also guide customers through the migration process to SAP S/4Hana,
whether they migrate from a non-SAP database or legacy systems.
• SAP Best Practices cover integration and migration fundamentals for new
implementations, system conversions and landscape transformations.
• SAP Activate, through SAP Best Practices gives you sample data, clear guidelines, and
step-by-step directions on how to move from your current landscape to your goal..
• Start fast, build smart and run simple to accelerate the time-to-value while continuously
innovation. with SAP S/4 Hana.
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Activate Methodology
Guided Configuration
• Guide Configuration provides tools for an assisted implementation for the initial
implementation and to innovate continuously and adapt agilely even after go live.
• Guided Configuration provides a set of tools to support the implementation of SAP
Best Practices.
• Guide Configuration: Empowers business and IT through user assistance and
business process affinity.
• Guided Configuration is a new environment and approach for assisted way to
implement Sap Best Practices and facilitates the lifecycle management or the
preconfigured business processes from SAP and any additional customizing added by
the customer.
• Guide Configuration: provides a Content awareness and history – know content
context & what has been configured.
• For S/4Hana cloud edition Guided Configuration facilitates the lifecycle management
of the pre-configured business process content
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Activate Methodology
The 3 components of Guided Configuration
Solution Builder
o This tool is used to develop and structure configuration content according to the domain model of
SAP.
o All processes are modelled as scope items, scope items are implemented through building blocks.
o Content is not an option, but an integral part of the product. Solution Builder is used to activate this
SAP Best Practices content in the customer system.
Self Service Configuration UIS
o Next to the activation of ready-to-run business processes delivered by SAP Best Practices
customers typically want to personalize processes.
o Personalization typically does not change a business process but adjusts settings to the customer
needs.
o SAP provides easy to use Fiori applications for self-service configurations to support
personalization
Expert Configuration
o Our experience has thought us that almost no customer project can be implemented without
adjustments
o Customers typically want to add new processes or adjust pre-configured business processed
delivered by SAP Activate.
o SAP will make Expert Configuration available to support these needs.
o With expert configuration you can create your own scope items and (delta) building block(s) for any
complementary content development at your side. 9
Activate Methodology
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Activate Methodology
Solution Builder
This tool is used to develop and structure
configuration content according to the
domain model of SAP.
All processes are modelled as scope
items, scope items are implemented
through
building blocks.
Self Service Configuration UIs (relevant
Content is not an option, but an integral
for S/4HANA Cloud editions)
part of the product. Solution Builder is
Next to the activation of ready-to-run
used to activate this SAP Best Practices
business processes delivered by SAP Best
content in the customer system
Practices customers typically want to
personalize processes.
Personalization typically does not change a
business process but adjusts settings to the
customer needs.
SAP provides easy to use Fiori applications
for self-service configurations to support
personalization.
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Activate Methodology
Manage your solution
SAP Activate Guided configuration is available through the “Manage Your Solution” Fiori
application. Its business process oriented. A user is taking advantage of the following
features:
Initial configuration of the solution and recording of updates for continuous innovation.
A process driven approach for testing your configured business processes.
A simple possibility to evaluate activated business processes and country versions.
An embedded migration engine for simple data migration.
And user training and onboarding.
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Activate Methodology
Migrate your data: Embedded migration engine for simple data migration.
User training & onboarding: Guided Product tours include into the product.
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Activate Methodology
Methodology
Key Characteristics of the implementation approach Sap Activate Fundamentals
Premium engagement ready: Build & Run fully supported via SAP control
Centers
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Activate Methodology
On-premise Edition
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Activate Methodology
• SAP Best Practices for SAP S/4Hana, cloud edition allow you to rest easy when it
comes to system requirements or maintenance scenarios. SAP provides the system
and is responsible for all maintenance and upgrade operations. You benefit from the
latest innovations by automatically getting quarterly updates provisioned in your
solution. This option may appeal to you if you prefer standardized business processes
and if you want take advantage of fully deployed business scenarios in the cloud for a
quick time to value.
• Currently SAP offers best practices for all deployment options of SAP S/4Hana,
Cloud edition Project Services edition
Enterprise edition Marketing edition
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Activate Methodology
• The available scope of pre-configured processes for SAP S/4Hana, enterprise edition
equals the scope of the on premise baseline.
• The solution scope of SAP S/4Hana, Marketing edition and Project Services edition is
fully determined by the available SAP Best Practices.
• Just like with the On premise version of SAP S/4Hana, the SAP Best Practices included
with SAP Activate walk you through the migration, integration and fine tuning of SAP
S/4Hana.
• SAP Best Practices baseline as of today supports requirements of 11 core industries, not
including industry extensions. These industries are: consumer products/ Wholesale
Distribution / Life Sciences / Chemicals/ mill Products & Mining / Automotive/ High Tech
/Industrial Machinery& Components/ Aerospace & Defense / Engineering/ Construction &
Operations and Professional Services.
1. Edition
A selection of scope items that cover the scope of the next-generation S/4Hana
Business Suite or other leading Industry or Line of Business segments. Editions are
available on cloud or on-premise and can be implemented fully or partially.
2. Scope Items
Typically a pre-defined business process, such as sales of order processing. They
represents a Best Practice implementation choice for a customer. Each scope item
has a set of accelerators delivering detailed documentation that is used during the
implementation project. Scope item require specific building block to be
implemented.
3. Building Blocks
A set of configuration for a pieces of business content such as credit management.
The accelerators include the configuration content to implement the scope item(s)
and project documentation for building block.
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Roadmap
SAP Activate methodology provides a detailed road map for a simplified deployment for
S/4HANA.
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Activate Methodology
Roadmap
• The roadmap starts by guiding customers to an exploration phase for S/4Hana using
a trial version. Customers can try out the SAP Fiori user experience across many
pre-configured business scenarios.
• Next, customers are guided in the setup of their own private model company so they
can fully explore the functions and processes. The setup of the model company is
very fast as we already populate it with example master data and transactions and it
is already configured for best practices.
• Then, in the next phase, customers are guided through best practice integration with
business networks such as Ariba and cloud based applications such as
Sucessfactors, Concur,etc. This phase also guides customers through data
migration, customization and extensions all following SAP Best Practices.
• The onboarding phase ensure customers cover all the key areas of preparation for
go-live including user readiness facilitated by SAP Learning Hub - SAP’s education in
the cloud solution.
• Finally, we ensure customers are fully ready for the continuous operation and
optimization of their solution using best practices for monitoring and support
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Activate Methodology
• Systems and content from SAP by SAP – on demand an ready to run for your project
needs. (using custom organizational structures, preloaded data, content enhancements, an
more)
• Jump-Stat project with pre-deployed, preassembled, and pretested templates from SAP.
• Accelerate development by eliminating common, manual configuration.
• Initiate work in SAP-hosted cloud while determining final infrastructure (Cloud or physical
infrastructure)
• Summary:
– Reduce time to value – Accelerate development and implementation – More agility –
speed to innovation
– Eg. Model companies / Best Practices for rapid jump start.
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Activate Methodology
Solution validation and Delta Design
Customer benefit: accelerated time to value through content re-use, focus on
differentiating capabilities.
Delta Solution Design
Solution Validation • Customer business has key role in contributions
• Start with the overall solution before and acceptance of delta solution design
drilling down to detail. • SolMan as solution documentation toolset.
• Challenge changes to standards, tie to • Use roadshows to gain business acceptance.
business value
• Solution validation is not intended to
educate participant.
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Activate Methodology
Solution validation and Delta Design
A) Workshop Type A- Solution Validation Key components of validation
1. Reference value solutions:
• Provide process, value and strategic content • Reference /Set Expectations
• Set boundaries • Review process
• Tie to business case, value drivers. • Demo solution
2. Validation of Sap Solution
• Show and tell SAP standard key design
elements.
3. Gap Identification
• Identify gaps to standard B) Initial Backlog
• Log additional scope items 4. Delta Scope Priorization
• Log parking lot items.
C) Workshop Type B- Delta Design
5. Delta Design
• Update business
• Models and Process Design
• Solution design and visualize
6. Verify & Accept
• Verify process & solution design
• Drive acceptance
7. Release & Sprint Planning
• Product Backlog priorization. 25
Activate Methodology
Delta Documentation
• Documentation on process level
• Existing Process
• Append documents
• Update BPD documents
• New process
• Create new process document leveraging localization assets, BPDs, Config.
Rationales
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Activate Methodology
Premium engagement ready: Build & Run fully supported via SAP control Centers
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Activate Methodology
Approach:
• The management of the new software solution provisioning and optimization requires a
one team approach across all stakeholders.
• One team implies that everybody and every unit contributes and participates to
achieve the desired outcomes.
• The management requires standards for tracking requirements, objectives, progress,
and, last but not least, the expected outcomes.
• To get every stakeholder and unit involved, a “War Room” is required.
• In these rooms, the transparency of all projects and operations, of the efficiency and
performance of all business processes and systems is shared.
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Premium Engagement Ready
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Modular, Scalable & Agile: Structure project to deliver the solution incrementally
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Agile design and SolMan
It is recommended to leverage Solution Manager (SolMan) for solution documentation (design,
configuration documents, etc.)
When SAP SolMan is being used, each lean deliverable will be associate with the Business
Process hierarchy just like other SAP SolMan supported implementation.
In addition, it is recommended that SolMan serves as an organization tool to:
• Refine scope and model process • Capture solution design characteristics
• Leverage reporting functionality
Benefits
• Enhance project quality
• Minimize project risk exposure
• Manage expectations and monitor customer satisfaction
• Improve transparency of the project
• Reduce cycle time: get it done right the first time
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Methodology Structure
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Activate Phases
Prepare: initial planning & preparation for the project. In this phase the project is started, plans
are finalized, project team is assigned, and work is under way to start the project optimally.
Explore: perform a fit/gap analysis to validate the solution functionality included in the project
scope and to confirm that the business requirements can be satisfied. Identified gaps and
configurations values are added to the backlog for use in the next phase.
Realize: use a series of iteration to incrementally build and test an integrated business and
system environment that is base on the business scenarios and process requirements identified
in the previous phase. During this phase data is loaded, adoption activities occurs, and
operations are planned..
Deploy: setup the production system, confirm customer organization readiness, and to switch
business operation to the new system.
Run: run the new system, apply SAP operations standards to optimize system operation.
Ensure the delivery of value through the solution life cycle (value delivery)
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Activate Methodology
Discover Phase
The main focus during this phase is to understand the solution capabilities, identification
of business value and planning of the project execution.
Run Phase
Upon successful transition to production the business and IT teams manage the
solution.
While the business team focuses on driving the adoption, the IT team focuses on IT and
System Operations
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Activate Methodology
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Activate Methodology
System & Data migration: covers the discovery, planning & execution of moving
legacy data to the new system and archiving of legacy data. This work stream also
covers cutover planning, preparation, management and execution of activities to
cutover the system into production. It also includes the hyper-care support period
shortly after cutover.
Technical Architecture & Infrastructure: covers the solution landscape, deployment
concept, system architecture, technical system design, environment (Dev, QA, PRD,
failover) setup, technology operations standards and process.
Transition to Operation: covers the establishment and setting up of the helpdesk
process, incident management process, post go-live change management process and
user related operations standards and process.
Others
Cutover Management: covers planning and execution of activities to cutover the system into
production including the hyper- care support period shortly after go –live.
Customer Team Enablement: covers the enablement of the customer project team to work on the
project effectively. This include standard product orientation to prepare the customer for product
requirements and design discussion, as well as key user and admin training to prepare the customer
for test case development and test execution.
Solution Walkthrough: covers demonstration of the configured/developed solution to the customer
project team after each iteration cycle for customer acceptance and identification of adjustments
needed for the next iteration.
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Activate Methodology
Accelerators by Phase
SAP SolMan Template: a container for the implementation content for one or more
solution in an area.
Project backlog template: repository of all delta requirements and gaps to plan
iterative, incremental build during the Realize phase..
Configuration guides: a detailed description of the required configuration.
Test Scripts: a procedure for testing the activated system according to the defined best
practices.
Agile approach guides: project team guides that explains how to structure project into
release and iterative sprints.
Cutover plan: template for cutover planning and execution. Provides framework for
transition to production. Provides list of critical cutover steps.
Project Schedule: a basic project schedule that includes aggregated duration and a list
of required skills/roles.
Operations setup guide: guide for setup the operational support for solution after
cutover to production.
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Activate Methodology on SAP JAM
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Activate Methodology on SAP JAM
Roadmap viewer
• Sap Fiori Application that provides access to complete content (all task and
accelerators)
• Content can also be downloaded into SAP Solution Manager 7.2 as WBS.
Navigate through the roadmap either using : Project Phases or Project work stream (related
task that appear in multiple phase. Eg. Project management). Click on deliverables to see the
full description and a list of task.
Click on an accelerator to display/download content that is relevant for the selected deliverable
or task.
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Roadmap viewer
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Activate Methodology
Roadmap viewer
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Activate Methodology
Differences and similarities between ASAP, SAP Launch and SAP Activate
• Sap Active methodology is designed to succeed all variant of ASAP V8
methodology and SAP launch.
• Differences for different deployment option are reflected in specific version of the
methodology for each deployment type.
accelerators
Landscape transformation edition - enterprise, marketing,
projects services
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Activate Methodology
Differences and similarities between ASAP, SAP Launch and SAP Activate
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Activate Methodology
• SAP Best Practices including business and integration processes for SAP
S/4HANA on-premise edition 1511
• Project jump-start with on-premise software appliance provisioned through
SAP CAL or BluRay
• Scope extensions through classical IMG approach
• Content Lifecycle Management not released
• SAP Solution Manager in the cloud or customer location including SAP Best
Practices business process and project content
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Mapping the work stream
Sap Activate ASAP Sap Launch
Project management PM-Project management /ALM Project management
Customer team enablement TRN – Training (project team) Project team enablement
Data migration DM-Data migration / DA- Data archiving Data Migration
Solution Adoption VM- Value Management / OCM / TRN- training (end user) N/A
Support readiness TSM (helpdesk process, incident Mgmt., change control Mgmt.) Solution Adoption
/ ALM (operational standard for process and people)
System management (N/A TSM (Solution landscape/Develop concept /Dev-QA, failover N/A
to public Cloud) environment steup) /ALM 8operational Standard Tech).
Customer extension Manag. BPM – Busines Process Managmen (Custom Enhacements) N/A
Cutover Management COM – Cut Over Management Cutover Planning / Execution
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Activate Methodology on SAP JAM
SAP Activate methodology is available to end users through the Methodology Jam
community that is open to customers and partners as well as SAP internal users.
Let’s take a look at how the SAP Activate Methodology is structured in the JAM
community.
The landing page contains overview information, latest updates and key links.
From landing page users can navigate to specific methodology phase and explore
the key project management deliverables in the phase.
In case users want to dive deeper they can access the deliverable details that
provides description of the deliverable and appropriate accelerators.
In addition to this structure the Jam space contains collaboration areas. Users can
comment and provide feedback on each item in this group start discussions and
engage with SAP experts or share examples with community.
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