SAP eCommerce Implementation The Beginning: Planning, Complexity, and Alignment

Hello and welcome to the first issue of SAP Behind the Scenes!You might be wondering what inspired me to start this new series. The answer is simple: I want to share with all of you my industry knowledge and expertise and help you make informed decisions for your business.Im kicking things off with a topic that uncovers some key aspects of the SAP Commerce implementation. I will share my experience with you on which are the important areas that lay the foundation of the overall project success.So here in this article you will find all the important things I wish I had known about implementing SAP Commerce Cloud projects before I started.

<h3>1. Planning: Setting the Stage for Success</h3>Let’s go simple. Here are three tips to ensure your planning phase is robust:<ul><li>Tip #1: Define Clear Objectives</li></ul>Start by identifying clear goals for what you want your eCommerce platform to achieve. This direction will guide your project. Clear objectives will guide your decisions throughout the project.<ul><li>Tip #2: Involve Stakeholders Early</li></ul>Get input from key team members right from the start. Their insights will help create a more comprehensive strategy and ensure everyone is on the same page.<ul><li>Tip #3: Develop a Realistic Timeline</li></ul>Break your project down into phases with achievable deadlines. This will not only keep your team focused but also allow for adjustments along the way as complexities arise.<h3>2. Complexity: Navigating the Challenges Ahead</h3>With great opportunities come great challenges. The complexity of implementing a SAP commerce cloud solution can be daunting, but with the right strategies, you can navigate it effectively.&nbsp;<ul><li>Tip #4: Embrace Agile Methodologies&nbsp;</li></ul>Use agile practices to stay flexible. This way, you can adapt quickly when challenges or complexities arise.<ul><li>Tip #5: Invest in Training&nbsp;</li></ul>Make sure your team is well-trained to handle the new platform. Proper training reduces confusion and builds confidence.<h3>3. Alignment: Synchronizing Business Processes</h3>It is essential to align your business processes with your eCommerce cloud implementation to maximize efficiency and effectiveness.<ul><li>Tip #6: Map Current Processes</li></ul>Understand your existing processes to identify how they need to change for better alignment with the eCommerce cloud.<ul><li>Tip #7: Communicate Changes Clearly</li></ul>Keep everyone informed about what’s changing and how it affects their roles. Good communication fosters teamwork.<ul><li>Tip #8: Regular Check-ins and Feedback</li></ul>Create feedback loops among teams involved in the project. Regular check-ins will ensure alignment remains strong and adjustments can be made in real-time based on team input.In Conclusion: A Unified ApproachA successful project hinges on careful planning, acknowledging and navigating complexity with ease, and ensuring alignment of all business processes to create a seamless customer experience.Stay tuned for our next newsletter, where we will dive into what is golden data, why it is important, and how to foster collaboration between sales, marketing, and the business.

SAP eCommerce Implementation The Beginning Planning Complexity and Alignment

The Use of the Golden Data and the Golden Rule of Bringing all Departments together

First, you understand that nobody talks to each other. But thats about to change!You bring them all together at the same table, and the real work can start.Yes, this is a typical start of the SAP eCommerce implementation project. And its going to be great!It feels good to write to you all again. Get comfortable and enjoy a cup of coffee!Thank you all for your overwhelming interest in my previous newsletter! It has been an incredible experience to receive such positive feedback from so many of you.Your engagement inspires me to continue sharing valuable insights and behind-the-scenes stories about SAP e-commerce implementations. Now, let’s dive into more key elements of SAP eCommerce success.In this newsletter, I will touch on two critical elements for successful SAP eCommerce project implementation: the importance of using golden data sets and the need to bring all relevant stakeholders together.Lets explore how these factors can significantly improve our approach and results in eCommerce projects.

<h4>1. Emphasize the Use of Golden Data</h4>The utilization of golden data is at the heart of a successful SAP eCommerce implementation. This high-quality, accurate, and comprehensive dataset reflects the real complexities of the business environment, including diverse customer profiles, product hierarchies, pricing, and delivery structures. Leveraging golden data ensures that the system is tested against realistic business scenarios and that key users transition from facing the new system is seamless while working with their regular data resulting in better system performance and reliability once live.<ul><li>Tip #1: Understanding Golden Data</li></ul>Creating golden data involves collecting and cleansing existing information from various sources to build a comprehensive dataset. This should include detailed customer profiles, product hierarchies, order and contract structures, accurate pricing, and tailored delivery options.<ul><li>Tip #2: The Importance of Defining Golden Data</li></ul>If an organization does not define or have access to golden data, it risks missing critical aspects within the implementation. The absence of this foundational data set can significantly hinder the ability to build effective data models and process integrations, leading to communication gaps with, for example, back-end systems for order fulfillment and/or external document management.<ul><li>Tip #3: Testing Business Flows</li></ul>Using golden data during testing allows the implementation team to evaluate how the system manages various scenarios, transactions, and workflows. This testing provides insights into potential issues or bottlenecks, allowing teams to address them before go-live. Moreover, this dataset reflects the whole complexity of the processes involved in real conditions, ensuring that all aspects of the business flow are thoroughly evaluated. Since key users are already familiar with the golden data set, even if they arent familiar with the new system, this familiarity helps them better understand and validate the processes. Without golden data, organizations may overlook small but critical scenarios where the business process may not be finely tuned, leading to inefficiencies and system user dissatisfaction.<ul><li>Tip #4: Acceptance by the Business</li></ul>Importantly, the golden data should be used not only by the implementation team but also by the business stakeholders when reviewing and accepting the solution. Working with real data ensures that the system meets practical needs and can handle real business scenarios, leading to greater confidence in the final implementation.<h4>2. Foster Interdepartmental Collaboration</h4>One of the biggest challenges in an eCommerce project is aligning various departments that often have different perspectives on operations. Key players such as marketing, manufacturing, and sales all have unique understandings of their roles, which can lead to misalignment and confusion if not managed properly. Successfully overcoming this challenge requires:<ul><li>Tip #5: Business &amp; IT Alignment</li></ul>Early engagement of business leaders helps align IT teams with project objectives, fostering collaborative discussions that lead to vital insights and a unified approach.<ul><li>Tip #6: Marketing and Sales Input</li></ul>Feedback from marketing and sales is essential for improving user experience and aligning product offerings with customer-facing elements. Without collaboration, you risk losing sight of the bigger picture.<ul><li>Tip #7: Understanding Manufacturing Constraints</li></ul>The manufacturing team’s insights are vital for understanding product availability and fulfillment capabilities, which can heavily influence sales and marketing strategies. Involving these departments in discussions helps ensure that all perspectives are considered.<ul><li>Tip #8: Accounting Considerations</li></ul>Bringing accounting teams into the discussion is crucial for seamless integration with financial systems, promoting compliance and accuracy in invoicing and payments.Today I know much better that SAP eCommerce implementation projects involve complex processes that can yield significant benefits when approached thoughtfully. By emphasizing the importance of testing business flows with golden data and fostering strong interdepartmental collaboration, organizations can effectively navigate the challenges of implementation.&nbsp;

A critical aspect of digital transformation that will ensure your success during an SAP eCommerce Cloud implementation project

Hello everyone,As summer draws to a close, it`s a wonderful time to reflect on the balance between work and personal life. This season has offered me precious moments to spend time with family and to prioritize personal relaxation - a reminder that taking time for ourselves in our busy lives is essential to our well-being.In this edition, I`d like to further explore the concept of balance, particularly as it relates to defining a seamless customer experience through the Commerce Cloud.&nbsp;Just as we strive to balance our personal and professional lives, fostering an inclusive environment and leveraging diverse perspectives is essential to aligning our goals and creating a comprehensive customer journey. Balancing these elements ensures that we not only meet but exceed our customers` expectations as we move forward.

<ul><li>Tip #1: Collaborate Across Departments</li></ul>One of the first lessons I learned was the importance of bringing all relevant departments together.&nbsp;Yes, even the most seemingly simple processes can require multiple iterations and cross-departmental collaboration.A true story: Our journey with a multinational technology company took three years, and it all started with envisioning how the client`s future commerce store would work. We started by defining product configurations and all of their nuances, which seemed straightforward at first.The value of multiple perspectives: At the end of our second year, we hit roadblock-object dependency rules that proved difficult to implement. That`s when we invited the engineers in the engineering department to share their insights. Their input was invaluable and allowed us to refine our approach. As a result, we now serve more than 20 countries with an optimized customer experience.<ul><li>Tip #2: Understand Your Customers Deeply</li></ul>Start by defining the persona: Understanding who your end customers are is the first step. I encourage you to walk in their shoes and create detailed customer personas.Think beyond the online experience: Its critical to recognize that customer experiences extend beyond the website. Map out every touchpoint your customers encounter, both online and offline. Identify key moments - from the first email notification to post-purchase support - and ask yourself, "How can we enhance this part of the journey?"Embrace Customer Insights: The more I learned about my customers, the better I understood their journey. This knowledge helped me create an online experience that truly met their needs and built lasting customer relationships.<ul><li>Tip #3: Why Defining the Persona Is So Important?</li></ul>We all need to understand that the essence of a successful eCommerce platform is not its design, but the user experience it provides.If customers can interact with your store effortlessly, you know you`ve done your job well. Its not just about creating an online catalog; its about creating a fluid process.<h4>A tale of two companies: Consider two businesses in the same industry:</h4>Company A focuses primarily on design aesthetics, working primarily with the marketing team to create visually appealing content. Their marketing team is at the helm, driving the project with an emphasis on creating a sleek, modern design. They believe that a visually stunning website will captivate customers and drive sales.However, as customers begin interacting with the site, problems arise. The complex design complicates navigation, and the site’s performance lags due to the heavy visual elements. Customers struggle to find what they want, leading to frustration and abandoned shopping carts. Despite the visual appeal, the customer experience is disjointed, and the anticipated sales boost fails to materialize.Company B, on the other hand, takes a different path. Understanding that the user experience goes beyond aesthetics, they bring together a cross-functional team - engineers, marketing, and sales teams, creating a collaborative environment to clearly understand and address customer needs. Engineers ensure the site is fast and intuitive, marketers fine-tune the messaging, and sales teams provide insights on customer pain points.Throughout the project, Company B`s focus remains on the end-to-end customer journey. They test the site with real users, gather feedback, and make iterative improvements. The final product is a website that delivers a smooth, intuitive shopping experience. Customers find what they need easily, enjoy a hassle-free checkout, and return for future purchases.Insights: Company A, despite its visually striking website, sees only a marginal increase in sales. Customers are drawn in by the design but leave disappointed by the usability. Company B, however, experiences significant growth. Their customer-centric approach results in higher satisfaction, increased loyalty, and a stronger bottom line.Set the right expectations: Company B`s success underscores the value of a holistic approach - one that integrates input from multiple departments and focuses on delivering a seamless, user-friendly journey. This tale serves as a reminder that when it comes to eCommerce, it’s not just about how your store looks, but how it feels to your customers.I hope my reflections on the customer journey and the importance of defining the persona inspire you in your own implementation projects. Remember, the heart of a successful eCommerce strategy is understanding and continually refining the customer experience while maintaining the right balance. Just as we seek harmony in our personal lives, achieving balance in our approach-integrating diverse perspectives and aligning goals-is essential to creating meaningful customer interactions. I encourage you to take these tips - collaborate across departments, understand your customers, and define personas - and apply them in your next project. Let`s strive for balance in every aspect of our work, ensuring we exceed customer expectations at every turn.Thank you for joining me on this journey, and I look forward to sharing more insights in our next newsletter!&nbsp;

Embracing the Unspoken Truths of eCommerce

Hello there,As we transition from the warmth of summer into the crisp energy of fall, I hope you’ve had a chance to recharge - spending quality time with loved ones, experiencing new things, and returning to work with renewed focus.&nbsp;Like the season, we’re on the brink of something fresh and exciting, ready to face new challenges with clarity and purpose.<blockquote>Autumn also signals the beginning of strategic planning for the year ahead, now is the time to innovate and rethink.&nbsp;</blockquote>During this time of renewal, it’s critical to find the right partners who can support us in executing successful strategic tactics. With that in mind, let’s explore some key aspects of eCommerce that can enhance our approach to customer engagement and project delivery.<blockquote>In this edition, I want to explore some often unspoken truths in the world of eCommerce - truths that can sometimes be the make-or-break elements of a successful project. One question that frequently comes up is: How much does it cost?</blockquote>

But before we dive into that, let’s talk about one of the biggest factors in any eCommerce project: addressing customer fears early on.<h3>Tip #1: Addressing Customer Fears and Guiding Effectively</h3>As an implementation partner, our first job is to alleviate customer fears. Ever feel like you`re juggling a thousand things at once when launching a new system? We`ve been there too. To succeed, we need to create an environment where open communication is not just encouraged but expected. Customers often come to the table with their own expectations - expectations shaped by personal experiences, not necessarily by industry trends or competitor insights. This is where we step in.It`s our responsibility to guide them, just like a mission control team guides astronauts through a launch. Sure, things can get tricky when aligning every piece of a complex system, but that`s where we come in to make sure your launch is as smooth as possible. While they have their vision and objectives, we provide the technical know-how and critical course corrections. Success isn`t a one-off event; it`s a continuous project that evolves through collaboration and delivery.A reminder to all of you:<blockquote>The client`s involvement in the project is more important than ours.</blockquote>Agility is vital. The ability to make small course corrections along the way - like adjusting the trajectory of a spacecraft with thrusters to keep it on course - keeps projects moving forward smoothly. And trust is built by showing clients that we can pivot and adapt when necessary.<blockquote>This is an ongoing process, emphasizing that delivery of promises remains critical.</blockquote>Now, let`s tackle another pressing question regarding customer fears: How much does it cost?&nbsp;<h3>Tip #2: Tackling the Cost Question with Discovery Workshops</h3>A common question we hear is: How much does it cost?<blockquote>But the real cost of an eCommerce implementation includes more than just consultancy fees and software. It also involves the time and effort the client’s team puts into the project - an effort that’s often more crucial than expected. As consultants, our role goes far beyond asking, “What do you want?” like we`re in a supermarket. Instead, it`s our job to deeply understand the client`s business, anticipate their pain points, and sometimes, yes, even bring up problems they haven`t considered yet.</blockquote>We bring expertise, best practices, and a clear view of industry trends to the table. But at the end of the day, no one knows your business better than you do. Both sides have skin in the game. So, the time and energy the client`s team dedicates to the project, especially during the discovery phase, is a significant investment that often goes unnoticed but is essential to success.<h4>How does this compare to global best practices?</h4>In the best eCommerce projects around the world, a collaborative approach is the gold standard. A joint team - where both consultants and the client work side by side - always yields better results. We might provide the blueprints and rocket fuel, but it`s the client’s team that sets the coordinates. Their involvement, especially during the discovery phase, is what ensures that the project truly takes off.Globally, it`s also considered best practice to factor in the client’s time and resources as part of the overall cost structure. Ignoring this aspect leads to unrealistic expectations about timelines and outcomes. The idea that consultants can handle everything on their own is not only misleading but can cause projects to burn up in the atmosphere before they even reach orbit.At its essence, this inquiry boils down to whether we can effectively deliver the right solution for the customer - through a well-defined team structure, comprised of the right people, utilizing the correct approaches.<blockquote>By blending the discovery phase with fit-to-standard sessions, we can precisely define the scope of delivery. This dual approach not only mitigates risks concerning costs but also helps manage timelines and delivery expectations.</blockquote>Now, let`s discuss why <a href="https://novarto.com/News/Announcing-Boost-Package---Quick-Start-to-SAP-Commerce-Cloud/">Novarto built the Boost Package</a>.&nbsp;<h3>Tip #3: Boost Package for Accelerated Go-Lives</h3>For many B2B clients, the complexity of their operations is like assembling a rocket: it`s not just about putting the pieces together but ensuring every component works in harmony. From product listings to checkout flows, and the underlying production and services, every part of the system must be perfectly aligned to ensure a smooth launch.<blockquote>That’s why we developed the Novarto Boost Package. With this solution, clients can go live within just four weeks - a timeline that`s essentially warp speed in the world of eCommerce. This rapid deployment doesn`t just reassure clients that their eCommerce platform is functional; it demonstrates that the software can start delivering value almost immediately.</blockquote><a href="https://novarto.com/ServicesBySolution/SAP-Commerce-Cloud-for-B2B---Boost-Package/">The Boost Package</a> leverages proven content and industry best practices to create a solid launchpad for future growth. Clients can confidently <a href="https://novarto.com/News/Announcing-Boost-Package---Quick-Start-to-SAP-Commerce-Cloud/">build their B2B stores on this framework</a>, knowing that it`s designed to adapt to the constantly shifting gravity of market dynamics and customer demands. When engaging with customers around B2B business, the process is usually very complex. It requires a deep understanding of not just product publishing or checkout processes, but also the underlying production and services being provided. After all, you don`t want to just launch - you want to stay flying high!<blockquote>Thank you for joining me on this exploration of eCommerce truths.&nbsp;</blockquote><blockquote>eCommerce is full of challenges, but with the right team and the right tools, the sky is no longer the limit and the beer tastes better. I`m excited to continue this journey with you.</blockquote>

Brewing eCommerce Success: Key Ingredients for a Strong Foundation

Hello everyone,In todays edition I would like to invite you to join me on a journey.Embarking on an eCommerce implementation journey is a lot like brewing the perfect beer. It’s a delicate balance of the right ingredients, precise timing, and expert craftsmanship.Just as a master brewer knows that the quality of the hops, malt, and yeast, along with the brewing process, will determine the final taste, so too does the success of your eCommerce project depend on the right blend of strong partnerships, detailed planning, and active business involvement.Whether you’re setting up your first microbrewery or expanding your operations to craft new digital experiences, the secret lies in careful preparation and collaboration, ensuring each stage of the process contributes to a smooth, satisfying outcome. Let’s tap into the essentials that will help you brew up success in the world of eCommerce!As we explore eCommerce implementation, its important to recognize the need for strong partnerships and active business participation.Are you just starting your eCommerce journey or thinking about moving to the cloud? In either case, effective collaboration is the key to a successful mission. Here are some critical aspects to consider.

<h3>Tip #1: Engagement and Involvement Matter</h3>The initial stages of any project require a clear definition and understanding of roles, especially when it comes to integrating business processes. While organizations often think theyve outlined all their requirements, this is only the beginning. Think of it as Phase 1.To truly understand your organizations needs, your partner should conduct deep-dive sessions to ensure they capture not only the surface requirements but also the golden data that drives decision-making and ultimately success.Key users should:<ul><li>Stay involved throughout the development cycle.</li><li>Test new features regularly.</li><li>Provide feedback, and adapt to improvements as they arise.</li></ul><h4>A little reminder from the last edition to all of you:</h4>The clients involvement in the project is more important than ours.<h3>Tip #2: Cloud vs. On-Premise: Assessing Your Options</h3>A pressing question that arises during project planning is whether to adopt a cloud solution or stick with on-premises systems. The difference boils down to who will manage and maintain your system.Increasingly, organizations are turning to Software as a Service (SaaS) models, which allow regular release management and feature updates from the provider. For instance, a retail company that moved to a SaaS model was able to roll out new online shopping features every month, keeping their customers engaged and satisfied.Transitioning to cloud infrastructure isn’t something to fear - it is like upgrading from a traditional car to a spaceship. It’s faster, more flexible, and can reach places you never thought possible.It is crucial to grasp the idea of a ‘clean core’ (keeping the core system unmodified and stable) and how to innovate with standard features. This is where a trusted partner comes in.<h3>Tip #3: The Vital Role of Fit-to-Standard Workshops</h3>Integrating business needs with standard processes is essential. To achieve this alignment, the Fit-to-Standard Workshop comes into play during the discovery phase. A Fit-to-Standard Workshop isn’t just about showcasing a product’s features. It involves aligning your business needs with the systems built-in functions.During this process, any gaps that require additional innovation or development are identified. Adopting best practices and utilizing standard features can often save more cost than limiting functionalities.<h3>Tip #4: Phased Approach: Easing the Implementation Journey</h3>Lastly, it’s important to recognize that effective release management should be a fundamental consideration in every project.As data dependencies and integration perspectives come into play, delivering everything in one shot can lead to missed opportunities and complexities. Instead of overwhelming the project with a one-time launch, a phased approach is more effective. By breaking down the process, it systematically addresses data relationships and models, ensuring smooth progress.

<h3>Takeaways:</h3><ul><li>Stay involved throughout the development process.</li><li>Evaluate the pros and cons of cloud vs. on-premise systems. Then make informed decisions.</li><li>Use Fit-to-Standard Workshops to align your business processes with standard offerings. This approach enhances both efficiency and innovation.</li></ul>&nbsp;I’ve only touched on a few aspects here, but with these steps, you’re setting the stage for a promising performance. Let’s continue this journey together, ensuring each decision adds to a story that’s truly worth telling. Cheers to your success!

A successful project hinges on careful planning, acknowledging and navigating complexity with ease, and ensuring alignment of all business processes to create a seamless customer experience.

The utilization of golden data is at the heart of a successful SAP eCommerce implementation. This high-quality, accurate, and comprehensive dataset reflects the real complexities of the business environment.

Fostering an inclusive environment and leveraging diverse perspectives is essential to aligning our goals and creating a comprehensive customer journey on SAP eCommerce Cloud implementation projects

Let`s explore some often unspoken truths in the world of eCommerce - truths that can sometimes be the make-or-break elements of a successful project. 

As we explore eCommerce implementation, its important to recognize the need for strong partnerships and active business participation. 