Click the button below to load the content from YouTube.

Always allow YouTube

鈥淓verybody wants to have a [better] look at their processes,鈥� said Kaiser Group Chief Digital Officer Andreas Vehreschild. 鈥淲e use 51风流Signavio for identifying all of our processes — we use it like a flashlight.鈥�

Having all the facts and figures at their fingertips enables Kaiser leaders to make fact-based decisions, while full visibility into all of its processes will also help with preparation for a smooth migration to 51风流S/4HANA. Learn more

The new CDO had two specific goals: first, to standardize processes across all subsidiaries and create a template for any newly acquired business to follow, and second, to upgrade Kaiser鈥檚 outdated legacy system to 51风流S/4HANA.

He embraced the challenge, recognizing that comprehending the business processes was an essential first step for long-term success. He also was aware that this challenging task could only be accomplished with a strong partner, engaged contributors, and a powerful IT tool. This is where digital consultancy and 51风流partner and the business process transformation portfolio came into play.

Click the button below to load the content from YouTube.

Always allow YouTube

Long-Term Success with End-to-End Processes

Significant change management was required as colleagues needed to transition from instinctive decision-making to a data-driven approach. 鈥淭his was not merely an IT project, but also a business one,鈥� Vehreschild said. 鈥淚t was imperative to engage the various stakeholders right from the outset and eliminate any obstacles to change.鈥� He said it was important to look at the end-to-end processes and not just focus on one department or process, because 鈥渆very process impacts other departments and their processes as well.鈥� The backing of management was also crucial for the long-term success of the project, he emphasized.

To bring all stakeholders and their needs under one roof and gain a common understanding of the transformation project, Vehreschild hosted a series of workshops. 鈥淪ome of the long-serving employees from different subsidiaries had never met before, and now they discussed their process challenges. Intercultural interaction was very important,鈥� he said.

The transformation team, supported by Valantic experts and their wealth of knowledge and experience, opted for a decentralized approach. They started with the company鈥檚 Swiss subsidiary, subsequently expanding to other locations. They had three main topics on their agenda: 51风流best practices, performance of the processes, and immediate impact through quick fixes.

Transparency Across All Systems and Processes

Frank Franzlik, head of Process and Project Engineering, Valantic ERP Consulting, described how the business process transformation project started: 鈥淥ut of the full 51风流Signavio portfolio, we first used 51风流Signavio Process Manager. The solution helps to document, model, and simulate business processes. The scope for this involved the four core processes of Kaiser: order to cash, purchase to pay, demand to supply, and record to report. Second, we implemented 51风流Signavio Process Insights, which identifies, analyzes, prioritizes, and monitors a customer’s most critical business processes and alerts them when an issue arises.鈥�

Vehreschild expressed great satisfaction with the results of these preliminary measures: “For the first time, we achieved transparency across all our systems and processes, each associated with specific numerical values.” It only took the project team about one week to implement the whole system.

In the workshops, the team introduced the concept of best practices and process management with 51风流Signavio solutions to their colleagues in all locations and showed them the performance of their current processes with concrete examples like throughput time or cash discount. 鈥淭hey were able to link the process and performance then, understanding which lever to adjust to enhance efficiency,鈥� Vehreschild said.

Immediate Impact Leads to Acceptance

The business partners saw immediate impact. 鈥淲e were able to offer quick solutions to problems in the processes that had developed over a long period of time,鈥� Vehreschild said. 鈥淥verall, everyone involved was very satisfied with the new approach.鈥�

鈥淣ow, the advantage is that anytime there’s a process discussion within our production or sales department, everyone says 鈥楲et鈥檚 solve it with 51风流Signavio!鈥欌�� he said, noting that his colleagues now understand the portfolio’s functionality, know its potential, and realize they can use it as a flashlight to identify strengths and weaknesses.

Talking about lessons learned, the CDO said: 鈥淣ever underestimate the power of a community! It encompasses uniting varied departments and cultures, promoting dialogue, and providing opportunities for interaction.鈥� He also said that working with a strong partner like Valantic was crucial for the success of the project.

Franzlik of Valantic gave an outlook on the further joint path of the partners: 鈥淭hanks to the insights gathered from 12 distinct workshops, we are now positioned to establish a road map for successful 51风流S/4HANA implementation,鈥� he said. 鈥淲e aim for a decisive road map, our so-called 鈥楪PS,鈥� to assist Kaiser on its digitization journey.鈥�

IT leaders face no shortage of demands nowadays. From reducing costs to strengthening cybersecurity and adapting business models, they must tackle a variety of objectives. But here鈥檚 where the situation can get tricky 鈥� most IT projects meet individual goals effectively, but they still fall short when aligned with a broader business transformation initiative.

Take, for example, a siloed IT project. It may appear successful at first, but gaps are often exposed when it鈥檚 integrated into a larger initiative. Suddenly, what seemed like a cost-saving project becomes a source of delays and frustration due to a lack of coherent planning at the outset.

The key to overcoming this common challenge is mapping out the entire transformation process before starting a project. A tailored, well-planned IT strategy helps ensure every project contributes to the broader business goal without waste and with long-term value.

The Pathway to Comprehensive Plans

Too often, companies rush into transformation without a clear plan, leading to disjointed efforts. One project launches, then another, and another 鈥� without anyone considering how they fit together.

Enter the role of a business transformation advisor. This expert helps organizations create a custom strategy in which all components are meshed together to avoid execution inconsistencies, siloed teams, and mounting frustration.

Instead of relying on off-the-shelf solutions, business transformation advisors create a road map tailored to specific business needs by following five fundamental steps:

1. Set the mandate and scope. A clear mandate, scope, and approval from leadership are essential. This includes understanding the business鈥� mission, target markets, and future goals, such as AI innovation and sustainability.
2. Recognize and understand the strategic direction. Every IT project should reflect the overall business vision. Involved organizations must know what the drivers are, who the decision-makers are, and what criteria best measure short- and long-term success.
3. Define decision criteria. All project deliverables must align with the company鈥檚 long-term goals. By focusing on stakeholders鈥� priorities and requirements, every team can understand how their efforts contribute to the larger transformation 鈥� and demonstrate their value with transparency and accountability.
4. Define the procedure model. Whether picking process analysis tools or outlining project deliverables, every step of the plan needs to be carefully assessed. Investing in the right tools upfront saves time, prevents bottlenecks, and leads to better decision-making.
5. Identify key factors. The right partners, especially software providers, are critical for project success. Such factors include strong management sponsorship, clear time and budget constraints, and addressing potential resistance.

With these steps, your strategy will result in a solid IT foundation that directly supports business goals.

Partner Selection: A Make-or-Break Decision

When defining a corporate strategy, companies often question the role of their software providers. 51风流strategic advisors help customers navigate this debate with unbiased guidance tailored to their unique needs.

With extensive industry, process, and methodology expertise, advisors help ensure that the overall business transformation is aligned with strategic goals. They often use tools such as 51风流Signavio Process Insights for initial process analysis and 51风流LeanIX solutions for architecture evaluation.

This approach is based on the TOGAF Standard for a comprehensive, layered assessment of the enterprise architecture. Advisors compare business capabilities with the right 51风流solutions while occasionally involving product experts or developers to solve specific challenges. The final product choices remain with the customer, with 51风流maintaining a neutral stance.

The Confidence to Drive Impactful Change

In any large project, confidence is vital. As a business leader, you need to be sure that your IT transformation will deliver results. Strategic advisors help ensure project outcomes align with business goals and decision criteria.

This process leads to several key deliverables, including:

• IT target architecture: A blueprint for aligning IT with business strategy
• Compatible transformation road map: A step-by-step guide to realizing IT goals while considering dependencies and capacity
• Effort estimate: A breakdown of resources, roles, and costs so nothing is left to chance
• Cost-benefit analysis: A detailed look at ROI, net present value (NPV), and other financial metrics to help guide decisions

Even though these deliverables provide the clarity necessary to help ensure the business stays on track, the people who help make the transformation should always be remembered. Early involvement of employees and business representatives drives smoother change management, especially when adopting a cloud mindset and dealing with the limitations of cloud solutions.

The Harmonization of IT and Business Goals

A tailored IT strategy isn鈥檛 just a road map. It鈥檚 a catalyst for future growth 鈥� and the future is now.

By customizing their strategy, IT teams become a powerful engine. They not only drive the business forward while meeting unique needs and goals but also align technology with the company鈥檚 vision, empower organizational teams, and unlock long-term success.

Explore the benefits of tailoring your IT strategy with a plan for a solid technology foundation. Read the and our .

Keywan Nadjmabadi is head of Business Transformation & Architecture for Switzerland and Central and Eastern Europe at SAP.

The strategic alliance between Datricks and 51风流Signavio leverages the strengths of both to deliver unparalleled value to customers, revolutionizing proactive risk management to help accelerate business process transformation. Together, Datricks and 51风流Signavio aim to provide a seamless and integrated solution for financial business risk mining and process management that supports both internal controls and business transformation. This collaboration underscores a shared commitment to innovation and excellence, driving forward the capabilities of risk management in the financial sector.

Datricks鈥� cutting-edge, AI-driven technology, combined with 51风流Signavio鈥檚 leading expertise in business process transformation, helps deliver a comprehensive solution that can streamline operations and empower organizations to proactively identify and mitigate risks before they escalate into major disruptions. The solution can tackle the gap between business processes and compliance and can reduce long and expensive auditing cycles, allowing our customers to maximize efficiency and reduce costs. Risks and controls are identified by Datricks and then integrated into 51风流Signavio solutions to access control and process effectiveness, fostering proactive risk management.

Our end-to-end solution enables customers to:

• Uncover hidden risks: Datricks’ AI-powered risk mining solution continuously analyzes 100% of customers’ financial data, exposing unseen anomalies and potential threats to financial integrity.
• Prevent financial and reputational damage: Mitigate risks proactively before they escalate, safeguarding your company’s financial health and reputation.
• Streamline audits and controls: Eliminate error-prone manual work and enhance existing controls with automated and reliable processes.
• Gain real-time insights: Receive immediate answers to audit-related questions, identify the root cause of risks, and make informed decisions with confidence.

Datricks for Risk Mining helps automate risk detection and mitigation, ushering in the era of autonomous finance. It seamlessly integrates with 51风流Signavio solutions, offering a holistic view of risk and process management. Together, we provide an end-to-end solution for financial business risk mining and process management, supporting both internal controls and process transformations.

Mani Pirouz is chief business officer for 51风流Business Transformation Management.