Case study - SAP-ERP procurement to integrate core business processes in a startup
In just five months, a leading German automotive manufacturer successfully procured a SAP-ERP system to integrate core business processes for a growing startup. Through an agile approach and efficient stakeholder collaboration, the project met tight deadlines and optimized the startup's procurement processes, showcasing the power of agility and teamwork.
- Industry
- Automotive Industry
- Roles
- Project Manager for SAP-ERP procurement, IT Procurement Manager
- Services
- Project management, procurement strategy, stakeholder management, bid evaluation, agile project management
Objective
A burgeoning startup faced the challenge of integrating its core business processes due to planned growth. This was to be addressed by procuring a SAP-ERP system. It was necessary to have initial processes available within a 4-month timeframe.
Challenges
The main challenge was to meet the tight timeframe.
Execution
To achieve this, an agile approach was chosen. The implementation of core processes was started directly with the manufacturer, while a service provider was to be procured to ensure ongoing operations, professional support, and further development. The requirements for these services were precisely defined. The procurement involved all relevant stakeholders, including representatives of core processes, IT operations, architecture, legal department, and procurement. Trainings were conducted for all internal participants to ensure a targeted approach in dealing with vendors. To make an informed decision, we chose a two-stage process with RFI and RFP. After the bids were submitted, they were evaluated based on clear criteria. All technical, legal, and professional questions were clarified in walkthrough sessions.
Outcome
Thanks to the agile approach, the project was quickly launched, and the procurement of service providers was successfully completed in just 4 months. The project's result was a successful optimization of the startup's procurement processes, enabling it to meet the challenging time requirements. This project demonstrates how an agile approach and efficient collaboration can lead to rapid and successful implementation.