Key Takeaways:
- A SAP Cloud ERP implementation follows the structured "Road to Success" methodology with six clearly defined phases: Discover, Prepare, Explore, Realize, Deploy, and Run.
- The first phase takes place before the contract is signed: in the Digital Discovery Assessment (DDA), you clarify the process scope, effort, and costs in detail before committing.
- Each phase has clearly defined stakeholders, defined tasks, and a transparent outcome – no surprises, no hidden costs.
- PART supports you from the very first conversation through to ongoing operations – personally, pragmatically, and with years of experience in the process industries.
ERP projects have a reputation that precedes them: expensive, time-consuming, full of surprises. Many mid-sized companies hesitate to make the switch because they fear a mammoth project that will paralyze their day-to-day operations. That concern is understandable – and at the same time, it's not the whole story.
A SAP Cloud ERP implementation today follows a clearly structured path: the "Road to Success." Six phases, each with a defined outcome, clear stakeholders, and a transparent purpose. Anyone who knows this path quickly realizes: nothing is left to chance – and at every stage, you know exactly where you stand.
This article walks you through all six phases and explains what happens concretely at each step.
The Road to Success at a Glance
The methodology originates from SAP and is used by PART in the process industries. It structures every project into six sequential phases: Discover, Prepare, Explore, Realize, Deploy, and Run.
One important note: the first phase (Discover) takes place before the contract is signed. It creates the foundation for an informed decision – so you know exactly what you are committing to before you invest. From phase two (Prepare) onwards, the actual project implementation begins.
Phase 1: Discover – Clarity Before You Decide
Before any project kicks off, a structured analysis takes place: the Digital Discovery Assessment (DDA). Together with a specialist consultant from PART, you systematically review your processes – Scope Item by Scope Item. These are predefined process building blocks that map your real workflows to the SAP standard.
What happens concretely?
- Analysis of the current process landscape
- Comparison with SAP Cloud ERP best practice processes
- Initial assessment of licensing requirements, project scope, and costs
Who is involved? A specialist consultant from PART, your department heads, and the sales team.
The outcome: A solid basis for your decision. No purchasing blind – instead, clarity on benefits, effort, and investment. It is important to us: we only sell you what the system can actually deliver. That is why sales and consulting at PART work closely together from the very start.
Phase 2: Prepare – The Project Kick-Off
With the kick-off, the actual project work begins. Technical access is set up and the joint project team is assembled. From this point on, you have access to your ERP system. In parallel, the Fit-to-Standard analysis gets underway: the Business Driven Configuration Questionnaire (BDCQ) is used to establish the parameters for the subsequent configuration.
What happens concretely?
- Project organization and role assignment
- Provisioning of SAP systems
- Structured capture of configuration requirements
Who is involved? Project management on both sides, key users from the relevant departments, and the consultants from PART.
The outcome: The project has a clear framework – all stakeholders know what will happen and in what sequence.
Phase 3: Explore – Defining Processes
Now things get into the detail. Your future business processes are mapped against the standard functions of SAP Cloud ERP and configured in the system. Master data is analyzed and prepared, and integration with existing third-party systems is planned – for example via the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), the platform for all extensions outside the SAP standard.
What happens concretely?
- Definition of target processes based on the Fit-to-Standard analysis
- Analysis and preparation of master data
- Planning of integrations and interfaces
- Test planning
Who is involved? PART consultants and your key users work closely together. This is one of the most intensive phases for your departments – and at the same time the one where you contribute the most from your own expertise.
The outcome: A clearly defined project scope and a complete process landscape that is ready for implementation.
Phase 4: Realize – Implementation and Testing
In the Realize phase, the system is configured according to the specifications from Phase 3. Extensions via the Business Technology Platform (BTP) are implemented where needed. In parallel, preparations for go-live are underway: User Acceptance Tests ensure the system works in practice, and your employees are trained.
What happens concretely?
- Configuration of the defined business processes
- Implementation of integrations and extensions
- User Acceptance Tests with your end users
- Training of key users
- Cutover planning for go-live
Who is involved? Consultants, the project team, and end users from the business departments.
The outcome: A fully configured system that has been tested and signed off. Your users are prepared.
Phase 5: Deploy – Go-Live
The productive start. The system goes live, supported by a detailed cutover plan that minimizes operational disruptions. Data migration from legacy systems takes place in a structured manner. In the first weeks after go-live, PART provides particularly close support during the so-called Hypercare phase: for rapid issue resolution, fine-tuning, and intensive support.
What happens concretely?
- Data migration and technical go-live
- Hypercare: intensive support in the first weeks
- Handover to ongoing operations
Who is involved? The entire project team – plus your users, who are now working productively with the new system.
The outcome: A stable live environment and users who are confident working with the system.
Phase 6: Run – Operations After Go-Live
An ERP project does not end at go-live – that is when ongoing operations begin. SAP automatically delivers new features to the system on a quarterly basis. PART ensures these are used effectively. At the same time, the system continues to evolve: new locations, additional areas, or extensions via the BTP can be integrated flexibly.
What happens concretely?
- Ongoing support and maintenance
- Accompanying quarterly updates
- Planning of optimizations and extensions
- Training of new users
Who is involved? A dedicated contact person at PART and your internal team.
The outcome: A long-term partnership in which your ERP grows with your business.
Conclusion
A SAP Cloud ERP implementation is not a leap into the unknown. The Road to Success turns a large-scale project into a sequence of manageable steps – with clear purposes, defined stakeholders, and transparent outcomes at every phase. Those who know the path can walk it with confidence.
We support you throughout – as a partner and in a pragmatic way. Our consultants are at your side from the first conversation through to ongoing operations – personally, reliably, and honestly. We tell you what works, what does not work, and why.
Considering whether SAP Cloud ERP is the right path for your business? In a no-obligation initial conversation, we will explore together what an implementation could look like for you.
