Accenture Center of Excellence for SAP Upgrades

Drawing on the experience of over 250 upgrade projects, a market-leading position in the delivery of SAP-based solutions, and the resources of a global network of delivery centers, Accenture upgrades specialists are well-equipped to limit the risk and maximize the impact of the upgrade journey.

The center convenes upgrade practitioners, researchers and technologists. Their role is two-fold:

• To capture and refine our delivery approach, methodologies and thought leadership around upgrades–resulting in successful projects delivered rapidly.

• To accompany organizations on their upgrade journey–from preparation to blueprint, through solution realization to cutover planning, go live and ongoing support.

Based on our experience delivering SAP upgrade and SAP ERP projects and our insight into the risks and challenges that organizations face during upgrades, we have created—and continue to develop and refine—a complementary set of methodologies and tools offering organizations a reliable approach with flexible options to deliver successful upgrades rapidly and cost effectively. This approach places special emphasis on reducing business risk, including minimizing business downtime—one of the leading concerns from companies undergoing SAP upgrades.

The center is also a venue for our Upgrade Planning Workshops. The workshops are designed to provide organizations with a clear view of the upgrade undertaking and a plan for moving ahead that is tailored to their unique situation, opportunities and challenges.

Workshops cover the essential up-front planning: confirming business requirements; identifying key impact areas such as customization, technical landscape and business downtime constraints; and estimating and approach activities. Each workshop also provides organizations with an opportunity to consider the longer-term implications and requirements of their upgrade with a group of Accenture upgrade experts. Encouraged to think of the upgrade as more than a technical exercise, organizations explore with Accenture experts how an upgrade to SAP ERP makes it possible for them to leverage the enormous possibilities that a service-based IT infrastructure opens up.