We are regularly asked by clients 'What is the value and benefit of moving from one SAP version to another?'
For Bluefin and our expert upgrade consultants this is an easy question to answer. However it's not just about the technical advantages or the business advantages. It is about long term advice from a trusted advisor source. To take you in the right direction, and ensure that critical decisions made early on are right for the future, in terms of the business ERP solution strategy and the business as a whole.

Bluefin are experts in the delivery of upgrades. Bluefin can supply the key consulting skills and technical advice that is required for a successful upgrade to ERP 6.0 from your current version of SAP. (SAP ERP 6.0 is the Go-To Release of SAP). From advisory services to technical evaluation and technical planning, to delivery of the solution, landscape and a detailed roadmap. To ensure that you achieve maximum benefit from both the technical and functional advantages of ERP 6.0 going forward.  Also key will be to advise on the Release and Maintenance Strategy as well as new concepts such as the Enhancement Package.
If you're thinking about upgrading to SAP ERP 6.0, but are unsure of the benefits and how it would work for you, then take advantage of Bluefin's 'Upgrade to 6.0' introduction workshop. Our fixed price package uses intensive workshop techniques to drive out a robust approach, solution, timescale and costing for your SAP ERP 6.0 upgrade. And ensuring all dependencies and factors that could affect the project are taken into account. It is a session tailored by SAP experts to your specific needs as an organization.

How does it work?

Your Upgrade workshop, or series of workshops will be held with key organizational stakeholders in the upgrade process, and will be followed up by specific deliverables, analysis and Q&A, as required.
The workshop will explore such subjects as:

• Your IT strategy going forward, key drivers and objectives for upgrading
• New functionality in relevant areas, and associated benefits
• SAP maintenance constraints
• In-House resource and skills profile
• Governance, risk and compliance
• Whether or not to immediately implement new functionality or simply execute a technical upgrade
• How to ensure a successful project and benefits realisation
• Upgrade lessons learnt and recommendations from Bluefin

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A playback session will then be held to present the outputs and deliverables of the workshops and analysis. This will consist of:

• A proposed high level project plan -  built around the constraints and capabilities of your business and proposing achievable timescales
• A project organisation structure and role definition for the project
• The Upgrade Project  scope
• A cost benefit analysis and high level benefits case
• Key risks and issues, and suggested mitigations and actions
• A potential  fixed price quote for delivering the upgrade
• Plus: roadmap for leveraging the benefits of the upgrade - including quick wins to the business

The Next Steps: Proceeding with your Upgrade

Bluefin can help you execute your Upgrade, depending on your in-house capability and resource availability, and as a client your preferred method of working with SAP partners. You may choose to upgrade in a number of ways. Bluefin can work with you when using any of these approaches; Technical Upgrade, Strategic Business Improvement and Functional Upgrade.

Generally the recommended approach by Bluefin is to do your Technical Upgrade first and then look at areas of the business on which to look for Strategic improvements (perhaps Business Process Re-Engineering and Process Optimization might be required in some areas). Functional Upgrade will by default follow a Strategic exercise to review process. And will ultimately enable you to make the most of the SAP functionality available to you and plan its use over a roadmap plan. In upgrading your ERP solution it is critical that 'New' functionality is not merely implemented on the basis of old process or perhaps poor process that will not allow you to make the most of the new functionality and gain appropriate benefits.

A Technical Upgrade: 

This is for organisations wishing to upgrade their system without implementing any new functionality in the first instance; for example, if the main driver is seen as a 'burning platform' where mainstream maintenance is about to expire. Bluefin can provide highly experienced Technical (BASIS) Consultants to execute the software upgrade. And Functional Consultants to both manage and deliver the functional requirements of the Technical upgrade at the required stage of the project. However, if you have in-house Functional Consultants, we can step back and let them take over after the software upgrade.

Strategic Business Improvement and Functional Upgrade: 

This is for companies wishing to upgrade their system and enhance existing processes by taking advantage of new functionality that SAP offers. As has been mentioned above you may wish to review existing processes and potentially implement new business processes to ensure full value is gained. The upgrade roadmap can also of course include rolling out your SAP system to new business units and / or geographical locations.

Want to know more?

If you would like to find out more about upgrading to SAP ERP 6.0 and our workshop sessions, please contact us on +44 (0)870 233 0404.

Also, look out for our Seminar Programme from September onwards which will include sessions from our experts on SAP ERP 6.0 Upgrade.

To be included on the 2007/2008 Seminar Programme:
Upgrade Seminar : Planning to Achieve Maximum Benefit with ERP 6.0