Expleo Technology UK Limited

ESB is the premiere energy company in Ireland. As their trusted Continuous Quality partner, Expleo worked with ESB to ensure the migration to SAP S/4HANA was a smooth and reliable one.

For a company embarking on a brownfield implementation of S/4HANA across finance, supply chain, and HR, comprehensive Continuous Quality was paramount.

Working closely with the client’s functional SAP analysts, business stakeholders, and third-party suppliers, we created a robust Continuous Quality strategy. We executed and managed all phases of testing, safeguarding the company’s systems and instilling confidence in their transformation journey.

Any migration to SAP S/4HANA is a challenge due to the sheer scale and complexity of the switch. But by having the right teams adopt the right approach, the journey can be a smooth one. Working in partnership with ESB, Expleo delivered a Continuous Quality solution that ensured they reached SAP S/4HANA successfully and were ready to embrace the business benefits from day one.

Project objectives

Execute a Continuous Quality process for an SAP S/4HANA implementation

Create a programme test strategy that incorporated three business units with interdependencies

Deliver phases of testing including system integration, user acceptance testing, automation and performance testing, which covered SAP modules such as SAP finance, supply chain and HR

Provide a balanced onshore and offshore resourcing model

Deliver an automated regression pack that would support future enhancements of the S/4HANA platform

Challenges and solutions

Due to the scale of the change as well as the requirement to support existing business-as-usual activities, the Continuous Quality element of ESB’s journey to S/4HANA posed several challenges. Expleo worked with the internal team to overcome them and deliver a fit-for-purpose solution. Fueled by 30-plus years’ testing experience, we crafted a comprehensive strategy to smooth out any bumps in the road, ensuring quality and reliability on arrival.

Challenge : Lack of upfront requirements and documentation across key areas

Solution: We implemented an overall Continuous Quality approach to address gaps in requirements and documentation.

Challenge: Availability of technical teams and documentation for test cases

Solution : Our offshore SAP Centre of Excellence provided SAP Continuous Quality analysts to help create test cases across all three areas, as well as executing test cases where required by the programme team.

Challenge: Overlapping test phases with limited capacity in development teams to fix all defects ahead of the next phase

Solution : In collaboration with business stakeholders and the test team, we had daily triage calls to assess and prioritise defects so key ones were fixed first. We increased efficiency by retesting defects alongside requirements testing. This approach included focused regression testing based on impact analysis, resulting in improved defect management and testing efficiency.

Challenge : Team bandwidth constraints for non-functional requirements testing

Solution : We delivered a performance testing pack covering business-critical processes, facilitating non-functional requirements testing and providing a foundation for future enhancements.

In 2022, Uniphar embarked on their migration to S/4HANA. Their existing ECC6 system was highly customised, so it was critical they found the right SAP Systems Integrator to navigate their journey and implement their digital core, S/4HANA, and SAP EWM.

Our SAP S/4HANA Vendor Selection solution provided the guidance they needed. We gathered an experienced team of SAP experts to lead the way, facilitating an AS-IS/TO-BE discovery phase, crafting a comprehensive RFP and orchestrating an independent SAP System Integrator procurement process.

The result was a fixed-price contract with the chosen System Integrator, with negotiations complete in November 2022. And Expleo’s Programme Assurance Framework set Uniphar on course for a seamless journey. With our data-driven approach, Uniphar embarked on their ambitious transformation programme confident that they had the best-fit partner on board. 

Project objectives

Provide expertise to enable a thorough discovery of AS-IS/TO-BE processes and requirements across finance, procurement, SAP EWM, analytics and eCommerce within two business units

Develop AS-IS/TO-BE application architecture

Take an ‘out of the box’ approach to S/4HANA, with a goal of 85% SAP standardised processes to avoid future complexity and running cost

Develop a clear and detailed RFP and run an efficient procurement process to select the best-fit Systems Integrator with a fixed-price contract

Challenges and solutions

We gathered a team of project managers, business analysts, and SAP experts with over 100 years of combined SAP experience, to make sure Uniphar partnered with the right Systems Integrator for them. The process was not without its challenges, but our expertise ensured Uniphar brought the best-fit partner on board for the rest of their journey to S/4HANA.

Challenge : Lack of understanding of current processes

Solution: We got a clear view of the bigger picture to set a shared vision for Uniphar’s journey. We executed a thorough AS-IS/TO-BE discovery phase, documenting existing processes and defining the future-state requirements.

Challenge : Aligning the new system with Uniphar’s needs

Solution : We got a clear view of the bigger picture to set a shared vision for Uniphar’s journey. We executed a thorough AS-IS/TO-BE discovery phase, documenting existing processes and defining the future-state requirements.

Challenge: Balancing priorities across divisions

Solution : Different areas of the company had different priorities for the new system. Our data-driven approach meant vendors were assessed objectively, allowing stakeholders to align their priorities and make informed, joint decisions.

Challenge : Gathering information from internal teams

Solution : We collaborated closely with Uniphar’s experts, streamlining how we gathered the insights we needed, while minimising the burden on their resources.

"Uniphar engaged with Expleo to complete a SAP S/4HANA Discovery and SI Vendor Selection in 2022. Expleo provided SAP experts to complete an AS-IS/TO-BE process assessment to provide Uniphar with an understanding of their current process landscape and the level of process change required to move to S/4HANA using an out of the box approach. The AS-IS/TO-BE process also fed into an extremely detailed request for tender, written by Expleo, to enable the selection of a best fit SAP Solution Implementer. Expleo ran an extremely efficient independent procurement process which resulted in the successful selection of a SAP SI on a fixed price contract."

Hugh McDonnell, Chief Technology Officer, Uniphar Group 29