The S/4HANA Transformation Playbook

Many organizations are approaching S/4HANA as a technical migration, focused on hitting SAP’s 2027 deadline with minimal disruption.

Leading supply chain executives are taking a different path. 

Through our in-depth conversation with senior leaders from Boeing and Bayer Crop Science, we uncovered how they’re transforming the S/4HANA upgrade into a platform for operational redesign.

This report delivers practical insights from those deep in the journey, and the firsthand decisions and frameworks you can act on:  

• How to evaluate the core ERP strategy choice: Why Boeing and Bayer rejected “lift-and-shift” and what it takes to drive true end-to-end supply chain transformation. 
• Where most data strategies break down: Consequences of deferring data governance and how a centralized MDG model avoided late-stage delays.  
• What effective change management looks like: How global champions, role-based enablement, and embedded testing cycles helped overcome resistance. 
• How to plan for real-world integration complexity: Compare best-of-breed integrations (like Manhattan WMS) with a streamlined SAP-first approach.
  
• Why decision alignment is the differentiator: Connecting your approach to data, org design, and integration to boost ROI. 

Use this playbook to pressure-test your S/4HANA strategy before misalignment, delays, or missed value take hold.