How to Select the Best SAP Ariba Implementation Partner?
SAP’s procurement solution SAP Ariba has truly transformed the world of buying and selling. From traceable transactions to picking the right vendors, the platform offers its users a host of benefits. However, the process of SAP Ariba deployment is an intricate one that requires the intervention and support of an implementation partner who can guide its users through the implementation journey.
SAP Ariba implementation partners offer careful assistance by performing responsibilities like-
- Streamlining all activities that are a part of project scheduling, development, testing, execution and delivery.
- They are responsible for ensuring a successful ‘GO-LIVE’ event.
- They help you leverage and utilise SAP Ariba features that are included in your subscription to the fullest.
- They also provide you with functional tips on how to optimize features and reporting tools
With a wide choice to choose between various Ariba partners out in the market, it becomes a tricky task to choose one that fits your needs the best.
This blog offers you six pointers as a checklist that every business choosing to implement SAP Ariba must go through before selecting the best implementation partner.
Partners with previous similar implementation experience
It is crucial to work with a partner who has expertise in implementing the project or module you want to use. This will imply that the partner has a history of carrying out and succeeding at initiatives that are comparable to yours. It is vital to search for partners who are always up to speed with new modules and who are constantly seeking to stay ahead of the pack in terms of training, even though newer modules and projects can be less recognisable to partners.
Industry/Domain Expertise
Selecting an SAP Ariba partner with the necessary domain experience is important for the successful deployment of your project as your project's initial deployment is not where the processes end. You require a partner who can support you even beyond that in terms of maintenance, analysis, feedback, and reinvention. The ideal partner holds in depth knowledge about your sector of operation and will coordinate deployment in such a way that it aligns with your goals and objectives in the long run.
Evaluate total cost of implementation
Any organisation must consider cost and choosing an SAP Ariba partner is no exception. We encourage you to look for a partner that fits in your project’s estimated budget on the whole and not someone that just aligns with your hourly rate expectations. It is also important to note that the advantages of your operations outweigh the money partners spent deploying the SAP Ariba platform, and so rates must be fixed accordingly.
Fits your purpose
It is always advisable to select an SAP Ariba partner whose goals align with your company’s vision. This will help both the parties benefit greatly while working together, quickly upgrading your current statuses. Additionally, this will guarantee that the partner has the technical know-how required to implement an upgrade at a fair price without interfering with your existing business operations.
Project size
While picking the right SAP Ariba implementation partner, it is important to take into consideration, the size of your project. Often, considering the project size is more important than the business size because Ariba provides project specific features, which offers a great deal of flexibility to the company. For example, if you want to deploy a multinational solution, you'll need an Ariba partner who has domain expertise across nations to guide you. Onboarding a local partner when you are aspiring to operate internationally, won’t work well as you would need someone with the necessary reach and experience to assist in the deployment of your initiative across numerous geographic places.
Cultural fit
The collaboration of your staff and experts from your partners will be required for a significant period of time because the implementation of SAP Ariba solutions may take months. Thus, selecting an SAP Ariba partner who shares your cultural background is essential. A misalignment of goals or a rift between your partner and your internal staff may lead to problems that have the potential of scarring your organisation's work,?its reputation, and more.
With experienced SAP Ariba implementation partners, you can make smarter and faster decisions across your supply chains that positively impacts your overall procurement lifecycle.
As a leading SAP partner with a vast experience across the entire SAP solutions portfolio, Exalogic Consulting’s sourcing and procurement capabilities cover the end-to-end source-to pay cycle for all spend categories. We are a digitally empowered organization, that offers you a flexible environment which is fully configured with all the necessary standardisations, that can benefit from the bounties of SAP Ariba modules.
Visit our website to get a better insight on our SAP Ariba implementation strategy or connect with our Ariba experts
