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Implementing a new ERP such as SAP Business One is a significant step for any small or mid-sized business, marking the beginning of a journey toward streamlined operations, enhanced efficiency, and consolidated business processes. The path to a successful ERP implementation begins with the crucial Project Preparation phase, setting the foundation for a successful deployment. At aclaros, our methodology emphasizes thorough preparation, aligning expectations, and ensuring technical readiness. In this blog post, we’ll dive into the Project Preparation phase of the SAP Business One ERP Implementation Project, detailing the steps, objectives, and how small businesses can effectively prepare for the subsequent phase, the Business Blueprint.

What Happens in the Project Preparation Phase?

The first phase of the SAP Business One Implementation Project zeroes in on confirming the project scope. This ensures that all teams align with the expectations defined in the Statement of Work. Preparatory activities also include provisioning the necessary infrastructure, databases, and license activations. This phase culminates in the creation of a detailed project plan, shared during the project kick-off, laying the groundwork for the implementation journey.

Phase Objectives and Activities of an SAP Implementation Project

Review and Resourcing

The primary objective here is to allocate both personnel and technical resources adequately. This step involves confirming the Statement of Work, identifying project teams and their roles, outlining the modules and features to be implemented, and explaining any exclusions. Additionally, it covers the identification of required software integrations , technical infrastructure, and hardware specifications that meet SAP requirements. A high-level project plan is also prepared during this stage.

Sales Handover

This critical internal process involves transferring knowledge from the sales team to the ERP project management and consultant teams. It ensures that the project team has all the relevant background information, priorities, and context needed to connect effectively with the clients.

Project Kick Off

The official kick-off meeting with the full team from aclaros and the customer! This includes a presentation of the confirmed project scope for the ERP implementation, the roles of all teams involved, and the project plan. It sets the stage for weekly touchpoints and establishes a communication plan.

Technical Infrastructure

A major milestone, this step involves preparing and configuring the required technical infrastructure, ordering and licensing SAP Business One and any add-ons, and providing live access to the databases. These objectives are different based on the deployment methodology.

On Premise

Cloud

Phase Sign-Off

At the end of each phase, a mutual sign-off is completed to ensure that everyone is in agreement that the above deliverables have been met and the project is ready to move on to the next phase.

Preparing for Phase 2:
Business Blueprint

The journey continues as we shift focus to the Business Blueprint phase, where we’ll work closely with subject matter experts to define the specific requirements of SAP Business One for your business. Proper preparation involves gathering detailed process workflows, understanding reporting requirements, and ensuring your team is familiar with SAP Business One’s capability through resources like the B1 Academy. This foundational work ensures we can tailor the SAP Business One ERP system to meet and exceed your business requirements.