In the consumer goods sector, international crises such as the coronavirus pandemic and geopolitical conflicts are having a profound impact on production costs, delivery routes and invoicing processes. At the same time, the industry is increasingly evolving from a pure B2B sector to business-to-business-to-consumer (B2B2C) and direct-to-consumer (D2C) business models.

In addition, the integration of sales and operations planning (SOP) with the entire supply chain is becoming increasingly important in order to efficiently link planning, production, logistics and sales.

Companies can use the SAP S/4HANA transformation to optimise sustainability, personalisation, agility and global supply chains, among other things. Our experts show in the white paper why the S/4 HANA transformation is indispensable:

• Converting to SAP S/4HANA is essential to successfully meet the future challenges of the consumer goods industry and ensure long-term competitiveness. The imminent end of support for older SAP systems makes it clear that now is the right time to make the switch.
• The switch to SAP S/4HANA opens up the possibility of integrating technologies such as artificial intelligence and big data, which will lead to a comprehensive optimisation of the value chain and enable companies to implement sustainable and efficient business models.
• Hybrid system architectures create the basis for maximum flexibility: the combination of cloud and on-premise solutions offers companies the agility they need to react quickly to market changes and manage IT costs efficiently. The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) supports this hybrid architecture by integrating innovative technologies and processes.
• Data quality must be recognised as a critical success factor: It is crucial that companies understand the quality and centralised control of their data as the basis for the successful use of AI. A well-structured CDO agenda is therefore crucial for breaking down data silos and establishing a data-driven corporate strategy.
• Sustainability can be used as a competitive advantage in the future: The integration of SAP S/4HANA enables companies to implement and monitor sustainable practices along the entire supply chain. This not only contributes to the fulfilment of legal requirements, but also strengthens the market position and improves the brand reputation in the long term.