Overview of the SAP Activate Methodology

Adeoye Oyekan

3/16/20242 min read

a man sitting at a desk working on a laptop

The SAP Activate Methodology provides full support for initial deployments, as well as continuous business adoption and innovation with a harmonized implementation approach for cloud, on-premise, and hybrid deployments.

SAP Activate is based on an Agile methodology approach, emphasizing on sprints for configurations with walkthroughs, based on a release approach with multiple go-lives.

The SAP Activate Methodology is structured into a series of phases that guide organizations through the implementation of SAP solutions. These phases are designed to be flexible and iterative, allowing for continuous improvement and adaptation to changing requirements. While the specific activities and duration of each phase may vary depending on the project scope and complexity, the core phases typically include:

1. Discover: The project initiates by establishing the business case for an SAP-based solution implementation project. Value and impact analysis is also conducted to identify business value relevant to solution capabilities. Additionally, the overall customer transformation strategy is defined while the roadmap and implementation strategy are developed. Also, a review of technical architecture and infrastructure is needed to support the proposed customer transformation and implementation strategies.

2. Prepare: During the Prepare phase, project stakeholders define project goals, high-level scope, and develop a project plan, while also identifying and quantifying business value objectives. Project standards, organization, and governance are established. Roles and responsibilities for the project team are outlined, along with project management, tracking, and reporting mechanisms. The project environment infrastructure and IT systems are pre-assembled, and adoption and enablement planning are initiated as the project prepares for the next phase.

3. Explore: The Explore phase focuses on performing fit-gap analysis to identify the fit of best practices, captures delta configuration requirements, and adds gaps and configuration values to the backlog. Business sign-off on delta requirements and design documents is obtained, while end-user information is collected, learning needs analyzed, and a learning deployment strategy developed. Additionally, overall testing, adoption, change management, and post-production strategies are built, and project management, tracking, and reporting plans are refined.

4. Realize: In the Realize phase, the project team builds and configures the SAP solution based on the approved design and prototypes. This involves configuring business processes, integrating with other systems, and developing customizations as needed. This phase also includes unit testing and user acceptance testing to ensure the solution meets quality standards. Throughout, project management, tracking, and reporting ensure smooth progress and accountability.

5. Deploy: The Deploy phase involves deploying the configured SAP solution into the production environment. Additionally, deployment activities such as cutover planning, system go-live, and post-go-live support are carried out to ensure a smooth transition to the new system. Additionally, end-user training and change management activities are conducted to prepare stakeholders for the solution deployment.

6. Run: Once the solution is deployed, the project transitions into the Run phase, where ongoing support and maintenance activities are performed. This includes monitoring system performance, resolving issues and incidents, and providing user support and training as needed. Additionally, continuous improvement initiatives are identified and implemented to optimize the solution and maximize business value over time.

These phases form the foundation of the SAP Activate Methodology, guiding organizations through the end-to-end implementation lifecycle and enabling them to realize the full potential of their SAP solutions.