Implementation Timeline
3-wave regional deployment strategy: Americas → EMEA → APAC
Program Timeline (2026–2029)
Delay Impact Simulator
Drag the slider to model implementation delays and see the financial impact in real time
0 quarters
On time2Q4Q (1 year)6Q8Q (2 years)
Americas Go-Live
2027-Q2
EMEA Go-Live
2028-Q1
APAC Go-Live
2028-Q3
NPV Impact
$0
Base: $20.3M
Benefits Lost
$0
Deferred realization
Payback Year
2032
Base: 2032
NPV per Quarter Delay
$0
Marginal cost of delay
1
Discover & Prepare
2026-Q1 → 2026-Q3 | Global
- Project charter and governance setup
- Current state assessment
- Fit-to-standard workshops
- Data profiling and remediation planning
- SI partner onboarding
2
Wave 1: Americas
2026-Q3 → 2027-Q2 | Americas
- Configure and build (Americas scope)
- Data migration (mock cycles)
- Integration development
- UAT and performance testing
- Go-live and hypercare
3
Wave 2: EMEA
2027-Q2 → 2028-Q1 | EMEA
- Configure and build (EMEA scope)
- Localization (EU regulations, languages)
- Data migration
- UAT and regression testing
- Go-live and hypercare
4
Wave 3: APAC
2027-Q4 → 2028-Q3 | APAC
- Configure and build (APAC scope)
- Localization (APAC regulations)
- Data migration
- UAT and regression testing
- Go-live and hypercare
5
Optimize & Scale
2028-Q3 → 2029-Q4 | Global
- Legacy system decommissioning
- Process optimization
- Advanced analytics enablement
- AI/ML pilot deployment
- Benefit realization tracking
Key Milestones & Decision Gates
| Date | Milestone | Gate Owner | Dependencies |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-Q1 | Program charter approved | Steering Committee | Board approval of business case |
| 2026-Q2 | SI partner selected and onboarded | Procurement / CIO | RFP completion, contract execution |
| 2026-Q3 | Fit-to-standard workshops complete | Global Process Owners | Process documentation, SME availability |
| 2027-Q1 | Wave 1 UAT sign-off | Americas BU Lead | Data migration, integration testing |
| 2027-Q2 | Wave 1 Go-Live (Americas) | PMO / CIO | UAT sign-off, cutover plan approved |
| 2027-Q4 | Wave 1 hypercare complete; Wave 2 UAT | PMO | Stabilization metrics met |
| 2028-Q1 | Wave 2 Go-Live (EMEA) | PMO / EMEA CIO | Wave 1 lessons learned incorporated |
| 2028-Q3 | Wave 3 Go-Live (APAC) | PMO / APAC CIO | Wave 2 stabilization |
| 2029-Q2 | Legacy system decommissioning complete | IT Operations | All regions stable on S/4HANA |
| 2029-Q4 | Optimize phase complete; transition to BAU | CIO / CFO | Benefit realization tracking in place |
No-Regret Actions (Start Now)
RecommendationData Quality Assessment
Begin profiling material, vendor, and customer master data across all regions. Data quality is the #1 risk to go-live timeline.
OCM Program Launch
Hire OCM lead and begin stakeholder analysis. Change management must start 6+ months before first go-live.
SAP Contract Negotiation
Lock in RISE pricing and negotiate 2026 license ramp. Opportunity to save 10-15% on first-year costs with early commitment.