By Arun Natesan, Chief Architect at JDC Group
Setting the stage with strategy, clarity, and alignment.
Every successful SAP S/4HANA Cloud implementation begins with a clear roadmap—and that journey starts in the Discover Phase. This is where organizations lay the groundwork by identifying business objectives, understanding solution capabilities, and aligning their teams around a shared vision.
This post is part of our SAP Activate blog series. Follow along as we break down each phase, offering expert insight into what to expect and how to prepare.
What Happens in the Discover Phase?
The Discover Phase is designed to help businesses explore the potential of SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, assess the value it can bring, and establish the right direction for the implementation. It’s about aligning expectations, exploring benefits, and getting stakeholders on the same page before project execution begins.
Why the Discover Phase Matters
- Clarify goals and educate teams about what S/4HANA Cloud offers
- Assess business drivers behind the move to Cloud ERP
- Develop a high-level project vision and initial scope
- Determine readiness and highlight potential opportunities
Core Priorities During the Discover Phase
- Has the Digital Discovery Assessment (DDA) Been Completed?
A well-executed DDA is essential. It maps out the transformation vision, outlines business goals, and helps identify critical requirements early on. The success of the entire project hinges on the accuracy and depth of this assessment.
- Have You Accounted for Localization Needs?
For organizations operating in multiple regions, understanding local compliance requirements (legal, tax, language) from the start is key to staying on schedule and avoiding regulatory setbacks.
Early localization planning = smoother deployments across countries.
- Is a Change Leader in Place?
Every transformation needs a champion. Appointing a dedicated change leader ensures there’s someone to steer Fit-to-Standard (F2S) workshops, engage stakeholders, and drive organizational alignment.
This role bridges strategy with execution and helps keep everyone aligned.
- Are All Integration Touchpoints Identified?
Knowing what systems need to connect—internal or third-party—is critical. These integrations will influence project scope, middleware selection, and testing timelines. Understanding integration early saves time and avoids future surprises.
- Were Any Custom Applications Identified Early?
Even with SAP’s best-practice approach, some businesses require custom apps or extensions. Recognizing these needs at the DDA stage helps shape the BTP (Business Technology Platform) and resource planning.
Early identification = better scope control and fewer disruptions.
- Is the Cloud Mindset Clearly Communicated?
Adopting S/4HANA Cloud means embracing industry best practice standards and agility. Reinforcing the Fit-to-Standard concept with business and IT leaders encourages acceptance of a standardization-over-customization approach. Changing the mindset now supports a smoother project later.
- Are Licenses and BTP Entitlements Validated?
Confirm that your Functional User Equivalent (FUE) licenses and necessary SAP BTP components are in line with project expectations. Misalignment can lead to delays, unexpected costs, and project reworks.
Clear licensing = no bottlenecks down the road.
Helpful Tools During This Phase
- SAP Value Lifecycle Manager (VLM): Helps assess business value and build a solid case for transformation
- SAP Roadmap Viewer: Provides visibility into project milestones and detailed methodology steps
Key Takeaway: Begin with Intent and Insight
The Discover Phase is your opportunity to define success before execution begins. By addressing strategic, technical, and organizational factors early, you create a roadmap that’s aligned, realistic, and built for success.
Coming Up Next
We’ll explore the Prepare Phase—where vision turns into strategy and readiness takes shape. Don’t miss how JDC Group turns initial insights into a strong, tactical plan.
Click here to read the next part of this series – the Prepare Phase.
