Which paths are Enterprises taking for Digital Transformation?

DXaaS May 18, 2020

Table of contents

Introduction

When it comes to Digital Transformation initiatives, there’s a lot of discussion right now in terms of strategy and execution. Developing the right approach and finding the right balance between strategy, execution and outcome is very essential. SAP has also geared its solution portfolio to prepare for an innovative and flexible business model.

Here, we’ll discuss the two standard approaches for Digital Transformation- Core-to-Edge Digitization and Edge-to-Core Digitization.

Which paths are enterprises taking for Digital Transformation

Kaar Tech's Journey

Discussions to take the Core-To-Edge Approach

  • When Kaar Tech started this journey a couple of years ago, there was a lot of discussion about digitizing the core first.The Core includes the vital business processes such as Finance, Logistics, Human Capital Management etc.

  • Traditionally, ERP systems form the Digital Core and are the backbone of any organization. SAP provides the Digital Core with its next-generation intelligent business suite, SAP S/4HANA. However, this methodology was quite effort-intensive.

  • People started realizing that core-to-edge was more difficult, and smaller enterprises always have the option of going over to ERP’s on the cloud. But, that is not an option for the larger enterprises.

Core-To-Edge and Edge-To-Core

Moving to the Edge-to-Core Approach

But then, the concept of Edge-to-Core started evolving and it made rapid strides within the SAP ecosystem itself.

In this method, the Edge started getting digitized first, that is, the processes such as Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Recruitment, Performance Management, Learning, Consolidation was digitized first, before touching the core.

The effort required to digitize the edge first was lesser compared to the core-to-edge methodology.

Connecting back to the core was a bit complicated initially, but with several enhancement packages coming in, things became easier.

Still Far Away from a Digitized Core

When it came to the Microservice Architecture, ECC still had a lot of limitations. Only so much could be done when it came to connecting SAP SuccessFactors, for example, to ECC on-prem, or connecting a C4C system or any part of the SAP Hybris to an ECC system.

Learnings

  • The Edge started getting digitized much faster and core started taking a backseat.

  • Most of the enterprises including the ones who are just embarking on their transformations, are looking at the edge first, because they are much quicker areas to digitize.

Learn more about Digital Transformation :

https://ktern.com/article/what-is-digital-transformation/?utm_source=article&utm_medium=cta

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Kirthan Ramesh

Ideas and Technologies are dime a dozen. But it's only when they're translated into reality and reach the people they're intended to, that they actually start to change lives.