Introducing SAP S/4HANA Vectorial

In the previous post on SAP S/4HANA migration, the common challenges faced in IT transformation endeavours are highlighted, often stemming from a lack of comprehensive process understanding. Addressing these challenges head-on, QPR Software and Tietoevry are thrilled to unveil SAP S/4HANA Vectorial!

SAP S/4HANA Vectorial stands as a groundbreaking process mining solution, meticulously crafted to empower SAP and business analysts throughout S/4HANA transformation projects. This innovative tool streamlines the analysis of existing processes (as-is) and offers invaluable insights to gauge the extent of necessary adjustments during migration.

With SAP S/4HANA Vectorial, QPR and Tietoevry synergise cutting-edge technology with the wealth of SAP transformation expertise from seasoned professionals. The result? A game-changing solution that provides organisations with unparalleled support on their S/4HANA transformation journey.

Overview of SAP S/4HANA Vectorial in procurement processes.
How SAP S/4HANA Vectorial works

SAP S/4HANA Vectorial revolutionises process analysis by leveraging your transactional data to visually represent your process executions. It compares these executions against SAP’s best practice models for S/4HANA, instantly indicating the degree of adherence to these standards.

Yet, SAP S/4HANA Vectorial isn’t solely fixated on mirroring SAP’s best practices. It uniquely emphasises enhancing business performance alongside the S/4HANA transformation. Consequently, business performance metrics play a pivotal role in evaluating the alignment with SAP’s best practices.

Moreover, SAP S/4HANA Vectorial isn’t restricted to specific processes; it can analyse any process outlined in SAP’s documentation. To illustrate its capabilities, this blog post focuses on examples from the Procurement of Direct Materials (J45) process.

How you benefit from SAP S/4HANA Vectorial
1. Comparing process execution against SAP best practices

Before diving into your S/4HANA migration project, it’s wise to assess how your current processes align with S/4HANA best practices. This comparison provides insights into the adjustments needed when transitioning from your current ERP system to S/4HANA.

Understanding these discrepancies aids in crafting a well-informed transformation plan with realistic timelines, minimising the chances of unforeseen challenges during the project.

SAP S/4HANA Vectorial simplifies this process by mapping S/4HANA best practice processes into actionable models. This enables an automatic comparison between your actual process execution and these models, facilitating a clear understanding of the required changes.

Procurement of Direct Materials (J45) process model in SAP S/4HANA Vectorial.

By examining how closely your processes adhere to SAP’s best practices, you gain valuable insights crucial for your S/4HANA transformation journey.

This analysis swiftly addresses key questions:

  • Which process variations align with best practice models?
  • Are there performance disparities among different variations?
  • What factors contribute to deviations from SAP best practices?
  • Do process executions differ across the organisation?
  • Are there any unexpected occurrences within the process?

SAP S/4HANA Vectorial delivers answers to these queries through various analyses, including:

  • Instant overview of compliant process variations based on SAP best practices
  • Identification of reasons for deviations from best practices
  • Analysis of performance gaps within processes
  • Comparison of process variations to pinpoint unexpected behaviors.
Automatic identification of process variations that follow or break S/4HANA best practice models.
Clear and straightforward causes of best practice violations along with benchmarking across the organisation.
2. Utilise the Design Distance Score -concept for instant process insights

QPR and Tietoevry introduce a groundbreaking concept known as the Design Distance Score, born from their combined expertise. This innovative approach elevates the comparison between real process execution and best practice models.

The Design Distance Score employs an algorithm to assess the alignment of flow to and from specific process steps with SAP best practices, assigning scores accordingly. This enables analysts to swiftly identify why certain process variations deviate from the SAP best practice model.

By eliminating the need for time-consuming workshops and interviews to pinpoint problematic process steps, the Design Distance Score saves significant time. Instead, project teams can efficiently delve into problem areas and channel their brainstorming efforts towards resolving prevailing issues.

Process flowchart with color-coded design distance score.

To illustrate the Design Distance Score in action, consider a real-life instance of the procurement of direct materials process, which receives a score of 67 out of 100. In this example, process steps are color-coded to indicate their alignment with SAP best practices.

In the process, steps highlighted in green signify a flawless adherence to best practices. Take, for example, the “Create Purchase Order” step, which receives a perfect score of 100. This score is achieved because both the up flow from “Create Purchase Requisitions” and the down flow to “Post Goods Receipt” align perfectly with SAP’s best practices.

Similarly, this evaluation applies to all activities within each process variation. In the provided screenshot, alongside the green steps, we observe instances where certain steps only partially conform to best practices (such as “Post Goods Receipt” highlighted in yellow) and others that completely deviate from best practices (like “Post Supplier Invoice” and “Create Supplier Invoice,” both highlighted in red).

Design distance score analysis in SAP S/4HANA Vectorial. Set targets, monitor the trend for changes, and benchmark results across your organisation.

The Design Distance Score serves as a key performance indicator (KPI) for tracking progress throughout your transformation project and for monitoring performance post go-live to ensure adherence to the designed process.

Moreover, it offers invaluable insights for planning your S/4HANA transformation. By gauging how closely your current processes align with S/4HANA best practices, you can determine the feasibility of setting targets to align with these practices.

3. Design your future business processes to maximise performance instead of blindly following best practices

S/4HANA transformation isn’t just about meeting SAP’s requirements; it’s a chance to leverage the modern ERP platform for enhanced business opportunities and operational efficiency.

Enter SAP S/4HANA Vectorial, designed to shift the focus from merely adhering to SAP’s best practices to analysing operational performance. This solution challenges the notion that SAP’s best practices are the only path forward.

Yes, you heard it right! While the solution evaluates process alignment with SAP’s best practices, it also questions the necessity of strict adherence. In fact, for optimal performance, it may even recommend deviations from these practices!

SAP S/4HANA Vectorial helps you to maximize business performance by:
  • Reviewing process variations with top-performance
  • Assessing alignment with SAP’s best practices
  • Identifying variations meeting your organisation’s KPI targets
  • Striking the balance between performance and best practices
Set the target level for your performance and witness how SAP S/4HANA Vectorial instantly runs an analysis on how well the target is fulfilled.
SAP S/4HANA Vectorial automatically analyses which variations fulfill the performance targets allowing you to compare performance between variations.

Leveraging SAP S/4HANA Vectorial throughout your planning, design, execution, and monitoring phases ensures a successful transformation project that stays within budget, meets deadlines, and enhances business performance.

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Get a quick overview so you can spend your time improving your processes.

You can easily define and set up processes according to your own needs using a convenient layout tool. In addition, since all types of workflow processes can be managed, you get all case management in one single system. 

Analyses, statistics and reports give you an unbeatable overview with real-time status and division of responsibility. Nothing has to fall through the cracks anymore and you always have an accurate and up-to-date base for decision-making.

CANEA Process is a tool that allows you to model and share business processes in an easy-to-use graphical web interface.

Seeing is understanding

Visualisation gives all employees an understanding of the organisation’s processes, activities, responsibilities and information flows.

Living processes

Identifying working methods while making it easy to update is the basis for continuous improvement of processes.

Create a complete picture

Linking together documents, information and tools with clickable process maps create an intuitive and comprehensive management system.

CANEA Workflow is an IT solution that automates, quality-assures and speeds up administrative workflow processes.

You can easily define and set up processes according to your own needs using a convenient layout tool. In addition, since all types of workflow processes can be managed, you get all case management in one single system. 

Analyses, statistics and reports give you an unbeatable overview with real-time status and division of responsibility. Nothing has to fall through the cracks anymore and you always have an accurate and up-to-date base for decision-making.

By creating executable processes in CANEA Workflow, you get both better control of the situation and smoother processing.

Streamlining the work

Ensure compliance and that handovers are done correctly and with the right information.

Correct decision support

You get an unbeatable overview of the processes in real time, with both clear reports and clear diagrams.

Improve processes continuously

Our process support can be constantly adapted to changing needs and requirements. In this way, we give you the best possible conditions for your daily work.

A document management system without complicated folder structures.

CANEA Document combines simple and intuitive search features with powerful features for managing documents from a life cycle perspective.

Maximum availability
Search and find information quickly based on what you need, not where it is stored.

High security
Ensure accuracy, changes and access to all information – with high traceability.

Fulfils requirements
Manage information according to standards, legislation and other requirements for document management.

CANEA Document supports everything from production, publication and modification to archiving and deletion – with full traceability and version management.

CANEA Document provides secure management of all types of documents – in one place. Tagging the information with metadata creates a virtual, multidimensional folder structure. This means that a document appears in multiple locations at the same time, with authorisation-controlled access. The right information in the right place for the right users at the right time!

You can usefully add your company’s process-oriented management system to CANEA Document. All production and distribution of documents is quality-assured and streamlined. In addition, your employees always have access to the most up-to-date version of the documents – directly via intranet, tablets and mobile phones.

Improve the performance of your project activities

CANEA Project is a comprehensive project tool with integrated support for all types of projects and parties– such as management, resource owners, clients, project managers and project participants. CANEA Project gives you an excellent overview of your entire project portfolio, including profitability and status, making it easier to prioritize and make decisions.

CANEA Project shares all important project information with both internal and external members.

Let your project manager focus on management rather than administration and distribution of the information.

Gather all project information in one place and make it available to both internal and external members.

Helps you with prioritization of projects, resource management and analysis of portfolios and programs.

Make reality of the strategy

CANEA Strategy makes it possible for organisations of all sizes to create a unique common thread from the strategic work to the daily operations. We do not just provide performance management tools but rather a completely new generation of IT support for strategy activation. The system guarantees and provides support throughout the chain from strategy to execution. You get no results without action. CANEA Strategy makes it possible in practise! 

CANEA Strategy ensures and provides support throughout the entire journey from strategy to execution.

Create a shared understanding of the strategy, the goal to achieve and how.

Gives management an unbeatable overview of what’s happening, how it’s progressing, and why.

Creates a clear common thread from the strategy to project, initiatives and actions.