Posted on Thu, Apr 25, 2013
For the final installment in our ongoing series on the recent integration of G3 Global and Diagonal Consulting we’re turning our attention to perhaps the most important factor that has made the integration of these two SAP consulting companies such a success.
In the first post in this series, we examined the similarities in company culture that made this acquisition such a good fit.
Then we took a closer look at how the leadership teams on both sides of the new organization leveraged that focus on company culture to create a new model for SAP success.
Now it’s time to focus in even further on the most basic and essential element that brought these two SAP consulting companies together:
Attitude
As anyone who has participated in the mergers and acquisitions process can attest, it isn’t always the smoothest, most comfortable transition. Given the scope of change required, even in the most closely aligned businesses, there is always a lot of understandable uncertainty involved. Very often, that sense of uncertainty can create an atmosphere of fear or mistrust that has a negative impact on the successful integration of any two organizational structures.
Of course, you’d never get that impression from talking with the employees at G3 Global or Diagonal Consulting. Both teams have approached the challenge of integration with a confident “can do” attitude that stems from their close alignment with the overall organizational strategy. As we’ve already discussed, credit is due in no small part to the leadership teams at both SAP consulting companies. Their ability to create such rich and rewarding company cultures resulted in a clear sense of common purpose that has supported the achievement of every integration goal.
More importantly, this alignment of employee attitudes has fostered a spirit of capability that puts every challenge in a manageable perspective, no matter how daunting or impossible it may have seemed at the outset.
Which is saying something since the challenges these two SAP consulting companies faced, were by no means minor. The timing for the merger of G3 Global and Diagonal could not have come at a worse time given that both teams were going through very busy periods. However, there was a clear company-wide understanding that this opportunity was in the strategic best interests of both organizations. That understanding nurtured and supported the naturally proactive attitudes of employees on both sides and ensured the ability of each team to act quickly once an opportunity presented itself.
Looking back at the favorable series of events that brought these two SAP implementation and support experts together, it’s easy to think: “that was lucky.” However, when you look a little bit closer, it quickly becomes clear that there was no need for luck.
By cultivating the strong company cultures, putting the right leadership in place and aligning all team members with a common set of goals, G3 Global and Diagonal Consulting have created their own “luck” and the results look promising, to say the least.
If you’re looking for help integrating SAP success into your company’s operations, call 484-329-2080 or click on the button below to speak with the SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Apr 18, 2013
As part of our ongoing series on the recent integration of G3 Global and Diagonal Consulting we’re taking an in-depth look at the factors that have made the combination of these two SAP consulting companies such a success. Officially announced on February 15, this new integrated partnership is already making its impact known in the SAP implementation and support industry.
In the first post in this series, we examined the similarities in culture between the two companies. In today’s post, we’re taking a closer look at how the leadership teams on both sides of the new organization leveraged that focus on company culture to create a new model for SAP success.
Of course, as any mergers and acquisitions expert will tell you, that sort of perfectly matched transition is the exception rather than the rule. So, in addition to having closely matched company cultures, you may be wondering what other factors made the combined force of Diagonal Consulting and G3 Global a tale of SAP consulting success.
As with any successful business, the answer starts from the top:
Leadership
The leadership roles at both G3 Global and Diagonal are held by individuals who are passionate about their work and experts in their respective fields. They take a hands-on approach to providing every client with the knowledgeable expertise that only comes from years of firsthand SAP experience. In that pursuit, both leadership teams make it a point to maintain active involvement in the management of all client engagements.
The benefits of this approach are numerous. The leadership team’s ability to intimately understand the operational, tactical and strategic activities of the organizations they serve (as well as their own) has helped them understand the benefits that can be achieved from a merged organization.
This in-depth industry understanding has also helped inspire confidence in every employee and -- in combination with the cultural fit described in our last post -- it has created an atmosphere in which every member of the team is working together toward a common goal. By making the right, informed decisions for the newly merged organization, the leadership team proceeds with the knowledge and confidence that the integration of G3 Global and Diagonal Consulting will benefit both clients and employees immediately and in the long run.
“This acquisition represents a significant step in G3 Global’s progress,” said Chris Gunter, CEO of G3 Global. “There is excellent synergy between G3 and Diagonal, a matching of minds and business ethos that benefits employees of both companies, not to mention a strengthening of capabilities that will make the united customer base very happy.”
Both companies bring solid leadership to the table, as well as a deep-rooted dedication to strong, customer-focused SAP consulting. Diagonal has been providing innovative SAP implementation and IT consulting solutions since 1986. G3 Global is an SAP Gold Partner that delivers integrated SAP and Business Intelligence solutions. Together, these two leaders in SAP consulting, implementation and support have combined to form an organization capable of delivering even more comprehensive SAP solutions to a much wider array of businesses worldwide.
The full force and impact of this new organization is only now beginning to have it’s effect on the SAP consulting industry, but one thing is already clear: the broader solution offerings made possible by the acquisition include application maintenance and support, fully managed services, hosting and mobility. In addition, the two specialty technology companies now enjoy stronger physical U.S. and European presences.
While company culture and leadership have both contributed greatly to the successful integration of these two SAP consulting companies, there is one final factor whose contribution cannot be ignored. Stay tuned next week when we will look at the importance of a “let’s do it” attitude.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for help integrating SAP success into your company’s operations, call 484-329-2080 or click on the button below to speak with the SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Apr 11, 2013
As you may have heard, G3 Global recently acquired Diagonal Consulting. Officially announced on February 15, this new integrated partnership is already making its impact known in the SAP implementation and support industry.
Diagonal Consulting has been providing innovative SAP implementation and IT consulting solutions since 1986. G3 Global is an SAP Gold Partner that delivers integrated SAP and Business Intelligence solutions. With such clearly aligned goals, it should come as no surprise that the acquisition proceeded smoothly and these two SAP consulting companies were able to integrate their operations seamlessly.
In the words of Diagonal Consulting President Steve Woodgate, “It was great to see how well the management teams from G3 Global and Diagonal gelled when we first met up on March 11. What could potentially have created massive tension in both organizations was transformed into a truly cohesive and globally aligned management structure in days.”
Of course, as any mergers and acquisitions expert will tell you, that sort of perfectly matched transition is the exception rather than the rule. That being the case, over the next few days, we are going to take a closer look at the factors that make the combined force of Diagonal Consulting and G3 Global a tale of SAP consulting success.
The first, and perhaps most important factor?
Culture
G3 Global and Diagonal Consulting possess very similar, people-focused company cultures. In addition to providing personalized service and human solutions to technological challenges, that trait has created a strong sense of trust and commitment among their respective workforces.
Both companies have worked hard over the years to foster a powerful sense of belonging and personal allegiance to the respective brands, leadership teams and colleagues. Their focus on a family-based employee culture generates confidence and gives people the space to learn and grow. While strong personal performance is expected, there is a clear understanding that tolerating mistakes as part of the learning process ultimately makes for stronger SAP consulting companies.
Fostering a people-focused, high-performance workforce culture has helped every member of each team to understand his or her personal value to the new organization. So, when the discussions around role changes started, no one was worried about their own personal position. Instead, every single team member focused on how best to leverage the skills each role required as the two organizational structures merged.
While company culture played a big part in the successful integration of these two SAP consulting companies, it was only part of the equation. Stay tuned later in next week when we will look at two other critical factors: Leadership and Attitude.
In the meantime, if you’re looking for help integrating SAP success into your company’s operations, call 484-329-2080 or click on the button below to speak with the SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Mar 07, 2013
You spent a lot of time, energy and company resources making sure your SAP implementation went smoothly from start to finish. The biggest mistake most organizations make at this point is assuming that the job is over and done. That assumption couldn’t be further from the truth!
The fact of the matter is, the moment your initial SAP implementation is complete, you’re just getting started on the road to SAP success. NOW is the time to start ramping up your SAP support structure to ensure complete “Go-Live Satisfaction.”
So, when your SAP implementation team leaves the building, take a moment to celebrate -- you deserve it, after all -- but don’t get comfortable. The next step is critical. Staying ahead of change and support requests from every corner of your business is the key to long-term SAP success. In order to do that, you need to find your SAP support “sweet spot.”
The first step is to ask yourself and your team the following five questions:
- How long does it take to turn around support requests?
- Do you have enough resources to handle all the change requests coming in?
- Is your SAP user community happy with the level of support they are receiving?
- Do you hear complaints like, “But we could do it in our legacy system?”
- Is there a solid change management structure in place to help educate your user community on new SAP enhancements and functionality?
Believe it or not, there is an answer to every question above: Diagonal Consulting. Whatever level of engagement you require, our team of knowledgeable and experienced SAP consultants helps you manage your growing pile of SAP support and change requests before they create a costly backlog for your team. By integrating Diagonal’s unique Business Before IT SAP support approach into your post-implementation process you give your business the supplemental help you need to manage the transition and achieve SAP success.
With Diagonal Consulting’s extensive experience in SAP support, configuration, process design and ABAP programming by your side, you’re free to focus your attention on more important things … like running and improving your business. After all, wasn’t that the point of implementing SAP in the first place?
Need help finding your post-implementation SAP support sweet spot? Call 484-329-2080 or click on the button below to speak with the SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Feb 28, 2013
What is the new G/L and how does it benefit your organization?
As you may or may not know, the newest version of SAP’s Enterprise Resource Planning Central Component (ECC) includes a complete overhaul of the classic General Ledger (G/L) process.
This latest reorganization of the SAP financial accounting functionality provides users with a number of distinct advantages over the classic G/L approach, including:
- Parallel accounting using parallel ledgers
- Segment reporting (e.g. between sales and service or product divisions) as required by IAS and U.S. GAAP (Generally Accepted Accounting Principles)
- Flexible enhancements with user-defined fields
- Document splitting that allows you to create financial statements at the company and entity level
- Real-time integration between FI and CO
- Streamlining of relevant data into a single environment eliminating reconciliation tasks
While these capabilities aren’t entirely new, in previous versions of SAP, these key functions required users to perform a number of different processes using different modules. The new G/L offers users a more integrated solution, streamlining these processes and more into a single module and providing more seamless SAP finance and accounting functionality.
So how do you start taking advantage of this new functionality?
The first step in integrating the new G/L into your SAP finance and accounting practices is migration. Even if you’ve already moved from the classic G/L to the new G/L with your SAP implementation or update, there are a number of migration and implementation scenarios required in order to take advantage of new G/L functions, such as:
- Adding document splitting
- Adding new non-leading ledger
- Changing from an account approach to a ledger approach
Implementing any one of the above scenarios can be a complicated and challenging task but with corporate structure and ownership changes increasingly common, chances are good that one or more of the scenarios above will arise during the life of every existing New G/L module.
Who do you turn to when you need help migrating to the new G/L functionality?
When it comes to implementing the latest SAP financial accounting functionality that the new G/L offers, it is generally assumed that SAP AG services need to be obtained in addition to hiring external consultants.
The biggest challenge that most businesses face in this scenario is that SAP AG has a very tight timeline for migration: generally the beginning of the fiscal year and requiring three to four months to get to the actual go-live. As a result, companies implementing the new G/L are left no reporting for the first four months of the year.
That’s why, as part of our Business Before IT methodology, Diagonal Consulting has developed a creative solution for adding new non-leading ledger and IFRS reporting capabilities as well as implementing asset accounting to deal with differences in R&D cost treatment between GAAP and IFRS.
The advantages of the Diagonal Consulting approach to new General Ledger migration include:
- No Time Constraints -- Depending on the results of your Diagnosis & Discovery session, you may also have the opportunity to implement your migration at any point in the fiscal year.
- Significant Cost Savings -- Using the SAP AG method, you incur significant costs with both SAP and your SAP consultant. With the Diagonal Consulting approach, you eliminate the direct-to-SAP implementation costs entirely.
- Reporting As Usual -- With the Diagonal Consulting SAP financial and accounting integration approach you get ledger reporting capabilities the day of go-live (as opposed to waiting three to four months with SAP).
Are you ready to make the move to the new General Ledger and streamline your SAP financial and accounting practices? Call 484-329-2080 or click on the button below to speak with the SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Feb 07, 2013
Ask yourself: “Are we getting our money’s worth out of SAP?”
Investing in SAP implementation represents a significant cost for your business. Therefore, it’s important to ensure you’re taking full advantage of every SAP module, feature, function and benefit available to your business.
One of the most common mistakes we see many companies make is that they purchase the full SAP ECC suite at go-live and then fail to turn on or utilize useful functionality that could have a significant impact on their business processes. Does that scenario sound familiar?
Was there a planned “Phase II” of your SAP implementation that you just never got around to? It’s never too late to start taking advantage of everything SAP has to offer.
Remember: SAP licensing requires you to pay annual maintenance fees for every module you’ve purchased, regardless of whether or not you’re using it.
Those maintenance fees are most commonly applied to Enhancement Packs that offer new functionality and a number of key business benefits above and beyond the basic SAP software suite.
Do you know all the SAP modules you’re currently paying for?
QM
HR
Travel Management
Workflow
EDI
Project Systems
Plant Maintenance
The list goes on. If you’re not utilizing the key functionality these enhancements provide, you’re not just missing out on important opportunities to improve the performance of your business, you could be getting charged for those missed opportunities!
Let the experts at Diagonal Consulting guide you through the process of analyzing your SAP business suite and implementing all your unused modules. We’ll show you what’s in an Enhancement Pack and walk you through all the new functionality, downloading the knowledge necessary to ensure you’re getting your money’s worth out of SAP.
Ready to maximize your SAP ROI? Call 484-329-2080 to speak with the SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Jan 24, 2013
Ensuring the long-term success of your SAP implementation requires careful planning, preparation and support. From the moment you decide to integrate SAP into your business to long after your new business management software system goes live, having a team of expert SAP consultants by your side, is the key to sustaining success and getting back to business as usual.
One of the biggest mistakes most organizations make when it comes to SAP support is to expect a standard distribution curve with just one spike when you first go live or put a significant piece of new functionality live. They assume they can simply manage those increased support requirements and then stabilize from there. That assumption usually results in the removal of post-go-live SAP support at the exact moment when it is most essential.
The reality is every SAP implementation consists of TWO support requirement spikes and, without fail, the second is nearly always bigger than the first.
The reason is simple: at the moment your new platform goes live your employees are performing with a safety net of extended support coverage in place. They are following a script, learning the interface and starting to gain confidence. In effect, they are moving through the first stages of the learning process:
1. Unconscious Incompetence -- They don’t know what they don’t know. At this stage of the learning process, your employees may not even recognize the benefits of your new SAP platform. They are a blank slate ready and waiting for input.
2. Conscious Incompetence -- This is the stage at which your employees begin to understand exactly how much they don’t understand about SAP and how that knowledge will benefit them in their roles. Mistakes here are common and, ultimately, helpful in furthering the learning experience.
As go-live SAP support scales down and your staff members start to gain more confidence in their ability to navigate the new system successfully, they move from the second, to the third and ultimately fourth stage of the learning process. This usually results in the second spike in SAP support requirements because your employees are moving away from the script and they have the confidence to explore capabilities and ask more complex questions.
3. Conscious Competence -- By now, your employees have started to form a solid understanding of how SAP works with and for your business. They have begun to form the skills they need to take full advantage of the new features and functions at their disposal.
4. Unconscious Competence -- At this point, the necessary skills have been developed to the point where they are becoming second nature.
While every SAP implementation is different and requires specialized support strategies, recognizing these phases exist allows you to better prepare and budget for them.
When reducing your SAP support coverage, it is also critical you make it event-driven rather than time-driven. For instance, some business processes only happen once a month, so you need at least 60 days before you can accurately predict user behavior and overall system stability.
Don’t make the mistake of eliminating or scaling back your support resources just because implementation is complete. In fact, in order to ensure complete Go-Live Satisfaction, it’s a good idea to increase the availability of those resources post-implementation.
For more helpful information and guidance on effectively planning for your SAP support requirements before and after go-live, call 484-329-2080 or click the button below to speak with the SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Jan 17, 2013
With the rise of smartphone and tablet technology sweeping the globe, these days it seems like there’s an app for everything. Your business management software is no exception. SAP offers users the ability to integrate a wide variety of mobile applications into its highly customizable platform.
Of course, with such a diverse array of options available, deciding which apps have the best chance of success for your organization is an essential first step for any successful implementation. After all, every company is unique and has its own unique business processes to consider.
Small apps that perform simple, easily repeatable functions can be templated with minimal effort and investment. Apps that offer basic tracking, updating of contacts and inventory reporting capabilities are good examples of the kind of SAP Mobility integration projects that don’t require a high level of strategic implementation.
Integration of fundamental business processes, on the other hand, are much more complex. In cases where you are creating new applications that integrate into your unique business landscape you need a more in-depth SAP mobile integration strategy.
When formulating that strategy, ask yourself the following nine key questions:
1. Why do you need this app?
2. How does it represent and promote your business?
3. How does it impact company culture?
4. What are the integration points?
5. What are the critical parts of the process?
6. How will data be segregated?
7. How will data collision be handled?
8. How will the app handle online/offline functionality?
9. What kind of transactional or device security is required?
You don’t have to take on each of these questions on your own. In fact, that’s probably not a good idea.
In order to ensure your new SAP app functions correctly within the overall context of your company, helping you improve and streamline your business processes, you need to gather input from every potential user. Ask your employees for their perspective in order to design the right user interface for your company or you could end up spending a lot of time and resources developing an app no one uses.
For more helpful SAP Mobility tips and information, call 484-329-2080 to talk with the SAP Mobility experts at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Jan 03, 2013
SAP is designed to help your business achieve a higher level of efficiency and productivity. Once your initial SAP implementation is complete, monitoring, maintaining and improving the efficiency of your SAP system should be the primary goal of your SAP support team. That means keeping a close eye on the stability of your system.
Gauging SAP System Stability
Wondering how to determine SAP system stability? There’s a simple three-step equation you can use to find out:
1. First, run the numbers to determine how much time you’re spending on SAP support.
2. Next, determine the number of SAP users your business currently employs.
3. Finally, divide the number of hours by the number of users.
How’d you do? If that number is less than 8, then you are in good shape … your SAP system is relatively stable. On the other hand, if you came up with a number higher than 8 hours per user per year, then that is a good indication that your SAP system stability is less than ideal. In that case, it’s probably a good idea to take a look “under the hood” and maybe call in some SAP experts to assist you.
Before you start worrying, take a look back at your SAP support hours and make sure they don’t encompass changes (however minor) to your SAP system. If any of that time would be more accurately characterized as change implementation go back and adjust your calculation. Remember: the goal of this exercise is to determine the actual amount of time required to “keep the lights on” for your SAP system.
Improving SAP System Stability
Once you’ve determined your SAP system stability ratio is in need of improvement, there are a couple of key questions you should ask:
1. Is it one particular area of your SAP system that requires attention or are there multiple problem areas?
2. Is there a particular department or employee group that could benefit from additional training?
Whatever the answers to those questions may be, the first step in tracking and improving SAP system stability is to set a baseline measurement. Without this critical measurement in place, you have no way of knowing if (or how) any improvements you make to your SAP system are effective. Once you’ve established your SAP system stability baseline, you can begin to take corrective action, measuring the impact of your improvements against your performance statistics.
For more helpful information and guidance regarding SAP system stability, call 484-329-2080 to speak with the knowledgeable SAP consultants at Diagonal.
Posted on Thu, Dec 20, 2012
Choosing your SAP implementation and support partner is not a decision to be taken lightly. You need someone with the SAP expertise and experience necessary to handle every eventuality and ensure your organization maintains optimal levels of operation. But finding that perfect SAP partner isn’t always easy. There are plenty of SAP implementation firms who claim to offer comprehensive and attentive client services on their website but fail to deliver on that promise when it comes time to customize or support their implementation.
That’s why it’s so important to look for an SAP implementation, training and support provider who has earned their official SAP PCOE certification. In recognition of firms who consistently deliver outstanding customer service and reliable support excellence for all SAP software solutions, SAP awards Partner Center of Excellence (PCOE) certification to only the most qualified implementation and support partners.
In order to attain SAP certification as a Partner Center of Expertise, a firm must enroll its employees in a comprehensive program that ensures their proficiency using SAP Solution Manager to provide a high standard of support services to its SAP customers.
This certification provides organizations in search of an SAP partner with the assurance the firm they choose goes beyond technical expertise to include real-world professional experience in SAP service and support. Furthermore, to ensure that this reliable level of quality service and expertise is maintained on an ongoing basis, SAP requires PCOE partner firms to renew this critical SAP certification every two years.
In addition to being a fully accredited SAP partner for the past 20 years and a leader in SAP support, training and implementation, Diagonal Consulting is also a PCOE-certified channel partner. This SAP certification is further proof of Diagonal’s tireless dedication to providing industry-leading SAP expertise and support to organizations across a wide range of industries.
With decades of SAP experience, knowledge and expertise, Diagonal offers SAP consulting solutions to companies across a wide variety of industries, helping to improve business efficiency through IT implementation and support that enhances their business software, supply chain and customer relationship management systems.
To learn more about how Diagonal Consulting’s SAP certification benefits your business, call 484-329-2080 to speak with one of our knowledgeable SAP consultants.