SFS Group – business guidance for SAP S/4HANA

To ensure the switch to SAP S/4HANA went smoothly, it was important that staff were supplied with content as quickly as possible and that no time was lost. “tts has been a trusted partner of ours for many years,” points out Gyger. “That’s why it was obvious to us that we should bring on board tts software and learning experts early on in the project.” 

tts worked alongside SFS to conduct the rollout and produce the necessary training modules. What’s more, the project teams refined the deployment concept to give staff more time to create content in their normal working day. Although approximately 40 authors were being deployed to produce content, it soon became clear that not all the planned guides would be ready in time for the rollout. However, the project teams also came up with a solution for that. In the space of two days, 700 links to confluence documentation were created that provide relevant assistance when users click on QuickAccess in the tts performance suite. Production of the missing guides was then moved to the period after the rollout, which meant the project team was able to launch the tts performance suite on schedule, after three months. 

By utilizing the tts performance suite, the SFS Group was able to build a high level of acceptance for the forthcoming change of ERP system early on. “The feedback from end users and authors is overwhelmingly positive. Even staff members who initially had concerns were won over during the rollout project. In fact, a number of them have actually become strong advocates of our digital adoption platform since then,” reports Gyger.  

There are many reasons for this positive response. For example, SFS has taken down silos and created a central knowledge platform, all in a short space of time. This platform now gives 600 key users precisely the help they require in their moment of need as they work with SAP S/4HANA – and does so on a context-sensitive and role-specific basis. At the same time, the project team used the tts performance suite to build the user competence and process dependability that are essential for a smooth ERP rollout, while also reducing the outlay on training. This meant SFS was able to leverage the potential of SAP S/4HANA thanks to a high standard of data and process quality from the start. 

Based on this positive experience, the SFS Group has decided to extend its project and use the tts performance suite consistently throughout the entire application environment.  

Once again, it will be a case of rolling out major changes. For instance, after implementing the first two SAP modules for finances and controlling (FI/CO), SFS aims to roll out the modules for product lifecycle management (PLM), product lifecycle costing (PLC) and the SAP Product Content Hub (PCH). This will involve giving 3,500 end users access to the tts performance suite, which is also to provide support for working with the Templafy template solution for MS Office as well as company-specific applications.  

As a result, the tts performance suite could prospectively be involved in all the Group’s strategic interfaces and be a pivotal assistant for data-driven decision-making and further digitalization at SFS.  

SFS is one of the world’s leading suppliers of precision components and assemblies, mechanical fastening systems, quality tools and logistics systems. Positioned as a value engineering specialist, the Group creates concrete added value for its customers in the form of cost savings or value enhancements by implementing customized solutions for niche applications that are critical for success. The SFS Group is made up of the three segments Engineered Components, Fastening Systems, and Distribution & Logistics, and generated sales of approximately 2.8 billion euros in 2022 with a workforce of approximately 13,500 in 35 countries.