Following the successful implementation of SAP ECC and the digital expansion with a webshop based on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), the next logical step for Bär Cargolift was clear: migration to SAP S/4HANA. The goal was to integrate state-of-the-art SAP technologies and secure long-term innovation capabilities – from AI functionalities to future-proof digital processes.
Bär Cargolift
Gerd Bär GmbH, with its Bär Cargolift brand, stands for innovation and technically high-quality tail lifts in the premium segment. For over 40 years, they have been developing, producing, and distributing their “Bär-Cargolifts” for customers at home and abroad, making them the market leader in Germany and number 2 in Europe.
Challenges
The transition to SAP S/4HANA is complex and requires not only technical expertise but also structural clarity and strategic planning. Bär Cargolift met this challenge with an ambitious goal: the smoothest possible transition with minimal downtime and maximum process reliability.
It was particularly important to involve all stakeholders – from specialist departments to IT partners – early on and to comprehensively analyze the existing system landscape. We are therefore all the more pleased to have successfully implemented this challenging project together with SOA.
Solutions
Instead of migrating using a classic, multi-stage migration model – first development, then testing, then production – Bär Cargolift opted for a lean but effective approach: setting up a full-fledged S/4HANA sandbox from a system copy of the production system. After the go-live, the development and test systems will be created as copies from the new S/4 production system.
Project Approach for the S/4HANA Migration at Bär Cargolift
This meant that an S/4HANA system with Bär-specific data and configurations was available to the project team six months before the go-live, allowing for intensive testing. The high degree of SAP standardization in the existing system significantly reduced the effort for adjustments in Z-developments. The focus could thus be placed on process adjustments and tests. Two comprehensive test phases and targeted system optimizations significantly increased the operational reliability of the future S/4 system.
Another milestone was the successful H4S4 conversion in the HR area by mmmake, which is a pioneering step towards a comprehensively modern SAP landscape.
The collaboration between Bär, XEPTUM, SOA People, and the other partners was characterized by clarity, open communication, and precise task distribution. The go-live was meticulously prepared with a detailed task-level cut-over plan and coordinated with all stakeholders. This ensured that it was always clear who needed to contribute what and when for success.
The result: A nearly uninterrupted start of the new system with stable processes and immediate operational readiness from day one.
Thanks to clear role distribution, close coordination, and a precise cut-over plan, the project team ensured a nearly uninterrupted go-live. Operations continued directly on the following day, and all challenges were quickly resolved during the hypercare phase.
The success can be measured:
- The new SAP S/4HANA system is stable, performant, and on the latest release.
- The project duration was shortened by half a year.
- The migration was completed entirely within the planned budget and timeframe.
“Great project – in time and budget – with competent and congenial conversion partners.”
Michael Kimmann – CFO and Project Manager, Bär Cargolift
