BMW Group: Accelerating an ERP transformation and a move to the cloud with migration factory approach
See how BMW Group is embarking on an ambitious IT transformation project to future-proof its ERP systems and move them to the cloud with RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition. Download the DocumentBMW Group: Accelerating an ERP
transformation and a move to the
cloud with a migration factory approach
BMW Group aims to make individual mobility more human, intelligent, and responsible so
it can move “body, heart, and mind.” As the world’s leading manufacturer of premium cars
and motorcycles, the company is passionate about crafting inspiring, uplifting, and
pleasurable experiences with the power to transform.
Meanwhile, BMW Group is undergoing an IT transformation of its own. Using RISE with
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, it’s embarking on an ambitious project to future-
proof its ERP systems, move them to the cloud, and create a platform for innovation.
With expert support from SAP, BMW Group is on target to complete this transformation
successfully and on time.
1
transformation and a move to the
cloud with a migration factory approach
BMW Group aims to make individual mobility more human, intelligent, and responsible so
it can move “body, heart, and mind.” As the world’s leading manufacturer of premium cars
and motorcycles, the company is passionate about crafting inspiring, uplifting, and
pleasurable experiences with the power to transform.
Meanwhile, BMW Group is undergoing an IT transformation of its own. Using RISE with
SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, it’s embarking on an ambitious project to future-
proof its ERP systems, move them to the cloud, and create a platform for innovation.
With expert support from SAP, BMW Group is on target to complete this transformation
successfully and on time.
1
2
Rapidly building a future-proof technology platform using
RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
“Some people questioned our ambitions when, shortly
after signing our contract for RISE with SAP, we proposed
combining a complex system split and a cloud
migration. But SAP rose to the challenge and helped
make it happen in fewer than 12 months.”
SAP Transformation Lead, BMW Group
BMW Group
Munich, Germany
www.bmwgroup.com
Industry
Automotive
Employees
154,950
Revenue
€155.5 billion
Products and services
Passenger cars and
motorcycles
Featured solutions and services
RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud
Private Edition, SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition, and
SAP MaxAttention
30%
Of systems in scope migrated
to RISE with SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition in
12 months
20%
Of systems in scope
converted to SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition in
12 months
Before: Challenges and opportunities
• Speedily move 36 on-premise systems to next-generation cloud ERP without impacting day-to-day
operations
• Reduce risk while satisfying the highest security, performance, and availability requirements
Why SAP
• RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition solution, enabling a future SAP software platform
that combines the goals of IT transformation and cloud strategy
• SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, offering a robust solution for standardization and innovation
• A migration factory approach from the SAP Solution Delivery Center group, supported by
SAP MaxAttention services, helping migrate ERP systems to the cloud and convert them to SAP S/4HANA
• Factory approach involving build, migration, and conversion subfactories
After: Value-driven results
• Accelerated transformation to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, with potential to implement new
standard components and innovate rapidly immediately after conversion
• Increased system performance and higher system availability
• Enabled smooth operations using the platform-as-a-service model managed by SAP
93523enUS (24/10) © 2024 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. sap.com/terms-of-use
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results
Rapidly building a future-proof technology platform using
RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
“Some people questioned our ambitions when, shortly
after signing our contract for RISE with SAP, we proposed
combining a complex system split and a cloud
migration. But SAP rose to the challenge and helped
make it happen in fewer than 12 months.”
SAP Transformation Lead, BMW Group
BMW Group
Munich, Germany
www.bmwgroup.com
Industry
Automotive
Employees
154,950
Revenue
€155.5 billion
Products and services
Passenger cars and
motorcycles
Featured solutions and services
RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud
Private Edition, SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition, and
SAP MaxAttention
30%
Of systems in scope migrated
to RISE with SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition in
12 months
20%
Of systems in scope
converted to SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition in
12 months
Before: Challenges and opportunities
• Speedily move 36 on-premise systems to next-generation cloud ERP without impacting day-to-day
operations
• Reduce risk while satisfying the highest security, performance, and availability requirements
Why SAP
• RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition solution, enabling a future SAP software platform
that combines the goals of IT transformation and cloud strategy
• SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, offering a robust solution for standardization and innovation
• A migration factory approach from the SAP Solution Delivery Center group, supported by
SAP MaxAttention services, helping migrate ERP systems to the cloud and convert them to SAP S/4HANA
• Factory approach involving build, migration, and conversion subfactories
After: Value-driven results
• Accelerated transformation to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, with potential to implement new
standard components and innovate rapidly immediately after conversion
• Increased system performance and higher system availability
• Enabled smooth operations using the platform-as-a-service model managed by SAP
93523enUS (24/10) © 2024 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. sap.com/terms-of-use
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results
3
Embracing cloud ERP for greater flexibility and standardization
BMW Group relies on a production network comprising
more than 30 manufacturing facilities across the globe.
A sales network with representatives in more than 140
countries sells around 2.55 million cars and 209,000
motorcycles each year.
To support these operations, the company wanted to
quickly transform its IT landscape built on the on-premise
SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) by combining
migration to the cloud with conversion to a future-proof
ERP solution. This would help it harness innovative
technologies such as AI.
This transformation spanned areas such as finance,
logistics, human capital management, transportation
management, and global trading systems.
All systems are highly tailored, and migration and conversion
plans needed to consider the distinct needs of individual
business projects.
Optimizing downtimes and minimizing risk while safeguarding
day-to-day business operations were key objectives. The
company also needed to maintain the most stringent security
standards while moving on-premise ERP systems to the
cloud. And the resulting IT landscape had to offer high
levels of performance and availability.
But the project also needed to be fast – with the company
setting out to complete the entire transformation in fewer
than four years.
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results
Embracing cloud ERP for greater flexibility and standardization
BMW Group relies on a production network comprising
more than 30 manufacturing facilities across the globe.
A sales network with representatives in more than 140
countries sells around 2.55 million cars and 209,000
motorcycles each year.
To support these operations, the company wanted to
quickly transform its IT landscape built on the on-premise
SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) by combining
migration to the cloud with conversion to a future-proof
ERP solution. This would help it harness innovative
technologies such as AI.
This transformation spanned areas such as finance,
logistics, human capital management, transportation
management, and global trading systems.
All systems are highly tailored, and migration and conversion
plans needed to consider the distinct needs of individual
business projects.
Optimizing downtimes and minimizing risk while safeguarding
day-to-day business operations were key objectives. The
company also needed to maintain the most stringent security
standards while moving on-premise ERP systems to the
cloud. And the resulting IT landscape had to offer high
levels of performance and availability.
But the project also needed to be fast – with the company
setting out to complete the entire transformation in fewer
than four years.
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results
4
Enabling an efficient, successful migration and conversion with diverse service
offerings
BMW Group has a long-standing partnership with SAP, which
provides a range of software that meets the global company’s
diverse IT needs. SAP also offers expert services that the
automotive leader knew would help ensure speedy and
successful project execution.
A transformation of this scale demands smart, rigorous
project management. To enable this, BMW Group used a
range of services from its trusted software partner. SAP
enabled a “factory” approach comprising build, migration,
and conversion subfactories.
Experts for SAP Services and Support provided project
management services that offered a robust structure for the
initiative. Together with the SAP Enterprise Cloud Services
group, the team led and coordinated SAP software
transformation activities, provided infrastructure, and
helped manage risk. The services also helped keep daily
business operations running smoothly and increased
system security, performance, and availability.
The technical and most of the functional work for the cloud
migration and conversion to SAP S/4HANA Cloud was
delivered using migration services from the SAP Solution
Delivery Center group, which provides an integrated
solution delivery model. This flexible mix of onshore,
offshore, and nearshore services delivered remotely from
global locations helps maximize flexibility and scalability.
SAP’s experts also helped minimize downtime and
maximize availability by enabling a smooth handover from
the factory stage to the operation stage.
SAP MaxAttention services completed the offering,
providing specialized assistance to safeguard go-live and
cutover. These services also included expertise on
demand, specialized services for integration analysis and
concepts, test management, test automation, and data
volume management.
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results
Enabling an efficient, successful migration and conversion with diverse service
offerings
BMW Group has a long-standing partnership with SAP, which
provides a range of software that meets the global company’s
diverse IT needs. SAP also offers expert services that the
automotive leader knew would help ensure speedy and
successful project execution.
A transformation of this scale demands smart, rigorous
project management. To enable this, BMW Group used a
range of services from its trusted software partner. SAP
enabled a “factory” approach comprising build, migration,
and conversion subfactories.
Experts for SAP Services and Support provided project
management services that offered a robust structure for the
initiative. Together with the SAP Enterprise Cloud Services
group, the team led and coordinated SAP software
transformation activities, provided infrastructure, and
helped manage risk. The services also helped keep daily
business operations running smoothly and increased
system security, performance, and availability.
The technical and most of the functional work for the cloud
migration and conversion to SAP S/4HANA Cloud was
delivered using migration services from the SAP Solution
Delivery Center group, which provides an integrated
solution delivery model. This flexible mix of onshore,
offshore, and nearshore services delivered remotely from
global locations helps maximize flexibility and scalability.
SAP’s experts also helped minimize downtime and
maximize availability by enabling a smooth handover from
the factory stage to the operation stage.
SAP MaxAttention services completed the offering,
providing specialized assistance to safeguard go-live and
cutover. These services also included expertise on
demand, specialized services for integration analysis and
concepts, test management, test automation, and data
volume management.
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results
5
Moving fast by prioritizing technical migration to SAP S/4HANA and the
cloud to tap into the new ERP system’s innovation potential earlier
Aided by RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
and robust services from SAP, BMW Group is on track to
complete its transformation on time. In only 18 months, it
successfully migrated around one-half of the target systems
to RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition and
converted one-third of the target systems to SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition.
Across these systems, BMW Group now benefits from
a more secure, future-ready IT infrastructure offering high
availability and performance.
With a total of 36 landscapes now in its sights, BMW Group
continues to migrate and convert its ERP systems. The
company plans to complete its transformation by 2027.
Combining cloud migration using RISE with SAP with
conversion to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition has
accelerated the SAP software transformation at BMW.
Prioritizing the technical migration to SAP S/4HANA and to
the cloud has enabled BMW to move fast and ready itself
to tap into the innovative features of the new software
through a structured innovation journey.
BMW now intends to embrace the possibilities offered by
next-generation ERP and foster a clean core approach that
supports continuous innovation, better business processes,
and agility in the cloud.
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results
Moving fast by prioritizing technical migration to SAP S/4HANA and the
cloud to tap into the new ERP system’s innovation potential earlier
Aided by RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
and robust services from SAP, BMW Group is on track to
complete its transformation on time. In only 18 months, it
successfully migrated around one-half of the target systems
to RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition and
converted one-third of the target systems to SAP S/4HANA
Cloud Private Edition.
Across these systems, BMW Group now benefits from
a more secure, future-ready IT infrastructure offering high
availability and performance.
With a total of 36 landscapes now in its sights, BMW Group
continues to migrate and convert its ERP systems. The
company plans to complete its transformation by 2027.
Combining cloud migration using RISE with SAP with
conversion to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition has
accelerated the SAP software transformation at BMW.
Prioritizing the technical migration to SAP S/4HANA and to
the cloud has enabled BMW to move fast and ready itself
to tap into the innovative features of the new software
through a structured innovation journey.
BMW now intends to embrace the possibilities offered by
next-generation ERP and foster a clean core approach that
supports continuous innovation, better business processes,
and agility in the cloud.
Executive overview Objectives Solution Results