Defense Logistics Agency – SAP Innovation Awards 2025
The Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) partnered with C5MI to upgrade its outdated SAP Warehouse Management System, completing the first SAP S/4HANA migration within the DoD in half the expected time. This project unified business processes, enabled real-time data analysis, and minimized deployment disruptions. The successful migration advanced the DoD’s digital transformation, setting a new standard for technological integration and efficiency, and enhancing mission readiness and operational effectiveness. 5457 Dokument herunterladenPUBLIC
Entry Pitch Deck
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Aaron Kirkham, DLA WMS Portfolio Manager
Defense and Security
Pioneering innovation and resiliency for the
federal supply chain
Entry Pitch Deck
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Aaron Kirkham, DLA WMS Portfolio Manager
Defense and Security
Pioneering innovation and resiliency for the
federal supply chain
COMPANY NAME:
HEADQUARTERS:
INDUSTRY:
WEBSITE:
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
Company information
2
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Fort Belvoir, VA
Defense and Security
DLA.mil
25,000-27,000 Employees
Since 1961, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has provided
comprehensive logistics, acquisition, and technical services to the U.S.
military and federal agencies. Our mission is to ensure that America's
warfighters have the necessary resources.
We focus on enhancing operations with sustainability and social
responsibility, including intelligent enterprise initiatives, carbon footprint
measurement, supporting small businesses, and contributing to disaster
relief efforts. We are committed to serving our customers and the
environment responsibly and effectively.
PUBLIC
HEADQUARTERS:
INDUSTRY:
WEBSITE:
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES:
Company information
2
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
Fort Belvoir, VA
Defense and Security
DLA.mil
25,000-27,000 Employees
Since 1961, the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) has provided
comprehensive logistics, acquisition, and technical services to the U.S.
military and federal agencies. Our mission is to ensure that America's
warfighters have the necessary resources.
We focus on enhancing operations with sustainability and social
responsibility, including intelligent enterprise initiatives, carbon footprint
measurement, supporting small businesses, and contributing to disaster
relief efforts. We are committed to serving our customers and the
environment responsibly and effectively.
PUBLIC
CHALLENGE: SOLUTION: OUTCOME:
Federal Supply Chain Modernization
3
Sites out of the 125 were deployed,
advancing the DLA to S/4HANA well before
the 2027 deadline.
Increase in productivity, demonstrating the
effectiveness of the government and
industry partnership.
Increase in operational efficiency,
establishing a scalable and cost-effective
model for future rollouts.
86
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
3x 25%
The DLA faced the challenge of modernizing its
outdated SAP Warehouse Management System
(WMS) to enhance efficiency and support the
Warfighter. The existing system needed an upgrade
to meet the SAP Business Suite 2027 end-of-service
deadline. This crucial modernization was essential
for maintaining operational effectiveness, ensuring
the DLA could continue to provide world-class
support, and meeting future operational demands
efficiently, effectively, and with improved
technological capabilities, ensuring readiness for
evolving mission requirements, complexities, and
operational challenges.
C5MI partnered with the DLA to execute the first
SAP S/4HANA migration within the Department of
Defense (DoD). Completed in half the expected
time, this project unified business processes and
enabled real-time data analysis using machine
learning and advanced analytics. The collaboration
between C5MI, DLA, and SAP was instrumental in
managing significant data model changes,
minimizing deployment disruption, and showcasing
effective government and industry partnerships,
ultimately enhancing operational efficiency, decision-
making capabilities, and overall mission readiness
across the agency.
The successful migration significantly advanced the
DoD’s digital transformation efforts, setting a new
technological integration and efficiency standard.
This achievement underscores the power of
effective government and industry partnerships. The
project established a repeatable, scalable, and cost-
effective delivery model for ongoing S/4HANA
rollouts, shaping the future of the DoD’s digital
modernization and operational efficiency efforts.
Additionally, it enhanced data accuracy, streamlined
workflows, and improved mission readiness,
ensuring the DoD remains agile and responsive to
evolving challenges.
PUBLIC
Federal Supply Chain Modernization
3
Sites out of the 125 were deployed,
advancing the DLA to S/4HANA well before
the 2027 deadline.
Increase in productivity, demonstrating the
effectiveness of the government and
industry partnership.
Increase in operational efficiency,
establishing a scalable and cost-effective
model for future rollouts.
86
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
3x 25%
The DLA faced the challenge of modernizing its
outdated SAP Warehouse Management System
(WMS) to enhance efficiency and support the
Warfighter. The existing system needed an upgrade
to meet the SAP Business Suite 2027 end-of-service
deadline. This crucial modernization was essential
for maintaining operational effectiveness, ensuring
the DLA could continue to provide world-class
support, and meeting future operational demands
efficiently, effectively, and with improved
technological capabilities, ensuring readiness for
evolving mission requirements, complexities, and
operational challenges.
C5MI partnered with the DLA to execute the first
SAP S/4HANA migration within the Department of
Defense (DoD). Completed in half the expected
time, this project unified business processes and
enabled real-time data analysis using machine
learning and advanced analytics. The collaboration
between C5MI, DLA, and SAP was instrumental in
managing significant data model changes,
minimizing deployment disruption, and showcasing
effective government and industry partnerships,
ultimately enhancing operational efficiency, decision-
making capabilities, and overall mission readiness
across the agency.
The successful migration significantly advanced the
DoD’s digital transformation efforts, setting a new
technological integration and efficiency standard.
This achievement underscores the power of
effective government and industry partnerships. The
project established a repeatable, scalable, and cost-
effective delivery model for ongoing S/4HANA
rollouts, shaping the future of the DoD’s digital
modernization and operational efficiency efforts.
Additionally, it enhanced data accuracy, streamlined
workflows, and improved mission readiness,
ensuring the DoD remains agile and responsive to
evolving challenges.
PUBLIC
4
Accepting the challenge of executing a
migration to SAP S/4HANA in the middle
of the WMS modernization effort is
nothing short of amazing.
Aaron Kirkham
WMS Portfolio Manager
PUBLIC
Accepting the challenge of executing a
migration to SAP S/4HANA in the middle
of the WMS modernization effort is
nothing short of amazing.
Aaron Kirkham
WMS Portfolio Manager
PUBLIC
COMPANY NAME:
Participating partner information
I could not be prouder of this team. The
precision and speed demonstrated in this
migration is a perfect example of what can
be accomplished when the government and
industry strike the right partnership.
Aaron Kirkham
WMS Portfolio Manager
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
5
C5MI Insight LLC
Founded in 2017, C5MI delivers world-class IT solutions, leveraging technology to drive
digital transformation for public and private sectors.
C5MI partnered with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to execute the first SAP S/4HANA
migration within the Department of Defense (DoD), unifying business processes and
enabling real-time data analysis.
PUBLIC
Participating partner information
I could not be prouder of this team. The
precision and speed demonstrated in this
migration is a perfect example of what can
be accomplished when the government and
industry strike the right partnership.
Aaron Kirkham
WMS Portfolio Manager
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA)
5
C5MI Insight LLC
Founded in 2017, C5MI delivers world-class IT solutions, leveraging technology to drive
digital transformation for public and private sectors.
C5MI partnered with the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) to execute the first SAP S/4HANA
migration within the Department of Defense (DoD), unifying business processes and
enabling real-time data analysis.
PUBLIC
GLOBAL CHALLENGES
Challenges
BUSINESS CHALLENGES
PUBLIC 6
Contested logistics refers to the challenges of delivering and
sustaining military forces in environments where adversaries
actively disrupt supply chains, transportation networks, and
communication systems. For the U.S. Department of Defense
(DoD), this evolving reality significantly complicates the delivery of
warfighting material—such as fuel, ammunition, food, medical
supplies, and spare parts—to forward-deployed military units. The
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), as the DoD’s primary combat
support agency for logistics, will need to adapt its strategies,
leverage technology, and enhance resilience to overcome these
issues and ensure warfighter support.
Contested logistics forces the DoD to rethink its entire sustainment
paradigm. The days of uncontested air and sea dominance are
fading, with them, the assumption of guaranteed resupply. For
forward-deployed units, this means operating with greater self-
sufficiency, carrying larger initial loads, and relying on DLA to
bridge gaps under fire. The DLA’s success will hinge on its ability to
anticipate threats, harness emerging technologies, and maintain
agility in chaos.
By modernizing its approach—through decentralization, technology,
and partnerships—the DLA can ensure that warfighters receive the
material they need when needed, even in the most hostile
conditions. Failure to adapt risks stranding forward units,
undermining deterrence, and jeopardizing mission outcomes
against increasingly capable adversaries.
Challenges
BUSINESS CHALLENGES
PUBLIC 6
Contested logistics refers to the challenges of delivering and
sustaining military forces in environments where adversaries
actively disrupt supply chains, transportation networks, and
communication systems. For the U.S. Department of Defense
(DoD), this evolving reality significantly complicates the delivery of
warfighting material—such as fuel, ammunition, food, medical
supplies, and spare parts—to forward-deployed military units. The
Defense Logistics Agency (DLA), as the DoD’s primary combat
support agency for logistics, will need to adapt its strategies,
leverage technology, and enhance resilience to overcome these
issues and ensure warfighter support.
Contested logistics forces the DoD to rethink its entire sustainment
paradigm. The days of uncontested air and sea dominance are
fading, with them, the assumption of guaranteed resupply. For
forward-deployed units, this means operating with greater self-
sufficiency, carrying larger initial loads, and relying on DLA to
bridge gaps under fire. The DLA’s success will hinge on its ability to
anticipate threats, harness emerging technologies, and maintain
agility in chaos.
By modernizing its approach—through decentralization, technology,
and partnerships—the DLA can ensure that warfighters receive the
material they need when needed, even in the most hostile
conditions. Failure to adapt risks stranding forward units,
undermining deterrence, and jeopardizing mission outcomes
against increasingly capable adversaries.