Migration to S/4HANA

The project at KAUST was a comprehensive migration of an extensive SAP environment to S/4 HANA and followed the Bluefield approach – it included conversion as well as data harmonization. All for One Poland used CrystalBridge – the data transformation platform automating migration activities, which lead to near-zero downtime and broad data selection possibilities.

Rajneesh Pandey, Manager of ADM Service Automation & Collaboration at KAUST comments: “Transitioning to S/4HANA using the Bluefield approach entailed harmonization of various datasets, including Business Partners, Plants, Vendors, Customers, and Students, across our environment and making sure all processes are functioning as expected. This process was particularly significant given that we were simultaneously implementing Success Factors, Ariba, SAP Build Process Automation and CPI, all of which had interdependencies which made it more complex that our migration & consolidations had to work with least issues every migration cycle. This project stands out as one of our most critical SAP initiatives in recent years. Thanks to the professional support of specialists from All for One Poland, we can now fully leverage the developmental capabilities of the latest version of SAP software.”

The project is a prime example of digitalization in the Middle East and an outstanding illustration of the Saudi Vision 2030, with All for One Poland at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge IT solutions for its clients in the region. The challenges for the migration team were a tight schedule and a tremendous project scope. The successful go-live took place in January 2024. All for One consultants were responsible for a broad scope of functional configuration & customization, data Migration & Basis.

The SAP S/4HANA migration project for King Abdullah University of Science and Technology was carried out by the Digital Transformation Center at All for One Poland. Specialized in SAP transformation projects, this team has successfully completed over 170 such projects, including more than 80 migrations to SAP S/4HANA. The team consists of more than 50 experienced consultants, divided into several groups, and additionally supported by experts from various SAP areas and technologies.

From my perspective, one of the biggest challenges of this project was the unique nature of and unconventional approach to the Business Partner, who, in this case, were also students. Harmonizing this role required close cooperation with the client to build a comprehensive student lifecycle management process, which involved implementing a namespace designed to handle this type of entity (Student’s Lifecycle Management). Additionally, the client required the use of a harmonized and unique identifier for the Business Partner across the entire system landscape, not only in SAP but also outside of it.

We carried out the harmonization of the business partner using the client ID with the help of the Harmonization Cockpit tool. In close collaboration with the client, we developed an algorithm for identifying golden records along with the entire data mapping logic. The harmonization was linked to student data, depending on the data used (e.g., grants). With student numbers and business partner data in place, the new mapping to the client ID had to meet the requirements for identification of golden records.

An additional requirement on the SAP IS (Industry Solution) side for the SLCM module (student data) was to retain the old value of the students’ identifier for future audits and backward compatibility with university interfaces (web services).

Another major challenge was the multi-domain nature of the project, which, in addition to the “typical modules" such as Finance, Controlling, Financial Reporting (SAP RAR), Sales and Distribution, Materials Management, and Plant Maintenance, also included less frequently used tools such as Flexible Real Estate Management and Funds & Grants Management. Additionally, we carried out integration with SAP SuccessFactors and OpenText.

Parallel to the tasks of the migration team, our team of SAP implementation and development specialists was responsible for all tasks related to the client’s future infrastructure and the deployment of additional tools working with S/4HANA. One of these areas is SAP Fiori, an overlay for the ERP system that presents data in a clear and readable way. This modern interface ensures that even people without technical expertise can easily use the software.

During the go-live weekend, there was an incident related to an uncontrolled change of data by a running background job of the client. This resulted in the failure to correctly save data into mapping tables (migration data). The project team resolved this issue before handing over the system. Although this incident was minor and quickly resolved, it illustrates well why one of the required elements in the project plan is the suspension of standard client-side programs.

The migration team faced the challenge of a tight schedule and the extensive scope of the project. The successful go-live took place in January 2024. All for One consultants were responsible for a wide range of configuration and functional customizations, as well as data migration and Basis work. This was made possible by leveraging the Bluefield approach and the CrystalBridge transformation platform.

The project was carried out entirely remotely. This was not entirely new to us; however, in this case, it seemed quite risky due to the scope of work and the cultural differences among the members of the project teams. Nevertheless, the commitment and determination of both sides once again proved that not only is it possible, but the outcome can also be highly satisfactory.

Michał Zemke,
Digital Transformation Center Team Leader, Poznań, All for One Poland

The Middle East region, and Saudi Arabia in particular, is commonly known primarily as an oil exporter. Rarely do we perceive Saudi Arabia, the industrial leader of the region, as a significant research and development hub for the chemical industry.

SABIC, one of the world’s largest chemical companies, has established its R&D campus near the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, which has been conducting a long-term research project on innovations in oil refining, aiming to maximize the production of advanced plastics while minimizing the output of liquid fuels.

KAUST is also engaged in advanced research on photovoltaic cells, with significant achievements in this field. The pervskite-silicon tandem cell developed by the KAUST Photovoltaic Laboratory has achieved a record efficiency of 33.7%. The efficiency of this technology has been confirmed by European institutions.

NEOM, the Saudi NEOM gigaproject, is often in the headlines, with the linear city, The Line, being its most famous component.  Industrial components of the NEOM project, such as the synthesis of green ammonia, have largely remained in the media’s shadow. In the NEOM industrial zone, “green" ammonia is already being produced using locally generated “green" hydrogen. “Green" in this context means that the entire production process is powered by renewable energy.

These are not the only examples of Saudi Arabia’s involvement in addressing global challenges. Recently, it has been announced the KAUST has developed an innovative and cost-effective technology for extracting lithium from seawater. Importantly, this process is environmentally harmless to marine ecosystems. After all, one of the pillars of KAUST’s research is marine biology, which entails responsibility. This is also an example of vertical thinking in business, especially when we recall Saudi investments in electric car production in that country.

Saudi Arabia, like other countries in the region, has much more to offer than just oil and gas. Today, substantial funds, still earned from hydrocarbon production, are being invested in scientific and industrial research, direct investments on-site, and collaboration in new business areas.

Vision 2030, the strategic document outlining the directions of change in Saudi Arabia, is a master plan for a major transformation not only digital but also in energy, industry, and culture occurring in the country. We have had the opportunity to be part of this transformation within the scope of our capabilities.

Andrzej Moskalik,
Management Board Member, Sales Director, All for One Poland

Established in 2009, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) is a research and educational institution dedicated to finding solutions to the world’s most pressing scientific and technological challenges, as well as those specific to Saudi Arabia, related to food and health, water, energy, environment, and the digital domain.

KAUST is a private research university located in Thuwal on the Red Sea. It brings together the brightest minds from around the world to collaborate on research projects. The campus is home to students and faculty of more than 120 nationalities, who live, work, and study together. The university provides research and training programs in English, its official language of instruction.

KAUST also serves as a driving force for innovation, economic growth, and social prosperity, with its research leading to new patents and products, startups, regional and global initiatives, as well as partnerships with other Saudi academic institutions, industries, and agencies.

In 2013, the university was ranked among the top 500 fastest-growing universities in the world in terms of research output and citations. In the 2016 Nature Index Rising Stars ranking, it was placed 19th among the fastest-growing universities globally in terms of high-quality research results. KAUST is the highest-ranked university in the 2023 Times Higher Education Arab University Rankings.

The university organizes its research teams into three academic disciplines, 12 research centers, and faculty-specific laboratories. Its organizational structure is interdisciplinary and consists of three faculties: the faculty of biological and environmental sciences and engineering, the faculty of computer, electrical, and mathematical sciences and engineering, and the faculty of physical sciences and engineering.

In July 2024, KAUST opened four new centers of excellence focused on conducting research, development, and innovation in areas that are priorities of the Saudi Vision 2030 strategy: health and well-being, sustainable environment, energy and industrial leadership, and future economies.