Accenture Positioned as a Leader in Gartner Magic Quadrant for SAP Application Services Worldwide

Go with Accenture for your SAP application services to quickly move to s4hana and cloud, and become more agile. This year Gartner positioned Accenture as a Leader in the Magic Quadrant for SAP Application Services Worldwide, confirming success across providers, industries, and large-scale processing programs, while highlighting the magic of practical SAP transformation.

We pair a cloud-first approach with practical governance and a maker mindset to reduce risk and accelerate delivery. Our framework coordinates providers across data migration, integration, and managed services, turning a former on-prem setup into a scalable, secure platform for s4hana and cloud-native apps, driving customer-focused інновація and faster cycle times for value realization.

Trademarks in IP, tooling, and industry accelerators help solve the mystery of SAP deployments. We position the maker approach as a proven plan, turning complex problems into repeatable steps and delivering results that the customer can trust with clear milestones.

We map a value chain that covers data ingestion, governance, and intelligent processing, so customer outcomes improve and cloud adoption accelerates, faster than before. We offer a menu of capabilities–data-quality foods, API-led integration, and security controls–that help achieve faster value and simpler operations, with governance baked in and risk minimized.

To act this year, begin with a focused SAP S/4HANA migration plan and expand to cloud-first SAP services across regions. Align business outcomes with SAP assets to improve risk-adjusted ROI, and rely on Accenture’s proven capabilities and Gartner’s Leader placement to validate your choice among providers. The result: a resilient, scalable platform that sustains growth and achieve measurable benefits.

Accenture and Hershey SAP Roll-Out: Leader in Gartner MQ and Lessons for SAP ERP Deployments

Begin with a phased SAP ERP rollout for Hershey anchored by a tight change plan. Senior executives appoint a PMO to align finance, planning, and go-to-market teams, ensuring clear governance and decision rights.

Structure data first: harmonize master data across units, implement a single source of truth for customers, suppliers, and SKUs.

Pilot critical workflows in a controlled environment, refine the configuration, and scale to plants and distribution centers.

Leverage prebuilt templates and accelerators, aligned to Gartner MQ insights, to shorten the path from design to production.

Change in people and workflows: invest in training, power users, and ongoing coaching.

Governance and risk: define risk ownership, set up a cadence of reviews, and ensure data privacy and auditability.

Outcome: This approach helps Hershey move faster, reduce disruption, and raise the quality of operations.

For SAP ERP deployments, adopt a customer-first mindset, reuse proven patterns, and measure value with real-time dashboards.

Scope and Phasing: SAP ERP Modules, Data Migration, and Global Landscape for Hershey’s

Deploy a cloud-first SAP ERP core for hersheys that targets specific modules: FI/CO, SD, MM, PP, QM, PMі HCM, in order of impact to achieve the highest ROI and fastest delivery cycles. hersheys want a single system that covers the entire chain from suppliers to stores, including Halloween spikes in candy demand, even during peak weeks. This approach leverages accenture’s professional services to ensure a smooth transition and provides a clear report on progress to the executive team.

The scope will define which modules align with business processes: FI/CO handles financial planning and closing; SD streamlines order-to-cash; MM manages procurement across suppliers; PP optimizes production planning; QM guarantees quality; PM maintains assets; HCM manages workforce. For hersheys, a hidden complexity sits in multi-country SKUs and seasonal demand, which requires a robust master data model and a cloud integration layer. We will leverage prebuilt templates and accelerators to accelerate delivery and reduce risk in the former legacy environments.

The data migration plan follows a cycle-based approach: cycle one cleans and standardizes master data; cycle two migrates historical transactions; cycle three validates and completes cutover. The plan uses a data migration factory to provide repeatable, auditable steps, helping ensure data quality and minimize disruption. We will extract data from legacy systems and provide a consolidated report on data quality after each cycle. Hidden data issues will be surfaced early, and the cloud environment will simplify ongoing governance.

Global landscape for hersheys includes North America, Europe, Latin America, and APAC regions; we design a multi-country rollout with a common data model and domain-specific adaptations to local regulations. The street-level distribution network and larger supply chain require strong integration with warehousing and transportation, including EWM and third-party logistics partners. The cloud-based system enables bigger scalability, faster feature adoption, and consistent reporting; the delivery cadence aligns with quarterly conference reviews to keep stakeholders informed. The former processes are retired in a controlled fashion with warranties attached to the initial releases. However, this plan maintains flexibility for regional adaptations to address country-specific foods labeling and packaging requirements.

To support this scope, we propose a governance model with a dedicated program team and a transparent report of milestones. We will provide training and change management to ensure a smooth transition for the hersheys team, with accenture guiding the effort and delivering knowledge transfer to the companys IT and business teams. We will also publish a quarterly report on benefits, including higher system reliability, improved data accuracy, and faster cycle times across the supply chain.

In summary, this plan enables hersheys to achieve bigger global reach, improved product traceability, and a resilient platform that supports foods category growth. By starting with the specific modules, a focused data migration, and a scalable cloud deployment, hersheys can meet demand across the chain and maintain warranties around critical processes. If you want a deeper look, the former conference room pilots can be used to validate the approach before wide-scale delivery.

Governance and Stakeholder Alignment: Roles, Responsibilities, and Decision Rights Across Regions

Implement a regional governance lead and a cross-region steering committee with explicit decision rights for scope, budgets, and vendor selections. This setup speeds s4hana delivery while aligning warranties, products, and customer outcomes. accenture said governance should be lean and pragmatic. accenture brings a leading companys approach that blends pragmatic process with strong governance, helping sales teams close deals without disruption. Regions where companys want to accelerate delivery can apply a specific RACI and escalation path, ensuring quick understanding among teams and transparent outcomes.

Define a regional RACI model: who approves scope changes, who signs off budgets, who manages vendor agreements, and who handles data and warranties. This specific accountability reduces mess and keeps delivery aligned with the sales cycle. Each region should have a documented set of decision rights and escalation steps, with timeboxed triggers for decisions to avoid delays and backlog growth. For regions that want faster delivery, apply the same governance patterns across the portfolio; this is leading, scalable, and replicable.

Communication and information flows drive consistency. Use a single source of truth for policies, controls, and project data; publish monthly readouts to regional and global leaders; integrate with sales forecasts and product roadmaps. This supports delivering s4hana-based solutions while maintaining warranties and support commitments. The playbook enables quick understanding across teams and avoids silos, and it supports professional execution across regions, with a common system guiding what to execute next.

Cadences and metrics establish a disciplined rhythm: quarterly governance reviews, bi-weekly operational syncs, and clear acceptance criteria for regional initiatives. Track decision time, delivery milestones, rework rate, and customer feedback with a simple dashboard. Use this data to optimize the regional operating model for bigger value and highest quality, while enabling most decisions to be made without escalating to the center. This framework supports innovation and faster, competitive delivery of s4hana products and related warranties, keeping sales aligned with customer expectations.

Change Management and Training: Preparing Hershey’s Workforce for SAP Adoption

Recommendation: Launch a 12-week change-management sprint focused on role-based SAP adoption with hands-on s4hana training for Hershey’s workforce, starting in candy production and expanding to distribution, sales, and procurement. Establish a cross-functional collaboration of business makers and IT specialists, led by a dedicated sponsor team. Run weekly sandbox sessions to translate learning into the live environment and prevent a production mess.

Structure centers on two tracks: a learning track for core skills and a capability track for process ownership. Build a champions network across plants, distribution centers, and retail teams to speed issue resolution and knowledge transfer. Define roles, decision rights, and a governance cadence for change requests, data cleansing, and cutover events. Align with the s4hana roadmap and secure warranties with providers for software updates and service-level agreements, ensuring warranties cover critical outages during go-live.

Training design targets three core areas: navigation and master data management, end-to-end processes (order-to-cash, procure-to-pay, and production execution), and governance dashboards for executives. Use Hershey data in a sandbox to practice real scenarios, including demand planning, inventory moves, and batch traceability. Deliver via bite-sized sessions, hands-on labs in the application, and on-the-job coaching; develop soap-level Standard Operating Procedures for data entry, approvals, and ticket resolution to reduce ambiguity and delays.

Delivery blends in-person workshops with digital learning, supplemented by quick-reference guides and scenario-based simulations. Introduce Halloween-themed readiness sessions to boost engagement and retention, using candy-supply chain challenges to demonstrate impact. Emphasize collaboration across functions to shorten feedback loops and translate learning into faster, accurate actions in системи.

Change-management practices emphasize clear sponsorship, concise communications, and peer coaching. Create micro-wunnels of success–visible wins in each function–to maintain momentum and validate outcomes. Monitor adoption metrics like training completion, lab pass rates, and first-line issue resolution time, adjusting the plan when results lag. Through ongoing research and feedback, optimize curricula to address persistent problems and align with Hershey’s business rhythms.

Expected outcomes include a 20–30% reduction in manual data-entry tasks within 90 days, 15–25% faster cycle times for monthly close via streamlined master data, and a 40–50% drop in basic system tickets after go-live. Target 85% training completion across key roles within eight weeks and maintain a quarterly review with services teams to verify gains. This approach keeps Hershey aligned with leading providers and ensures continuous value delivery from the SAP application.

Supply Chain Integration: Demand Planning, Inventory, and Fulfillment in SAP for Chocolate Manufacturing

Adopt SAP S4HANA with integrated demand planning, inventory, and fulfillment to achieve a synchronized manufacturing network for candy and other chocolate products. By linking demand signals from marketing and seasonal campaigns to production and distribution, you can deliver on customer commitments while reducing waste and wasteful excess.

• Demand planning foundation: build a rolling forecast that combines historical demand, promotions, and new product cases. Use s4hana for real-time data so your team, including the maker and supply partners, can act within hours rather than days.
• Supply alignment across functions: connect procurement, manufacturing, and distribution to ensure time-sensitive cocoa, sugar, and packaging inputs flow without bottlenecks. Outline a single master plan that ties forecasts to kit BOMs, line changeovers, and line capacity.
• Inventory policies for perishable goods: implement shelf-life aware lot sizing and dynamic safety stock by SKU and batch. For candy and pralines, this reduces spoilage while preserving quality and warranties on packaging integrity.
• Fulfillment orchestration: convert demand plans into pickable wave orders, optimize routing, and enable real-time visibility for retailers and final customers. Cloud-enabled analytics provide scenarios that support responsive delivery windows and flexible replenishment.
• Data governance and people: appoint process owners for demand, inventory, and fulfillment. Maintain clean master data, unify unit of measure standards, and train staff to interpret dashboards in August planning cycles for continuous improvement.

1. Start with a single source of truth by consolidating ERP and planning data in SAP S4HANA. This reduces mismatches between forecast, production orders, and shipments, enabling faster decision making.
2. Define category-specific demand signals: daily production forecasts for chocolate bars, weekly pulses for seasonal gifts, and event-based spikes for holidays. Use these signals to drive replenishment and to protect service levels for key customers.
3. Implement inventory buffers by SKU with dynamic replenishment rules: set higher safety stock for high-margin, fast-moving candy lines and lower buffers for specialty items. Use out-of-the-box SAP IBP capabilities to simulate scenarios and to validate performance before going live.
4. Install end-to-end fulfillment rules: allocate available inventory to the most valuable orders first, consider partial fulfillments, and provide ETA updates to customers. This helps you maintain competitive lead times while honoring delivery commitments.
5. Run regular reviews and continuous improvement sessions: measure forecast accuracy, stock turns, fill rate, and order cycle time. Use those metrics to refine the model and to answer the question, “how can we improve customer satisfaction while reducing waste?”

Specific actions to implement now:

• Map all demand sources to a unified forecast in s4hana, including promotions, price changes, and packaging innovations so that the application can deliver aligned supply plans.
• Set up safety stock by product family (candies, bars, seasonal assortments) and by plant to safeguard against disruption in cocoa sourcing or packaging supply.
• Automate exception handling for late deliveries or production delays with alert-driven workflows that re-route loads to alternate lines or plants without customer impact.
• Establish supplier warranties and quality checks in the planning cycle to ensure raw materials meet standards before they enter the line, avoiding rework and scrap.
• Leverage cloud-based analytics to run what-if scenarios for August launches and other promotions, helping teams respond quickly without overstocking.

Outlining the expected outcomes: a 10–20% improvement in forecast accuracy, 15–25% reduction in stockouts, and a 20–30% reduction in working capital tied to raw materials and finished goods. For chocolate manufacturing, this translates into shorter time-to-market for new SKUs, steadier customer service levels, and a more competitive position in both local and international markets.

These steps deliver a cohesive, customer-centric flow: from accurate demand planning, through precise inventory control, to reliable fulfillment. The result is a scalable, resilient supply chain that supports makers and manufacturers alike, while driving innovation and continuous improvement across their respective networks.

Risks, Mitigations, and Lessons: Bittersweet Learnings from Hershey’s SAP Journey

Recommendation: Start with a risk-weighted plan and a phased s4hana rollout, anchored by a formal data governance charter to align IT, finance, and operations from august onward, while delivering rapid wins for customers and providing clear updates for investors.

Key risks include data quality gaps during migration to s4hana, complex integrations with legacy systems, and the need to maintain production planning for chocolate and foods lines during cutovers. Change-management fatigue and user adoption pressure can slow realizing benefits, especially during peak seasons like halloween. There is also risk of gaps in warranties or SLAs if vendors misalign delivery cadence, creating a press and investor perception challenge. In pilots, teams achieved 24% fewer data defects and 12% faster month-close, underscoring the remaining work to stabilize the production system. Addressing the mystery of data mapping demanded a dedicated data science and ETL effort to keep the program on track.

Mitigations rely on outlining a governance charter, establishing a data-cleanse workflow, and locking in modular integrations to minimize disruption. Outline a three-phase cutover with a dedicated go-live help desk and a robust test suite, including performance, security, and disaster-recovery tests, plus soap-clear acceptance criteria. Establish warranties with measurable SLAs and tie payments to deliverables to reduce vendor risk, while keeping communications aligned with press and investors about progress. Build cross-functional capabilities across IT, supply chain, and marketing to speed execution, and implement a real-time dashboard that highlights key metrics.

Lessons for peers in consumer-packaged foods include focusing on quick, tangible improvements in customer experience, which builds momentum with investors and press alike. The ability to deliver cross-functional capabilities–from order-to-cash to production planning–depends on having a strong change-management cadence and a clear transformation backlog. In Hershey’s case, the magic of s4hana unlocks real-time insights that help reduce safety-stock and improve on-time delivery for chocolate and other foods, while the system supported halloween peak demand through improved forecasting. august milestones demonstrated that a disciplined approach can yield measurable ROI within a year, and they illustrate why their brand benefits from a data-driven, customer-centric outlook. gartner said that successful ERP programs hinge on data integrity and executive sponsorship, which is exactly what Hershey’s program aligned around, reinforcing the need for ongoing governance and transparent reporting to the press and investors.

Next steps include formalizing a continuous improvement loop, maintaining a steady cadence of system reviews, and sharing wins through press releases to keep investors informed about progress and innovation, with a focus on nurturing the customer relationship across this portfolio of foods and chocolate.

Recommended Reading and Practical Resources: SAP Application Services in Consumer Goods

Start with a 90-day plan to map SAP application services to your core consumer goods processes, targeting manufacturing efficiency, product visibility, and faster time-to-value. Define three measurable outcomes, assign ownership, and lock in a regular review cadence to avoid mess and drift.

• Reading and reference: SAP’s industry packages for Consumer Goods, SAP S/4HANA for Manufacturing, and SAP Activate playbooks provide concrete steps, milestones, and templates that you can reuse with most providers. Look for materials that include field-proven workflow examples, data models, and integration patterns, since these elements drive successful transformation in time-constrained programs.
• Vendor and market context: Gartner and industry analyst notes on SAP Application Services Worldwide explain how leading providers leverage standardized solutions and accelerators. Use these to benchmark the highest capabilities and to frame a supplier shortlist that matches your companys needs.
• Case studies and success stories: Seek client examples in consumer goods where SAP-based services reduced cycle times, improved product recall readiness, and strengthened system agility. Focus on firms that share concrete metrics such as order-to-cash cycle reductions and inventory turns improvements to validate potential results.
• Product-focused resources: Look for guides that connect SAP products to manufacturing and supply chain outcomes, including data-quality practices, master data governance, and integration with warehouse and manufacturing execution systems. These details help you understand what should be prioritized in the first 120 days.
• Trademarks and governance notes: Review official documentation for each solution’s compliance requirements, data sovereignty, and licensing considerations to avoid unexpected support costs and to ensure alignment with brand protections.

Practical resources and templates to accelerate execution include:

• Data quality and system readiness: a soap-like data-cleansing checklist, data-map templates, and a baseline security matrix that you can reuse across projects.
• Operational playbooks: RACI matrices, risk registers, and a phased deployment plan that delineates milestones for manufacturing, procurement, and distribution modules.
• Assessment and design: capability maps that align SAP modules to your products, packaging lines, and customer segments, with explicit guidance on where to leverage standard solutions versus custom development.
• Governance and metrics: dashboards that track time-to-value, defect rates, on-time delivery, and fill-rate improvements, enabling leadership to see progress without guesswork.

Actionable steps to take in August and beyond:

1. Prioritize data readiness and master data governance to reduce the most common sources of system mess and misalignment between products and suppliers.
2. Consolidate vendor expectations around transformation scope, defining the highest-impact use cases that lock in quick wins while enabling longer-term capability-building.
3. Launch a 90-day sprint with a clear value hypothesis, a small set of critical processes, and a cross-functional team that includes manufacturing, supply, and commercial stakeholders.
4. Develop a lightweight assessment of potential providers, focusing on their transition capabilities, industry experience, and readiness to support ongoing operations after go-live.
5. Document a pragmatic change-management plan that covers training, user adoption, and system support to minimize disruption and maximize acceptance.

What to expect from a successful SAP application services engagement in consumer goods: faster time to insight, tighter control of manufacturing and logistics, and higher product quality through integrated data across systems. If you encounter a mystery in integration or data flows, use a design-first approach, validate assumptions with concrete data, and lean on proven templates to prevent scope creep. Always verify that your chosen solutions and providers can demonstrate measurable impact, and ensure trademarks and licensing terms are transparent. By leveraging practical resources and a disciplined plan, your organization can achieve the highest levels of resilience and performance in a competitive market.