Many companies run SAP S/4HANA successfully in their headquarters but face serious difficulties when expanding to other countries. Tax, legal, cultural, and process differences often create misalignments or project delays when the rollout lacks proper planning.
In this post, we explain what a SAP international rollout involves, common pitfalls, and how principal33 ensures success in complex, multi-country implementations.
What is a SAP International Rollout?
It’s the process of extending an existing SAP solution to other subsidiaries or countries by building on a global framework (Global Template) and applying local adaptations.
It typically includes:
- Country-specific legal, tax, and regulatory adaptation.
- Language localization and cultural adjustment.
- Harmonizing global standards with local realities.
- Coordination across central and local teams.
- Integration with legacy systems.
Common rollout challenges
- Misalignment between global design and local operations.
- Underestimating legal and fiscal localization needs.
- Poor communication across international teams.
- Local user resistance to centralized solutions.
- Complex legacy system integration.
How principal33 supports you
We specialize in rollouts across Europe and LATAM. Our approach includes:
- Global Template design and rollout playbook.
- Fit/Gap Analysis for local compliance and business needs.
- Legal and tax localization based on SAP Country Versions.
- Phased rollout by region, business unit or process.
- Local training and adoption support.
- International change management strategy.
Use cases
- Utilities: rolling out SAP IS-U and C4 Utilities from Spain to Latin America.
- Manufacturing: standardizing order-to-cash across 6 European countries.
- Retail: deploying SAP from Germany to LATAM subsidiaries with logistics localization.
Conclusion
Expanding SAP globally doesn’t have to be a leap of faith. With structure, local insight, and the right partner, your rollout can scale smoothly. At principal33, we ensure your system follows your growth.
