Implementing global digital transform and deploying your business solution worldwide is a complex decision and can bring a unique set of challenges, however it is entirely achievable. While the urge to swiftly adopt it in order to maintain a competitive edge or adapt to changing customer demands is strong, it is crucial to ensure your business is well prepared for this undertaking.
A cloud based global core build or template business application rollout is a commonly adopted approach by organizations seeking to achieve standardized business processes and enhanced operational visibility across their global entities. Nevertheless, such rollouts can present challenges, given the potential divergence in international business processes and autonomous management policies.
Depending on these factors, organizations may choose between different rollout strategies. They might begin with a predefined and developed global build or template and strictly implement it across local entities. Alternatively, they can allow some flexibility, shaping the template throughout the project based on local business requirements. Another is a decentralized deployment where each global entity may standardize on a Microsoft Dynamics solution, however, each deployment is autonomous with regionally defined requirements, deployment strategy, business processes and data elements.
Our experience at SIS Global and our recommendation is the first option of a global template approach as it lowers costs, ensures consistency across the business, corporate visibility and scalability as the business and its information system solutions evolve.
Numerous fundamentals need consideration to enhance the smoothness of your global digital transformation. Let’s explore some of the more critical ones:
- International organizations frequently grapple with non-standardized business processes. Standardization is a critical element that empowers these organizations to scale for growth by consolidating their business processes into a standard “Global Build” or template. Uniform processes and data elements foster operational efficiency and facilitate a global view of operations. However, global organizations must also maintain the flexibility to cater to diverse customers, employees, economies, and regulatory environments.
- Consistent cloud-based technology teamwork – Selecting the correct Microsoft Dynamics solution and its supporting eco system(s) supporting the business’ ERP, CRM, Reporting and analytics, modern workplace and others is the critical first step.
- Prior to embarking on a global rollout, organizations must consider a pivotal factor – the formulation of a global harmonized operating standard and business operation alignment. By establishing a clear vision and strategy for the global rollout, an organization outlines the desired future state and the necessary steps to reach it through their global implementation. This essentially involves defining a Global build or template, serving as a means to create a shared global understanding among global entities. The strategic and operational drivers of the project should be embedded in this Global build, which forms an integral part and foundation of the global rollout template. Consideration for regional, country and site-specific requirements, localizations and languages and their impact to your deployment strategy and Global build is also a key success factor.
- Selection of a Microsoft partner such as SIS Global with extensive experience in implementing Microsoft Dynamics across a global organization plays a pivotal role in every global deployment. Whether you are happy with your current Microsoft partner and are choosing a global partner collaboration with extensive experience in your regions of business or working with a singular partner to support all your deployments is a critical success factor. It is essential to ensure that your chosen partner’s strategies and solutions align with your short-term and long-term business objectives. Moreover, their strategies and experience should possess the agility to accommodate variations among locations, including currency, localization, language, and regulatory differences. Lastly the ability for your partner to have a global “follow the sun” support model to support all your locations seamlessly is a key decision factor.
- An effective global deployment necessitates having the right team with an effective Organization Change Management (OCM) and adoption strategy in place. This project should take precedence within your company and not be relegated to a secondary role in comparison to day-to-day operations. Failing to prioritize it appropriately may result in insufficient resources allocated for its successful support and jeopardize not only your overall success but proper adoption of your digital transformation strategy globally. The individuals leading the project should hold influential leadership positions within your organization. Fostering trust at the corporate level is key to success and regional and global sites should know their voice is important and that the solution will meet their needs and be a true differentiator for them. The global rollout template should foster a common understanding across local entities, and securing their buy-in can be facilitated by involving them in the Global template definition.
- From our experience, involving local sites is particularly crucial when these entities have the autonomy to make strategic decisions based on their unique local needs, market conditions, and demands. Such trust-building can significantly aid in change management and contribute to a smoother transition for all stakeholders involved.
In summary:
The choices for globalizing are not straightforward ones, as every organization and their partners must consider a range of factors, including operational business processes, organizational data strategies, cultural, regulatory, and financial considerations. The essential steps involve standardization wherever feasible, development of the Global template, giving priority to effective communication and governance, organization change and adoption, and carefully collaborating with your partners in planning your implementation strategy. By considering the distinctive attributes of each location and selection of the right partners for the endeavor, you can lay the foundation for a successful project.
- Business process definition and global deployment strategy
- Choosing a consistent cloud-based IT strategy encompassing the technology eco system required to meet the business needs.
- Defining the global template with the agility to accommodate variations among locations, including currency, localization, language, and regulatory differences.
- Microsoft partner selection and global collaboration and alignment.
- Having the right team with an effective Organization Change Management (OCM) and adoption strategy in place while building trust with your global entities.
In our next blog, we will unpack in more detail the concept of establishing a Global template or build to deploy across your enterprise.
SIS Global has a long track record of facilitating businesses to deploy Microsoft Dynamics on a global scale. Whether you’re looking for a new partner to lead your implementation or would like us to work with your existing Microsoft Partner to achieve your goals, SIS Global has you covered. Contact us here to learn more.