Guests:

• Javier Ruiz Iza - Director Digital Finance & Performance Management - Wärtsilä
• Bernhard Rother - Consulting Director - cbs corporate business solutions

Host:

• Alexander Greb - Consulting Director - cbs corporate business solutions

In this episode of Transformation Every Day, Alexander Greb talks with Javier Ruiz from Wärtsilä and Bernhard Rother from cbs Corporate Business Solutions about Wärtsilä’s move from a highly customized SAP ECC landscape into SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud using a selective transformation approach.

This is not a polished marketing story. It is a very open conversation about the real challenges behind large-scale ERP transformation programs: stakeholder management, expectation overload, clean core discussions, selective data migration, testing strategies, business continuity, and the constant tension between innovation and operational stability.

One of the strongest takeaways from this episode is that successful S/4HANA programs are usually not the ones trying to change everything at once. Wärtsilä deliberately focused on getting to S/4HANA fast, keeping the business stable, and postponing non-critical innovation to later value-driven initiatives.

Javier shares why “testing, testing, testing” became one of the key success factors of the entire program, how internal trust and organizational credibility shape transformation success, and why clean core should be treated as a design principle rather than a standalone project.

Bernhard explains why protecting a program from overload is critical, why organizations need clear transformation guardrails, and why ERP transformation should never be treated as just another IT upgrade.

Topics include:

• SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud
• Big Bang vs phased transformation
• Selective data transition
• Clean Core strategy
• Business continuity during go-live
• Stakeholder and expectation management
• AI, analytics, and future innovation
• Post-go-live operating models
• Testing and cutover best practices

A practical and refreshingly honest discussion about how to create fast value from SAP transformation without getting lost in transformation.

Follow Jaiver here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/javier-ruiz-iza/

Follow Bernhard here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernhard-rother-6a456377/

Follow Alexander: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergreb/
Follow Johannes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanneslangguth/

Thanks to Steven Spears for lending his voice for our podcast intro.
Theme music by Luis Álvarez a.k.a. Fourth Dogma

Guest:

• Oliver Dorsner - Consulting Director / Member of the Executive Board - cbs corporate business solutions

Hosts:

• Alexander Greb - Consulting Director - cbs corporate business solutions

Why do so many SAP transformations struggle to deliver fast and real value?

In this episode, Alexander Greb speaks with Oliver Dorsner, who has spent more than 25 years leading large-scale transformation programs. Together, they unpack what really happens inside S/4HANA journeys once the initial strategy meets organizational reality.

The conversation goes beyond the usual Brownfield versus Greenfield debate and looks at what actually drives success or failure. From the difference between technical migration and real business change, to the role of culture, decision-making, and timing.

They discuss why there is no such thing as a pure Greenfield transformation, how companies end up stretching programs far beyond reasonable timelines, and what it means to be “lost in transformation.”

Most importantly, they explore how to regain control, refocus on value, and make better decisions when complexity starts to take over.

If you are planning an S/4HANA move, already in the middle of one, or wondering why the promised value is not materializing, this episode offers a clear and honest perspective.

Follow Oliver: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oliver-dorsner-41b33219/

Follow Alexander: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergreb/
Follow Johannes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanneslangguth/

Thanks to Steven Spears for lending his voice for our podcast intro.
Theme music by Luis Álvarez a.k.a. Fourth Dogma

Guest:

• Rouven Morato - President & CRO for SAP Signavio, LeanIX, WalkMe and RISEwithSAP - SAP SE

Hosts:

• Alexander Greb - Consulting Director - cbs corporate business solutions

For the launch episode of Season 2 of Transformation Every Day, Alexander Greb welcomes Rouven Morato for a conversation that goes far beyond standard transformation talk.

Rouven is currently in transition and brings a rare end-to-end perspective shaped by a remarkable SAP career: from finance to data and analytics, from go-to-market to business transformation leadership. He was the youngest CFO at SAP and later played a key role in shaping major parts of SAP’s transformation story, including SAP Signavio, LeanIX, WalkMe, and RISE with SAP.

In this episode, Rouven shares how his journey through different functions gave him a uniquely holistic view of how companies really work, and why real transformation is never just about technology. Together, Alex and Rouven discuss why so many transformation programs struggle, why strong foundations matter more than shiny tools, and why process, systems, data, and people always have to be considered together.

The conversation also offers fascinating behind-the-scenes storytelling from inside SAP: from the early days of cloud acquisitions and cultural integration challenges, to the rise of SAP’s own internal transformation efforts, the invention of the digital boardroom, and the strategic thinking that ultimately led to business transformation management becoming a central capability.

A major focus of the episode is the idea that transformation should not be treated as a one-off project, but as an organizational muscle that needs to be built and trained over time. Rouven explains why companies that develop this capability are in a far stronger position to absorb innovation, move faster, and create real business value.

And of course, the conversation goes deep into AI.

Not from a hype angle, but from the perspective of someone who is actively studying, testing, and evaluating what AI will really mean for enterprise software, business models, leadership, and society. Rouven shares why he believes AI is different from previous technology waves, where he sees the real impact emerging, why many companies will struggle to benefit from it, and what kind of operating model will separate winners from laggards.

This is a thoughtful, candid, and highly relevant episode for anyone interested in SAP, enterprise transformation, leadership, and the future of technology.

Listen in for deep insights, sharp perspectives, and a lot of compelling storytelling about how some of the most important transformation moves inside SAP actually came together.

Follow Rouven here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rouven-morato-06264743/

Also visit: https://www.foreyou.golf/

Follow Alexander: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alexandergreb/
Follow Johannes: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johanneslangguth/

Thanks to Steven Spears for lending his voice for our podcast intro.
Theme music by Luis Álvarez a.k.a. Fourth Dogma