Supporting a whole-of-government review

Client Success Story

Supporting a whole-of-government ERP SAP S/4 HANA review

Client context

The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) engaged Reason Group to undertake an independent assessment of the Australian Government Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) ecosystem, GovERP. GovERP is built on an industrial-strength SAP S4/HANA platform with extension through integration with varying architectures. The purpose of the assessment was to review all components including APIs and connections with external systems to understand system capability and readiness by Commonwealth entities in three ERP areas: Human Capital Management (HCM); Procure-to-Pay (P2P); Financial Management Information System (FMIS).

Our thinking

Reason Group designed an evidence-based approach to the comprehensive review which included interviewing senior government stakeholders and technical experts as key inputs.

We led technical deep dives into technology, design, build and management processes within the scope. This included review of environments, systems, processes, SAP/GovERP configuration, design data, IT architecture artefacts (business catalogues, interfaces, APIs, DevOps backlog and customisations to SAP ‘core’ functions).

Reuse Assessment Review, of the completeness and maturity of GovERP. We catalogued government business functions and aligned capabilities and IT infrastructure, produced functional diagrams at application and infrastructure levels. and validated IT Architecture and High-Level Design.We iterated a well-reasoned report that surfaced key findings, opinions and advice, including advice on the cost-effectiveness of upgrading any agency ERP as compared to GovERP re-usability, as well as options for ongoing sustainment funding for the GovERP platform.

Architectural Standards Development Plan, provided architectural guidance, advice on Commonwealth investment and sustainment options across contemporary ERP solutions. We worked alongside DTA to integrate and publish content for the Australian Government Architecture (AGA) including technical standards (blueprints and patterns), plan and framework for ongoing management of a whole-of-government ERP technical standard.

Reason Group was engaged because of our experience in design, development, support as well as our authoritative assessment and advisory in whole of government SAP ERP solutions, large systems architecture redesign modernisation and resuse capability

Trusted advice to the Commonwealth on technology reuse, ERP and SAP S/4 HANA.

Demonstrated the ability to perform rapid business and technology re-use assessments and expert analysis that gets to the crux of complex technology issues based on our whole of government systems knowledge and experience.

The outcome

We formulated expert opinions supported by evidence that is relevant, timely, and set out the impacts of findings. The review was oversighted by an Eminent Panel of industry and government leaders and the report was made public in August 2024, here: https://www.digital.gov.au/sites/default/files/documents/2024-08/GovERP%20Technical%20Assessment_1_0.pdf

The comprehensiveness and insightful review was acknowledged by the Eminent Panel as world-class that laid out a clear pathways to maximises ERP technology value.

We thank the executives and staff from DTA, Department of Finance, Services Australia and all clients we have worked with on ERP initiatives whose needs and interests we have synthesised into our body of knowledge.