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Croda SAP S/4HANA Phase ZeroCroda SAP S/4HANA Phase Zero
SAP S/4HANA RFP Vendor Evaluation
Bespoke Request For Proposal (RFP) and Systems Integrator (SI) down-selection process. Client-side strategic advice.
CRODA
www.croda.com
PROJECT INFORMATION
Croda, a globally recognised leader in consumer care and life sciences, is embarking on a large-scale transformation. At the heart of this initiative is the shift from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA, but the program extends beyond a technical upgrade. It offers Croda an opportunity to re-engineer their global business processes, securing their competitive advantage while taking full advantage of new technological capabilities.
Facing the challenge of selecting the right Systems Integrator (SI) for this transformation, Croda recognised that the decision could make or break the success of the entire program. With multiple vendors in the market offering seemingly similar capabilities, differentiating between them was difficult.
Croda understood that internal biases and pre-existing relationships could complicate the selection process. As such, they engaged Rapid X to provide impartial, independent advice, free from vested interests, ensuring they could make the best decision based on objective criteria and business needs.
Rapid X developed a bespoke Request for Proposal (RFP) process, tailored to Croda's complex requirements. Their independent guidance ensured that Croda could make a well-informed, confident choice of SI - based not only on technical capabilities but also on cultural alignment and long-term partnership potential.
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SCHEDULE A MEETING WITH AN EXPERTCHALLENGES
- Developing a custom RFP process for a complex transformation program
- Navigating the complexities of comparing vendors with similar capabilities while ensuring impartiality in decision-making
- Ensuring business stakeholders were engaged and their needs represented
- Overcoming internal biases due to long-standing vendor relationships
- Balancing objective evaluation criteria with subjective measures like cultural fit
- Ensuring a clear understanding of Croda’s objectives and pain points
- Preventing decision-making fatigue during a lengthy selection process
- Improving the internal team’s understanding of SAP S/4HANA to better assess vendor proposals
- Facilitating open communication and ensuring every voice was heard
- Delivering aligned Statements of Work (SoWs) to prevent future scope or budget creep
RESULTS
Leveraging their expertise in SAP S/4HANA, Rapid X worked closely with Croda’s business workstreams to conduct a detailed gap analysis. This ensured the RFP captured all critical business outcomes, functional requirements, and evaluation criteria. Crucially, Rapid X’s independent perspective helped Croda design a process that objectively compared vendors, ensuring that technical and functional capabilities, as well as cultural alignment, were prioritised over price alone.
To ensure consistency, Rapid X provided all vendors with clear guidelines, including questionnaires, pricing templates, a Business Capability Model, and a RASCI matrix. This allowed Croda to assess each vendor in a structured and auditable way. During clarification sessions, Rapid X’s impartial advice proved invaluable - helping demystify technical jargon and providing best-practice insights. This empowered Croda’s business teams to challenge vendor responses confidently and make decisions based on clear, unbiased information.
Recognising the importance of cultural fit, Rapid X facilitated on-site collaborative workshops with the shortlisted vendors. These sessions allowed Croda to directly engage with vendor teams, ask probing questions, and gauge the working relationship. Throughout these workshops, Rapid X’s independent role ensured that Croda’s focus remained on selecting the best long-term partner, rather than being swayed by vendor marketing or pre-existing preferences.
As a result, Croda now has a robust Statement of Work (SoW) from their preferred vendor that is fully aligned with their business needs and objectives. Rapid X’s impartial guidance throughout the process has not only mitigated the risk of scope and budget creep but also enabled Croda to make an informed decision - based on business outcomes, cultural alignment, and long-term value, rather than price alone.
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“Through this experience we’ve realised companies can become part of our ecosystem and act as a very good sounding board, which I believe is fundamental for a technology transformation or digital journey to minimise the risk of failure”