Beyond ERP: The Mindset Shift Required for True Business Transformation — The Million-Euro Mindset

When organizations embark on a major ERP project, the initial focus often lands on technology: the new system, the code migration, the technical timeline.

This focus, while necessary for execution, misses the strategic magnitude of the undertaking. This is where the transformation can falter before it even begins.

For Ari Torpo, adesso Finland’s Country Manager, and a consultant who began working with SAP 30 years ago when it first arrived in Finland, the perspective is clear. Ari, who has led monumental global implementations like Wärtsilä (40 countries, 70 companies) and Metso Minerals (20 countries), states:

"We must stop viewing these projects as IT upgrades. They are, fundamentally, business transformations. The true challenge lies in rethinking processes, restructuring the organization, and managing the total operational change."

The SAP system is merely the highly capable tool; the real work is the change management and the strategic re-evaluation of the business itself.

If the system is a machine, the organization is the engine. And that engine has a finite capacity.

Sanna Keskioja, Senior Project Manager and an expert in business transformation, emphasizes that successful ERP projects depend as much on people as on technology. In her experience, the human side of transformation often determines whether the change truly takes root.

“Programs fail when leadership alignment and organizational readiness are underestimated. A technically sound solution can still fall short if the organization’s maturity and its capacity to embrace change aren’t managed correctly,” Sanna explains. “I’ve seen situations where IT clearly recognizes the misalignment and asks: ‘Can you help the business understand that we’re talking about transformation, not just a system?’”

According to Sanna, ownership must always sit with the business — not IT.

“In SAP programs, this means defining clear process ownership, ensuring cross-functional integration, and pacing the rollout so the organization can absorb change without jeopardizing operations.”

She also notes that transformation is not a one-time event but an ongoing journey. “The real value emerges when organizations learn to evolve — integrating data, sustainability, and AI-driven insight into everyday decision-making.”

Finally, Sanna concludes with a perspective shaped by nearly two decades of transformation work: “ERP is no longer an IT initiative — it shapes competitiveness. Success depends on aligning leadership early, building true business ownership, and pacing change so it becomes sustainable. Transformation is not a milestone — it’s a capability.”

Drawing on extensive experience in key roles within complex transformation projects, successful SAP programs rely on these structural pillars

• Leadership Ownership: Sanna emphasizes that transformation succeeds only when the leadership actively champions it. Ownership must sit with the business, not IT.
• End-to-End Vision: Modern ERP systems are designed to manage the entire value chain. Projects that focus on departmental silos inevitably sacrifice the cross-functional efficiencies SAP is built to deliver.
• Realistic Pacing: Change must be absorbed at a sustainable pace. Breaking the transformation into manageable chunks prevents fatigue and ensures adoption.

“True transformation doesn’t end at go-live,” Sanna adds. “The real value emerges when the organization learns to continuously adapt — leveraging its data, people, and technology to move forward with clarity and confidence.”

When embarking on a transformation of this scale, the difference between success and a costly delay is the quality of experience at the table. You need advisors who speak fluently at the intersection of IT and business, capable of translating complex concepts into actionable strategies.

This depth of experience, proven across the world's most demanding projects, ensures the fundamental setup is robust, scalable, and globally viable from the start.

At adesso, we are your local partner for Finnish business, backed by the strength of a European powerhouse. We combine deep understanding of Nordic business culture with decades of international experience to deliver complex SAP transformations with German precision and reliability. Beyond our scale, we bring proven industry expertise in sectors such as manufacturing and energy. In Germany, we are SAP’s Cloud ERP Partner Experts and SAP Grow Gold Partners, and master established methodologies for S/4HANA implementation — ensuring predictable outcomes and measurable business impact.

If you’re planning or are already running an SAP transformation, let’s talk about how we can make your transformation predictable, scalable, and future-ready.

• Contact Ari Torpo or Sanna Keskioja to start your journey.