IDC MarketScape
IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SAP Implementation Services
2022 Vendor Assessment
Ali Zaidi
THIS IDC MARKETSCAPE EXCERPT FEATURES EY
IDC MARKETSCAPE FIGURE
FIGURE 1
IDC MarketScape Worldwide SAP Implementation Services Vendor Assessment
Source: IDC, 2022
Please see the Appendix for detailed methodology, market definition, and scoring criteria.
June 2022, IDC #US48395822e
IN THIS EXCERPT
The content for this excerpt was taken directly from IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SAP Implementation
Services 2022 Vendor Assessment (Doc # US48395822). All or parts of the following sections are
included in this excerpt: IDC Opinion, IDC MarketScape Vendor Inclusion Criteria, Essential Guidance,
Vendor Summary Profile, Appendix and Learn More. Also included is Figure 1.
IDC OPINION
This IDC study represents a vendor assessment of the 2022 SAP implementation services market
through the IDC MarketScape model. This research is a quantitative and qualitative assessment of the
characteristics that explain a vendor's success in the marketplace and help anticipate its ascendancy.
This IDC MarketScape covers a variety of vendors participating in the worldwide SAP implementation
services market. This evaluation is based on a comprehensive framework and set of parameters
expected to be most conducive to success in providing SAP implementation services in both the short
term and the long term. A component of this evaluation is the inclusion of the perception of SAP
implementation services buyers of both the key characteristics and the capabilities of these providers.
Buyers were surveyed across all three of IDC's macroregions. Key findings from the evaluation include
the following:
▪ On average, IDC rated three strategic areas most highly: "portfolio strategy," "growth strategy,"
and "alignment with SAP strategy." Likewise, the three areas of key capabilities highly rated on
average by customers are "cost competitiveness," "sales/distribution structure," and
"employee management."
▪ Based on IDC's Global SAP Implementation Services Buyer Perception Survey feedback from
83 of the evaluated vendors' customers, the most critical business priority for them was to
"improve operational efficiency," while the most critical vendor attribute for successful SAP
implementation services was being "able to achieve desired business outcomes."
▪ Enterprises are increasingly focusing on integrating SAP with other platforms and
enhancing/realigning business processes when adopting SAP solutions. IDC's Global SAP
Implementation Services Buyer Perception Survey suggests that over 54% of the SAP
implementation projects involve integrating SAP products with non-SAP platforms/solutions. At
the same time, buyers indicated that in nearly half of SAP implementation services projects,
enterprises are undergoing some sort of business process change while consuming SAP
solutions.
IDC MARKETSCAPE VENDOR INCLUSION CRITERIA
This research includes an analysis of the 16 SAP applications systems integrators (SIs) with broad
portfolios spanning IDC's research coverage and with global scale. This assessment is designed to
evaluate the characteristics of each firm — as opposed to its size or the breadth of its services. The
inclusion criteria also dictate at least $450 million in revenue coming from a vendor's SAP
implementation services practice at a worldwide level as well as a minimum of 4,500 SAP
implementation–associated global resources, and at least 10% of the vendor's worldwide SAP revenue
and head count should come from each of IDC's macroregions.
©2022 IDC #US48395822e 2
ADVICE FOR TECHNOLOGY BUYERS
▪ Rise with SAP. While SAP's Rise with SAP offering provides an attractive approach to drive
digital transformation within your enterprise, the digital transformation initiative should be
dictated by desired outcome and not technology. Make sure you have the right business case
established, desired outcome lined up, and impact on business processes and models defined
while driving digital transformation agenda, enabled by the Rise with SAP offerings. Most
services partners have created complementary offerings that couple S/4HANA implementation
with the business KPIs to drive the transformation initiative.
▪ Multiplatform integration. Application and infrastructure portfolios of most enterprises comprise
of multivendor platforms including SAP products. As enterprises increase adoption of cloud
solutions, the heterogeneous nature of IT systems is on the rise. Often integration of disparate
application and infrastructure platform is a necessity to make overall IT systems work. Make
sure to pick SAP implementation services partner that not only understands the SAP products
but also helps you integrate SAP solutions with non-SAP systems your enterprises are
running.
▪ Vendor selection. Use this IDC MarketScape in contract negotiations and as a tool to not only
short-list vendors for SAP implementation services bids but also evaluate vendors' proposals
and oral presentations. Make sure you understand where these players are truly differentiated
and take advantage of their expertise — technical, industry based, or otherwise
VENDOR SUMMARY PROFILES
This section briefly explains IDC's key observations resulting in a vendor's position in the IDC
MarketScape. While every vendor is evaluated against each of the criteria outlined in the Appendix,
the description here provides a summary of each vendor's strengths and challenges.
EY
According to IDC analysis and buyer perception, EY is positioned in the Leaders category in the 2022
IDC MarketScape for SAP implementation services worldwide.
EY provides a full life cycle of SAP services, including advisory, implementation, and managed
services. EY has developed SAP solutions and capabilities across all lines of business including
assurance (audit), tax, transactions, and consulting. EY continues to focus on transformation
consulting enabled by SAP solutions, and the company helps clients realize their potential based on
the belief that when businesses work better, the world works better. EY positions itself as a firm that
creates long-term value for its clients while being trusted, distinctive professional services
organization.
EY is a launch partner for RISE with SAP and uses its enablers and assets to support the program. EY
has also expanded its industry cloud solutions on top of SAP BTP as well as agile tax solutions. EY's
global wavespace innovation centers, with over 50 locations, rounds out the firm's global delivery
capability with dedicated space and personnel to assist clients in reimagining their business,
accelerate transformation, and rapidly develop new business models.
Strengths
EY achieved a strong buyers rate for its ability to meet the project timeline and handling changes in
project scope and for its custom application development capabilities. Similarly, IDC views EY highly
©2022 IDC #US48395822e 3
for its functionality/offering road maps and its growth strategy related to deals by SAP next-generation
solutions.
Challenges
IDC believes EY's customer retention strategy can be improved by utilizing independent third party to
the company's customer feedback collection process. Also EY would benefit from increased joint go to
market with key SAP hyperscalers and ISV ecosystem partners.
APPENDIX
Reading an IDC MarketScape Graph
For the purposes of this analysis, IDC divided potential key measures for success into two primary
categories: capabilities and strategies.
Positioning on the y-axis reflects the vendor's current capabilities and menu of services and how well
aligned the vendor is to customer needs. The capabilities category focuses on the capabilities of the
company and product today, here and now. Under this category, IDC analysts will look at how well a
vendor is building/delivering capabilities that enable it to execute its chosen strategy in the market.
Positioning on the x-axis, or strategies axis, indicates how well the vendor's future strategy aligns with
what customers will require in three to five years. The strategies category focuses on high-level
decisions and underlying assumptions about offerings, customer segments, and business and go-to-
market plans for the next three to five years.
The size of the individual vendor markers in the IDC MarketScape represents the market share of each
individual vendor within the specific market segment being assessed.
IDC MarketScape Methodology
IDC MarketScape criteria selection, weightings, and vendor scores represent well-researched IDC
judgment about the market and specific vendors. IDC analysts tailor the range of standard
characteristics by which vendors are measured through structured discussions, surveys, and
interviews with market leaders, participants, and end users. Market weightings are based on user
interviews, buyer surveys, and the input of IDC experts in each market. IDC analysts base individual
vendor scores, and ultimately vendor positions on the IDC MarketScape, on detailed surveys and
interviews with the vendors, publicly available information, and end-user experiences in an effort to
provide an accurate and consistent assessment of each vendor's characteristics, behavior, and
capability.
Market Definition
The SAP implementation services market covers the design, build, and integrate functions of the
design-build-run function chain (see Figure 2). The design phase includes both IT and business
consulting. For a detailed definition of the services markets illustrated in Figure 2, see IDC's Worldwide
Services Taxonomy, 2021 (IDC #US47191221, March 2021).
©2022 IDC #US48395822e 4
FIGURE 2
IDC's Design-Build-Run Function Chain
Source: IDC, 2022
Customer Perceptions of SAP Implementation Services Vendors
A significant and unique component of this evaluation is the inclusion of the perceptions of SAP
implementation services' buyers of both the key characteristics and the capabilities of the vendors
evaluated. The buyers participating in IDC's Global SAP Implementation Services Buyer Perception
Survey have partnered with at least one of the participating vendors directly on an SAP implementation
project within their company. The survey findings highlight key areas where buyers expect SAP
implementation services providers to showcase a range of capabilities. The buyers consider these
capabilities a must-have for SAP implementation services to be able to fulfill the requirements of many
business and IT issues that challenge the buyers.
Figure 3 illustrates the top 10 business drivers for SAP implementation services projects for the SAP
services customers surveyed in 2020. Customers sighted reducing cost/improving profitability and
improving operational efficiency as the top 2 business drivers for taking on SAP implementation
services.
©2022 IDC #US48395822e 5
FIGURE 3
Top 10 Business Drivers for SAP Implementation Services Projects, 2022
Q. How important a business priority do you believe each of the following is currently for your
company?
n = 83
Note: Mean scores are based on a scale of 1–5, where 1 = not a priority and 5 = a critical business priority.
Source: IDC's Global SAP Implementation Services Buyer Perception Survey, 2022
Figure 4 illustrates the rank order of factors that are important for a successful SAP implementation
services project for the SAP services customers surveyed in 2020. Survey findings suggest that the
ability to achieve desired business outcomes by the consultants working on an SAP implementation
services project is the most critical factor for the successful completion of the project. Customers also
indicated a vendor's ability to showcase the desired technical insights competency for the projects to
be one of the most critical attributes for a project's success.
©2022 IDC #US48395822e 6
FIGURE 4
Top 10 Important Factors for Successful SAP Implementation Services
Projects, 2022
Q. For an SAP implementation services engagement to be successful, please indicate the
importance of each of the following characteristics.
n = 83
Note: Mean scores are based on a scale of 1–5, where 1 = not essential and 5 = essential to success.
Source: IDC's Global SAP Implementation Services Buyer Perception Survey, 2022
©2022 IDC #US48395822e 7
LEARN MORE
Related Research
▪ Worldwide and U.S. Systems Integration Services Forecast, 2022–2026 (IDC #US48572222,
May 2022)
▪ IDC's Worldwide Services Taxonomy, 2021 (IDC #US47191221, May 2021)
▪ IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SAP Implementation Services 2020 Vendor Assessment (IDC
#US45354920, June 2020)
▪ IDC MarketScape: Worldwide SAP Next-Generation Implementation Services 2020 Vendor
Assessment (IDC #US46141520, June 2020)
Synopsis
This IDC study represents a vendor assessment of the SAP implementation services through the IDC
MarketScape model. This assessment discusses both quantitative and qualitative characteristics that
explain success in the SAP implementation integration services market. This IDC MarketScape covers
a variety of vendors participating in the SAP implementation services space. The evaluation is based
on a comprehensive and rigorous framework that assesses vendors relative to the criteria and to one
another and highlights the factors expected to be the most influential for success in the market in both
the short term and the long term.
"Customer focus on digital transformation and enterprise experience driven by the need for improving
operational efficiency, profitability, and growth is driving faster adoption of SAP next-generation
technologies and related implementation services in the near future," says Ali Zaidi, research vice
president, IT Consulting and Systems Integration Business Strategies at IDC.
©2022 IDC #US48395822e 8
About IDC
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