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Case Studies

Executive Summary

Kaktus Solutions provides elite SAP S/4HANA programme leadership, specializing in high-stakes global transformations. With over 20 years of experience delivering multi-million pound ERP programmes across FMCG, manufacturing, retail, energy, and government sectors, we bridge the gap between complex system integration and business adoption. Our approach leverages senior expertise in cutover readiness, integrated deployment planning, and multi-vendor governance.

Global Pharma S/4HANA Greenfields Implementation

Client Overview: A Top 10 Global Pharmaceutical firm migrating 15+ legacy ERPs to a single S/4HANA instance.
Challenge: High risk of cross-border regulatory non-compliance (GxP) and potential supply chain disruption during the transition of 40+ manufacturing sites.

Key Challenges:

• Approach: Kaktus established a Global Testing Center of Excellence (CoE). We implemented a risk-based automated regression suite focusing on “Critical to Compliance” workflows.
• Outcome: Zero high-priority defects at Go-Live; 35% reduction in UAT duration through targeted automated data seeding.

UK Public Sector Digital Infrastructure Modernisation

Client Overview: A major UK University restructuring its student record systems and cloud security posture.
• Challenge: A fragmented vendor landscape led to “assurance gaps,” where no single party took responsibility for end-to-end security and data flow integrity.

Key Challenges:

• Approach: We acted as the Lead Assurance Partner, conducting a comprehensive cybersecurity audit and implementing a unified integration testing framework across three different software vendors.
• Outcome: Successfully secured a high-profile digital enrollment launch; identified 12 critical security vulnerabilities prior to production.

Global SAP S/4HANA Digital Core Transformation

Client Overview: Multi-billion GBP Global Consumer Goods (FMCG) Leader (Mars Petcare).
Programme Context: Supported a £500m global SAP S/4HANA transformation designed to harmonize fragmented legacy systems into a unified digital core.

Key Challenges:

● Complexity: Coordinating high-velocity rollouts and readiness activities across diverse global teams.
● Alignment: Ensuring deployment readiness across multiple parallel workstreams and system integrators.
Kaktus Approach: We provided strategic coordination of programme testing, integration, and readiness activities. By working directly with programme leadership, we ensured that every global team was aligned with the central deployment roadmap.
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Global Test Management & Vendor Coordination

Client Overview: International Retail and Beauty Brand (The Body Shop).
Programme Context: Led the global UAT (User Acceptance Testing) workstream for an SAP S/4HANA programme supporting ERP functions across multiple business units.

Key Challenges:

● Vendor Management: Aligning testing efforts across a complex network of multiple vendors.
● Business Diversity: Standardising UAT across globally disparate retail business units.
Kaktus Approach: Kaktus Solutions acted as the central point of governance, harmonising the UAT process across vendors and business units to ensure a consistent quality standard.
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SAP S/4HANA Implementation & Integration

Client Overview: Major Energy and Utilities Provider (Cadent Gas).
Programme Context: Delivered programme testing governance to support the ERP deployment readiness for a large-scale SAP S/4HANA implementation.

Key Challenges:

● Integrity: Validating complex integration points across critical utility infrastructure workstreams.
● Governance: Establishing a rigorous testing framework to support enterprise-wide deployment readiness.
Kaktus Approach: We focused on delivering robust testing governance and coordinating integration validation across all programme workstreams, ensuring a seamless transition from legacy systems.
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SAP S/4HANA Greenfield Deployment

Client Overview: Global Food & Beverage Leader (PepsiCo).
Programme Context: Led User Acceptance Testing (UAT) and programme readiness for an SAP S/4HANA Greenfield deployment across manufacturing plants.

Key Challenges:

● Scale: Coordinating 100+ business testers and diverse programme delivery stakeholders.
● Environment: Executing high-intensity testing within complex manufacturing operations.
Kaktus Approach: Kaktus Solutions led the end-to-end UAT phase, providing granular readiness reporting directly to programme leadership to facilitate data-driven deployment decisions.
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Public Sector SAP Programme Test Assurance

Client Overview: Government of Jersey.
Programme Context: Led programme test governance for a £70m ERP transformation involving SAP S/4HANA across diverse government services.

Key Challenges:

● Complexity: Coordinating 200+ business users and multiple technology partners.
● Scope: Managing readiness across testing, integration, and business deployment simultaneously.
Kaktus Approach: We implemented a comprehensive test governance framework, providing the structure necessary to manage 200+ users while ensuring technical integration met government-grade standards.
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UK Higher Education Institution (Bristol) – ERP Transformation Programme

Client Overview: A leading UK Russell Group university delivered a major ERP transformation to modernise finance, HR and procurement systems.

Key Challenges:

– Legacy systems across faculties
– Complex integrations between finance, HR and student systems
– Diverse stakeholder groups
– Limited internal testing capability
Kaktus Approach:
– Defined programme-wide test strategy and governance
– Led SIT and UAT phases across departments
– Coordinated stakeholders across faculties and central functions
– Designed business-driven test scenarios
– Delivered structured data validation
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Global Pharmaceutical Company – SAP S/4HANA Transformation

Client Overview: A global pharmaceutical organisation delivered a multi-region SAP S/4HANA transformation within a regulated (GxP) environment.

Key Challenges:

– Strict compliance requirements
– Complex data migration and validation
– Integration with legacy systems
– High business-critical risk
Kaktus Approach:
– Defined risk-based test strategy aligned to compliance
– Led SIT and UAT across regions
– Coordinated multiple system integrators
– Delivered data migration validation and reconciliation
– Introduced automation strategy
Tools:
Tosca, SAP Cloud ALM, Jira
Outcome:
– Successful SAP deployment across regions
– 35% improvement in defect detection earlier in lifecycle
– Reduced compliance risk
– Increased programme delivery confidence

Global FMCG Organisation – SAP Digital Core Programme

Client Overview: A global FMCG organisation implemented a SAP digital core programme across multiple countries.

Key Challenges:

– Multi-country rollout with local variations
– High volumes of transactional data
– Complex integrations across supply chain
– Need for scalable testing model
Kaktus Approach:
– Led integration testing across SAP and third-party systems
– Defined global standard testing framework
– Delivered data migration testing across regions
– Implemented automation to improve efficiency
– Managed defects and reporting
Tools:
Panaya, SAP, Jira
Outcome:
– 25% faster testing cycles through automation
– Reduced post-go-live defects
– Consistent delivery across regions
– Scalable model for future rollouts

Testing Capabilities Delivered:

● Testing & Integration Coordination: Oversight of global testing activities to ensure core integrity.
● Workstream Readiness: Verification of deployment readiness across all functional areas.

Measurable Impact:

● De-risked £500m Investment: Secured the deployment path for a major global S/4HANA digital core.
● Global Standardisation: Unified readiness protocols across international workstreams.

Testing Capabilities Delivered:

● Global UAT Leadership: Direct oversight of the global testing workstream. ● Multi-Vendor Coordination: Alignment of external partners to the client’s quality and delivery standards.

Measurable Impact:

● Reduced Programme Friction: Eliminated silos between business units and technology vendors.
● Validated Business Adoption: Ensured the ERP solution met the functional needs of diverse retail operations.

Testing Capabilities Delivered:

● Programme Testing Governance: Structured oversight to support deployment readiness.
● Integration Validation: Coordinated testing of end-to-end data and process flows.

Measurable Impact:

● Audit-Ready Transitions: Established a governed testing environment tailored for critical utility infrastructure.
● Enhanced Traceability: Improved the accuracy of integration validation across complex workstreams.

Testing Capabilities Delivered:

● UAT Leadership: Direct management of localized testing teams and manufacturing stakeholders.
● Readiness Reporting: High-fidelity visibility into programme delivery status for leadership.

Measurable Impact:

● Accelerated UAT: Successfully synchronized 100+ testers to meet aggressive deployment windows.
● Operational Stability: Ensured rigorous validation of manufacturing processes prior to go-live.

Testing Capabilities Delivered:

● Programme Test Governance: High-level oversight for a regulated £70m transformation.
● Business Deployment Readiness: Validating that government services were prepared for transition.

Measurable Impact:

● Stabilised £70m Transformation: Delivered structured oversight for a critical public sector infrastructure project.
● High Stakeholder Alignment: Successfully managed the requirements and readiness of 200+ users and technology partners.

Tools:

SAP, Azure DevOps, Jira

Outcome:

– Successful ERP implementation across the university
– 30% reduction in critical defects pre go-live
– Improved data integrity across finance and HR
– Strong stakeholder confidence during UAT