Thirty years ago, Adobe shipped software on CDs. Today, getting their products takes only a single click. Your own business may have made similar leaps.  As business models change, ERP systems need to evolve in step.

After nearly 30 years, Adobe was operating one of the largest ECC systems in the world – more than 150 terabytes of data, millions of transactions every week, and deep layers of custom code. Their challenge is one many enterprises face: the business had evolved dramatically, but the ERP system hadn’t kept pace.

Tim Garippa, Transformation and Innovation Lead at Adobe Technology, put it simply during an interview at SNP Transformation World:

“Our business has fundamentally changed, but our ERP system hadn’t.”

Adobe’s journey illustrates what it really takes to deliver SAP S/4HANA at scale, and why many enterprises are choosing to act now.

The case for SAP S/4HANA: Why timing matters

SAP’s plan to end mainstream support for ECC is often the trigger for transformation. But for most enterprises, the real reason to move is not a deadline. It is the need to modernize the core of the business.

Executives know what is at stake. Risk has to be minimized. Time-to-value needs to be fast. And the end state should be a platform that can grow with the business.

As Tim put it: “Transformation at this scale cannot be treated as a standard IT project. It requires disciplined execution, clear accountability, and a partner that can deliver business outcomes, not just technical migration.”

That recognition is what drives many enterprises to act now. Business models evolve faster than legacy systems and waiting only makes the gap wider. Those who move quickly set the foundation for growth and resilience. Those who delay risk falling behind.

The complexity of large-scale ERP transformation

For many enterprises, the hardest part of moving to SAP S/4HANA is not the decision itself. It is the scale of execution.

You and your teams may be facing challenges like these:

• Decades of historical data no one wants to lose.
• Thousands of lines of custom code built up over years.
• Compliance and reporting demands with zero tolerance for error.
• The pressure to keep the business running during cutover.

Adobe was in the same position. After nearly three decades on ECC, the company carried more than 150 terabytes of data and layers of custom code that slowed down progress.

As Tim Garippa explained during his presentation at SNP Transformation World:

“This is an environment that has over 22 billion dollars of annual turnover in it. It processes over a million orders a day… more than 30 orders a second going through that environment.”

When challenges look like this, a transformation cannot be treated as a standard IT project. It requires a disciplined approach, clear accountability, and a partner who can turn technical complexity into measurable business outcomes.

Why execution discipline is the difference-maker

If you have already started down the path to SAP S/4HANA, you know that many projects stall or run into trouble. Deadlines slip. Costs rise. Confidence fades.

That does not mean your goals are out of reach. It means that execution discipline becomes the deciding factor.

The difference comes from:

• Relentless accountability. Every stakeholder owns the outcome.
• Full transparency. Problems are surfaced early, not hidden until it is too late.
• A shared commitment. Business and IT align on one definition of success.

Adobe had already faced delays with a previous vendor that struggled to manage the complexity of their environment. Bringing SNP in changed the trajectory and put the program back on course.

Tim Garippa described what this looked like in practice:

“What really turned our program around was a unified front. SNP, IBM, SAP, and Adobe all had an equal seat at the table. We called it relentless execution, full transparency, shared accountability, and everyone leaning in to own the outcome.”

Proof that speed and scale are possible

It is natural to be skeptical. Can an ERP system of this size really go live without disruption? Adobe’s story shows that it can.

After bringing SNP on board, Adobe went live on SAP S/4HANA in just 10 months.

This was one of the largest ECC systems ever migrated, with more than 150 terabytes of data and millions of daily transactions. Yet the transition was completed on time and without critical outages.

The results spoke for themselves:

• No disruption to business operations.
• Financial close was completed faster than before.
• A 25 percent increase in system performance compared to ECC.

Garippa credited meticulous planning:

“Our cutover plan was meticulously planned to the 15-minute increment. That focus allowed us to shave downtime and deliver the quietest go-live Adobe has ever seen.”

While no two environments are the same, Adobe’s journey demonstrates that a fast, large-scale transformation is achievable. With the right execution model and the right partner at your side, you can deliver SAP S/4HANA at speed and scale and start realizing value immediately.

Building a foundation for the future

Go-live is not the finish line. It is the start of a new chapter. The real value of SAP S/4HANA comes from what you can build on top of it.

Adobe’s leadership understood this. Once live, they focused on keeping their system lean through archiving. They began enhancing core finance functions such as FP&A and treasury. And they started preparing for the next step: moving toward the cloud with RISE.

For your business, the priorities may look different. What matters is having a system that can grow with you. A strong foundation lets you embed innovation, adopt new capabilities, and stay ahead of market change.

With the right partner at your side, your SAP S/4HANA transformation is not only about meeting today’s needs. It becomes the platform for continuous innovation and future growth.

Take the next step with confidence

Your SAP S/4HANA journey is one of the most important transformations your business will undertake. Success depends on turning complexity into clarity, risk into confidence, and plans into measurable outcomes.

As Tim Garippa of Adobe said after their go-live:

“This was one of the smoothest implementations we’ve ever seen at Adobe.”

That is the level of confidence you deserve.

Want to hear Adobe’s story in their own words? Watch the presentation by Tim Garripa at SNP Transformation World.

With SNP, your SAP S/4HANA transformation becomes the foundation for continuous innovation and growth.

Reach out so you can start building your future today