Essential Questions to Ask Your Vendor for Successful SAP-to-MES Integration
by Roland Esquivel, POMS Corp.
Selecting a vendor for SAP-to-MES integration is a critical step in ensuring your organization’s operational efficiency. While vendors often present their solutions as seamless and straightforward, the reality is that integrating SAP with a Manufacturing Execution System (MES) involves complexities that can result in hidden costs and extended timelines. To navigate this, it’s essential to ask your vendor the right questions. Here are five sharp, yet non-confrontational, questions to help uncover hidden challenges and ensure a successful integration.
1. “Can you provide a list of all the standard SAP transactions your MES supports out-of-the-box?”
Why ask this?
This question compels the vendor to transparently disclose the range of transactions their MES can handle without requiring modifications. If the vendor struggles to produce a comprehensive list or only supports a limited set of transactions, it indicates potential gaps that might necessitate custom work. This question also reveals whether the vendor is operating on assumptions rather than relying on documented capabilities.
2. “If we use your standard SAP transactions, can you guarantee that no additional mapping or configuration will be required to make them work with our SAP setup?”
Why ask this?
The reality is that SAP data formats, required fields, and business rules vary for each customer, making it impossible for any vendor to honestly claim that no additional effort will be needed. This question forces the vendor to admit that aligning SAP and MES data will require effort. It helps you determine whether their “standard” transactions are genuinely plug-and-play or if they will require adjustments.
3. “How do you ensure the MES receives and processes only the correct transactions from SAP (e.g., filtering, business rules)?”
Why ask this?
A lack of a concrete answer here suggests that the vendor hasn’t adequately planned for data filtering and business logic, which could lead to costly fixes later. This question underscores the importance of having rules to prevent excess data from overwhelming the MES. It ensures the vendor has mechanisms to manage edge cases such as test batches, different material classifications, or varying data formats.
4. “What is your process for validating that SAP and MES are correctly exchanging data before go-live?”
Why ask this?
Testing is crucial, yet many vendors downplay its significance in early discussions. This question emphasizes the necessity of multiple test cycles, iterations, and troubleshooting prior to the interface going live. If a vendor claims “it just works,” consider it a significant red flag indicating a lack of transparency about the time required for a successful integration.
5. “Can you show us a customer example where your SAP-to-MES interface was implemented with zero customization or additional integration effort?”
Why ask this?
In truth, no MES project integrates with SAP without some level of adjustment. If the vendor struggles to provide a relevant example, it confirms that customization and effort will be unavoidable, despite their claims. This question helps you gauge whether the vendor is being candid or merely telling you what you want to hear.
These questions are designed to push your selected vendor to reveal details they might avoid discussing during the sales process—details about hidden efforts, costs, and time requirements. By asking these questions, you position yourself as a knowledgeable industry advisor, guiding your organization towards a fully informed decision.