SAP Enable Now Implementation - Validation Workshop

Let’s check!

Software implementation is a serious business. This also applies to a learning platform like SAP Enable Now. Successfully implementing Enable Now requires the right people to be involved, strategic decisions to be taken and certain prerequisites to be met. My Enable Now implementation strategy consists of 7 steps, which I would like to explain in 7 blog posts. Written from a consultant’s perspective and based on my personal experience.

SAP Enable Now Implementation Approach

This post focuses on the Validation Workshop. Based on the outcome of the Strategy Workshop, we have now completed the configuration. In this Validation Workshop we will present the results. Compare it to presenting a prototype, developed on a list of functional specifications. So, before training authors and creating content, we first validate the templates and configuration. Ideally with the same audience as that from the Scoping Workshop. Where necessary, this is the moment to make the last changes and do the finetuning.

Examples

How can you effectively showcase your configuration work? It's nearly impossible to show everything. And how to present all the templates? Recently, I created approximately 20 book page templates – some for developing eLearning courses, others for building a streamlined content library. I also created templates for simulations with start- and end pages, and even for text units. All of this in 5 languages. During the Validation Workshop, I obviously didn't go through all 100 items individually. I certainly didn't present all the Authoring or Playback settings. Instead, I created a sample eLearning module and a small library demonstration. I presented these examples during the workshop.

So, the focus was on practical application rather than the templates and settings themselves. It was gratifying to see participants immediately recognize their corporate identity. Later, I used these as starting points during the Author Training. After the session, I shared links to the examples and asked for feedback within a week. I took the same approach with the simulation template. I recorded a sample simulation (booking a vendor invoice remains my favourite example) using customer’s corporate style, complete with start and end pages. This gave everyone a clear preview of what end users would eventually see.

To demonstrate an SAP Companion example is more challenging, because at this stage of implementation, the integration is typically not yet configured. This was true in this project as well. Since I generally follow SAP's standard guidelines for the look and feel of SAP Companion, I don't consider this a significant issue.

Not a training session

In my opinion the biggest pitfall of this workshop is delving too deeply into details, which risks simply rehashing the Scoping Workshop. Another risk is that by focusing on details, you're essentially previewing content from the upcoming author training. The first is counterproductive because it reopens discussions that should already be settled. The second is inappropriate because this session's audience doesn't include all the authors. Ideally, the participants in this workshop should be the same people who attended the Scoping Workshop. After all, they made the initial decisions, so they're the ones to validate results and provide feedback.

The question that inevitably arises is about to which extent changes can still be made afterwards. My initial approach is straightforward: we'll proceed with what we agree on now. Not everything is set in stone, and I'm always open to minor adjustments. Even after go-live, the system will continue to evolve. But this raises the question: what constitutes a minor adjustment?

I don't consider changing the standard text size in Text Style from 13px to 15px to be a major issue. I'm happy to accommodate such changes. However, when someone requests adding another language, I start asking critical questions: Where is this requirement coming from? Could we have anticipated this earlier? And if someone suddenly wants to implement the quiz functionality in SAP Enable Now, I first ask for the business case behind it.

Focus on the big picture

As a consultant, it's tempting to get caught up in details – proudly showcasing your work, demonstrating your expertise, to prove that you did understood all requirements. But that's not what customers need. I focus on the main points while ensuring all essential areas are covered. For example, I demonstrate that a color palette has been created incorporating customer's corporate colors. I show that a Text Style has been established using the correct font. But I don't spend 30 minutes explaining where I entered the RGB-codes. It's simply not that compelling. I also defer questions about future modifications – that's more appropriate for the Master Author training. The eLearning and simulation examples I've prepared already illustrate how everything looks.

In virtually every workshop, I clarify where we stand in the implementation process and outline the next steps. This is particularly important in the Validation Workshop because it marks the completion of the design, build, and setup phases. SAP Enable Now is essentially now ready for author training and content creation. This is the ideal moment to introduce upcoming training sessions, their duration, and scheduling. This approach helps prevent the Validation Workshop from becoming an early bird training session. It sets clear expectations and informs authors when they can begin creating content.

Conclusion

The Validation Workshop completes the cycle. We designed a solution, configured it, and now we've validated it. We've used practical examples rather than exhaustive details. We have given everyone time to process the information and provide feedback within a certain period. All in all, this represents a significant milestone.

If not already done, this is also the time to set-up a content development plan: What content will you create? Who will be responsible for each component? Where should you begin? Someone needs to be in the lead for this. Authors cannot coordinate this themselves. This is typically the responsibility of the Master Author.

Next Time

Now that SAP Enable Now is fully configured, we can move on to the next phase – training authors to create content.

Here's my preview: When asked how much time this typically requires, my usual answer is "about 2 days."

My next article will therefore focus on the Author Training.

Let’s Enable!

Transform an SAP project into a success that goes beyond time and budget. Make your SAP solution is truly adopted by your people. Enable Now is SAP's platform to accelerate the development of training materials and support effective training and support of employees. A foundation for creating and optimizing learning content. Not only for SAP, but for other applications as well. The knowledge and experience of Let's Enable guarantee utilization of the full potential of Enable Now.