Introduction
SAP transformations do not usually fail in build or delivery. More often, they struggle to even get started.
That was the central theme of SAP Transformations that Deserve Approval event, an exclusive, invite-only event hosted by Precision Sourcing in Melbourne on Thursday 23 April.
Bringing together senior SAP professionals, transformation leaders and decision-makers, the evening focused on a question that feels increasingly relevant across the Australian market:
Why is it harder than ever to gain confidence and approval for SAP and AI transformations at board level?
Led by Luke Keddie, the session was shaped by deep experience at the intersection of enterprise strategy, SAP delivery and commercial decision‑making. Luke works closely with executives on complex transformation programs where stakes are material, environments are highly governed and confidence at leadership level is critical. His background spans major SAP, cloud and data initiatives across critical infrastructure and utilities, bringing a perspective formed inside programs that genuinely had to work. Rather than relying on off‑the‑shelf models, Luke draws on pattern recognition built over years of navigating complexity, helping leaders structure ambitious initiatives in ways that can move forward with clarity and control.
Why approval has become the hardest part of transformation?
Across industries, SAP leaders are operating in a more cautious environment.
Boards and executive teams are more involved in technology decisions, but also more risk-aware. The Melbourne discussion reflected a shared experience. Many organisations are carrying the legacy of ambitious transformation programs that grew too large, took too long to show value, or became difficult to course-correct once they were underway. In that context, approval is no longer a formality. It is a test of clarity, confidence and credibility.
The session did not focus on tools or solutions. Instead, it explored how transformation initiatives are framed, sequenced and communicated, and how those choices influence executive trust long before delivery begins.
Shifting the conversation at executive level
A recurring theme throughout the evening was the idea that approval decisions are rarely about technology in isolation.
Executives are evaluating perceived risk, timing, organisational impact and the confidence they have in navigating change if priorities shift. When transformation is presented as a single, high-stakes decision, hesitation is inevitable.
What resonated strongly with the room was the importance of reframing how SAP and AI initiatives are positioned. Not as one defining moment, but as a sequence of deliberate, manageable steps that build belief over time.
The discussion reinforced that boards back momentum. They respond to evidence, progress and outcomes they can see, rather than promises anchored far down the roadmap.
Why these conversations matter right now
With cloud migration pressures, ECC timelines, AI expectations and talent constraints all converging, SAP leaders are being asked to move faster while taking on less risk.
That tension is not going away.
What evenings like this highlighted is that success is increasingly determined before delivery even starts. The ability to design, position and communicate transformation in a way that aligns with executive decision-making is becoming just as critical as technical capability.
For SAP professionals in the room, it was a reminder that influence and leadership now extend well beyond the system landscape.
The value of closed, peer-led discussion
One of the defining features of this event was its format. A closed-room session designed for SAP professionals and executives created the conditions for open dialogue.
The Q&A that closed the evening reflected real challenges, not hypotheticals. Approval fatigue, governance pressure, shifting priorities and organisational scepticism all featured heavily.
What stood out was how common these challenges were across sectors. Different environments, similar patterns.
That shared experience is exactly why these events remain intentionally small and invite-only. The real value sits in the conversation, not the slides.
Looking ahead
The Melbourne session reinforced why Configure IT Done events exist in the first place. Not to deliver generic content, but to create space for meaningful, experience-led discussion within the SAP community.
For those navigating transformation right now, the message was clear. How work is designed and presented matters just as much as what is delivered.
And for those who joined us on the night, thank you for contributing to the calibre of conversation that made the evening what it was.
If you are interested in being part of future sessions with Australia’s SAP community, keep an eye on what is coming next. These are conversations best experienced in the room.
Learn more about the Configure IT Done community here.
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