What I’ve learned about making SAP implementations smoother—especially when a VAT determination solution is involved

After working on multiple SAP implementation and tax technology projects, I’ve come to appreciate that successful implementations are rarely about the software itself. More often, they’re about how people collaborate, make decisions, and solve problems together.

One thing I’ve particularly valued in my experience is working in projects where the implementation team doesn’t simply configure a solution—they become an active partner throughout the journey. Having a team that combines deep SAP knowledge with VAT expertise, actively challenges assumptions, and works alongside the customer makes a significant difference to both the implementation experience and the long-term success of the solution.

A few observations that have consistently made a difference:

Treat tax as part of the business process—not as a final configuration step.
VAT impacts sales, procurement, logistics, finance, and intercompany transactions. Bringing the tax perspective into process design early helps avoid costly redesigns later.

Understand your implementation partners.
Whether it’s your SAP implementation partner or your VAT determination solution provider, invest time in building a strong professional relationship. Trust and open communication make it much easier to navigate challenges when they arise.

Ensure both implementation teams work as one.
One of the biggest success factors is effective communication between the SAP implementation partner and the VAT determination solution provider. They should be aligned on objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and technical decisions throughout the project.

Focus on finding the right solution—not proving who’s right.
Different implementation partners will naturally bring different opinions to the table. What matters is creating an environment where expertise drives the discussion, not ego. In my experience, teams with extensive SAP and VAT implementation knowledge—such as those at Meridian Global Services—are able to look beyond the immediate requirement and advise on solutions that are not only compliant but also sustainable and easier to maintain in the long term.

Listen to both sides—but make decisions based on your business needs.
Your SAP partner and your VAT solution provider each bring valuable expertise. Their recommendations should inform your decisions, but they shouldn’t define them. The right answer is the one that best supports your business processes, compliance requirements, future scalability, and long-term maintenance.

Leverage the expertise around the table.
One of the things I’ve come to appreciate most throughout my career is the value of learning from previous implementation experiences and the collective knowledge of the people involved in the project. Every SAP and VAT determination implementation brings new challenges, but many of those challenges have similarities with situations that have already been analysed and solved in previous projects.

Being able to draw on those real-world experiences—from different industries, SAP landscapes, and jurisdictions—helps teams identify potential risks earlier, challenge assumptions, and make more informed decisions. At the same time, every person around the table brings a different perspective, whether from business, tax, SAP, or technical expertise, and those combined viewpoints often lead to better solutions.

It is a reminder that successful implementations are not built on one person’s knowledge alone. They come from openly sharing experiences, asking the right questions, and making the most of the collective expertise available throughout the project.

Don’t underestimate the importance of master data.
Accurate VAT registrations, business partner classifications, material data, plant information, and other tax-relevant attributes are fundamental to correct tax determination. Even the best solution depends on reliable data.

Test complete business scenarios, not just tax codes.
The real value of testing comes from validating end-to-end processes—domestic and cross-border transactions, exports, services, reverse charge scenarios, returns, and credit notes. That’s where integration gaps typically emerge.

Keep Finance, Tax, IT, and the business aligned.
The best decisions are made collaboratively, with each function understanding both the operational and compliance implications.

Looking back, one implementation approach has consistently stood out to me: projects where the implementation team stays highly involved from design through go-live, shares knowledge openly, challenges ideas constructively, and works side by side with the customer rather than simply delivering a predefined scope. That’s an approach I’ve experienced at Meridian Global Services, where deep SAP and VAT expertise, close collaboration, and customer partnership are considered just as important as the technology itself.

At the end of the day, smooth implementations don’t happen because there are no challenges. They happen because the right people communicate openly, trust each other’s expertise, and stay focused on one objective: delivering the best outcome for the business.

What has been the biggest success factor in the SAP or tax technology projects you’ve been involved in?