How to Build an SAP Shoring Plan: From Work Packages to Roadmap

First, Break Down Work Packages

Shoring planning begins with breaking down the work, not choosing the model. Not every SAP task is equally suited for remote delivery; the deciding factors are how well-defined the task is and how much face-to-face interaction it requires.

• High suitability: development, test execution, interface monitoring, level 2/3 support, documentation.
• Medium suitability: customizing, data cleansing, training material preparation — requires clear acceptance criteria.
• Low suitability: process workshops, change management, cutover night coordination.

Match the Model to the Work Package, Not the Other Way Around

Once breakdown is complete, the model choice emerges almost naturally. A single model does not need to cover the entire scope; in most enterprises, the most efficient setup is hybrid.

• Onsite: decision-heavy, stakeholder-facing tasks and critical cutover windows.
• Nearshore: development and support tasks requiring continuous delivery in the same time zone.
• Offshore: high-volume, repetitive tasks that can run during overnight windows.

Quantify the Cost and Risk Balance

Factoring only daily rate differences into shoring calculations is misleading. The true equation emerges when coordination overhead and onboarding curves are included.

• Onboarding cost: factor the expected productivity loss during the first 4–8 weeks into the plan.
• Coordination overhead: dedicated time share of a local delivery lead per remote team.
• Risk premium: add redundancy cost if critical knowledge resides with a single person.

Transition Roadmap: Phased Handover

Handing over scope in a single cut is the most common reason shoring plans fail. Phased handover keeps both risk and the learning curve manageable.

• Wave 1: a low-risk, well-defined work package with a measurable first delivery.
• Wave 2: steady support and development flow; cadence and reporting are locked in.
• Wave 3: critical modules, provided the metrics from the first two waves meet their targets.

Metrics That Make the Plan Measurable

A shoring plan is incomplete without defining which metrics to track in the first quarter. These KPIs determine both continuity decisions and the scope of subsequent waves.

• First-time pass rate in acceptance testing and rework rate per delivery.
• Decision latency: average turnaround time for questions raised by the remote team.
• Effort variance: actual vs. planned effort for transitioned work packages.

Frequently asked questions

How long does it take to prepare an SAP shoring plan?

If work packages are broken down, two to four weeks is sufficient: one week for inventory, one week for model and cost modeling, and the remaining time for the timeline and contractual framework.

Which SAP tasks are not suitable for shoring?

Tasks requiring intensive face-to-face interaction and real-time decision-making, such as process workshops, change management, and cutover night coordination, should be handled onsite.

How much does shoring actually save?

Looking only at daily rate differences is misleading; once onboarding and coordination overhead are factored in, sustainable cost savings typically become visible after the first quarter.

Should I transition the entire scope at once?

No. A phased transition is recommended: start with a low-risk initial package and expand to critical modules only when KPIs meet the targets.