Post by Dr. Martin Brown

Complexity does not scale. Connected businesses do. There are moments when you can feel something bigger is starting. Our Program Evolution kick-off at Knauf was one of those moments. Bringing together more than 220 colleagues and partners was less about the number in the room, and more about what it represents: a shared commitment to how we want to work as one global business — with greater consistency, transparency, and end-to-end alignment. As Knauf has grown, complexity has grown with it. Multiple processes, systems, and local ways of working are a natural result of that journey. But over time, they also make coordination and decision-making slower and less connected than what a global business needs to fully perform. This is where Program Evolution comes in. It connects procurement, supply chain, commercial, and finance through harmonised processes and a shared digital foundation, supported by SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP and adjacent business applications. From a supply chain perspective, the value is tangible. Performance is not created within individual functions — it emerges across the full flow, from sourcing and planning through production and delivery. The more connected that flow is, the better the decisions become. For the first time we will have a fully conected Supply Chain Ecosystem based on a future proof ERP architecture. In simple terms, it reduces friction in how we work, improves clarity in how we operate, and strengthens delivery for customers and partners. And none of this will be achieved through structure alone. The real driver is people — how they align across functions, challenge existing ways of working, and build new patterns of collaboration across regions and disciplines. That is what turns direction into momentum. A big thank you to everyone contributing to this journey! First and foremost, thank you to our General Partners Jörg Kampmeyer and Kristin Neumann for officially kicking off Program Evolution and setting the tone for this important step forward. Thanks also to Thomas Saueressig, SAP Chief Customer Officer, for his strong partnership and continued support on this journey. A special recognition goes to the Steering Committee — Kristin Barthel, Dr. Carsten Takac, Ingo Zschocke, Martin Stürmer, Régis Humbert, and Dr. Max Ruhwinkel — and their teams plus our BA SCM Leaders Matt Sylvester, Jayke Anderson and Defrance Jean-Paul. Behind programmes of this scale lies an enormous amount of expertise, coordination, and commitment. The kick-off created alignment and energy — now it’s about turning intent into execution #ProgramEvolution #Knauf #SupplyChain #Transformation