Kurma Rao Vanka
Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE) | +971 526378298 | vkrao234@gmail.com
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SAP S/4HANA Project Manager/Solution Architect
SUMMARY
Dynamic and results-driven SAP Project Manager/Solution Architect with 19+ years of global experience in SAP ECC and S/4HANA implementations, upgrades, and AMS delivery. Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams, manage complex programs, and deliver value-driven SAP solutions/IT Solutions. Brings 7+ years in supply chain/logistics domain also, strong client-facing capabilities, and multiple certifications including PMP, PRINCE2, ITIL, ISO and SAP Activate Methodology & SAP Modules.
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AREAS OF EXPERTISE
• SAP S/4HANA (Cloud, On-Premise) implementations
• SAP ASAP & Activate Methodologies.
• End-to-End SAP Implementations & Upgrades including planning, execution, testing, and Go-Live & Post Go-Live support.
• Creating project timelines, milestones, resource plans, risk register maintenance & mitigation strategies and communications plans.
• Requirements gathering through conducting workshops with Business, mapping Business processes into SAP S/4 HANA, Identifying Gaps and exploring SAP solutions for the Gaps, else fulfilling through customized solutions.
• Carrying out configurations in SAP S/4 HANA, Unit testing, System Integration testing, User Acceptance testing (UAT), fixing the defects, Business sign-off.
• Coordinating on the Master data setup & Validations, Train the Trainer and End User Trainings.
• Carrying out Cutover activities including Master data uploads, Blackout period data capturing and uploads.
• Coordinating with SAP vendors, consultants, and internal & External stakeholders (Business related).
• Data Migration & Cutover Management (Master Data-Material, Vendor, Purchase Info records, Customer, BOMs, Routings, G/L accounts, Assets, Cost centres, Profit centres).
• SAP Fiori apps support and execution.
• As per Business need, working on WRICEF objects (Workflows, Reports, Interfaces, Conversions, Enhancements & Forms).
• SAP S/4 HANA Go-Live and Post Go-Live support.
• Worked on IDOCs, PI/PO, CPI for Interface functionalities.
• Incident & Change Management (AMS)
• Leading and mentoring the IT/Project team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous learning to drive team performance and employee satisfaction.
• Collaborating with business stakeholders to understand their needs and translating them into IT solutions, ensuring technology effectively supports business operations and growth.
• Cross-Module Integration: MM, WM, EWM, PP, PM, SM, QM, SD, APO and SAP S/4 HANA integration with HRMS(SuccessFactors), Production Machinery (MES),Ariba and BI.
• Project Governance & Steering Committee Leadership
• Managing IT projects from initiation to completion, ensuring projects are delivered on time, within budget, and to the required quality standards, providing regular progress updates to the respective stakeholders.
• SLA/KPI Management | Audit Compliance internal & external audit and financial controls.
• Stakeholder Communication & Team Leadership
• Go-Live, and Post-Go-Live Support
• Tools: JIRA, ServiceNow, Remedy, MS Project, SAP Solution Manager
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KEY PROJECTS SNAPSHOT
• Fattal Group, Lebanon-Greenfield S/4 HANA 2021 Implementation-Go-Live support
• Mohawk Industries (USA) – Brownfield Implementation ECC to SAP S/4 HANA 1709, Upgrade to S/4HANA 2020; Cutover, UAT, Incident management, AMS/Enhancements
• Indorama (Thailand) – Greenfield S/4HANA 1909 Implementation; WRICEF, Data Migration, Vendor Management
• Al Nasser Industrial Enterprises LLC, Abu Dhabi (Steel, Polymers, Industrial Intermediates) – S/4HANA 2021 RISE with SAP Private Cloud; S/4 HANA Logistics/Finance, SuccessFactors & Ariba Integration
• Apple Inc. (USA) – SLA-driven AMS Support; Minor Projects, Client Commendation for Delivery Excellence
• Flexsteel Industries Inc. (USA) – S/4HANA 1809 Implementation-Testing; End-to-End Testing Ownership
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
YASH Technologies Middle East FZ LLC-SAP Project Manager
Sep 2025 – Present | Fattal Group, Lebanon
• Executing Post Go-Live support on S/4 HANA 2021 On premise version at client location Beirut, Lebanon
• Handholding Business in executing the Business processes in SAP S/4 HANA and helping them to gain the confidence.
• Correcting/guiding on master data, Reports, Forms, Business processes wherever it is being asked by Business.
GyanSys Infotech Pvt Ltd — Solution Architect/Project Manager
Jan 2024 – Sep 2025 | Mohawk Industries, USA
• Managed cross-functional delivery for SAP AMS and enhancements in S/4HANA 2020.
• Led milestone tracking, escalations, integration testing, and client steering discussions.
Numeric Technologies Pvt Ltd — SAP Project Manager/Senior Consultant
Mar 2020 – Dec 2023 | Mohawk Industries, USA, Al Nasser Industrial Enterprises LLC, UAE, Indorama Petrochem Ltd (IVL group), Thailand
• Oversaw upgrade from S/4HANA 1709 to 2020 for Mohawk Inc.
• S/4 HANA Migration from ECC to S.4 HANA 1709.
• Delivered two Greenfield S/4HANA implementations (1909/2021) for Indorama and Al Nasser (S/4HANA 2021 RISE with SAP Private Cloud version).
• Managed Ariba and SuccessFactors integration, data migration (LSMW/LTMC), and blackout Period readiness.
Miracle Software Systems — SAP Project Manager/Senior Consultant
Jan 2017 – Mar 2020 | Kohler Inc., USA, Flexsteel Industries, USA
• Led S/4HANA 1809 implementation, CR management, cutover execution, and hypercare.
Infosys Ltd. — SAP Project Manager/Lead Consultant
Feb 2011 – Jan 2017 | Apple Inc., USA, Syngenta AG, Switzerland, Golden Agri-Resources (GAR), Indonesia
• Project Manager at Infosys, Mangalore Delivery Centre for Syngenta AG Project.
• Project Manager at Infosys, Bangalore for Apple Inc, Project,
• Delivered high-SLA AMS support and led a successful global SAP rollout.
• SAP ECC project-Golden Agri-Resources, Indonesia, Implementation.
• Maintaining the Risk Register and taking action on mitigation plans.
• Managed resource planning, client communication, and compliance (SOX).
IBM Global Services — SAP Project Lead/Senior Consultant
Oct 2005 – Feb 2011 | Celestica, British American Tobacco (BAT), UK, Saint Gobain Abrasives, France
• Implemented LEAN, reduced incident TAT, and conducted QMS audits.
• Risk Management.
• Delivered SAP middleware and production planning solutions.
• Monitoring and updating of RPM (Rational Portfolio Management) from SAP Account perspective.
Earlier Roles
• TATA Technologies Ltd (TATA Group) – SAP Functional Analyst (2004–2005)-SAP Customer Service support and dealing with after sales service processes.
• Reliance Infocom (Reliance Group) – Maintenance Manager (2002–2004)-Telecommunication Project execution. Carried out ISO Audits across India.
• Indian Rayon Industries Ltd & Grasim Industries Ltd (Aditya Birla Group)– Assistant Manager (1996–2002)- Birla Periclase project execution at Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh), New cement plant project execution at Trichy (Tamil Nadu).________________________________________
EDUCATION
• Executive MBA – Swiss School of Business & Management, Geneva, Switzerland
• Bachelors of Electrical Engineering (Certificate attestation was done in UAE)
CERTIFICATIONS
• PMP certified
• Certified as SAP Activate Project Manager
• PRINCE2 Certified | ITIL Certified | Agile (Udemy) Certified
• SAP Certified in Materials Management (MM), Production Planning (PP), Quality Management (QM), Plant Maintenance (PM)
• SAP Project Manager certification from MANGTAS(Pro5.ai)
• Six Sigma (White Belt – IBM)
• IBM PM54G Project Management certified
• IATCA QMS Auditor/Senior Auditor and IRCA QMS Auditor/ Lead Auditor (ISO 9000) by Bureau Veritas Quality International (BVQI)
RECOGNITION
• "Most Valuable Player" – Apple Inc.
• Best Performer – Miracle Software
• Project Appreciation – Mohawk Inc.
• “STAR PERFORMER-2024”-Gyansys
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TOOLS & TECHNOLOGIES
SAP Solution Manager, MS Project, ServiceNow, JIRA, Remedy, LTMC, LSMW