Agile Delivery at Scale
Agile Delivery at Scale: Building a France + India Delivery Model for a SAP-Centric ERP Program
Project Overview
Following the ERP selection and roadmap definition, the next strategic step was to operationalize delivery through a structured Agile execution model. The program combined a local delivery ownership in France (front-end and business-facing streams) with an offshore SAP delivery factory in India to scale execution while controlling cost and timeline.
The target was a multi-year ERP transformation with parallel workstreams: SAP core implementation & customization, integration with existing systems, and a modern front-end to support stores and logistics operations.
Business Need & Initial Challenges
The program required a delivery approach capable of handling large workloads, multiple stakeholders, and evolving priorities—without losing governance. The key challenges were:
- Scaling delivery capacity fast while keeping accountability locally.
- Synchronizing France and India teams across time zones, cultures, and working practices.
- Ensuring Agile discipline (cadence, backlog quality, definition of done) while integrating with SAP’s structured implementation constraints.
- Recruiting and onboarding the right skill mix for front-end and SAP streams.
My Role & Responsibilities
I led the setup of the execution model and acted as a program-level product/delivery leader, ensuring that the roadmap translated into an actionable Agile plan.
- Designed the Agile operating model (ceremonies, roles, sprint cadence, prioritization rules, reporting).
- Built the resourcing plan aligned to the roadmap (internal vs. contractors, France vs. offshore).
- Owned vendor engagement for staffing in Paris (service companies), including interviews and selection.
- Coordinated the offshore partner selection and ramp-up, ultimately onboarding IBM India (Kolkata) for SAP workstreams.
- Ensured alignment with the DSI (IT leadership) to validate the delivery governance and execution standards.
Solution Design & Implementation
The delivery model was structured around two synchronized pillars:
- France (local ownership): product-facing prioritization, front-end delivery, stakeholder alignment, acceptance, and operational readiness.
- India (offshore SAP factory): SAP configuration/customization, technical build, structured testing cycles, and scalable execution capacity.
To keep the program predictable and measurable, I implemented a roadmap-to-backlog translation process and established shared delivery KPIs (throughput, release readiness, defect trend, and milestone adherence). This created transparency for leadership and improved decision-making on scope, staffing, and sequencing.
Tools, Technologies & Environment
- ERP / Core: SAP
- Front-end Stream (France): React, Node.js, MongoDB
- Delivery Model: Agile (sprints, backlog management, cross-team planning)
- Vendors: Local service companies (Paris) + Offshore delivery partner (IBM India, Kolkata)
Project KPIs & Delivery Metrics
- Program duration: Multi-year roadmap (2-year horizon planning)
- Delivery footprint: France (local) + India (offshore)
- Resourcing ramp-up: Progressive scaling of SAP offshore capacity aligned with roadmap milestones
- Execution discipline: Sprint cadence, backlog health, predictable release milestones
- Quality focus: Structured testing strategy, defect monitoring, acceptance readiness gates
Results & Business Impact
This setup created a scalable and governable delivery engine for a high-stakes ERP program. By combining local ownership with offshore execution capacity, we improved the program’s ability to deliver continuously while keeping roadmap control, quality standards, and stakeholder alignment in France.
It also enabled faster staffing, clearer prioritization, and stronger visibility for leadership on progress, risks, and resourcing needs—critical for maintaining momentum across a multi-year transformation.
Skills Developed
- Program & Product Leadership: roadmap-to-backlog translation, prioritization frameworks, executive reporting
- Agile Delivery at Scale: operating model design, governance, cross-team synchronization
- Vendor & Stakeholder Management: recruitment via service companies, offshore partner ramp-up, multi-site coordination
- Tech & Domain: SAP delivery constraints, modern front-end stack awareness (React/Node/MongoDB)
Knowledge & Key Learnings
I learned how to build a delivery system that balances speed, governance, and quality—especially in complex programs where ERP constraints meet modern product expectations. The experience strengthened my ability to scale teams, align distributed execution, and keep delivery outcomes tied to business priorities.
Why This Experience Matters for My Next Role
This project demonstrates my ability to lead large, cross-border delivery programs where product outcomes depend on execution discipline, staffing strategy, and stakeholder alignment. It directly supports my fit for Senior Product Manager / Product Lead / Head of Product roles in complex B2B environments with multi-team delivery and high operational stakes.
