An interview with Andreas Kiederich, CIO of Agfa-Gevaert
In the ever-evolving landscape of enterprise technology, few decisions are as transformative, and as complex, as migrating core business operations to the cloud. Agfa-Gevaert – a diversified company known for its digital printers, radiology equipment, and healthcare software – is in the midst of such a transformation, supported by SAP Partner Deloitte. We talked with Andreas Kiederich, Chief Information Officer of Agfa-Gevaert, to explore their journey toward SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, focusing on their digital printing business unit.
A Diverse Company at a Digital Crossroads
“Agfa is a diversified company,” Andreas begins. “We produce digital printers, radiology machines, and software for hospitals. It’s quite a broad portfolio of products and services.” This diversity creates both opportunity and complexity—particularly when it comes to standardizing and modernizing business processes across units with very different operational requirements.
Why S/4HANA Public Cloud?
Agfa’s digital printing division is currently undergoing a transition to SAP’s S/4HANA Public Cloud. “In short, yes, it seems to work,” Andreas states when asked whether the solution fits Agfa’s needs. After intense phases of exploration, configuration, integration, and data migration, the company is wrapping up User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with promising results.
The move to the cloud came with particular scrutiny on manufacturing processes. “From the beginning, the biggest question mark was: will it work for us as a manufacturing organization?” Andreas notes. But after months of work—including “exploration, show-and-tell sessions, and UAT”—the answer appears to be a confident yes.
From Customization to Standardization
One of the biggest shifts in the move to the public cloud has been the mindset around customization. In previous SAP ECC6 environments, Agfa—like many enterprises—used a fit-gap model that often resulted in custom developments to match existing processes.
“With the public cloud, we opted for a different approach,” says Andreas. “This is the product. It works. We’ll integrate it, load our data, do some configuration—but we’re not going to develop anything custom.” Instead, Agfa is embracing industry-standard processes built into the cloud solution.
Managing Change at Scale
Such a transition demands not only technical work but also significant change management. “Change management is huge,” Andreas emphasizes. “We need to involve people early, help them understand the new way of working, and support them through the change.”
Indeed, as the business reorients itself toward growth segments, the project is playing a key role in driving this transformation. “We’re simplifying our operations and refocusing our portfolio,” Andreas says. “This project helps enable that.”
Facing the Challenges Head-On
Naturally, the road has not been without its bumps. Beyond change management, data migration has been a significant hurdle. “Data extraction, transformation, loading—it’s always challenging,” Andreas admits. Integration complexity also added to the challenge, especially with the North American deployment connecting back to operations in Belgium and various shared service centers.
“It wasn’t an easy ride,” he says candidly. “There were many technical and process hurdles to overcome. But it’s worthwhile.”
Advice for Others Considering the Leap
For organizations contemplating a similar journey, Andreas offers this advice: “Be informed. Understand the current capabilities of the solution and what’s on the roadmap. Involve the right people to make a proper assessment. There’s always some risk—but make it an informed risk.”
Looking Ahead
When asked if, knowing what he knows now, he would do it again, Andreas doesn’t hesitate. “Yes, we would do it again.”
Agfa-Gevaert’s journey is still ongoing, but their story illustrates the possibilities of cloud transformation when approached with clear strategy, open communication, and a willingness to embrace change. As the digital printing division moves into its next phase with S/4HANA Public Cloud, it stands as a case study in how legacy businesses can successfully modernize for the future.
Agfa-Gevaert was one of the companies sharing their insights at SAP Business Unleashed Innovation Day 2025. Did you miss it? Click here to watch the Aftermovie.
