In a recent interview at a strategic event, Mark Kaelen, Supply Chain Executive Hero Group and Kurt Huysmans, Partner CNT shared insights into their transformative collaboration alongside SAP, aimed at achieving process harmonization across Hero Group’s global operations. The project, rooted in a bold vision from Hero’s CEO, set out to unify internal processes, improve collaboration, and lay the foundation for a more digitally integrated future.
From vision to transformation
“This project was initiated by a CEO vision to integrate and focus the company,” explained Mark from Hero. “An important element of that vision was to harmonize our processes internally, to bring the group to the same level of operation, improve interaction, communication, and ultimately internal collaboration.”
The ambition was clear: unify how the business operates across markets, functions and teams. Despite producing similar food products worldwide, operational differences across regions had introduced inefficiencies. The solution? Start fresh, not by imposing rigid frameworks, but by co-designing a high-level template based on best practices.
Building from a blank sheet
“We started from a blank sheet of paper” Mark shared. “With support from our partner CNT, we defined common processes at a high level, using SAP S/4HANA as our backbone. Then we involved our global business teams to ensure the new processes were fit for purpose in their local contexts.”
This collaborative approach ensured ownership and buy-in from across the organization. The result was not just a standard IT solution, but a comprehensive business transformation platform that reflected Hero’s operational realities.
A partnership beyond technology
Kurt Huysmans from CNT emphasized the nature of their role in the project. “We don’t see this as a traditional IT project. It’s a business-driven transformation. While we are called ‘system’ integrators, a more accurate term would be ‘business process’ integrators. Our goal was to listen carefully, bring in industry best practices, and work closely with Hero to co-create a solution.”
The partnership was characterized by close collaboration, with both sides contributing their strengths: Hero’s deep business knowledge and CNT’s technical and process expertise. “It’s like mayonaise” Kurt joked. “The mix between Hero and CNT, it just fit well.”
The three pillars of success
Reflecting on the project’s key drivers, Mark highlighted three pillars:
- Business-Led Approach: “You need to have the business on your side from the beginning. This is not an IT exercise, it’s about how the company operates and evolves.”
- The Right Team Mix: A strong blend of internal experts who know the business, consultants who bring in external best practices, and a capable IT organization to support implementation.
- Organizational Shift: The transformation also included evolving the IT structure, moving from local IT teams to a group-wide competence center supporting a unified enterprise solution.
Advice for others on a similar journey
When asked what advice they would give to organizations embarking on similar transformations, Mark went beyond the usual recommendations. “Yes, strong sponsorship is important. But for us, the real key was creating a compelling, shared story. Why are we doing this? Why does it matter for the future of the company? We’re preparing for a digital future – and to get there, we must first be able to work better together internally.”
Looking ahead
As Hero continues its transformation journey with a strong foundation in place, the partnership with CNT and the use of SAP’s S/4HANA technology have proven that large-scale change is possible – when it’s driven by purpose, collaboration, and clarity.
“This project was not just about technology” Kurt concluded. “It was about unlocking real business value. And that only happens when you work closely, listen deeply, and align your goals.”
Hero 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.
