Blog It Forward - Daniel Mateo

[DanielMateo]

Hello SAP family! This blog is a part of the "Blog It Forward" challenge. Thanks to my friend and almost neighbor @Lluis, and his recent blog, for tagging me to participate in this great initiative for the first time.

My name is Daniel Mateo, and I’m an experienced SAP S/4HANA Project Manager based in a coastal city near to Barcelona, with a passion for transforming business financial operations  leveraging SAP’s capabilities to create real business value and guide organizations through their digital transformation journeys.

I began my career around 20 years ago at a Spanish IT consulting firm as an ABAP developer, but I quickly transitioned into functional roles within Finance and Logistics. Over time, I specialized in international SAP rollouts, with a strong focus on Finance and Controlling. For the past 12 years, I have been working as an SAP Project Manager, leading global implementations and transformations across various sectors such as pharma, manufacturing, food and beverages, mass media, and casinos, among others. Throughout the years, I’ve had the privilege of working with diverse teams in multiple countries—combining my passion for travel with my career in SAP.

In addition to managing complex implementations, I thrive on continuous learning and adapting to the evolving landscape of SAP technologies. My journey has been shaped by both professional achievements and personal experiences, such as relocating to Bulgaria during the pandemic and staying for three years. This allowed me to embrace new challenges while contributing to SAP projects remotely.

Fun Facts About Me

• 🌍SAP and Backpacking: A Perfect Match
  My career in SAP has taken me across the globe, and I have made the most of it by exploring over 60 countries. Whether it is backpacking through Southeast Asia, road-tripping across Europe, or discovering hidden gems in South America, I love immersing myself in new cultures. Traveling has also given me a unique perspective in my work—understanding different business environments, adapting to diverse teams, and experiencing firsthand how SAP solutions impact companies worldwide.
• 🇧🇬Bulgaria: An Unexpected Home
  When the pandemic hit, I made the spontaneous decision to relocate to Bulgaria. What started as a temporary move turned into a three-year stay. I got to experience the country’s rich history, vibrant tech scene, and stunning nature, from the Black Sea coast to the Rila Mountains. It was an incredible time for personal and professional growth, and it reinforced how flexible and borderless the SAP world can be.
• 🏖Yoga and Beach: Recharging My Energy
  No matter the season—winter or summer—I always find time to enjoy the beach. There's something about the sound of the waves and the fresh sea breeze that resets my mind after long hours on SAP projects. The perfect combination? Practicing yoga by the sea. It’s my go-to way to recharge and stay centered, especially when juggling tight go-lives, complex configurations, and international time zones. 

 What do you most enjoy about the SAP community?

The SAP community is an incredible ecosystem of professionals who are passionate about technology and innovation. What I enjoy the most is the collaborative spirit—whether it's through groups, events, or online discussions, there's always someone ready to share knowledge and best practices.

It is inspiring to be part of a global network that is constantly evolving and sharing the trending topics to enhance the business transformation.

I regularly participate in SAP Inside Track events (mainly in Fortaleza and Barcelona), both as a speaker and an attendee. In addition, I maintain an active presence on LinkedIn, where I share insights and experiences related to SAP. I am also the co-author of a book in Spanish that details the recommended Best Practices in SAP S/4HANA rollouts, further contributing to knowledge sharing within the ecosystem.

What source do you use the most for learning SAP technologies?

I rely on a combination of official SAP resources and community-driven content. SAP Learning Hub and SAP Help Portal are excellent for structured learning. Additionally, SAP blogs, SAP Community discussions, and LinkedIn groups provide real-world insights and practical applications from experienced professionals. Keeping up with industry leaders and engaging in discussions helps me stay ahead of emerging trends in the SAP ecosystem.

What do you think are the key elements for a successful project?

A successful SAP project is built on three fundamental pillars:

1. Clear Business Objectives: Aligning technology with business goals ensures that the solution delivers real value.
   
2. Strong Governance & Stakeholder Engagement: Continuous collaboration between IT and business teams minimizes risks and ensures smooth decision-making.
   
3. Effective Change Management :The success of a project is not just about technical implementation; it’s about how well users adopt the system. Training, communication, and proactive issue resolution are critical for long-term success.
   
   

What do you enjoy most in your work and why?

What I enjoy the most is driving business transformation. Seeing how SAP solutions optimize financial processes, improve efficiency, and empower companies to make better decisions is incredibly rewarding. Every project is unique, with its own challenges and opportunities, and that variety keeps the work exciting. Also, working on international projects allows me to engage with diverse teams and cultures, which is a great learning experience.

How do you survive when SAP keeps shifting our journey to new products?

SAP’s ecosystem is constantly evolving, and while it can feel overwhelming (especially with all the new acronyms, product renamings, and shifting roadmaps), the key to surviving is to position yourself as someone who doesn’t just follow the change, but helps lead it.

Here are a few survival strategies:

1. Stay Curious and Keep Learning: New product? New cloud solution? New “RISE with” slogan? Dive into it. Take SAP Learning Hub courses, read blog posts, join SAP Community discussions. Even if you don’t implement it tomorrow, understanding what’s coming is power.

2. Stick to Core Principles: While tools change, the fundamentals of business processes, integration, data governance, and project management stay solid. Focus on what delivers value to the business—technology is just the enabler.

3. Build a Solid Network: Talk to other professionals, share experiences, learn from what’s worked (or not worked) in other projects. LinkedIn, SAP Community, and internal project retrospectives can be goldmines.

4. Be Honest with Clients and Stakeholders: Don’t pretend to have all the answers. SAP sometimes doesn’t either! But if you can bring clarity to the ambiguity, people will trust you even more.

5. Have a Sense of Humor: When a product name changes for the third time in a year, laugh. Then update your slide deck.

How do you see SAP technology in the next 5 years?

SAP technology is evolving rapidly, and I see three key trends shaping its future:

1. Cloud-First & AI-Driven Solutions: SAP will continue pushing towards cloud-based ERP with AI-driven automation to enhance decision-making.

2. Increased Integration & Interoperability: With the rise of SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), we will see more seamless integration between SAP and non-SAP applications.

3. Sustainability & Compliance: SAP is heavily investing in sustainability solutions, and I expect more tools helping companies track and manage their Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) initiatives.

I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoyed sharing my journey. Thanks for being part of the SAP community!

I would like to Blog it forward to @Marssel700 ,  a well-established SAP Champion with a strong finance background and creator of amazing courses, and to @AAncos , one of the top voices in the SAP Spanish-speaking community who truly deserves to be part of the SAP champions. I would suggest answering the question: With SAP's continuous push toward cloud-based solutions, how do you see the role of traditional SAP consultants evolving over the next 3–5 years? I'm sure they both have plenty of surprising insights and stories to share with us! 😉