S/4HANA for the defence industry: How Staufenberg Consult delivers SAP projects in high-security environments
Transforming SAP systems in the defence industry requires more than technical expertise. Security clearances, export control regulations, classified project teams - the requirements go far beyond what a typical S/4HANA project entails. Staufenberg Consult is a Vico - a close-knit team of independent SAP experts that operates as a lean service provider through the Vicoland platform - and has specialised in exactly this environment.
The team behind Staufenberg Advisory
Manuel Staufenberg leads the Vico with over 25 consultants who bring deep domain knowledge in defense and military technology. Their experience ranges from S/4HANA transformations at one of Europe’s largest armed forces organisations to projects with leading manufacturers in aerospace, naval technology, and infantry systems. A decisive advantage: depending on availability, team members already hold security clearances (SÜ1/SÜ2) - a factor that saves months of lead time in practice.
Where SAP meets classified environments
Replacing SAP ECC with S/4HANA is particularly complex in the defence industry. Procurement and logistics processes are subject to strict regulatory requirements. Engineer-to-order manufacturing, variant configuration of complex weapons systems, ITAR-compliant serial production - all of this must be mapped in the SAP system without compromising traceability or dual-use compliance. Staufenberg Consult understands these requirements from both perspectives: that of the armed forces as clients and that of defence OEMs as contractors.
Beyond technology: The right project culture
Defence projects have their own dynamics. Long timelines, extensive documentation requirements, and coordination between ministries, procurement agencies, and industry demand a team that understands and lives this culture. Staufenberg Consult integrates PLM, MES, and QM systems into the S/4HANA landscape, bringing the discretion essential in security-relevant projects.
“S/4HANA projects in the defense industry go far beyond a technical migration: dual-use regulations, export control, MTO/ETO manufacturing under the highest security standards, coordination with procurement agencies and armed forces. Valid security clearances (SÜ1/SÜ2), experience on both the client and contractor side, and deep SAP expertise in these regulated environments make us immediately deployable - without months of onboarding lead time.”
- Manuel Staufenberg, Vico Lead, Staufenberg Advisory
Why a Vico in the defence sector?
With Staufenberg Consult, clients pay for expertise, not overhead. There is no bench - every consultant on the team is actively working on the project. In an environment where security clearances already limit the pool of available experts, this is a tangible advantage. Through the Vicoland platform, contracts, billing, and project organisation run digitally - from the proposal to the payout to every team member.