Implementing performance-based solutions to be prepared for future innovation is critical to Albemarle Corp., a global specialty chemicals company headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina. The company, which operates in more than a dozen countries, acquired several production and service facilities that needed integration with Albemarle’s business processes and technology systems.

A Catalyst for Tech Change

The catalyst for change was when Albemarle completed the purchase of a lithium company in 2017, which became its largest asset. The company’s VP of Business Transformation Larry East and Chief Information Officer Patrick Thompson directed a complex transition that involved migrating two legacy SAP systems—one of which had been in place for more than 20 years—to SAP S/4HANA. In an interview with ASUG News, Thompson shared details about how Albemarle prepared for and executed this global migration. He discussed some of the ways Albemarle overcame its challenges and offered tips for forming your own go-live strategy.