Starting in early 2000s as a SAP Portal (formerly known as workplace) expert in the Nestle SAP Basis Design and Build team, I have contributed to the design and implementation of SAP solutions for the GLOBE project either as a team player and as the lead for some components.

I focused mainly on Entreprise Portal, Front End (aka SAPGUI) and middleware (Web Dispatcher). I did contribute to the design of a load balanced architecture for SAP Portal to ensure its continuous availability. Due to the complexity of the SAP landscape (all SAP products in use), the portal became the main access point for our end users community. Therefore making it continuously available was a key point. Such an infrastructure requires expertise in many areas from SAP NetWeaver Java to Network technologies like load balancing, domain name server (DNS) resolution, single sign-on (SSO) techniques... This was also the opportunity to tailor a custom monitoring solution to handle maintenance of systems and load balancing redirection based on the reported status from the health of the portal servers.

For a major exercise to secure the SAP infrastructure, I have designed the baseline to implement Secure Network Communication (SNC) and Secure Sockets Layer (SSL). Main goal was to secure communications end-to-end either from client workstations to servers or between servers by using encryption and security certificates.

One of my duties was to document all solutions I have designed to provide deliverables (run books) for the support teams (suppliers) in charge of the implementation. I had to provide knowledge transfers and to follow up on the change process (change management) while solutions were implemented across the GLOBE SAP landscape. I had to collaborate with various teams (technical and functional).

With the raise of FIORI and UI5 technology, I have designed the architecture of the SAP web dispatcher landscape to manage communications between Portals, Front End Servers (formerly NetWeaver Gateway) and backend systems mainly when UI5 or FIORI applications are relying on OData calls (retrieving data from HANA databases). The design of the solution is ensuring high availability (and even continuous availability) and performance (using proximity) to support the access of global and regional systems.

Acting as a Subject Matter Expert in different areas of expertise, I did always take the ownership of the solutions from design to implementation. I did facilitate weekly meetings with my counterparts with the objectives:

• to share information

• to communicate on projects

• to advice on any issue faced by support teams

• to provide directions for problem solving

• to get feedback for any improvement or simplification

• to motivate people and recognise their work

I did also contribute to other projects related to HANA XS (Classic and Advanced), SAP Cloud Platform (connectivity with On Premise systems).

During my career at SAP, I did work in different areas leading to a wide area of expertise and experiences.

Starting as a System and Network Administrator in early 90s, I have contributed to the implementation of a new client / server environment as it was the beginning of SAP R/3. It was a significant move from passive terminals to Personal Computers. Network was also changing by moving from Token Ring to Ethernet.

Later I did implement a remote access solution using modems to provide access to our network. I even managed to enable remote access using a mobile phone in the mid 90s.

I moved then to BASIS consulting as I was wishing to work on SAP installations, upgrades and administration. This has been a great experience by working with many SAP customers of any size in France. From all these years, I did manage to cope with projects running smoothly but also crisis situations. By being a SAP employee, customers did have always high expectations for the work we had to deliver.

I was also part of the mysap.com journey and joined eSAP.fr (a subsidiary of SAP France). Interesting and challenging period were my background has helped a lot to deal with requirements of prospects and customers new to SAP and willing to embrace the internet world of Internet. This is when I developed my competencies on SAP Enterprise Portal (formerly Workplace). This period gave me the opportunity to work on both subjects I really like SAP and Internet technologies.

After eSAP.fr being back to SAP France, I moved to a position to act more as Basis Architect. I had to review customers existing infrastructure and to make proposals or to give directions for the future. I had also to deal with Euro conversions and of course with Workplace implementations as I was the only expert at SAP France by that time.

During my time at SAP, I got rewarded twice as best employee in my category.