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Status

  Approved

Owner

NARAHARI-ext, Bhargavi 

Stakeholders

Issue

The number of system languages implemented in a SAP system significantly adds to the complexity of the initial system design, implementation, testing and continued maintenance with respect to master data, system configuration, development (reports, forms, system interfaces, etc.), process documentation, employee user interface, shared service functions and IT support.

There are currently 21 languages logon languages implemented in Syensqo. As a part of the ERP rebuild project there is an opportunity to simplify and standardize the language implementation.


Recommendation

Background & Context

Implementing multiple system languages in an SAP environment introduces substantial complexity across various stages of the system lifecycle. Here’s a detailed breakdown:

  • System Design and Implementation: Incorporating multiple languages into an SAP system involves complex initial design and setup, including installing and configuring language packs and adapting custom developments to support various languages.

  • Testing and Quality Assurance: Extensive testing is required across all supported languages to ensure functionality, data accuracy, and user interface consistency, which adds to the overall complexity and effort.

  • Master Data and Configuration: Managing master data and system configurations in multiple languages requires careful translation and consistency, impacting data integrity and the configuration process.

  • Development and Documentation: Custom reports, forms, and system interfaces need to be multilingual, and process documentation and training materials must be translated and maintained in all supported languages.

  • Ongoing Support and Maintenance: Multilingual support impacts IT and shared services functions, requiring additional resources for support and regular updates in all supported languages.

Syensqo currently has around 23 languages installed, 21 logon languages and 2 languages without logon capability. Following are all the languages implemented

Language KeyLanguage Description
Language KeyLanguage Description
ARArabic
ITItalian
BGBulgarian
JAJapanese
CSCzech
KOKorean
DEGerman
NLDutch
ELGreek
PLPolish
ENEnglish
PTPortuguese
ESSpanish
RURussian
FIFinnish
SKSlovak
FRFrench
THThai
Z8US English
TRTurkish
Z9Brazilian Portug
ZFChinese trad.



ZHChinese


Below is the list of employee 

Row LabelsSum of Employee CountSum of Employee coverage
Arabic50.03
Brazilian Portuguese2241.33
Chinese (Cantonese)20.01
Croatian20.01
Czech70.04
Dutch740.44
English 917354.41
French342120.29
German2601.55
Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)70.04
Italian11606.88
Japanese800.47
Kazakh, Russian20.01
Korean1060.63
Malay (Bahasa Malaysia)60.04
Mandarin Chinese (Standard Chinese)182910.85
Mongolian10.01
Portuguese1691
Romanian60.04
Serbian10.01
Spanish2301.37
Thai800.47
Turkish130.08
Ukrainian10.01
Grand Total16859100.02


Assumptions


Constraints

The employee counts are provided by Business based on the employee count in SF. The evaluation is done based on these employee counts and if there are any discrepancies, the evaluation needs to be repeated

Impacts


Business Rules


Evaluation to determine the language options

A detailed evaluation is done based on the following parameters to identify the language options that are considered in the document

  • Employee count (Including the contingent workers)
  • Manufacturing plants and Distribution centers
  • Revenue
  • Official Languages
  • Regulatory requirements

A detailed table of the actual analysis can be found below

CountryCountry CodeEmployee CountEmployee coverageCompany CodesManufacturing PlantsDistribution Centers Significant Revenue GeneratorsOfficial Languages (Main)Aggregate employee Aggregate Employee coverageOfficial Languages (Others)RegulatoryOption 1
Inclusion Criteria 1 (Manufacturing plants with aggregate employee coverage > 5%)
Exclusion Criteria - If not significant revenue generators exclude		Option 2
Inclusion Criteria 1 (All Manufacturing Plants)
ArgentinaAR90.05100YesSpanish2301.37
Yes, Spanish is commonly required.

AustraliaAU240.14204NoEnglish 917354.41
No strict legal requirement; English is used.

AustriaAT10.01000NoGerman2601.55
Not Applicable

BelgiumBE4962.94623YesFrench342120.29Dutch, GermanMixed; Dutch, French, and German support may be required depending on the region.YesYes
BrazilBR2241.33223NoBrazilian Portuguese2241.33
Yes, Brazilian Portuguese is required.
Yes
CanadaCA1971.17112NoEnglish 917354.41FrenchMixed; English and French support is needed, especially in Quebec.YesYes
ChileCL300.18101NoSpanish2301.37
Yes, Spanish is commonly required.

ChinaCN181010.7410613YesMandarin Chinese (Standard Chinese)182910.85
Yes, Mandarin Chinese is required.YesYes
ColombiaCO110.07000NoSpanish2301.37
Not Applicable

CroatiaHR20.01000NoCroatian20.01
Not Applicable

Czech RepublicCZ70.04000NoCzech70.04
Not Applicable

Democratic Republic of CongoCD40.02000NoFrench342120.29(Lingala, Kikongo, Swahili, Tshiluba are national languages)Not Applicable

FranceFR291317.28996YesFrench342120.29
Yes, French is typically required.YesYes
GermanyDE2541.51211YesGerman2601.55
Yes, German is required for compliance and practical business use.
Yes
Hong KongHK20.01000NoChinese (Cantonese)20.01EnglishNot Applicable

IndiaIN339420.13231YesEnglish 917354.41Hindi, English (21 other recognized languages at the state level)No strict requirement; English is widely used, but regional languages may be supported depending on user needs.YesYes
IndonesiaID70.04102NoIndonesian (Bahasa Indonesia)70.04
No strict requirement; Indonesian (Bahasa Indonesia) is useful.

ItalyIT11606.88431YesItalian11606.88
Yes, Italian is commonly required.YesYes
JamaicaJM20.01000NoEnglish 917354.41
Not Applicable

JapanJP800.473072YesJapanese800.47
Yes, Japanese is required.

KazakhstanKZ20.01001NoKazakh, Russian20.01
Yes, Russian is commonly required

LuxembourgLU80.05400YesFrench342120.29Luxembourgish,GermanMixed; Luxembourgish, French, and German support may be required.

MalaysiaMY60.04000NoMalay (Bahasa Malaysia)60.04
Not Applicable

MexicoMX1701.01117NoSpanish2301.37(68 national languages including various indigenous languages)Yes, Spanish is commonly required.
Yes
MongoliaMN10.01000NoMongolian10.01
Not Applicable

MoroccoMA10.01000NoArabic50.03Berber (Amazigh)Not Applicable

NetherlandsNL740.44211NoEnglish 917354.41DutchNo strict requirement; Dutch is beneficial.
Yes
New ZealandNZ50.03111NoEnglish 917354.41Māori, New Zealand Sign LanguageNo strict requirement; English is used.YesYes
PanamaPA10.01000NoSpanish2301.37
Not Applicable

PeruPE70.04100NoSpanish2301.37Quechua, Aymara (and other indigenous languages)Yes, Spanish and Quechua support may be useful.

PhilippinesPH10.01000NoEnglish 917354.41Filipino (based on Tagalog)Not Applicable

PortugalPT1691200NoPortuguese1691
Yes, Portuguese is required.

RomaniaRO60.04000NoRomanian60.04
Not Applicable

SerbiaRS10.01000NoSerbian10.01
Not Applicable

SingaporeSG710.42303NoEnglish 917354.41Malay, Mandarin, TamilMixed; English, Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil support may be required.

South AfricaZA40.02000NoEnglish 917354.4111 official languages including Afrikaans, English, isiNdebele, isiXhosa, isiZulu, Sesotho, Setswana, siSwati, Tshivenda, XitsongaNot Applicable

SwitzerlandCH50.03100NoGerman2601.55French, Italian, RomanshMixed; German, French, Italian, and Romansh support may be needed depending on the region.

TaiwanTW190.11101NoMandarin Chinese (Standard Chinese)182910.85
Yes, Mandarin Chinese is required.

ThailandTH800.47221NoThai800.47
Yes, Thai is commonly required.
Yes
Türkiye (Turkey)TR130.08001NoTurkish130.08
Not Applicable

UkraineUA10.01000NoUkrainian10.01
Not Applicable

United Arab EmiratesAE40.02202NoArabic50.03
Yes, Arabic is typically required.

United States of AmericaUS482228.6193171YesEnglish 917354.41
No strict requirement; English is used.YesYes
UruguayUY20.01000NoSpanish2301.37
Not Applicable

ZambiaZM30.02000NoEnglish 917354.41
Not Applicable

Great BritanGB6503.86949NoEnglish 917354.41
No strict requirement; English is used.YesYes
South KoreaKR1060.63201YesKorean1060.63
Yes, Korean is required.



Options considered

Following are the options considered for language implementation

Option A: Implement 4 Core Languages (English, French, Italian and Mandarin)

As part of this option, 4 core languages English, French, Italian and Mandarin are implemented. Additional languages Brazilian Portuguese, German, Spanish and Thai are implemented only for Manufacturing and Maintenance operations.

This gives about a coverage of 92.5% of employees (97.15% with additional languages). This option also covers 66 / 67 manufacturing plants across the globe. 


ObjectSub-ObjectLanguage Approach
Screens / User InterfaceSAP Standard ScreensSAP standard screen will be available in all 8 languages (English, French, Italian and Mandarin,
Custom Screen

Production / Maintenance related: Available in 8 languages

Rest: 4 core languages

Output FormsLabels

Default: English

Manufacturing and Maintenance related labels: All 8 languages

Rest of the labels: 4 core languages

To be translated to additional languages based on the legal and regulatory requirements (More than the 8 languages mentioned in the option)

Form ContentAs maintained in the system (See the rules below)
ReportsManagement Reports labels

English

Operational report labels - Manufacturing and Maintenance 

All 8 languages

Operational report labels - Rest

4 core languages

Legal and Regulatory reports - labels

In the language based on the legal and regulatry requirement

Data

As maintained in the system (See the rules below)

Config ValuesAll config values

Default: English mandatory

Manufacturing and Maintenance related config: All 8 languages

Rest of the config: 4 core languages

To be translated to additional languages based on the legal and regulatory requirements

Note: for some of the config it is required to logon to the language that the config needs to be maintained and maintain the config

Master Data ContentAll

Default: English mandatory

Manufacturing and Maintenance related data: All 8 languages (based on the plant or country)

Content required for regional operations, country specific regulatory requirements on output Forms, Reports and Interfaces to be maintained in additional languages (More than 8 languages mentioned in this option)

Training Material / CommunicationsAll

Manufacturing and Maintenance: All 8 languages

Other training material: 4 core languages


Option B: Implement 8 Core Languages (English, French, Italian, Mandarin, Brazilian Portuguese, German, Spanish, Thai)

As a part of this option 8 core languages are implemented. This gives about a coverage of  97.15% of employees and covers 66/67 manufacturing plants

ObjectSub-ObjectLanguage Approach
Screens / User InterfaceSAP Standard ScreensSAP standard screen will be available in all 8 languages (English, French, Italian and Mandarin,
Custom Screen

Available in 8 languages


Output FormsLabels

Default: English

All form labels: 8 core languages

To be translated to additional languages based on the legal and regulatory requirements 

Form ContentAs maintained in the system (See the rules below)
ReportsManagement Reports labels

English

Operational report labels 

All 8 languages

Legal and Regulatory reports - labels

In the language based on the legal and regulatory requirement (Can be outside the 8 languages)

Data

As maintained in the system (See the rules below)

Config ValuesAll config values

Default: English mandatory

Config: 8 core languages

To be translated to additional languages based on the legal and regulatory requirements

Note: for some of the config it is required to logon to the language that the config needs to be maintained and maintain the config

Master Data ContentAll

Default: English mandatory

All data: All 8 languages (based on the plant or country where the master data is created/extended)

Content required for regional operations, country specific regulatory requirements on output Forms, Reports and Interfaces to be maintained in additional languages (More than 8 languages mentioned in this option)

Training Material / CommunicationsAll

 All 8 languages




Evaluation



Option A

Option B
Option C
Option D
Criterion 1

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(plus)Pro

(plus)Pro

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

Criterion 2

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(minus)Con

(plus)Pro

(plus)Pro

(minus)Con

(minus)Con

Criterion 3(plus)Pro(minus)Con(minus)Con(plus)Pro

See also


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Change log

Version Published Changed By Comment
CURRENT (v. 8) Jan 18, 2026 10:22 LEIGHTON-ext, Dean
v. 30 Jan 16, 2026 15:10 NARAHARI-ext, Bhargavi
v. 29 Oct 16, 2025 10:19 LEIGHTON-ext, Dean CR0086 - Descope Thai Language. Thai language was included as one of the languages required to support the manufacturing sites in Thailand. Post-separation analysis shows no users have logged in using Thai.
v. 28 Sept 13, 2024 04:16 NARAHARI-ext, Bhargavi
v. 27 Sept 12, 2024 15:08 WENNINGER-ext, Sascha
v. 26 Sept 12, 2024 14:43 WENNINGER-ext, Sascha
v. 25 Sept 10, 2024 06:58 NARAHARI-ext, Bhargavi
v. 24 Sept 09, 2024 19:34 NARAHARI-ext, Bhargavi
v. 23 Sept 09, 2024 19:13 NARAHARI-ext, Bhargavi
v. 22 Sept 09, 2024 19:09 NARAHARI-ext, Bhargavi

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