Customer Success Stories

Via Appia accelerates its digital modernization with SAP S/4HANA

Published : 21/04/2026

Via Appia Concessões S.A., responsible for more than 1,400 km of highways across São Paulo and Minas Gerais, faced the challenge of modernizing its system to SAP S/4HANA, ensuring higher performance and scalability without interrupting services during a critical construction period works, and with very limited internal resources and tight deadlines.

In a sector where every minute of downtime can affect thousands of users, Via Appia Concessões faced a challenge as inevitable as it was complex: modernizing its entire SAP landscape without compromising critical operations, at a time when the company was preparing for the pre-operation phase of the first section of the Rodoanel Norte project.

The project, led by Inetum, was far more than a technological upgrade. It was a race against time, carried out with a small internal team, under demanding deadlines, and even an unexpected scope expansion midway through execution. A challenging initiative that ultimately became a reference case in Brazil.

A new digital pace for Via Appia

Via Appia operated on an on‑premises SAP ECC environment that no longer delivered the performance, security, or scalability required to support the company’s growth. The decision to move to SAP S/4HANA under a RISE model in a private environment was strategic but also carried significant risks.

The timeline was clear: 10 months to complete a brownfield upgrade, while maintaining critical processes and ensuring high availability during the pre-operation stage of the first section of the Rodoanel Norte works. Yet the context quickly intensified the challenge. Key users had limited experience, requiring extensive training efforts and continuous support throughout the project.

Midway through execution, an additional need emerged: the rollout of a new company, expanding the project scope without extending to the deadline. This came on top of a complex operational environment, with multiple fronts running simultaneously, from highway operations to large construction works, where stability and coordination were critical.

“It was a scenario of high technical and organizational complexity”, recalls Fernando Castro, Systems Coordinator at Via Appia. “The pressure to maintain stability amid so many variables demanded methodological discipline and constant adaptation. I recognize the strategic role played by Inetum in leading the project, contributing decisively to Via Appia achieving its objectives of technological modernization, operational risk mitigation, and preparing the SAP platform for the business challenges ahead.”

The migration to SAP S/4HANA delivered far more than a technological upgrade; it represented a qualitative leap for the entire operation:

High‑availability cloud environment, with visible performance gains
Review of critical processes, ensuring greater safety and stability
New improvement opportunities, including structured adoption of SAP Fiori
Consolidation of information on a modern and scalable system
Post–go‑live support to ensure continuity and evolution

“Inetum played a strategic role: it not only modernized Via Appia’s SAP platform but also left the organization prepared to grow safely and face future business challenges”, says Fernando Castro.

The right partnership at a decisive moment

The project’s impacts were significant and far‑reaching. The migration was completed entirely within the original deadline, even after the unexpected expansion of its scope, showing strong coordination and operational control.

The joint review of processes and improved system performance enabled more efficient day‑to‑day operations, while the new infrastructure provided greater visibility and governance, supported by faster, more reliable reporting, crucial for informed decision‑making. At the same time, investment in key‑user training strengthened the internal teams’ autonomy and digital maturity.

Together, these elements delivered reinforced operational stability, an essential factor in a sector where service continuity is non‑negotiable.

According to Via Appia, the choice of Inetum was based on a set of decisive criteria: commercial competitiveness, deep SAP expertise, proven ability to meet the proposed deadline, and flexibility to adjust the project whenever necessary.

But what stood out throughout execution was the partnership model. As Fernando Castro explains, “the consulting team worked very closely with us, anticipating risks, proposing viable solutions, and ensuring stability even during moments of scope change. Their collaborative approach was fundamental to the project’s success.”

Inetum served simultaneously as a technical team, strategic partner, and direct support to key users, ensuring knowledge was truly embedded within the organization.

A milestone that opens the way forward

In a business environment increasingly reliant on the efficiency of management systems, Via Appia’s experience demonstrates that modernization can, and should, be achieved without compromising operations. With focus, partnership, and rigorous execution, what was once a risk became a competitive advantage.

Via Appia now moves forward with a solid, scalable, and future‑ready environment. And this project, carried out in Brazil, reinforces Inetum’s positioning as a trusted partner for high‑impact digital transformations across the Iberian and Latin American regions.

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