Cole Haan Completes Global SAP S/4HANA Transformation Across Three Regions in 18 Months with Applexus' AI-Powered Delivery

Three regions. One global cutover. A complex transformation accelerated by AI-powered delivery.

SEATTLE, Nov. 11, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Applexus Technologies, an AI-first SAP consulting firm, announced the successful go-live of Cole Haan on SAP S/4HANA for fashion and vertical business, completing a complex global transformation across three regions in just 18 months. The program integrated end-to-end business processes across planning, buying, supply chain, wholesale, retail, direct-to-consumer and finance in a single global cutover.

For global fashion and retail brands, the move from the legacy SAP Apparel and Footwear Solution (AFS) to SAP S/4HANA requires a migration strategy that delivers clear business value. Applexus is redefining what's possible through an AI-enabled delivery model that addresses the speed, risk, cost and customer effort that have traditionally been barriers to S/4HANA modernization. This approach simplifies complexity, accelerates transformation and preserves the capabilities that make each business unique.

Cole Haan's transformation spanned operations across North America, Europe and Asia, replacing a 20-year-old SAP AFS environment and a separate retail merchandising system. The transformation also included establishing a modern cloud-based enterprise data platform and AI foundation. The program demonstrated that a large-scale transformation can be achieved while maintaining business continuity with no disruption to wholesale shipments or store operations during the single global cutover.

At the center of this transformation was Applexus' proprietary AI-powered selective migration platform, CeleRITE, which analyzed legacy code, interfaces, data, configurations and access controls to determine what to retain, modernize or retire. This approach reduced technical debt, preserved essential business functionality and established a cleaner, unified SAP S/4HANA foundation.

"Applexus has challenged the traditional approach to SAP transformation," said Chris Couch, GM of SAP Solutions, Applexus Technologies. "Cole Haan demonstrates what is possible when deep industry expertise and AI-powered delivery come together. We were able to deliver a complex global transformation in just 18 months, creating a faster, lower-risk path to S/4HANA and a compelling business case for modernization."

"Replacing a 20-year-old system across three regions in a single cutover was one of the biggest projects in Cole Haan's history, and our teams in every region delivered it without disrupting our business or our customers," said Tom Linko, CFO and Executive Vice President, Global Operations at Cole Haan. "We now have one global system supporting our wholesale, retail, and digital operations, giving us a simpler, more scalable way to support our growth and a foundation to put data and AI to work across the business. Applexus has been a valuable partner in helping us achieve this transformation."

About Applexus Technologies

Applexus Technologies is a global intelligent enterprise partner specializing in SAP transformation, Business AI, Data & Analytics and Pricing. Combining deep industry expertise, proprietary AI-powered tools and an AI-enabled delivery model, Applexus helps enterprises navigate complex transformations and accelerate business outcomes.

Learn more at www.applexus.com.

About Cole Haan

Cole Haan is a global American lifestyle brand distributed in more than 100 countries worldwide. For nearly a century, Cole Haan has combined time-honored craft with modern innovation to create footwear and lifestyle accessories that bring style and comfort together in unexpected ways. Today, the brand continues to build on that legacy with a growing collection designed for modern life.

Learn more at colehaan.com and follow @colehaan.

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SOURCE Applexus Technologies Private Limited