Modern defense logistics isn’t just about moving supplies; it’s about moving with purpose, accuracy, and speed. On March 6, 2025, the Department directed components to update software acquisition and favor commercial tools. This move confirmed the approach C5MI had already been using across the enterprise. Fast, results-focused platforms are replacing old systems, and that change is delivering results on a large scale.
We’re not just claiming to be the future; we’re actively making it happen. In January, we led the first migration of a central DoD system to SAP S/4HANA®, finishing the project in approximately 158 days—nearly half the expected time. In parallel, we led the world’s largest SAP® Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) rollout for the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA). This advanced a unified warehouse system that supports global readiness and lethality.
Commercial Agility Meets Mission Precision
The Department’s software acquisition pathway promotes commercial approaches and flexible authorities such as Commercial Solutions Openings (CSOs) and Other Transaction Authorities (OTAs) to speed up delivery. We’ve already built that guidance into how we plan and run defense programs.
At DLA, we deploy commercial SAP capabilities iteratively, with milestone-based task orders tied to Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) gates. This structure keeps schedules firm and pushes decisions to the field. The execution cadence across directorates J6, J3, J4, and J1 ensures alignment with mission dates.
Our Continuous Improvement (CI) Tiger Teams, a C5MI-led effort, find and fix issues after go-live within set timelines. They treat these issues as chances to keep improving and make things better for users.
Mission Success Through Measurable Outcomes
When logistics programs cover hundreds of sites and thousands of users, success depends not only on getting things running but also on the results. C5MI’s ability to move quickly while keeping operations solid has set a new standard for scale in defense logistics. These results show what focused execution looks like in action:
- Scale and pace: In 2023, we delivered 72 WMS go-lives, averaging more than one per week. Comparable efforts delivered only five in the same period. As of early 2025, DLA had 86 of 125 distribution sites live; the program has now surpassed 90 sites. It continues toward full deployment.
- First in the DoD: We completed the migration from ECC to S/4HANA in approximately 158 days. This involved significant data model changes without any loss of mission operations during the cutover.
- User readiness and oversight: More than 9,000 users operate on a unified platform supported by SAP Fiori job aids and on-site floor support. Auditability improved by approximately 50%, reducing the time and effort required for compliance.
- Resilience: Our disaster-recovery drills and high-availability architecture showed seamless failover with negligible user impact, reducing operational risk across supply lines.
Streamlining Supply Chain Operations for Readiness
Defense supply chains are complex, and every inefficiency can ripple into mission delays. C5MI works to make operations simpler, improve visibility, and help faster, more confident decisions at every level. Here are the improvements we’re making across the enterprise:
- Real-time visibility across warehouses helps reduce overstock and stockouts, improving response times.
- Integrated processes eliminate duplicate data entry and simplify reporting workflows.
- Our iterative deployment waves and fix-forward CI enable us to preserve cutover dates while resolving gaps quickly.
- Barcode and RFID technologies enhance inventory accuracy and accelerate cycle counts.
- Fulfillment speeds up through automated tasking and tracking, reducing manual handling.
- Our on-site support and user-focused training raise adoption and minimize paper handoffs.
- High-availability and disaster recovery testing minimize downtime and ensure the continuity of mission operations. These improvements aren’t just about optimization; they’re about enabling the warfighter with the right tools, at the right time, with zero compromise on readiness.
These improvements aren’t just about optimization; we focus on enabling the warfighter with the right tools, at the right time, with zero compromise on readiness.
Agile Execution Through Integrated Teams
Adaptability is the backbone of modern defense logistics. Our agile delivery model empowers teams to respond to real-time feedback, resolve issues quickly, and continuously improve across deployments. Here’s how agility becomes a strategic advantage in execution:
- Agile software deployment: We deliver working capability in waves, refine configurations through retrospectives, and roll improvements into each subsequent site.
- Commercial integration: We leverage SAP S/4HANA, EWM, and TM to unify data, analytics, and logistics flows. This maintains compliance while increasing speed.
- Lean governance and empowered teams: Milestone-based site task orders push decisions to the field. They escalate only blockers and strategic risks to program leadership.
- Tiger Teams and Demo Day-One: We establish cross-functional Tiger Teams to address urgent issues. Live prototypes with before-and-after KPIs are shown in demo-ready environments that support OTAs, CSOs, and similar calls.
Scaling What Works Across the Mission
C5MI’s approach aligns with the Department’s modernization goals: delivering working software quickly, paying for results, and integrating commercial capabilities at scale. At DLA, that means more than 90 of 125 sites deployed, a first-in-DoD S/4HANA migration completed in about 158 days, over 9,000 users operating on a unified system, and measurable gains in auditability and resilience.
Explore our federal solutions to see how we help accelerate logistics, strengthen mission outcomes, and deliver results that scale.
