Cultural Curiosity
AAFREEN BEHERA
Create Product SME
Bangalore
Summary
With over 10 years of industry experience, I currently serve as Create Product SME at Unilever, focusing on product lifecycle management and Agile methodologies. Collaborating with cross-functional stakeholders and teams, my efforts are focused on enabling future-fit product delivery while aligning with strategic organizational goals. My certifications in SAP, Automation and TOGAF reinforce a commitment to leveraging technology for impactful solutions. Previous roles, including R&D Assistant Manager and R&D Delivery Lead at Unilever, have honed my expertise in facilitating R&D processes and integrating Agile and Waterfall methodologies to streamline product development. Committed to fostering collaboration, I support Unilever's mission of driving sustainable growth through impactful, technology-aligned innovative solutions.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
5
5
Certifications
1
1
Language
Work History
Create Product SME
Unilever
04.2024 - Current
- Spearheaded enterprise-wide SAP PLM and ECC deployments, ensuring 99.9% system uptime and seamless integration with product lifecycle workflows.
- Optimized SAP BPM business processes, reducing cycle times by 25% and driving hundreds of thousand dollars in annual efficiency gains.
- Engineered ABAP enhancements to automate key reporting and compliance functions, decreasing manual workload by 40%
- Implemented robotic process automation (RPA) tools, automating repetitive SAP product management tasks and eliminating 8,000+ manual hours annually.
- Developed end-to-end automation frameworks in UFT and TOSCA, increasing test coverage by 60% and reducing quality assurance turnaround time by 55%.
- Integrated CI/CD pipelines using Azure DevOps and JIRA, accelerating release velocity by 45% and improving deployment reliability.
- Designed and operationalized zero-trust security architectures within SAP infrastructure, reducing vulnerability exposure by 37%.
- Developed predictive maintenance analytics that cut unplanned downtime by 35% and saved $1.2M annually.
- Initiated incident response and resilience strategies, enabling rapid post-release recovery and enhancing organizational adaptability to change.
- Led cross-functional digital transformation projects across SAP and BPM platforms, modernizing legacy environments and reducing system friction by 40%.
- Drove user adoption of new digital tools via targeted training and change management, achieving 90%+ adoption within six months.
- Orchestrated remote and hybrid collaboration models utilizing GCharm and CGP, sustaining project momentum and team cohesion.
- Designed and deployed enterprise dashboards with real-time KPIs using SAP, Power BI, and custom ABAP solutions, reducing reporting latency by 50%.
- Conducted user-experience testing and iterative dashboard improvements, boosting stakeholder engagement and decision-making speed by 25%.
- Led complete SAP PLM application revamp, increasing user satisfaction scores by 30% and supporting agile product development.
- Migrated key business applications to cloud architecture, reducing infrastructure costs by 25% and improving scalability.
- Streamlined testing and deployment workflows across Dev, QA, and Operations teams, achieving operational cost savings of 25% via automation and optimizing infrastructure resource allocation.
- Enhanced system stability by integrating risk-based testing and proactive incident analysis, resulting in a 40% reduction in high-severity issues and improved audit compliance across delivery pipelines.
R&D Assistant Manager
Unilever
07.2022 - 03.2024
- Implemented robust change management and validation processes for PLM-ECC interfaces and S/4HANA simplification projects, leading to improved traceability, compliance, and risk mitigation in digital transformation initiatives.
- Accelerated time-to-release by 45% through the implementation of streamlined CI/CD pipelines, orchestrating automated testing, deployment, and feedback mechanisms.
- Championed cross-functional Agile adoption across business-critical change request (CR) processes, compressing CR cycle times by 30% and facilitating higher deployment frequencies with minimal roll-back rates.
- Engineered and delivered Embedded Fiori migration and Compass Re-organization system integration, reducing project delivery times by 35% and enhancing user transition readiness through standardized workflows and documentation.
- Optimized regression and performance testing strategies, cutting software release validation cycles by 50% and improving delivery agility for major S/4HANA upgrades.
- Led the integration and automation of PLM-ECC interfaces and digital dashboards (BOM Dashboard Engineering), enhancing cross-system data visibility and reducing manual reporting workload by over 30%.
- Spearheaded Embedded Fiori migration, enabling centralized access to analytics and operational processes; standardized S4H architecture, minimizing legacy dependencies and improving user productivity metrics by 25%.
- Designed and implemented performance and regression testing dashboards, leveraging advanced analytics to provide real-time insights and drive continuous process improvement.
- Directed the digital enablement of Compass Re-organization, embedding portfolio and change management metrics into cloud-based solutions to strengthen business continuity and scalability.
- Developed and institutionalized proactive incident analysis protocols and automated monitoring, reducing critical incident rates by 40% and improving first response SLA compliance to 98%.
- Implemented cross-functional incident review forums, leveraging root-cause analysis and automated reporting to eliminate repeat issues and enhance team learning.
- Integrated incident management with release pipelines, resulting in a 30% reduction in deployment-related outages and smoother post-release stabilizations.
- Re-engineered end-to-end regression and performance testing processes, driving automation across platforms and reducing manual validation overhead by 50%.
- Orchestrated process harmonization for PLM-ECC and S4H integrations, aligning technical and business teams through comprehensive documentation, training, and rigorous gap analysis.
- Instituted Lean and Six Sigma principles in change request management, delivering a sustainable 20% improvement in CR throughput and a measurable reduction in cycle time variability.
- Optimized BOM dashboard engineering processes, standardizing data management practices and achieving 99% audit accuracy in materials tracking.
- Orchestrated delivery of complex, cross-functional change requests—spanning product lifecycle management, ECC integration, and system upgrades—ensuring on-time, compliant implementations through Agile sprint planning.
- Fostered cross-functional collaboration and knowledge sharing among DevOps, QA, Product, and IT stakeholders, resulting in a 30% increase in successful change deployment and adoption rates.
- Developed CR playbooks, enabling seamless hand-offs and standardized requirements gathering, which reduced miscommunication-driven defects by 25%.
- Architected and integrated robust PLM-ECC interface solutions, enhancing data synchronization and streamlining cross-system change implementation, evidenced by a 35% reduction in data-related incidents.
- Collaborated closely with engineering, business, and ERP teams to align interface configuration with operational requirements, significantly improving data integrity and process reliability.
- Led test automation of interface validation scenarios, improving interface change assurance and accelerating release cycles.
- Directed and executed migration of SAP Fiori applications from standalone to embedded deployment in S/4HANA, streamlining user access, reducing maintenance burden, and optimizing frontend/backend integration.
- Developed and delivered training materials for end users and administrators post-migration, resulting in a 25% reduction in support tickets and improved satisfaction scores.
- Extended and customized Fiori applications to align with new S/4HANA architecture, enhancing mobile access and driving a 20% increase in user engagement metrics.
- Managed the technical integration of Compass Re-org, consolidating process documentation, roles, and access management across platforms; cut user transition time by 40%.
- Orchestrated the centralized configuration of portals and dashboards to ensure seamless access and process consistency post-reorganization.
- Designed and implemented comprehensive regression and performance test coverage for critical business applications, increasing test case coverage by 50% and reducing post-release defects by 40%.
- Instituted automated test pipelines, enabling continuous validation during code integration and reducing customer-impacting incidents.
- Collaborated with development and operations teams to align performance benchmarks with business SLAs, ensuring stable and scalable application delivery.
- Engineered, deployed, and enhanced a Bill of Materials (BOM) dashboard, centralizing materials information and providing cross-functional teams with real-time decision support, leading to a 20% improvement in material traceability and compliance.
- Automated BOM data validation, reducing errors by 30% and accelerating product development cycles.
- Collaborated with procurement, engineering, and manufacturing teams to ensure BOM accuracy and enable smooth product lifecycle handoffs.
- Led the architectural simplification of S/4HANA environments, decommissioning redundant components and streamlining system landscapes, which improved system performance by 25% and reduced annual infrastructure costs by 15%.
- Coordinated the migration and consolidation of business processes onto S/4HANA, aligning technical, functional, and compliance requirements through robust stakeholder engagement frameworks.
- Utilized SAP's Simplification List to identify and act on key refactoring opportunities, enhancing supportability and agility of business systems.
Assistant Systems Analyst (SAP Functional Consultant)
TCS
07.2017 - 02.2020
- Managed the Regression testing functional testing team for PIRD functionality
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to identify and resolve technical issues.
- Developed and maintained detailed documentation for system processes and workflows.
- Assisted in implementing software solutions to optimize operational efficiency.
- Developed custom scripts to automate repetitive tasks, significantly reducing manual workload for team members.
- Improved system efficiency by identifying and resolving software defects through thorough testing.
- Analyzed and proposed revisions to existing system logic difficulties and documentation.
- Defined system scope through research and fact-finding to develop or modify moderately complex information systems.
- Assisted with the establishment of standard operating procedures for system maintenance activities, ensuring consistent delivery of high-quality service across all functional areas.
- Maintained system documentation to facilitate knowledge transfer and simplify troubleshooting efforts.
- Collaborated with other personnel to design systems and to determine project limitations and capabilities.
- Assisted in the design of user-friendly interfaces, resulting in increased end-user satisfaction.
- Assisted in development of training sessions and demos for end-users.
- Conducted regular performance assessments of existing systems, recommending upgrades when necessary for optimal functionality.
- Gathered requirements and performed gap analysis through design workshops with users.
- Troubleshot incidents reported by end-users to schedule system changes and identify permanent solutions.
- Enhanced project management skills by defining and presenting system solutions and timelines for business needs or technical problems.
- Oversaw document development across project workstreams to create internal control statements per compliance and regulatory standards.
- Analyzed business requirements to design tailored SAP solutions that meet client needs.
- Trained end-users on SAP modules, ensuring optimal utilization and compliance.
- Conducted system testing and validation, identifying issues and implementing corrective actions.
- Mentored junior consultants, fostering skill development and best practices in SAP utilization.
- Served as a subject matter expert in SAP functional areas, providing guidance and support to project team members throughout the entire implementation lifecycle.
- Mitigated risks during system upgrades by conducting thorough impact assessments and devising risk mitigation strategies.
- Assisted technical team members in resolving issues related to interface design between various systems used within an organization.
- Increased client satisfaction, providing expert guidance on best practices in SAP functional areas.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to design, test, and deploy integrated SAP solutions for complex business scenarios.
- Conducted post-implementation audits verifying that all customer-specific requirements were met and identifying potential areas for further improvement.
- Analyzed system requirements to enhance application performance and user experience.
Software Testing Engineer
QA InfoTech Pvt. Ltd.
03.2014 - 07.2014
- Designed and executed test plans for software applications, ensuring comprehensive coverage of functionality.
- Identified and documented defects using tracking tools, collaborating with developers for timely resolution.
- Developed automated test scripts, enhancing testing efficiency and reducing manual effort.
- Led cross-functional teams in root cause analysis for critical software issues, driving process improvements.
- Implemented test strategies aligned with project requirements, ensuring adherence to quality standards.
- Conducted regression testing for software updates, maintaining high levels of product reliability.
- Collaborated with product managers to define testing requirements, ensuring alignment with user expectations.
- Actively participated in agile ceremonies, including daily stand-ups and sprint retrospectives, to maintain alignment with project goals.
- Reduced defect leakage to production environment through meticulous attention to detail in test case execution.
- Participated in sprint planning meetings to provide input on test effort estimation and resource allocation for upcoming projects.
- Enabled faster issue resolution through effective bug reporting techniques that provided clear steps for replication and relevant supporting information.
- Collaborated with developers and project managers to assess program capabilities, features and testing demands.
- Enhanced product reliability with thorough functional, performance, and regression testing.
- Wrote and reviewed technical manuals, brochures and online resources for accuracy and completeness.
System Developer
Webart Softech
07.2012 - 02.2014
- Developed software solutions to enhance system performance and reliability.
- Analyzed user requirements to design and implement effective system features.
- Collaborated with cross-functional teams to streamline development processes.
- Led code reviews and provided mentorship to junior developers.
- Optimized existing applications to improve efficiency and reduce downtime.
- Implemented automated testing procedures to ensure software quality.
- Coordinated with stakeholders to gather feedback and drive project improvements.
- Conducted system performance assessments and recommended enhancements.
- Gathered valuable user feedback by conducting usability tests on prototypes leading to enhanced end-user experience.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to define and clarify user requirements.
- Designed, documented and implemented database solutions to support web applications.
- Researched, recommended and implemented new software to meet business needs.
- Built automation to report status of products and devices.
- Streamlined the development process for faster project delivery through effective collaboration with team members.
- Developed user-friendly applications, improving customer satisfaction and driving sales growth.
Education
Post Graduate in Masters of Business Administration - Marketing & Operations Management
IBS Business School
Hyderabad01.2017
Graduate in Bachelors of Technology - Electronics And Communications Engineering
Rayat And Bahra Institute of Engineering And Biotechnology
Mohali Campus, Sauharan01.2012
Skills
SAP PLM, SAP ABAP, SAP ECC, SAP BPM
Certification
SAP ABAP certified by SAP-AG, Germany
Interests
Baking
Travelling
Timeline
Create Product SME
Unilever
04.2024 - Current
R&D Assistant Manager
Unilever
07.2022 - 03.2024
Assistant Systems Analyst (SAP Functional Consultant)
TCS
07.2017 - 02.2020
Software Testing Engineer
QA InfoTech Pvt. Ltd.
03.2014 - 07.2014
System Developer
Webart Softech
07.2012 - 02.2014
Post Graduate in Masters of Business Administration - Marketing & Operations Management
IBS Business School
Graduate in Bachelors of Technology - Electronics And Communications Engineering
Rayat And Bahra Institute of Engineering And Biotechnology