Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Certification
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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
Hyderabad
01.2017

Graduate in Bachelors of Technology - Electronics And Communications Engineering

Rayat And Bahra Institute of Engineering And Biotechnology
Mohali Campus, Sauharan
01.2012

Skills

SAP PLM, SAP ABAP, SAP ECC, SAP BPM

Certification

SAP ABAP certified by SAP-AG, Germany

Interests

Cultural Curiosity

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
AAFREEN BEHERACreate Product SME