Types of Migrations

Steps to a Successful SAP S/4HANA Migration

Once the path has been decided upon, it’s time to plan the exact ECC to S/4HANA migration steps needed for a successful implementation.

A - Greenfield

For the greenfield approach, the SAP Activate methodology provides a clear structure and a detailed series of steps.

Discover : Identify the value of your business, and then develop the roadmap and strategy to be used in the implementation of the project.

Prepare For the greenfield approach, the SAP Activate methodology provides a clear structure and a detailed series of steps.

Explore: SAP S/4HANA offers a wide range of solutions for your business, especially for a new implementation. Initiate the scope evaluation process with a Fit/Gap analysis — instead of traditional blueprint requirements — to ensure a more efficient implementation.

Realize: Focus on the business requirements defined in the previous phase. These include system configuration settings, integration scenarios and data migration.

Deploy: Set up the production environment in this phase. When it’s ready, execute cutover activities and move business operations to the new system.

B - Brownfield & Landscape Transformation

The necessary landscape transformation or S/4HANA conversion steps are divided into two phases: preparation and realization.

Preparation: System Requirements & Planning: Conduct an assessment of the existing system and then define the best possible solution to execute the migration.

Conversion Pre-Check: Ensure any add-ons or business functions active in the current system are compatible with S/4HANA. (SAP has provided the Simplification Item Check for this purpose.)

Custom Code Migration: Check your custom code for S/4HANA compatibility. This is essential, especially if there are enhancements in your current system.

System Installation: Start the conversion to SAP S/4HANA, including database migration and data conversion.

Follow-On Activities: After the technical conversion, all relevant customized settings must be migrated.

Data consistency check (especially for financial data): Since SAP S/4HANA collects all relevant components from Financial Accounting (FI) and Controlling (CO) into one data pool, called the Universal Journal, it is imperative that you reconcile your accounting components so that data can be merged correctly.

Iteration Testing: When all customizations are completed and all data has been migrated, you need to perform test iterations to make sure that the system runs correctly.