How to make migration to SAP S/4HANA smooth and successful?

Moving to SAP S/4HANA is a crucial move for businesses aiming to stay ahead in this digital era. This solution provides increased productivity, optimized operations, and extensive data analytics capabilities. In this article, Gaiana Karakashian, SAP Manager at ELEKS, will walk you through the strategic actions and practices for a smooth and successful migration to SAP S/4HANA.

As you probably know, not migrating by 2027, as required by SAP, would have significant consequences. In addition to stopping official SAP maintenance, the necessity to migrate is driven by the need to avoid the dangers of security vulnerabilities, non-compliance, and increased operational costs. Such a delay will be particularly dangerous when it comes to competition, where digitalization is crucial.

Key steps for successful SAP S/4HANA migration

Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. There are some aspects with the attention to which you can navigate this process less stressful. Let's take a closer look:

• Assessment and planning: Assess the current IT landscape, determine the scope of the migration, determine the appropriate deployment option (on-premises, cloud or hybrid), and establish a realistic timeline.
• Cleaning and preparation: Clean the data to ensure that only relevant and accurate information is migrated. And don’t forget about future infrastructure - ensure all specifications are met.
• Implementation: Perform the migration using the SAP Activate methodology (SAP provide detailed roadmaps for each specific solution or implementation) utilize SAP tools such as SAP Readiness Check to identify potential problems early.
• Validation: Conduct thorough testing to verify system functionality, performance and data integrity. Involve end users to ensure that the system meets business needs.
• Post-migration support: Plan for a smooth implementation of the system with minimal disruption to business operations. Provide robust post-migration support to promptly resolve any issues and ensure continuous improvement.

Tips and tricks for a smooth transition

1. Stakeholders: Involve stakeholders from the beginning to ensure that goals, timelines, and resource allocation are agreed upon;

2. Approach: Communicate progress regularly and address issues. Start with non-critical systems before moving to core business processes;

3. Change Management: Ensure that an effective change management strategy is in place to prepare the organization for new processes and technologies;

4. Expertise: Use SAP tools for migration and engage experienced SAP consultants to take advantage of their knowledge and best practices.

Choosing the right team composition

And last but not least. Thinking about SAP consultants and overall project team, keep in mind that choosing the right team composition is crucial for a successful migration. The most typical team configurations are:

Full Outsourcing: Ideal for organizations lacking in-house expertise. Engage a trusted SAP partner to manage the entire migration process, ensuring access to specialized skills and knowledge.

Blended Team: Combine in-house resources with external consultants. This approach leverages internal knowledge of business processes while benefiting from the technical expertise of SAP specialists.

Advisory Team: Provide access to a highly experienced SAP team, headed by a technical lead or architect with the necessary expertise for the current project tasks. As a rule, this team consists of 3-7 experts with the main goals to:

·        guide project team through migration,  

·        be responsible for all critical decisions from the technical side,

·        knowledge sharing and expertise transfer to the in-house SAP team.

To sum up, migrating to SAP S/4HANA is a necessary but challenging step for enterprises looking to secure the future of their operations. But it`s not that bad! By following a structured approach, adopting best practices and ensuring a strong team, organizations will be able to handle the complexities of migration and achieve a successful transition. So don't wait until 2027, start planning your migration today to be ahead of the competition.

Written by Gaiana Karakashian (MBA) , SAP Manager at ELEKS.