Preparing for Cutover

A cutover plan should describe all required tasks and activities that must be performed before the go-live. It includes timelines, responsibilities, resources required, and contingency plans to ensure a smooth and successful transition.

Key Components by SAP Activate Phase

The cutover execution should be performed in the days prior to the go-live date, and after completing the End-to-End integration tests and User Acceptance tests (UAT).

After the cutover activities are executed, the customer needs to sign off on the go-live. To support this decision, the customer can define and validate go-live acceptance criteria before making the final Go/No-Go decision.

Go-live acceptance criteria are a set of predefined conditions that must be met before a new solution can be officially launched. These criteria ensure that the system is ready, functional, and reliable, thereby minimizing risks and disruptions to business operations.

Here are some common go-live acceptance criteria:

• Successful Integration & Testing: Complete an acceptable percentage of integration tests or validate a sufficient number of user acceptance tests.
• End-User Training: A specified number of users must complete the necessary training to use the system.
• No Critical Issues: Assess the number of open incidents/cases, with attention to their priority levels.
• Data Integration Validation: Evaluate the accuracy of master and transactional data that has been successfully loaded into the new system.

The successful execution of cutover activities and the establishment of well-defined go-live acceptance criteria are critical to ensuring a smooth transition to a new system. This process requires detailed planning, effective communication, and well-coordinated execution. Such an approach minimizes risks and disruptions, enabling a confident Go/No-Go decision and supporting a successful deployment to achieve business objectives.