Exploring Lean Selective Data Transition with the SAP Business Transformation Center

A Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA approach offers several key advantages for organizations migrating to SAP S/4HANA .

1. Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA provides an opportunity to clean up and reorganize the SAP ERP landscape during the migration to SAP S/4HANA, such as data reduction and optimization, selective process adjustment, system consolidation, data harmonization, organizational structure adjustments and selective data migration.
2. The Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA approach offers the possibility of Selective Process Adjustment for migrating from SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA. This method allows companies to strike a balance between reusing existing processes and implementing targeted changes during the transition.
3. Selective transfer of historical data: This means you can but don't need to migrate all data from your old system. You can reduce the data footprint by just selecting and migrating data that is still relevant for the business.
4. With a Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA, data can be moved to the cloud or also to different data centers.
5. In general, there are approaches that enable bypassing preparation projects in ECC by including them on the fly, which leads to less time effort for the overall transition project.

By using these advantages, organizations can achieve a more streamlined, efficient, and tailored migration to SAP S/4HANA that aligns with their specific business needs and objectives.

Watch this video to learn about the five principles of the migration strategy of a selective data transition to SAP S/4HANA.

Watch this video to learn about Lean Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA.

Migration on table level using predefined business object content in lean Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA:

The lean Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA allows for a flexible combination of system conversion and new implementation strategies. When performing migration on table level using predefined business object content in Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA, the following key aspects are involved:

• Predefined Business Objects: SAP provides a set of predefined migration objects for various business areas. These objects define the scope of data to be migrated and the technical approach for the migration.
• Table-Level Migration: Unlike interface-based migrations in greenfield approaches, Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA allows for data migration directly at the table level. This enables the transfer of both open and historical data while maintaining system integrity.
• Selective Data Transfer: The process involves carefully selecting which data to migrate based on business requirements and technical constraints. This may include migrating only relevant data, transforming and improving data during migration, and excluding obsolete or redundant data.
• Staging Tables: For reconciliation and analysis purposes, a staging table approach is used. This involves first loading key information into staging tables before processing it into the target system.
• Automated Field Mapping: The system provides automated mapping between templates and target structures. This reduces manual effort and potential errors in data mapping.
• Migration Logs: Detailed logs are generated during the migration process to track progress and identify any issues.
• Postmigration Validation Function: This is possible with the Data Transition Validation Tool.

The shell conversion process consists of two major steps:

• First, a shell copy of the source SAP ECC system is created.
• In the second step, the SAP ECC shell system is converted into SAP S/4HANA (on premise) or SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition using the Software Update Manager. This includes pre-conversion tasks such as evaluating simplification items, running the maintenance planner, custom code remediation, and post-conversion tasks such as adapting custom code and adapting authorizations.
• The SAP S/4HANA shell is typically used as an SAP S/4HANA development system and source (golden client) to build an SAP S/4HANA target production system via system copy.
• After the system copy the newly created target system can be used as target system for lean Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA.

• The target system contains all repository, cross-client customizing and client-specific customizing.
• Customizing or configuring the target system: Existing from ECC: This means the full ECC customizing is copied & converted into an SAP S/4HANA system. Afterwards, you can redesign certain elements: a fit-gap analysis is performed and certain elements redesigned, for example, new order types.

The mix and match approach is a flexible option for enhancing a greenfield implementation of SAP S/4HANA. This approach allows organizations to retain and preserve specific parts of their existing configuration that do not require changes while transitioning to the new system.

Watch the video to learn more about the key aspects of the Mix and Match approach.

Compared to the shell creation approach, the mix and match approach is used less frequently. However, it offers flexibility for customers who want to retain specific parts of their current configuration while transitioning to SAP S/4HANA .

It's important to note that the mix and match approach is primarily a conceptual approach and does not necessarily require specific tooling, unlike the shell creation approach.

Please also note that the mix and match approach is not suitable for a lean Selective Data Transition to S/4HANA with the SAP Business Transformation Center. There the target system has to be created via shell conversion, using the Software Update Manager.

Watch this video to learn about the phases of a selective data transition project to SAP S/4HANA.

Here you can see an example high level project plan of a Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA project, from project preparation until GoLive and post-GoLive support and Hypercare.

The SAP Business Transformation Center is an SAP solution to support our customers in their transition to the intelligent enterprise. It reduces complexity and accelerates the data migration process of a project through a guided and data-driven approach. Overall, we aim to reduce implementation costs and provide a reliable solution from SAP.

We have analyzed decades of project experience to determine repeatable patterns that are valid for all kind of transition – independent of whether it is SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA or another solution. The result is the so-called data rainbow.

Watch this video to learn more about the SAP Business Transformation Center Data Rainbow.

We have listened to our customers on their challenges and what supports them moving on with their legacy systems. We have learned that they demand much and as the software vendor, they need to move on faster to the new solution with reduced complexity. And this ideally comes at no extra fee. This means that they, at least for the tooling to SAP S/4HANA, don't want to pay more money. The overarching goal is always to lowering the total costs of implementation.

The Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA approach also comes with a proven project procedure. First phase is the Digital Blueprint, which defines the data for the transition project. Here Solution Architects decide together with the business which data is relevant. The second phase is the implementation. The result here is a so called Transformation Model which is automatically created from the design of the Digital Blueprint.

The last phase, the cycle phase, typically requires two repeated test cycles, followed by a dress rehearsal where the entire migration exercises are performed and tested on test systems before finally cutting over the production. Two test cycles is the best practice procedure. Based on the complexity of a migration project, there could be also more or fewer test cycles. The users benefit here from a guided, safeguarded and automated approach. SAP benefits from reduced effort and shorter project duration.

Let's summarize the benefits of a Lean Selective Data Transition to SAP S/4HANA with the SAP Business Transformation Center:

• The customer gets a fast onboarding into a cloud-based solution.
• The customer gets a jump-start into blueprinting without first connecting to any system, just uploading the readiness check file.
• The customer gets quick and easy decision recommendations on data scope, including bespoke applications with one digital blueprint which then turns automatically into an executable transformation model.
• This allows an immediate start of test migration and data conversion.
• The migration cycle follows a guided and safeguarded approach, which is orchestrated, monitored and logged for audit trail.
• The SAP Business Transformation Center comes with SAP Cloud ALM as part of your RISE contract or Enterprise Support.

• Creating the Shell System for SAP Business Transformation Center

• Lean Selective Data Transition with SAP Business Transformation Center

• SAP Business Transformation Center Roadmap

• SAP Business Transformation Center Support Portal

• Data Transition and Transformation Topic Page

• Mapping your journey to SAP S/4HANA - A practical guide for senior IT leadership