A holistic system analysis is the foundation for further planning steps toward a successful and smooth SAP S/4 HANA system migration. We plan it with below considerations and recommendations with the below objectives.
-Provide a comprehensive migration solution with no programming required by the customer
-Map data structures between source and target systems
-Easily integrate custom objects
-Reduce test effort
-Minimize downtime
-Make the migration solution auditable
Below Approach to be taken for S/4 HANA private Cloud Migration
1. Identify the scenario:
In case of SAP S/4 HANA cloud version, new implementation approach will be the best suite as shown in below diagram
Cloud Option Approach:
New installation of S/4 HANA system and master, transactional data migrated from legacy systems or SAP ERP System to S/4 HANA Cloud
2. Scope of business funcationality (i.e. industry solutions)
SAP Best Practices for SAP S/4 HANA Cloud provide pre-configured content for core business processes in fincance, sourcing and procurement, manufacturing, sales and supply chain. This also helps to reduce migration timelines
3. Impact on running processes:
Simplication list is a collection of simplication items which describes the difference between SAP Business Suite and S/4 HANA Functionalities, a Simplification Item does have a simplification category and provides information about the potential impact for the customer.
4. Third Party Add-ons:
If existing ECC systems having multiple third party add-ons, their availability on S/4 HANA Cloud version need to be verified. Please note that not all third party add-ons are available on S/4 HANA cloud version
5. Custom Code Simplification & transparency:
SAP Readiness check summarizes the most important aspects of the migration e.g. custom code impacted. Custom code adaptation happens at two level, one is removing obsolete code which can be identified from simplication items and second is functional adaptation. ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC) & CCLM (Decommissionig Cockpit) for smooth ABAP code migration.
6. Testing Automation: (Sapours Accelerator)
Sapours are associated with an automated testing tool (TOSCA) which has accelerators for S/4 HANA system which significantly reduces these efforts with precise outcomes during testing
7. Tools and Process for data migration:
For cloud option, SAP has provided Migration Cockpit and Migration Object Modeler in built with S/4 HANA software.
1. Install SAP S/4 HANA System
2. Initial data load from source system
The general process for migrating data to SAP S/4HANA Cloud is as follows using migration cockpit:
a. On the home page of the app “Manage Your Solution”, choose Migrate Your Data.
b. Create a migration project (or open an existing one).
c. Open the migration objects that are relevant for the project. Migration objects are defined by SAP, and describe how to migrate data from the source system (which tables are needed and the relationships between the tables) to SAP S/4HANA Cloud. The SAP S/4HANA migration cockpit uses the selected Solution Scope for SAP S/4HANA Cloud to identify the migration objects that are required to transfer this data.
d. Assign one or more Microsoft Excel XML files to each migration object that is relevant for the transfer. Do this by downloading the migration template for the migration object (a Microsoft Excel XML file), specifying the relevant data, and uploading the file.
e. Once a file is assigned a for the migration object, data transfer can happen for that migration object to SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
f. When the activity Transfer Data is complete, the data has been migrated to SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
g. Repeat this process for each migration object that is relevant for your project.
8. Regulatory, industry and regional requirements
This point is critical from cloud identification point of view also for SAP applications mulitple funcionalities need to be activated when it comes to latest governement regulations in different regions and countries.
9. System operations skills and efforts :
Business processes are simplified in S/4 system,accordingly skills to operate it need to bring in line with the software. From technical end, Fiori will be used heavily accordingly trainings and skill enhancement need to be planned
10. Interfaces:
Interfaces connected to ERP system also need to be considered for cloud migration. Optimization of interfaces can be planned during this migration utilizing SAP’s cloud offerings.
11. Generic:
Transition to SAP S/4 HANA does not require source system to be already on HANA database.Readiness check provides the results for hardware sizing which will be usefull for planning and launching correct instances on cloud.