S/4HANA: Which is the right way to enter the new IT landscape? By MR BLUEFIELD - November 26, 2020 When it comes to migrating existing ERP systems to S/4HANA, decision-makers can choose between various approaches. Alas, which migration path is best suited for ones own company and enables a particularly fast, secure and costminimized procedure? An overview of classic strategies – and an interesting alternative. Preparing for the S/4HANA migration is keeping decision-makers busy around the globe. The new ERP Business Suite, which will replace the previous version by 2027, offers numerous advantages – such as data transfers and evaluations in real time as well as location and device independence. However, many companies �nd it dif�cult to assess the risks of a migration: They wonder which migration approach is the right one. And how to deal with in-house developments within the SAP system that have arisen in the past. In addition to minimizing risks and the strategic question of how to create the right basis for digitization, the project duration is also an important decision factor. Companies should know that the scope of the project varies greatly depending on the approach. After all, the pace of migration can have an enormous impact on costs and thus on the continued success of the company. We present the different options for an S/4HANA migration: Green�eld and Brown�eld – the classic procedures In order to migrate complex ERP landscapes from the old to the new IT environment, companies have so far chosen between the classic migration paths Green�eld and Brown�eld. While the Green�eld approach is used to create a new system with new processes and con�gurations, the Brown�eld approach involves �rst creating a new system and then migrating old data into this system. Both approaches require larger companies in particular to refurbish their legacy systems. This increases the already enormous effort involved in making farreaching changes to ERP landscapes – such as switching to SAP S/4HANA, for example. In addition, current market requirements often make a mere reimplementation or system conversion impossible. It is therefore worthwhile to look into other solutions. BLUEFIELD: Intelligent conversion to S/4HANA With the alternative BLUEFIELD approach, companies are able to combine the advantages of Green�eld and Brown�eld. Master data and transaction data can be systematically selected and used in the new system, while historical data is being archived. In this way, the consulting effort, project duration and costs can be signi�cantly reduced. In addition, the BLUEFIELD method offers a high degree of security because it runs automatically and is less prone to errors than manually executed projects. Combining multiple business transformations in order to reduce effort Companies can use the BLUEFIELD approach to combine their S/4HANA conversion with other business transformations such as cloud migrations, global roll-outs or upgrades. Experts con�rm that combining several projects into one central venture is often proving to be a sensible approach. That way, companies can be optimally aligned with the requirements of the digital age. Using a traditional implementation approach, on the other hand, transformation projects would have to be carried out individually, which means a considerable amount of additional work. Conclusion: BLUEFIELD represents a promising alternative to Green�eld and Brown�eld. After all, system landscapes are put to the test, streamlined and made future-proof faster than before. Those who approach the migration in a planned and timely manner will bene�t in the near future from the S/4HANA platform, which is particularly fast, �exible and user-friendly – the "S" in the product name stands for "simple". Related articles: • Why companies should commence with the S/4HANA conversion • Roadmap to S/4HANA: Practical tips for a successful migration • S/4HANA introduction gains momentum in companies MR BLUEFIELD SUMMARIZES • SAP user companies are faced with the complex task of migrating to S/4HANA by the end of 2027. • For the changeover, companies have so far relied on the classic migration approaches Green�eld and Brown�eld. • Both approaches require large companies, in particular, to process their often heterogeneous legacy systems, which increases the already enormous effort required for far-reaching changes in ERP landscapes. • There is another option: With the alternative BLUEFIELD approach, functions and data can be migrated and updated in a single go-live project. • Since the method runs automatically, the risk of errors and redundant work steps is reduced. • The approach leads to enormous cost and time savings in SAP S/4HANA projects. MR BLUEFIELD Imprint Privacy Policy Contact Information Obligations Our Story The SNP Group has over 1,350 employees worldwide. Headquartered in Heidelberg, Germany, and with locations in Europe, the Americas, and Asia, the company generated over €131 million of revenue in 2018. SNP customers are global corporations from all industries, including many of the world's largest enterprises. SNP was founded in 1994 and has been publicly traded since 2000. We operate globally and have already implemented over 12,500 international projects for our renowned customers. Unlock the Power of SAP S/4HANA® with SNP’s BLUEFIELD™ Approach © Copyright 2021. All Rights Reserved.
