Decision Path

S/4HANA Transition

Moving to S/4HANA is a significant undertaking. Understanding the available paths, workstreams, and realistic timelines is essential to avoiding multi-year program disasters.

18-36

months for greenfield

12-24

months for brownfield

60%

projects exceed budget

6

critical workstreams

Reality Check

Why Transitions Fail

Most S/4HANA transition challenges stem from four common causes. Understanding these upfront helps you build a more realistic plan.

Scope Creep

"While we're at it" thinking adds months to timelines and millions to budgets.

Data Quality

Underestimating data cleanup, archiving, and migration complexity.

Testing Gaps

Insufficient regression testing leads to post-go-live incidents.

Change Resistance

Underinvesting in training and organizational change management.

Transition Paths

The Three Transition Paths

Each path has trade-offs. The right choice depends on your starting point, timeline, and transformation goals.

New Implementation

Greenfield

Start fresh with a new S/4HANA system. Best for significant business process transformation.

18-36

months typical

When it fits

  • •Major business process redesign planned
  • •Current ECC is heavily modified
  • •Clean break preferred

Watch out for

  • •Longer timelines (18-36 months)
  • •Higher change management effort
  • •Historical data migration complexity
System Conversion

Brownfield

Convert your existing ECC system to S/4HANA in place. Preserves customizations and historical data.

12-24

months typical

When it fits

  • •Minimal business process change desired
  • •Historical data must be preserved
  • •Customizations are well-documented

Watch out for

  • •Custom code remediation effort
  • •Simplification item impact
  • •Carrying forward technical debt
Hybrid Approach

Selective Data

Combine elements of both. New S/4 system but selectively migrate data and configurations.

15-30

months typical

When it fits

  • •Want clean start with key data retained
  • •Partial process transformation
  • •Complex landscape consolidation

Watch out for

  • •Requires specialized tooling
  • •Data mapping complexity
  • •Often requires SI expertise

Workstreams

Six Critical Workstreams

Regardless of path, every S/4HANA transition involves these critical workstreams. Each requires dedicated resources and governance.

Custom Code

Inventory, classify, remediate, and test custom developments

Data

Quality assessment, archiving, cleansing, and migration strategy

Integrations

Identify, adapt, and test all inbound/outbound interfaces

Security

Role redesign, authorization migration, SoD remediation

Testing

Regression suite development, automation, performance testing

Change Mgmt

Training, communication, adoption monitoring

Action Plan

What to Do in the Next 30-90 Days

Days 1-30

Discovery & Assessment

Run custom code analysis, document integrations, assess data quality.

Custom code inventory
Integration mapping
Data quality scan
Days 31-60

Path Selection

Evaluate paths against your constraints, build business case, get sponsor alignment.

Path evaluation
Business case
Sponsor alignment
Days 61-90

Program Setup

Define governance, select SI (if needed), establish program charter and milestones.

Governance model
Partner selection
Program charter

Find Your Optimal Transition Path

Take the 7-minute ERP Path Selector assessment to get a recommended transition approach based on your specific landscape, constraints, and goals.

Start Assessment