Explore expert insights on seamless data migration from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA with our comprehensive guide.

How to Migrate Data from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA

The transition from SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) to SAP S/4HANA (the next-generation ERP suite) is a critical step for organizations seeking to leverage the latest technological advancements and gain competitive advantages. One of the most crucial aspects of this transition is migrating data seamlessly to ensure the smooth and successful adoption of SAP S/4HANA.

In this article, we’ll provide you with a step-by-step plan to guide you through the data migration process.

What is SAP ECC?

SAP ECC is an ERP system that streamlines company operations through integrated applications, ensuring consistent data storage, retrieval, analysis, and processing. It facilitates synchronous data exchange across departments, allowing real-time recording and processing of business processes from order to delivery. Notable features include high portability and compatibility with standard operating systems, mobile devices, and various databases, enabling seamless integration with external business applications.

The 2030 end-of-extended-support period for SAP ECC is approaching quickly. SAP offers considerable performance improvement with SAP S/4HANA to replace the previous ERP generation. 

How SAP S/4HANA Makes a Difference for Business

SAP S/4HANA provides a foundation for the future, ensuring companies stay at the forefront of technological advancements. As SAP ECC reaches its end of mainstream maintenance by 2030, migrating to SAP S/4HANA becomes essential to continue receiving support and updates from SAP.

By embracing the latest platform, companies can leverage continuous innovation, stay compliant with evolving industry standards, and safeguard their IT investments for the long term. Let’s look at the benefits that SAP S/4HANA offers businesses.

SAP S/4HANA database technology

SAP S/4HANA is a business suite developed to run exclusively on the HANA database. Thanks to its in-memory technology, the HANA database stores data in the main memory instead of on the hard disk, significantly speeding up data analysis and processing. In addition, HANA works more efficiently than conventional relational databases because it can access data tables that are row-based as well as column-based. This leads to faster reading and is particularly suitable for analyzing large amounts of data.

Cloud-based ERP

Another difference from the ERP predecessors is that SAP S/4HANA is not only offered as an on-premise system but also as an in-cloud solution. Therefore, the server infrastructure required for data processing is no longer located locally in the company but is provided externally by SAP itself. This saves effort and costs in administration and maintenance, ensuring that the company always uses the functionality of the current software version.

Greater flexibility

One of the key benefits of SAP S/4HANA over SAP ECC is that SAP's latest business suite gives you multiple deployment options. Host SAP S/4HANA on-premises or choose a public, private, or hybrid cloud solution. Global access to your company data makes your company more flexible and agile.

The migration from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA allows companies to unlock real-time insights, streamline processes, drive innovation, and future-proof their operations. It is a strategic move that propels businesses toward digital transformation, enabling them to thrive in a rapidly changing business landscape.

Now, let’s discuss the scope of actions for successful data migration.

Assessing the Data Landscape

Thorough preparation for the data migration process is imperative for companies as it ensures a seamless and successful transition to a new system. Analyzing all available data will identify potential challenges or inconsistencies and help implement robust data cleansing, mapping, and transformation strategies. You can use the following recommendations for conducting preliminary activities.

1. Understand the current data landscape in your SAP ECC system. 

   Understanding the current data landscape in your SAP ECC system is crucial before embarking on a migration project. This involves comprehensively analyzing the system's data volume, quality, and relevance.

   By delving into the intricacies of your data, you can gain valuable insights into its characteristics, such as the size of the database, the number of tables, and the types of data stored. This understanding will help you assess the scope of the migration, plan resource allocation, and estimate the time required for the process.

   Action points:

   • Conduct a data volume analysis.
   • Assess data quality and relevance.

2. Analyze the data volume, quality, and relevance for migration

   Analyzing the data volume, quality, and relevance is vital in the data migration journey. It entails examining the volume of data stored in the system, including tables, fields, and records. This analysis will help you clearly understand the data scale and complexity, enabling you to determine the resources needed for effective migration.

   Additionally, assessing the data quality will help identify any inconsistencies, errors, or duplicate information that may exist. Evaluating the relevance of the data will help prioritize the migration effort by focusing on the most critical and essential data for the new system.

   Action points:

   • Cleanse and remove any unnecessary or outdated data.
   • Perform data validation and ensure data accuracy.

3. Identify any customizations or modifications that may affect data migration

   During the analysis phase, it is crucial to identify any customizations or modifications that have been made to the SAP ECC system. Customizations refer to any changes or enhancements made to the system's standard functionality, such as adding fields, modifying existing tables, or creating new ones.

   These customizations can significantly impact the data migration process as they may require special considerations and additional resources to ensure a smooth transition. Understanding and documenting these customizations will help mitigate potential challenges during the migration, ensuring that the data is accurately transferred and integrated into the new system.

   Action points:

   • Familiarize yourself with the new data structures and concepts in SAP S/4HANA.
   • Understand the changes in data models and table structures.
   • Identify any new data fields or structures that may impact migration.

The Types of Data During Migration

During data migration from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA, the following types of data are typically transferred:

Please note that the specific data to be migrated may vary depending on your organization's requirements and the scope of the migration project.

How Does DataLark Facilitate the Migration Process?

DataLark is an ideal choice for adopting the Brownfield, Greenfield, and Bluefield methodologies when transitioning to SAP S/4HANA, available on-premise, in the cloud, including SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), and hybrid. The migration process with DataLark is a comprehensive and efficient solution that encompasses all crucial stages of the migration process.

Step 1: Assessment and planning

DataLark begins the data migration journey by thoroughly assessing your SAP ECC system. Our experts analyze your current data landscape, identifying complexities, data volume, and quality. This assessment guides the planning process, ensuring a comprehensive and tailored approach to your migration project.

Step 2: Data profiling and cleansing

DataLark advanced data profiling tools dive deep into your SAP ECC system, examining data structures, dependencies, and quality. Our platform automatically detects and cleanses inconsistencies, duplications, and errors, ensuring data integrity and accuracy before migration.

Step 3: Mapping and transformation

With DataLark, mapping and transforming data from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA is easy. Our platform simplifies the complex task of mapping data fields, tables, and structures, ensuring a seamless transition between systems. Transformations are easily configured to match the data models and requirements of SAP S/4HANA, guaranteeing compatibility and data consistency.

Step 4: Data Staging

As an optional step before loading data, DataLark can simplify the staging data process by efficiently transforming data from source systems to a compatible format and then loading it into a staging area in preferable databases.

Step 5: Validation and testing

DataLark empowers you to extensively validate and test data before it is migrated. Our platform offers comprehensive validation mechanisms to ensure data accuracy, completeness, and integrity during the migration process. With built-in testing features, you can simulate migration scenarios to identify and proactively resolve potential issues.

Step 6: Secure and efficient data transfer

DataLark ensures a secure and efficient data transfer from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA. Our platform employs robust encryption protocols and data transfer mechanisms, safeguarding your sensitive information. With optimized transfer protocols, we minimize downtime, ensuring very little disruption to your business operations during the migration.

Step 7: Monitoring and reporting

DataLark provides real-time monitoring and reporting capabilities throughout the data migration process. You gain visibility into the migration's progress, status, and performance, allowing you to track key metrics and promptly resolve any issues. Our comprehensive reports offer insights into data quality, compliance, and successful completion of the migration.

Step 8: Post-migration support

DataLark doesn't stop after the migration is complete. We offer post-migration support to ensure a seamless transition to SAP S/4HANA. Our team is readily available to address any concerns, provide guidance, and assist with any additional data-related tasks, empowering you to maximize the benefits of your new system.

Conclusion

Migrating data is a complex undertaking, but with a well-planned approach and the right tools, it can be a smooth and successful process. With DataLark, your SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA migration is in capable hands. Contact us today to embark on your data migration journey confidently and efficiently.