A New Process Orchestration Approach to Safely Migrate to SAP S/4HANA

With SAP ECC’s 2027 end-of-life deadline approaching and the majority of customers not fully migrated to SAP S/4HANA, Camunda’s new integration solution allows organizations to migrate gradually through process orchestration. Instead of risking complex all-at-once migrations, companies can run standardized processes on Camunda while keeping connections to SAP ECC via SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), which reduces testing efforts and minimizes disruptions during the critical transition period.

Process automation specialist Camunda announced its standardized SAP integration solution at CamundaCon NYC, addressing a key challenge for SAP customers today: how to safely transition from ECC to SAP S/4HANA without the risks of a “big bang” migration.

The integration uses SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) to connect legacy ECC systems with modern process orchestration features. By employing OData and RFC connectors, the solution allows smooth integration with both SAP S/4HANA and SAP ECC environments, while ensuring security through standard SAP interfaces, including the SAP Cloud Connector for hybrid setups.

Iterative Migration Reduces Risk and Resource Strain

Camunda’s approach aims to fundamentally transform the migration process by allowing organizations to gradually extract and modernize business workflows instead of replacing entire systems at once. Companies can start by identifying standardized processes that span multiple systems and departments, then coordinate these workflows through Camunda while keeping existing ECC functionality intact.

The solution aims to fill a vital gap in current migration strategies. Traditional methods often involve extensive testing of entire system configurations, which can cause long periods of downtime and strain resources. In contrast, the iterative model enables organizations to test individual processes separately, significantly cutting down the amount of testing needed for each migration phase.

Technical implementation focuses on SAP BTP integration, which embeds Camunda forms directly within SAP Fiori tasks, maintaining the user experience. This method removes the need for users to learn entirely new interfaces while providing access to improved process automation features.

One example shared at CamundaCon involved a complex purchasing approval process that required compliance checks at multiple decision points. Using Camunda’s BPMN and DMN tools, a tax lawyer was able to turn business rules into 60 process models and 100 decision tables, creating a system that can adapt to regulatory changes without requiring technical help. According to Camunda, the solution is also future-proof because changes can be implemented easily.

What This Means for SAPinsiders

Phased migrations become strategically feasible for complex environments. Technology executives can now present boards with migration timelines that avoid significant upfront capital costs or prolonged system downtime. The iterative approach enables organizations to show value gradually while developing internal expertise with SAP S/4HANA capabilities. Budget allocation becomes more predictable as migration expenses are spread over multiple budget cycles, instead of requiring one large, upfront investment.

Integration complexity decreases while maintaining operational flexibility. IT leaders managing hybrid landscapes gain centralized visibility into processes spanning SAP and non-SAP systems without abandoning specialized tools that deliver departmental value. Point-to-point integration maintenance, which typically consumes a substantial share of an integration team’s resources, is shifting toward standardized orchestration models. Teams can focus on business logic rather than managing multiple integration technologies and skill sets.

Risk mitigation shifts from hope to a measurable strategy. CTOs can deploy pilot programs targeting specific business processes, validating SAP S/4HANA capabilities in production environments without risking core operations. Each successful process migration boosts organizational confidence and provides clear ROI metrics for future phases.