Archiving Data for a Cost-Effective SAP S/4HANA Migration
Meet the Authors
Key Takeaways
⇨ Many organizations have large, bloated data volumes throughout their years of operating SAP ECC.
⇨ Companies preparing to move to S/4HANA should gather all their data sources and evaluate what data should be migrated and which can be archived.
⇨ Organizations should also prioritize selective data migrations as a method of streamlining the migration process.
Many SAP organizations are slowly making their way towards a migration to SAP S/4HANA. SAPinsider’s 2024 CIO’s Agenda Benchmark Report found that just 19% of SAP organizations already have SAP S/4HANA in production. This means over 80% are still implementing or evaluating their options – or they have no plans to migrate whatsoever.
For these companies, planning out a data migration strategy is an essential early step towards a successful SAP S/4HANA implementation.
Data Archiving and the Move to SAP S/4HANA
Many organizations have large, bloated data volumes throughout their years of operating SAP ECC. Data and documents, which build up in SAP systems over time, can generally be archived to reduce the size of the SAP database and make the migration process more manageable.
Organizations who have been running SAP systems for years and never archived may have to migrate large amounts of data. These may be scattered across multiple, disparate systems. Companies preparing to move to S/4HANA should gather all their data sources and evaluate what data should be migrated and which can be archived.
While most organizations can typically perform their data migrations in 72 hours or fewer, organizations with large volumes of data will need automated archiving solutions to reduce data volume in the ECC database before moving to SAP S/4HANA.
As part of the preparation, companies should also ensure that all data moving into SAP S/4HANA complies with all applicable privacy regulations. Automated tools can help companies verify that the data and documents being moved into the new system comply with all applicable laws and are stored securely within the SAP landscape.
By reducing the amount of data stored within the SAP S/4HANA system and checking to ensure that it complies with retention and compliance policies, companies can dramatically reduce the TCO of storage and maintenance. This also allows the system to perform better by keeping the core clean.
What to Know Before You Go to SAP S/4HANA
Data archiving reduces the cost of moving to and maintaining SAP S/4HANA by minimizing data volumes within the ERP database. Organizations should seek out the data archiving strategy that best fits their specific needs.
Brownfield and Greenfield migration options require different data management strategies. Organizations evaluating their own needs can review this webinar to find their best migration options.
Organizations should also prioritize selective data migrations as a method of streamlining the migration process. This involves selecting crucial data subsets and migrating them first, mitigating complexities and disruptions within the data migration process.
The data management experts at Serrala have compiled a series of resources to help companies prepare for their data for the move to SAP S/4HANA. These include:
- An article on how to prepare data for migration
- An exploration of how to accelerate data archiving
- A case study on how automation factors into the journey to SAP S/4HANA.
Conclusion
Prioritizing data management early in the SAP S/4HANA migration process allows companies to reduce costs, mitigate challenges, and maximize the value of their investment. Companies should find an experienced partner that can help them determine the migration strategy that best fits their needs, proactively find solutions, and ensure the move to SAP S/4HANA is a success.
