Summary
A Brownfield S/4HANA implementation – also known as a system conversion – allows organizations to migrate and modernize legacy ECC systems to S/4HANA. However, there are three challenges which can delay the project or cause business disruption: custom code compability, dual maintenance, and cross-landscape dependencies.
This article explains how Rev-Trac can simplify and accelerate your Brownfield S/4HANA migration through automated retrofitting, enforced S/4HANA readiness checks, and cross-landscape management.
Challenge 1: Custom code compatibility and modernization
For a long time, organizations have used custom SAP ABAP code to address business requirements that standard SAP functionality doesn’t meet. Businesses adopting a Brownfield approach port custom code to the S/4HANA system to maintain current functionality. Doing so allows them to modernize and optimize systems after the migration.
Studies show that mature SAP organization leveraging custom code retain about 40% of that code during a migration. This code is created for ECC systems and is often incompatible with S/4HANA, so it’s likely to be changed (or modernized) before the project begins.
Rev-Trac can enforce an approach where (iterative) code modernization begins during the preparation phase. Rev-Trac 8.3.4, integrates with the ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC) for S/4HANA Readiness Checks.
Imagine you start preparing custom code by making enhancements during Business as Usual (BAU) changes in the ECC environment before shifting to S/4HANA. In this instance, organizations can use the S/4HANA Readiness Checks to verify the code’s compatibility with the new ERP system.
You can adopt a ’shift-left’ approach, configuring Rev-Trac to enforce modernization in the DEV environment. Gradually modernizing custom code ensures it is almost pre-ready before your Brownfield migration begins. Ensuring code is S/4HANA compatible before leaving the DEV system reduces the need for reworks and eliminates functional downgrades when your S/4HANA systems go live.
Challenge 2: Dual Maintenance
Managing dual landscapes – legacy ECC and new S/4HANA environment – is a significant challenge for organizations adopting a Brownfield approach. Keeping your systems in sync until cutover is essential to avoid change freezes or costly unscheduled downtime.
You will likely have to make BAU ECC changes during the migration to enhance your production system. These changes must be accounted for and considered for retrofit to the S/4HANA environment. Automating the retrofit of SAP changes helps lower the risk and accelerate your Brownfield migration project.
With Rev-Trac, you can keep systems in sync for the life of the project. The software incorporates retrofitting capabilities that enable you to synchronize changes between your live ECC system and in-progress S/4HANA systems. BAU change requests are automatically cloned and sent to the S/4HANA (DEV) system for consideration and easy reapplication, keeping systems in sync.
Conducting S/4HANA Readiness Checks in the ECC DEV system allows developers to correct an incompatible change before releasing the transport and advancing it through testing and authorization requirements with other changes. You can also determine the suitability of the clone for the retrofit. If the change is compatible, the S/4HANA compatibility report is attached the cloned request for easy reference.
Challenge 3: Managing Cross-Landscape Dependencies
When migrating to S/4HANA, it’s essential to understand the dependencies between your ECC system and other landscapes, like BW, BOBJ, and CRM, that may make up your legacy SAP environment. You must accommodate cross-landscape dependency between data integrations. Otherwise, you run the risk of parts of the application not working in the S/4HANA environment. Additionally, different landscapes may undergo separate SAP S/4HANA transitions, so having a clear plan to manage multiple transformations is essential.
With Rev-Trac, you can define dependencies the software automatically checks before transports are migrated to target systems. The dependencies can only be applied to transports attached to a Rev-Trac Request. However, they don’t have to be attached to the same request or relate to the same landscape.
The request migrates to the target system if the dependencies are satisfied. Otherwise, you will get an error alert and a report that gives details of all the unsatisfied dependencies.
FAQ: Brownfield S/4HANA migration
What is a Brownfield S/4HANA migration?
A Brownfield migration is an evolution strategy in which your current ECC systems is converted or upgraded to S/4HANA. It allows you to take advantage of your legacy ECC system instead of creating a new one. It preserves existing data, processes, and customized code.
Why is ABAP custom code a challenge in a Brownfield migration?
Much of the code originally developed for ECC may not be compatible with S/4HANA. Identifying and modernizing incompatible early helps to avoid rework, delays, and functional issues during go-live.
What are S/4HANA readiness checks?
Detailed analysis of custom ABAP code to determine if it is compatible with S/4HANA. The analysis is executed using the ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC). ATC scans your custom code against S/4HANA rules and flags.
What is dual maintenance in an S/4HANA migration?
Dual maintenance refers to keeping your legacy ECC system and the new S/4HANA system in sync until final cutover.
Why is retrofit important in a Brownfield migration?
Automated retrofit eliminates manual, error-prone, and time-consuming tasks required to reapply relevant ECC legacy systems changes to the S/4HANA environment. It reduces risk, unscheduled downtime, and post go-live regressions while accelerating your migration.
The Bottom Line!
A Brownfield S/4HANA migration can be challenging. The goal is to maintain current functionality during the transition to S/4HANA and modernize and optimize systems after the migration. Yet, custom code compatibility, when and how do you modernize code, dual maintenance and the capability to manage cross landscape dependencies are all obstacles to a successful S/4HANA transition.
This is where Rev-Trac comes into play. With Rev-Trac you can ensure any change made to code is S/4HANA compatible and keep your ECC and S/4HANA in sync until the final cutover, streamlining the migration process and reducing risks.
In adopting Rev-Trac, your organization can navigate the challenges of a Brownfield migration with confidence, unlocking the full potential of SAP S/4HANA and driving long-term success.
Are you considering a Brownfield implementation of S/4HANA? Contact one of our SAP change management experts to discover how Rev-Trac can smooth your S/4HANA migration.
