The S/4HANA transformation requires clear decisions regarding processes, data, architecture, and the target state. Traditional projects typically address many of these issues primarily in the analysis and design phases. SmartTransform starts earlier with the system: a working system provides a strong foundation for further project development.
TL;DR – Key facts in brief
An S/4HANA transformation changes more than just the technical system. Companies must determine early on which existing processes, data, in-house developments, and integrations should be carried over, adapted, or rebuilt.
These decisions are interrelated. A change in the process can affect data, interfaces, extensions, or the target architecture. The earlier these interrelationships can be examined in detail, the more resilient the rest of the project will be.
The appropriate transformation path depends on how much of the existing SAP landscape should be kept, modified, or rebuilt. A key factor for the project is then how early this leads to a concrete future system configuration.
Existing processes, configurations, and data will be largely retained and migrated to S/4HANA. The focus is on continuity and technical transformation.
Processes and system structures are being redesigned and better aligned with the S/4HANA standard and a future target architecture.
Existing and new structures are combined in a targeted manner. Data, processes, or organizational units can be selectively adopted, while other areas can be rebuilt from scratch.
The right transformation path depends on the starting point and the desired outcome. However, one question arises regardless of the approach: How early in the project does the future system take concrete shape?
Many SAP transformations begin with lengthy analysis and design phases. Processes are reviewed, requirements are defined, and target scenarios are developed, while the future system remains highly abstract.
This makes it difficult to make early decisions: How processes, data, and requirements actually interact often only becomes apparent later on in the system. By that point, time, budget, and both internal and external resources have already been committed.
SmartTransform does not change the goal of the SAP transformation, but rather the way the project is initiated. Instead of initially describing the future system largely at the conceptual and documentation levels, a functioning system foundation is established early on.
This allows processes, requirements, and dependencies to be defined earlier in the very place where they will eventually need to function: within the system.
Design first
The target vision, processes, and requirements are planned first.
Heavily consultant-driven
Knowledge and project work are often handled by external resources.
Clarity comes later
The effects often don’t become clear until the plan is implemented.
Feedback follows later
Feedback only becomes meaningful once concrete results are available.
Early work in the system
A working system establishes a concrete foundation for work early on.
In-House expertise
Your own teams start working with the future system right from the start.
Earlier insight into the big picture
Processes, data, and dependencies become visible earlier within the system context.
Continuous refinement
Feedback is incorporated directly into the ongoing development of the project.
An early system set-up fundamentally changes the way the project is carried out: business units, IT, and the project team begin working earlier on a concrete, shared foundation rather than primarily on concepts and documents.
SmartTransform doesn’t just create a working system early on. A shared transformation environment emerges around this system, bringing together context, information, and relevant tools.
The Working System is not a finished target system, but rather the concrete starting point for the next steps in the project. Processes and requirements will continue to be reviewed, adjusted, and gradually refined based on it.
As a result, the project approach is shifting more toward “building early and then refining the details” rather than “designing everything first, then building.”
SmartTransform establishes a functional foundation for transformation early on and uses it as a starting point to develop the future SAP system step by step.
SmartTransform – Discovery Call
A distinction is often made between brownfield, greenfield, and selective data transition. Which approach makes sense depends on the current situation, the target state, and the desired scope of change.
The Working System is an early, functional version of the future SAP system. It serves as the concrete system foundation upon which the project continues to build, gradually refining the future version.
SmartTransform introduces a functional future system state into the project earlier on. This allows planning, design, and implementation to be more closely aligned with the actual system reality.
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