Why your enterprise needs to convert to SAP S/4HANA Immediately!

Some organizations—for example those running earlier versions of SAP® software that have few elements that can be reused in an SAP S/4HANA environment—may elect not to convert, but instead to opt for a “greenfield” installation that requires data migration from the old system into a completely new SAP S/4HANA environment. However, for many others, a “brownfield” conversion is a likely path:  

1. Brownfield – Upgrading live systems and reusing existing system elements selectively.
2. Smart brownfield – Creating a shell copy of the leading system with existing implemented processes and perform SAP System Landscape Optimization (SLO) tool-based migration of a selected or the full data scope.

At the beginning of a project, we assess the current SAP system and the steps required, including whether to maintain existing databases or move to a new version. Taking a phased approach makes it possible to manage the conversion costs in line with planned budgets and timetables (see figure 1). All organizations converting to SAP S/4HANA need to comply with several technical and functional requirements. These include a dual-stack split, conversion to Unicode and activation of SAP New General Ledger.