Blog Post
The migration to SAP S/4HANA is a complex and costly undertaking for companies. Yet many firms fall into the same traps, risking massive delays, budget overruns, or even a failed migration. As an independent SAP analyst, West Trax has observed in countless projects which mistakes can be costly for companies. Here are the ten biggest deadly sins of an S/4HANA migration – and how to avoid them.
1. Lack of Strategy: Entering Chaos Without a Plan
Many companies start their migration without having a clear strategy. A SAP migration is not just a technical upgrade, but an opportunity for process optimization. Companies that begin without a roadmap quickly lose track and miss important opportunities for efficiency gains.
👉 Solution: A detailed preliminary analysis of the current SAP landscape is essential. Define clear goals, identify critical processes, and develop a robust roadmap.
2. Migration Without Data Cleansing: Garbage In, Garbage Out
Often, old, erroneous, or unstructured data are transferred 1:1 into the new system. This leads to performance issues and makes the new system inefficient.
👉 Solution: Before the migration, data should be cleansed, duplicates removed, and redundant structures dissolved. A Data Readiness Check helps identify problems early.
3. Underestimating the Complexity: “We'll Do This on the Side”
Many companies think a SAP migration is purely an IT project. However, without the involvement of business departments, misunderstandings arise, and important requirements are overlooked.
👉 Solution: The migration is an enterprise-wide project. IT, business units, and management must be involved early to optimally align requirements and processes.
4. License Chaos: Costly Surprises After Migration
After switching to S/4HANA, new license models often apply that companies do not consider. Many end up paying much more than planned.
👉 Solution: A license analysis before the migration shows which users really need which license. This can help avoid unnecessary costs.
5. Ignoring Best Practices: Reinventing the Wheel
SAP offers best practices and predefined scenarios for S/4HANA – yet many companies try to adopt their old processes 1:1 and thus miss out on the benefits of the new solution.
👉 Solution: Use the best practices recommended by SAP and only adjust where there is a clear business value.
6. Inadequate Testing Strategy: Noticing Errors Only After Go-Live
Insufficient testing leads to critical errors in the production system, which only become apparent after go-live. Corrections are then expensive and time-consuming.
👉 Solution: A structured testing strategy with multiple testing phases (unit tests, integration tests, user acceptance tests) ensures that the system runs stably.
7. Overlooking Security Risks: Open Doors for Attackers
After the migration, new roles and permissions can lead to security gaps. Companies risk unauthorized access or compliance violations.
👉 Solution: A permissions analysis before and after migration prevents unnecessary security risks.
8. No Training for Employees: A System Without User Acceptance
A new system is useless if employees cannot handle it. Often, sufficient training is lacking, leading to mistakes and reduced efficiency.
👉 Solution: Early training and change management measures increase acceptance and ensure that all departments work optimally with the new system.
9. Misplaced Expectations: Viewing Migration as a Pure IT Upgrade
A common misconception is that S/4HANA is simply a new version of SAP. In reality, it often requires profound process adjustments. Companies that do not plan for this face massive problems after the migration.
👉 Solution: The migration should be seen as a transformation project. A preliminary analysis shows which processes need to be revised to maximize benefits from S/4HANA.
10. No Look into the Future: Migrating Only the Minimum
Many companies opt for a "technical migration," where only the essentials are changed. This wastes the opportunity to make the system future-proof.
👉 Solution: Use the migration as an opportunity to introduce innovations, integrate automations, and optimize processes.
Conclusion: The Right Preparation Saves Millions
A S/4HANA migration is a significant challenge, but also a great opportunity. Companies that avoid these ten deadly sins can save significant costs, increase system efficiency, and successfully implement their digital transformation.
