SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA Migration

Brownfield Implementation

This approach involves converting an existing SAP ECC system directly to S/4HANA. Here, the existing system’s data and configuration are retained, and necessary adjustments are made for S/4HANA’s new data model and other differences. Essentially, the core structure of the legacy environment is preserved, with modifications only as needed to make it compatible with S/4HANA. It’s akin to an upgrade or evolution of the existing system.

Bluefield Implementation

This approach allows a tailored scope between system conversion and new implementation with the flexibility to adapt data and processes in one step. It supports big bang approaches, as well as rollouts, and can be also used to modernize landscape and architecture (e.g. ERP consolidations or move to cloud applications).

This is a consolidation of current regional SAP systems into one global SAP S/4HANA system or a split out of different parts of a system: customers who want to consolidate their landscape or carve out selected entities (such as a company code) or processes into a single SAP S/4HANA system.

Lift and Shift

This approach is best suited when moving from On-Premise scenarios to RISE with SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud environments. “Lift and Shift” implies taking the existing system (in this case, SAP ECC) and trying to move it as-is to the new environment (SAP S/4HANA Cloud – RISE). A brownfield approach involves converting the existing ECC system to S/4HANA, retaining the historical data, and adjusting for the new data model and other changes. It’s about evolving or converting an existing system rather than starting fresh.This approach makes the most sense when you are supported by the RISE with SAP offering.