Delivering Suite on HANA (SoH) Migration Projects

1.0???Preliminaries

SAP Suite on HANA (SoH) is a software suite from SAP that combines the functionality of SAP Business Suite with the speed and power of the SAP HANA in-memory database platform. SoH was introduced by SAP as an intermediate step towards the more modern SAP S/4HANA platform.

SAP SoH allows organizations to run their existing SAP Business Suite applications on the SAP HANA platform, providing significant performance improvements, real-time analytics, and simplified IT landscapes. With SoH, organizations can take advantage of HANA's in-memory processing capabilities to analyse data faster, generate real-time insights, and execute transactions more quickly.

SAP SoH includes various SAP applications, such as SAP ERP, SAP CRM, SAP SCM, SAP SRM, and SAP PLM. These applications run on the SAP HANA database and can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud, or in a hybrid environment.

SAP SoH is a popular option for organizations that want to modernize their SAP landscape but are not yet ready to move to the newer SAP S/4HANA platform. It provides a path to HANA-powered innovation and can be a stepping stone towards the more advanced capabilities of SAP S/4HANA.

2.0???Why a company may choose to do Suite on HANA Migration

A company may choose to do an SAP ECC to SoH (Suite on HANA) migration for several reasons, including:

·??????Performance improvement: Moving to SoH enables organizations to take advantage of the SAP HANA in-memory database platform, which can significantly improve system performance. SoH can provide faster data processing, real-time analytics, and faster transaction processing.

·??????Simplification of IT landscape: SoH allows organizations to consolidate multiple SAP systems and databases onto a single platform, simplifying their IT landscape. This can reduce maintenance costs, improve system administration, and enable better integration between systems.

·??????Real-time insights: SoH provides real-time insights into business operations, enabling organizations to make faster, data-driven decisions.

·??????Compliance with SAP support policy: With the end of mainstream maintenance for SAP ECC 6.0 in 2027, organizations need to plan for a migration to a supported platform. SoH is a supported platform and can enable organizations to comply with SAP's support policy.

·??????Cost savings: By consolidating systems and databases, organizations can reduce hardware and software licensing costs. SoH can also improve productivity and reduce maintenance costs, resulting in overall cost savings.

·??????Improved user experience: SoH can improve the user experience by providing a modern, intuitive interface and enabling access to real-time insights.

SAP to SoH migration can help organizations modernize their SAP landscape, improve performance, simplify their IT landscape, comply with SAP's support policy, and reduce costs. It can be an effective stepping stone towards the more advanced capabilities of SAP S/4HANA.

3.0???Key challenges in executing SAP Systems to Suite on HANA Migration

Executing an SAP to SoH (Suite on HANA) migration project can be complex and challenging, and there are several key challenges that organizations may face, including:

·??????System complexity: SAP systems are typically complex and customized, and migrating to SoH requires careful planning and execution. The migration project team must consider the impact of system customizations, data dependencies, and integration points when planning the migration.

·??????Data migration: Migrating large volumes of data from legacy systems to SoH can be a complex and time-consuming process. The migration team must carefully map data structures and develop a robust migration strategy to ensure data integrity and consistency.

·??????Business process re-engineering: Moving to SoH may require organizations to re-engineer their business processes to take advantage of the platform's capabilities fully. This may involve changes to existing processes, which can be disruptive and require significant change management efforts.

·??????Testing and validation: Testing and validating the migrated system is critical to ensure that it meets the organization's requirements and works as intended. The migration team must develop a comprehensive testing plan that covers all aspects of the system, including customizations and integrations.

·??????Resource availability: Migrating to SoH requires skilled resources, including developers, migration specialists, and system administrators. Organizations may face challenges in recruiting and retaining skilled resources with the necessary expertise and experience.

·??????Timeline and budget constraints: Migrating to SoH is a complex and time-consuming process that requires significant investment in terms of time, resources, and budget. Organizations must carefully manage the project timeline and budget to ensure that the migration is completed on time and within budget.

Executing an SAP to SoH migration project requires careful planning, execution, and management of complex technical and business challenges. Organizations must ensure that they have the necessary resources, expertise, and support to successfully migrate to SoH.

4.0???SAP Systems to Suite on HANA Migration Phases

The migration of an SAP system to the Suite on HANA platform typically involves the following phases:

·??????Planning Phase: This phase involves identifying the scope and objectives of the migration, creating a project plan, assembling the project team, and defining the requirements for the new system.

·??????Analysis Phase: This phase involves analysing the existing system landscape, identifying any technical or functional gaps that need to be addressed in the new system, and defining the migration strategy.

·??????Design Phase: In this phase, the technical and functional requirements of the new system are designed, including the hardware and software architecture, the migration approach, and any customizations or enhancements.

·??????Build Phase: This phase involves configuring and building the new system, including the installation of the HANA database, the migration of data, the configuration of the system landscape, and the development of customizations or enhancements.

·??????Test Phase: In this phase, the new system is tested to ensure that it meets the functional and technical requirements, including system integration testing, performance testing, and user acceptance testing.

·??????Deployment Phase: This phase involves the cutover from the existing system to the new system, including the final migration of data, the setup of the new system landscape, and the go-live activities.

·??????Post-Deployment Phase: In this phase, the new system is monitored and supported, including ongoing maintenance, bug fixes, system updates, and user support.

4.1??????Planning Phase

The Planning Phase is the first phase of a Suite on HANA Migration project, and it involves several activities and deliverables that help to ensure the success of the project. These activities and deliverables include:

Activities:

·??????Define project objectives: This activity involves setting clear and achievable goals for the project and establishing a project charter.

·??????Assemble project team: This activity involves identifying the project team members, including project manager, technical lead, functional lead, and business users.

·??????Define project scope: This activity involves defining the boundaries of the project and identifying the systems and processes that will be affected by the migration.

·??????Identify project risks: This activity involves identifying and analyzing the potential risks that may impact the project and developing a risk management plan.

·??????Develop project plan: This activity involves creating a detailed project plan, including timelines, milestones, and resource requirements.

·??????Define requirements: This activity involves identifying and documenting the technical and functional requirements of the new system.

·??????Conduct feasibility study: This activity involves analyzing the technical feasibility of the migration, including hardware and software requirements, data migration, and system integration.

Deliverables:

·??????Project charter: This document outlines the project's objectives, scope, and stakeholders.

·??????Project team list: This document identifies the members of the project team and their roles and responsibilities.

·??????Project plan: This document outlines the tasks, timelines, milestones, and resource requirements for the project.

·??????Requirements document: This document outlines the technical and functional requirements of the new system.

·??????Risk management plan: This document identifies potential risks to the project and outlines strategies to mitigate or manage those risks.

·??????Feasibility study report: This document outlines the technical feasibility of the migration and identifies any potential issues or challenges.

·??????Communication plan: This document outlines the project communication strategy, including stakeholders, messaging, and frequency.

4.2??????Analysis Phase

The Analysis Phase is the second phase of a Suite on HANA Migration project, and it involves several activities and deliverables that help to ensure the success of the project. These activities and deliverables include:

Activities:

·??????Analyse current system: This activity involves analysing the current system landscape, including hardware, software, and data, to identify any technical or functional gaps that need to be addressed in the new system.

·??????Define migration strategy: This activity involves defining the migration strategy, including the technical approach, system architecture, and data migration plan.

·??????Develop functional requirements: This activity involves developing functional requirements for the new system, including any customizations or enhancements needed to support business processes.

·??????Develop technical requirements: This activity involves developing technical requirements for the new system, including hardware and software specifications, database design, and system integration.

·??????Develop testing plan: This activity involves developing a testing plan, including test scenarios, test scripts, and test data, to ensure that the new system meets the functional and technical requirements.

·??????Develop training plan: This activity involves developing a training plan, including training materials and delivery methods, to ensure that users are prepared to use the new system.

·??????Develop change management plan: This activity involves developing a change management plan, including communication, training, and support, to ensure that users are prepared for the changes associated with the new system.

Deliverables:

·??????Current system analysis report: This document outlines the technical and functional gaps in the current system that need to be addressed in the new system.

·??????Migration strategy document: This document outlines the technical approach, system architecture, and data migration plan for the new system.

·??????Functional requirements document: This document outlines the functional requirements for the new system, including any customizations or enhancements needed to support business processes.

·??????Technical requirements document: This document outlines the technical requirements for the new system, including hardware and software specifications, database design, and system integration.

·??????Testing plan document: This document outlines the testing plan for the new system, including test scenarios, test scripts, and test data.

·??????Training plan document: This document outlines the training plan for the new system, including training materials and delivery methods.

·??????Change management plan document: This document outlines the change management plan for the new system, including communication, training, and support.

4.3??????Design Phase

The Design Phase is the third phase of a Suite on HANA Migration project, and it involves several activities and deliverables that help to ensure the success of the project. These activities and deliverables include:

Activities:

·??????Design system architecture: This activity involves designing the system architecture, including hardware and software components, to support the functional and technical requirements.

·??????Configure the new system: This activity involves configuring the new system based on the technical and functional requirements identified in the Analysis Phase.

·??????Develop customizations and enhancements: This activity involves developing any customizations or enhancements needed to support business processes in the new system.

·??????Develop integrations: This activity involves developing any integrations needed to connect the new system with other systems in the enterprise.

·??????Develop data migration plan: This activity involves developing a plan to migrate data from the old system to the new system, including data cleansing and validation.

·??????Develop test scenarios and scripts: This activity involves developing test scenarios and scripts based on the testing plan developed in the Analysis Phase.

·??????Develop training materials: This activity involves developing training materials based on the training plan developed in the Analysis Phase.

Deliverables:

·??????System architecture design document: This document outlines the system architecture, including hardware and software components, to support the functional and technical requirements.

·??????System configuration document: This document outlines the configuration settings for the new system.

·??????Customizations and enhancements document: This document outlines the customizations and enhancements developed for the new system.

·??????Integrations document: This document outlines the integrations developed to connect the new system with other systems in the enterprise.

·??????Data migration plan document: This document outlines the plan to migrate data from the old system to the new system, including data cleansing and validation.

·??????Test scenarios and scripts document: This document outlines the test scenarios and scripts developed for the testing plan.

·??????Training materials document: This document outlines the training materials developed for the training plan.

4.4??????Build Phase

The Build Phase is the fourth phase of a Suite on HANA Migration project, and it involves several activities and deliverables that help to ensure the success of the project. These activities and deliverables include:

Activities:

·??????Install and configure hardware and software: This activity involves installing and configuring the hardware and software components required for the new system.

·??????Develop customizations and enhancements: This activity involves developing any customizations or enhancements identified in the Design Phase.

·??????Develop integrations: This activity involves developing any integrations identified in the Design Phase.

·??????Migrate data: This activity involves migrating data from the old system to the new system based on the data migration plan developed in the Design Phase.

·??????Conduct unit testing: This activity involves testing individual components of the system to ensure that they meet the functional and technical requirements.

·??????Conduct integration testing: This activity involves testing the integrations between the new system and other systems in the enterprise.

·??????Conduct user acceptance testing: This activity involves testing the new system with end-users to ensure that it meets their requirements and is easy to use.

Deliverables:

·??????Installed and configured hardware and software: This includes a documented configuration of the hardware and software components required for the new system.

·??????Customizations and enhancements: This includes any customizations and enhancements developed for the new system.

·??????Integrations: This includes any integrations developed to connect the new system with other systems in the enterprise.

·??????Migrated data: This includes the migrated data from the old system to the new system.

·??????Unit testing results: This includes documentation of the results of unit testing, showing that individual components of the system meet the functional and technical requirements.

·??????Integration testing results: This includes documentation of the results of integration testing, showing that the new system integrates successfully with other systems in the enterprise.

·??????User acceptance testing results: This includes documentation of the results of user acceptance testing, showing that end-users are satisfied with the new system and that it meets their requirements.

4.5??????Test Phase

The TEST Phase is the fifth phase of a Suite on HANA Migration project, and it involves several activities and deliverables that help to ensure the success of the project. These activities and deliverables include:

Activities:

·??????Conduct system testing: This activity involves testing the entire system, including customizations, enhancements, integrations, and data migration, to ensure that it meets the functional and technical requirements.

·??????Conduct performance testing: This activity involves testing the performance of the system under different conditions to ensure that it meets performance requirements.

·??????Conduct security testing: This activity involves testing the security of the system to ensure that it meets security requirements.

·??????Conduct stress testing: This activity involves testing the system under stressful conditions to ensure that it remains stable and functional.

·??????Conduct user acceptance testing: This activity involves testing the system with end-users to ensure that it meets their requirements and is easy to use.

·??????Document test results: This activity involves documenting the results of all testing activities, including system testing, performance testing, security testing, stress testing, and user acceptance testing.

·??????Address issues: This activity involves addressing any issues identified during testing and verifying that they have been resolved.

Deliverables:

·??????System testing results: This includes documentation of the results of system testing, showing that the system meets the functional and technical requirements.

·??????Performance testing results: This includes documentation of the results of performance testing, showing that the system meets performance requirements.

·??????Security testing results: This includes documentation of the results of security testing, showing that the system meets security requirements.

·??????Stress testing results: This includes documentation of the results of stress testing, showing that the system remains stable and functional under stressful conditions.

·??????User acceptance testing results: This includes documentation of the results of user acceptance testing, showing that end-users are satisfied with the new system and that it meets their requirements.

·??????Issue log: This includes documentation of any issues identified during testing and their resolution.

4.6??????Deployment Phase

The Deployment Phase is the final phase of a Suite on HANA Migration project, and it involves several activities and deliverables that help to ensure the success of the project. These activities and deliverables include:

Activities:

·??????Develop a deployment plan: This activity involves developing a plan for deploying the new system, including the timeline, resources, and tasks required.

·??????Prepare for deployment: This activity involves preparing the environment for the new system, including setting up the hardware, software, and network components.

·??????Deploy the new system: This activity involves installing and configuring the new system according to the deployment plan.

·??????Migrate data: This activity involves migrating any remaining data from the old system to the new system.

·??????Verify the deployment: This activity involves verifying that the new system is installed and configured correctly and that it is functioning as expected.

·??????Conduct user training: This activity involves training end-users on how to use the new system effectively.

·??????Support the new system: This activity involves providing ongoing support for the new system, including troubleshooting issues and resolving any problems that arise.

Deliverables:

·??????Deployment plan: This includes a detailed plan for deploying the new system, including the timeline, resources, and tasks required.

·??????Installed and configured hardware and software: This includes a documented configuration of the hardware and software components required for the new system.

·??????Migrated data: This includes the migrated data from the old system to the new system.

·??????Verified deployment: This includes documentation verifying that the new system is installed and configured correctly and that it is functioning as expected.

·??????User training documentation: This includes documentation of the user training provided for end-users on how to use the new system effectively.

·??????Ongoing support documentation: This includes documentation of ongoing support provided for the new system, including any issues encountered and their resolution.

4.7??????Post-Deployment Phase

The Post-Deployment Phase is the final phase of a Suite on HANA Migration project, and it involves several activities and deliverables that help to ensure the success of the project. These activities and deliverables include:

Activities:

·??????Perform system monitoring: This activity involves monitoring the new system to ensure that it is functioning correctly and that performance is meeting expectations.

·??????Conduct user feedback sessions: This activity involves gathering feedback from end-users to ensure that the new system is meeting their needs and identifying areas for improvement.

·??????Identify areas for improvement: This activity involves identifying areas where the new system can be improved, such as performance, usability, or functionality.

·??????Develop an improvement plan: This activity involves developing a plan to address the areas identified for improvement, including the resources, timeline, and tasks required.

·??????Implement improvements: This activity involves implementing the improvements identified in the improvement plan.

·??????Close the project: This activity involves formally closing the project and transitioning ongoing support to the IT organization.

Deliverables:

·??????System monitoring reports: This includes documentation of system monitoring activities and reports showing system performance and stability.

·??????User feedback reports: This includes documentation of user feedback sessions and reports summarizing user feedback.

·??????Improvement plan: This includes a plan for addressing areas identified for improvement, including the resources, timeline, and tasks required.

·??????Implemented improvements: This includes documentation of the improvements implemented and their impact on system performance, usability, or functionality.

·??????Closed project documentation: This includes documentation of the formal project closure, including any outstanding issues or tasks.

5.0???Key tools in executing for SAP Systems to Suite on HANA Migration

Executing an SAP systems to SoH (Suite on HANA) migration requires a range of tools and technologies to ensure a smooth and successful migration. Some of the key tools used in executing an SAP to SoH migration project include:

·??????SAP Solution Manager: SAP Solution Manager is a comprehensive application management and administration platform that provides end-to-end support for the SAP system landscape. It includes tools for project planning, system monitoring, and performance optimization.

·??????SAP Advanced Data Migration: SAP Advanced Data Migration (ADM) is a tool that enables organizations to migrate data from legacy systems to SAP systems. ADM includes a range of features, including data mapping, validation, and reconciliation, to ensure data integrity and consistency.

·??????SAP Landscape Transformation: SAP Landscape Transformation (LT) is a tool that enables organizations to restructure their SAP system landscape. LT includes features such as system consolidation, data archiving, and system conversion to support migration to SoH.

·??????SAP HANA Migration Cockpit: The SAP HANA Migration Cockpit is a tool that enables organizations to migrate their SAP system to the SAP HANA platform. The Migration Cockpit includes features such as data migration, system configuration, and testing.

·??????SAP Readiness Check: The SAP Readiness Check is a tool that helps organizations assess their readiness for migration to SoH. The tool checks the system landscape and identifies potential issues that may impact the migration.

·??????SAP Test Data Migration Server: The SAP Test Data Migration Server (TDMS) is a tool that enables organizations to generate test data for the SAP system. TDMS includes features such as data masking and anonymization to ensure data privacy and security.

Overall, the key tools used in executing an SAP to SoH migration project enable organizations to plan, execute, and manage the migration process efficiently and effectively. By using these tools, organizations can minimize risks, reduce costs, and ensure a smooth and successful migration to the SAP SoH platform.

6.0???Next Steps

The next step and future directions for SoH (Suite on HANA) migration are focused on leveraging emerging technologies and best practices to further optimize and enhance the migration process. Some of the key areas of focus for SoH migration in the future include:

·??????Cloud Migration: Many organizations are now looking to migrate their SAP systems to the cloud to take advantage of the scalability, flexibility, and cost-effectiveness of cloud computing. In the future, we can expect to see more organizations adopting cloud-based SoH solutions, and migration tools and technologies will need to be developed and optimized for cloud environments.

·??????Automation: Automation can help to reduce the time and effort required for SoH migration while minimizing the risk of errors and inconsistencies. In the future, we can expect to see more advanced automation tools and technologies that can streamline the migration process and increase efficiency.

·??????Machine Learning: Machine learning can help to improve the accuracy and reliability of data migration by identifying patterns and anomalies in the data. In the future, we can expect to see more organizations using machine learning tools and technologies to enhance their SoH migration processes.

·??????Integration with other technologies: The future of SoH migration will likely involve greater integration with other emerging technologies, such as blockchain, IoT, and AI. These technologies can help to enhance the capabilities of the SAP system, and migration tools and technologies will need to be developed and optimized to support these integrations.

The future of SoH migration is focused on leveraging emerging technologies and best practices to optimize and enhance the migration process. Organizations that are planning to migrate to SoH in the future will need to stay up-to-date with the latest trends and developments in migration tools and technologies to ensure a smooth and successful migration.