This compact brownfield checklist will help you make the structured transition to SAP S/4HANA - step by step:
Phase 1: Preparation & project planning
Document SAP system landscape (ERP version, OS/DB, Unicode status)
☐ Define target architecture (on-premises, private cloud, RISE)
☐ Run Maintenance Planner and define stack
Analyze dependencies (add-ons, third-party tools, interfaces)
☐ Define project scope and milestones
☐ Calculate budget & resources
☐ Set up a project team with roles and responsibilities
☐ Involve key users & specialist departments at an early stage
☐ Plan communication strategy and project marketing
☐ Coordinate backup strategy for all systems
☐ Coordinate schedule and downtime window
Phase 2: System analysis & preliminary investigations
Download and run SAP Readiness Check 2.0
Repeat the simplification item check regularly
☐ Analyze custom code with ATC & SCI
☐ Identify & mark unused custom code
☐ Check Business Functions & Industry Solutions
☐ Create and prepare an archiving strategy
☐ Analyze data volume & growth
☐ Perform HANA sizing (CPU, RAM, storage)
☐ Check system requirements (kernel, DB, OS)
Activate CCLM (Custom Code Lifecycle Mgmt) optionally
☐ Prepare Unicode conversion (if not available)
☐ Check technical users and authorizations
Phase 3: Preparatory measures
☐ Perform Unicode conversion (if still necessary)
☐ Update Support Packages & SPAM/SAINT
☐ Import current SAP Notes (according to Maintenance Planner)
☐ Prepare SAP Solution Manager for DMO/SUM
☐ Check and approve add-ons and business functions
Inventory interfaces (IDocs, RFC, BAPIs, web services)
Document batch jobs and schedules
☐ Save and evaluate transport orders
☐ Check workflows for compatibility
☐ Save print and spool configuration
SAP Fiori preparations (embedded deployment?)
Clone system in sandbox or test environment
Phase 4: Technical migration & conversion
☐ Complete backup of database, application & file system
Configure SUM with DMO mode (incl. benchmarking)
☐ Perform database migration to SAP HANA
☐ Control table migration (large objects, clusters, pools)
☐ Check migration of user and role data
Conversion of tables (MATDOC, ACDOCA, etc.)
☐ Edit and confirm simplification items in SUM
Adjust SPDD (dictionary objects) manually
☐ Clean up & synchronize SPAU (repository objects)
☐ Edit custom code and execute unit tests
☐ Reassign transaction codes and reports (e.g. KE24 → Fiori app)
Perform debugging and dump analysis regularly
☐ Adjust system parameters (e.g. parallel degree, memory)
Phase 5: Functional tests & quality assurance
☐ Check system start & basic services (RFC, spool, background jobs)
☐ Check cross-client settings
☐ Monitor ST03N & ST22 for errors and dumps
Testing technical processes (e.g. P2P, O2C, HCM, FI Closing)
☐ Test custom reports & user exits
☐ Validate workflows, forms (SmartForms, Adobe)
☐ Configure and test SAP Fiori Launchpad
☐ Test authorizations & roles in the new S/4HANA
Draw performance benchmarks (STAD, HANA Studio)
☐ Perform integration test with peripheral systems
Carry out acceptance tests with specialist departments (UAT)
☐ Document and release regression tests
Phase 6: Go-live & aftercare
☐ Finalize cutover plan with times and responsible persons
Define go-live processes per module
☐ Pull last delta backup
☐ Activate and release productive system
☐ Inform & train users if necessary
☐ Activate monitoring (EarlyWatch, HANA Cockpit, Solution Manager)
Log evaluations and dump monitoring
☐ Correct authorization problems
☐ Document and prioritize open issues
☐ Document lessons learned
☐ Ensure support phase with Hypercare team
Identify optimizations (e.g. Fiori, embedded analytics)
Conclusion
Be well prepared with this complete and tried-and-tested SAP S/4HANA brownfield checklist and ensure a risk-minimized and controlled transformation. The better the preparatory work, the smoother the migration.
