Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is a significant step for any organization, but it’s not without challenges. Poor data quality—duplicates, incomplete records, and outdated information—can create major roadblocks, increasing costs and slowing down the migration process.
Yet, moving to the cloud is no longer optional. With SAP setting a 2027 deadline for S/4HANA adoption, businesses must act now to ensure a smooth and successful transition.
In our recent iT2 DX Talks podcast, Dan McGrew sat down with data migration expert Scott Cunningham, a former SAP Platinum Consultant with over 30 years of experience in data quality, migration, and governance. Scott shared valuable insights on how organizations can effectively clean, manage, and govern their data ahead of migration.
In this blog, we’ll break down why data preparation is essential to a successful transformation and share actionable strategies to make the process easier and more manageable.
Moving Data: A Worthwhile Opportunity and Challenge
Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is much more than a technical upgrade—it’s an opportunity to modernize and streamline your organization’s data. However, the process comes with challenges that can quickly become overwhelming if not addressed early.
Many organizations are dealing with decades of accumulated data spread across legacy systems. Over time, data becomes messy—duplicates, incomplete records, and outdated information pile up, making it harder to move efficiently into a new environment.
Think of it like cleaning out a garage before a big move: you wouldn’t want to bring old, unused, or broken items to your new home. Similarly, migrating “bad” data can create unnecessary costs and complications.
Additionally, SAP S/4HANA introduces new data structures and capabilities that require careful planning. Moving from an ECC system to S/4HANA often means reorganizing master data (customers, vendors, and materials) to fit updated standards. Without proper preparation, businesses risk data inconsistencies, downtime, and operational disruptions post-migration.
To overcome these challenges, organizations must recognize that data preparation is not a last-minute task. It’s a critical first step that ensures clean, accurate, and optimized data flows into your new system—setting the foundation not just for a successful migration project, but also for long-term success in the cloud.
3 Steps to Prepare Data for a Smooth Migration
A strategic approach to data preparation is vital to any data project; not only does it reduce the risk of migration issues but also ensures your new system runs efficiently from day one.
Below are three essential steps to help you clean, organize, and optimize your data for a smooth transition.
1. Start with a Data Migration Assessment
The first step in any successful migration is understanding the state of your current data with a thorough data migration assessment.
A data migration assessment helps identify key issues like duplicates, missing fields, and outdated records. It also provides insights into how much data you need to move and what can be archived.
This assessment serves as a foundation for building a clear migration roadmap, ensuring you know exactly what needs to be addressed before the move.
2. Cleanse and Archive Your Data
Once you’ve assessed your data, it’s time to clean it up.
Focus on removing duplicates, fixing incomplete records, and validating outdated information to ensure accuracy. At the same time, develop a clear archiving strategy to decide what data is essential for migration and what can be stored elsewhere.
As moving unnecessary data into the cloud can lead to higher costs and performance issues; knowing what to keep in the cloud and what to store elsewhere is worth the effort. Only 36% of data migration projects stay within budget.
Moreover, by cleansing and archiving, you’ll not only streamline the migration but also reduce data storage costs, clutter, and improve system performance.
3. Build a Data Governance Plan
A well-defined data governance plan ensures your data remains clean, compliant, and reliable post-migration. Start by assigning data ownership, implementing controls to monitor data quality, and ensuring regulatory compliance (GDPR, CCPA, or industry-specific standards).
Establish clear processes for maintaining and auditing data over time. Remember, data governance is not a one-time effort—it’s an ongoing strategy that protects your data and ensures it continues to deliver value to your organization.
Expert Insights to Manage Master Data
Master data plays a pivotal role in the success of any SAP S/4HANA migration. From customers and vendors to materials, managing master data effectively ensures consistency and accuracy across your systems.
Expert insight from Scott Cunningham reveals that a data migration is the perfect opportunity to modernize and optimize your master data for the future. Setting a solid foundation for proper master data management sets the stage for operational efficiency in a new SAP S/4HANA environment.
Here are four expert tips for handling master data during migration:
- Assess current structures: Identify gaps, inconsistencies, and outdated data in your master records.
- Leverage new capabilities: Adapt your data to S/4HANA’s updated structures, like transitioning to the Business Partner model.
- Consolidate redundant records: Merge duplicate or overlapping entries to create clean, unified master data.
- Remap critical data: Realign accounts, materials, and vendor relationships to reflect business changes and future needs.
Pro-Tip: Don’t Let Data Paralysis Hold You Back
The complexity of data migration can feel overwhelming, especially for organizations with years of accumulated information across multiple systems. This “data paralysis” often leaves businesses unsure of where to start, delaying critical migration efforts.
The key is to take small, manageable steps. Begin with a high-level plan, prioritize data cleansing, and use the right tools and expertise to tackle challenges efficiently. Remember, migration is an opportunity to optimize—not a reason to freeze.
With a structured approach, you can turn the daunting task of data migration into a streamlined process that drives future success.
Turning Data Challenges into Opportunities
Migrating to SAP S/4HANA may come with its challenges, but with proper data preparation, those challenges can transform into opportunities. By taking the time to assess, cleanse, and govern your data, you set the stage for a smoother migration and long-term success in the cloud.
Migration isn’t just about moving data—it’s an opportunity to improve data quality, ensure compliance, and optimize for the future. With the right strategies and support you can avoid costly setbacks, streamline your systems, and maximize the value of your SAP S/4HANA investment.
Ready to take the first step? Get in touch with our team.
We’ll guide you through every stage of your SAP S/4HANA migration, from data preparation to go-live, ensuring a seamless and successful transition.