SAP Data Migration


SAP Data Migration: An Overview and Key Considerations

What Is Data Migration?

Data migration is the process of transferring data from one computer storage type or file format to another. It is a key component of any system implementation, upgrade, or consolidation.

The overall objective of data migration goes beyond simply moving it; the real objective is to maintain data quality during the move, ensure the data is fit for use, and ensure it can support underlying business processes and operational goals.

SAP provides data migration software and a major global portfolio comprising individual services, both called SAP Data Migration.

Vendors like Boomi provide data migration services to help SAP customers with their data migration projects.

SAP Data Migration: An Overview and Key Considerations

What Is Data Migration?

Data migration is the process of transferring data from one computer storage type or file format to another. It is a key component of any system implementation, upgrade, or consolidation.

The overall objective of data migration goes beyond simply moving it; the real objective is to maintain data quality during the move, ensure the data is fit for use, and ensure it can support underlying business processes and operational goals.

SAP provides data migration software and a major global portfolio comprising individual services, both called SAP Data Migration.

Vendors like Boomi provide data migration services to help SAP customers with their data migration projects.

Key Data Migration Considerations for SAPinsiders

Develop a data matrix. Creating a data matrix can help project managers plan and execute a multiple-data-migration project, explains Yogesh Lohiya in an SAPinsider tutorial. Lohiya writes that “with business-driven planning, a well-managed data migration process can produce significant business gain across the enterprise.” After you create the matrix, Lohiya recommends using color coding to help certain elements stand out.

Understand the difference between data validation and data testing strategy. According to Ashvinder Rana, data migration projects should have an effective data migration testing strategy. In this SAPinsider article, Rana encourages project managers to understand the difference between data validation and data testing. Data validation, says Rana, can comprise random sampling methods to ensure that the data is converted accurately as per the data mapping rules.

“However, a data migration testing strategy should comprise a series of iterative ‘mock conversion runs’ for all objects in scope where the converted data is utilized by the business process/functional teams to thoroughly test the integration points/transactions as well. In addition, these iterative ‘mock conversion runs’ also allow for validation or conversion programs, conversion error analysis, and fixes that will eventually lead to a ‘zero-error’ data migration.”

Consider a data migration process specific to SAP S/4HANA. Abhishek Gupta provides a step-by-step guide for SAP customers or consultants who want to migrate master or transnational data from any SAP or non-SAP system to SAP S/4HANA. “It is essential for an organization to execute an appropriate data migration strategy to speed up their drive towards SAP S/4HANA in a profitable way. It would be a challenging task to transfer the data into SAP S/4HANA, and therefore it is required to have a verified data migration technique,” Gupta says.

9 results

  1. Mitre 10’s Digital Transformation: Achieving Excellence with SAP S/4 HANA Migration

    Published: 24/June/2024

    Reading time: 1 min

    Mitre 10 New Zealand’s migration to SAP S/4HANA with Syniti led to a 96% ETL accuracy improvement, streamlined operations, and enhanced customer experiences.

  2. Optimize your SAP migration with Sigma

    Published: 05/January/2023

    Reading time: 1 min

    Decommissioning these legacy systems with the OpenText Migration Center by Sigma Business Solutions and migrating this data to OpenText™ InfoArchive, a cost-effective, accessible interface, helps streamline migration, lowers total cost of ownership (TCO), improves access, and simplifies compliance. Read this whitepaper sponsored by Sigma Business Solutions.

  3. Large Energy Sector Company Saves Millions in Infrastructure and Personnel Costs with Modern Information Management System

    Published: 21/December/2022

    Reading time: 1 mins

    A large energy sector company was planning a migration to SAP S/4HANA.  Like many other companies planning for this migration, they faced the complexity of a large and diverse application and system landscape. Secondly, the legal requirements for the storage of legacy information prevented system retirement, or at least until a legally compliant solution could…

  4. Reducing Risk, Cost and Complexity for Zurich Insurance

    Published: 17/November/2022

    Reading time: 1 min

    To reduce costs and improve efficiency, Zurich Insurance Group embarked on a Finance Transformation Program that involved consolidating 23 legacy SAP systems into a single production instance. As a multi-year, multi-wave program Zurich needed a reusable migration solution and methodology for future waves.   Read this case study to learn how Zurich Insurance leveraged automation, rebuilt…

  5. Deploy SAP HANA in Azure Faster with Less Risk and Higher Quality

    Migration to SAP HANA – A Strategic Perspective

    Published: 29/July/2022

    Reading time: 1 min

    A large number of SAP customers are either moving or planning their migration to SAP HANA to meet the SAP deadline. This is a expensive and risky project that requires a well-planned approach and making critical choices. How should SAP customers view this migration? Is it simply a technical move to meet SAP mandates or...…

  6. Case Study: Moving Analytics and Data Warehousing to the Cloud – An early adopter’s perspective

    With the introduction of SAP Data Warehouse Cloud (DWC) SAP customers have a new option for building a scalable, flexible, and open native cloud data warehouse solution that integrates with existing SAP Business Warehouse (BW) and SAP Analytics Cloud implementations. Businesses using SAP DWC as a virtual data integration layer can connect to a broad…

  7. Data abstract digital network_450

    Demystifying the “Selective Data Transition” Migration Approach to SAP S/4HANA

    Published: 03/June/2020

    Reading time: 7 mins

    While SAP has offered its customers three different migration approaches for moving to SAP S/4HANA, many customers don’t know how these differ or which one is the appropriate choice for them. Because every landscape is different and every project has its own specialized data migration requirements, there are many questions existing SAP customers have that…

  8. Complex Data Type Transfer through RFC

    Published: 18/December/2017

    Reading time: 8 mins

    Before sending data across systems you need to ensure both systems are on the same page regarding the data type. If it is a unique composite data type from the called system, then you first need to send the definition of this data type to the calling system and have it re-created. If it is...…

  9. Simple Data Type Transfer through RFC

    Published: 01/December/2017

    Reading time: 5 mins

    Before sending data across systems you need to ensure both systems are on the same page regarding the data type. If it is a unique composite data type from the called system, then you first need to send the definition of this data type to the calling system and have it recreated. Then when you...…