SAP has formally announced the discontinuation of support for ECC by 2027, leaving organisations that continue to rely on ECC with limited options: migrate to S/4HANA, extend their support package at a premium cost, or explore alternative solutions.
While 2027 may seem distant, the complexity and scale of ECC to S/4HANA migrations mean time is limited. Migrating from SAP ECC to S/4HANA is a resource-intensive undertaking that demands meticulous strategic planning, discovery, expert guidance, and significant investment. Large enterprises may require several months to transition due to substantial data volumes and intricate workflows, whereas smaller organisations may struggle to secure the requisite talent and resources in an increasingly competitive market.
Outsourcing the migration to one of the major SAP consultancies - or even SAP itself - is an option, but this approach comes with considerable financial implications that many organisations may find prohibitive.
Identifying the Optimal Migration Strategy
To navigate this challenge effectively, organisations should consider engaging an independent specialist with extensive experience in SAP migrations. A knowledgeable partner with a team of experts can facilitate a seamless transition to S/4HANA or help explore alternative solutions such as third-party support and maintenance. This approach ensures business continuity while future-proofing operations ahead of the 2027 deadline.
By implementing a structured migration plan with careful consideration, businesses can mitigate risk and optimise outcomes. To support organisations in understanding the critical components of a successful migration, we have identified five key pillars:
1. Discovery & Analysis
Often underestimated, the discovery phase is critical. Rather than following SAP's recommendations without scrutiny, organisations must first determine the optimal solution for their specific business needs.
Key questions that should be addressed before proceeding include:
- Is maintaining the status quo viable? Can the organisation rely on third-party support for the next five or more years, or is migration an essential aspect of broader business transformation?
- Are alternative solutions available? Would another ERP system better align with operational requirements?
- Which S/4HANA deployment model is most suitable? Public Cloud, Private Cloud, Managed Cloud, or On-Premises?
- Have business requirements been clearly defined? Which processes should be modernised or transformed?
- Does the organisation have the internal expertise and resources to successfully execute and manage the migration?
Or is external expertise required?
2. Change & Strategy Planning
Beyond technological considerations, organisations must acknowledge the human and process-driven aspects of the transition.
A structured change management plan should function as a roadmap, outlining the journey from identifying required changes to executing them effectively. Key factors to evaluate include:
- How will the migration impact the organisation, workflows, and stakeholder relationships?
- Who is responsible for each aspect of change management, and how will communication be structured across teams?
· How will communications be structured to ensure stakeholder buy-in and readiness?
3. Data Cleansing & Preparation
SAP migrations are not simply lift-and-shift operations. Organisations typically accumulate vast amounts of data. But, not all data needs to be migrated, making this an opportune moment to assess and cleanse data before extraction, transformation, and migration.
Our data specialists employ a traffic light classification system to categorise data:
- Green Data: Frequently accessed, mission-critical information (migrate to S/4HANA database)
- Amber Data: Less frequently accessed but still relevant (store within S/4HANA system)
- Red Data: Historical or obsolete data (archive as legacy data to minimise system load)
4. Infrastructure Review
Prior to executing an SAP S/4HANA migration, a comprehensive assessment of the existing IT infrastructure is essential. This includes analysing hardware, software, and network capabilities to identify potential constraints or limitations.
Key infrastructure evaluations include:
- Server capacity, memory, and storage requirements
- Network bandwidth feasibility
- Technical compatibility assessments
- Risk areas needing mitigation
Our infrastructure and architecture specialists can conduct rapid assessments, providing detailed reports outlining existing system capabilities, potential risks, and necessary upgrades.
5. Cutover Planning & Execution
The final stage of the migration process is the cutover plan, which details the precise sequence of activities required to transition from SAP ECC to S/4HANA.
To ensure a smooth transition, organisations must:
- Establish a structured approach to data migration, system configuration, and testing
- Implement a communication framework ensuring alignment between stakeholders
- Schedule migration at a low-impact period, such as a weekend or public holiday
- Conduct post-cutover validation, including system performance monitoring and issue resolution
Ignoring this phase may result in unexpected emergencies, operational downtime, and disruption to business continuity.
Considerations Beyond Migration
While the structured approach outlined above covers the critical elements of an SAP migration, alternative pathways exist. Organisations may opt to:
- Extend third-party support rather than migrate immediately
- Transition to an alternative ERP provider rather than remain within SAP’s ecosystem
Regardless of the chosen approach, it is imperative to start planning now. The 2027 deadline is fast approaching, and organisations that delay risk encountering unforeseen challenges in securing expertise, resources, and financing for their migration.
How Impellam Project Services Can Help
At Impellam Project Services, we deliver independent, outcome-focused IT project support across global enterprises, including FTSE 100 clients. Our SAP migration services are built on deep expertise and a commitment to delivering measurable value. Why choose us?
- Outcome-based service model: We deliver against defined outputs, milestones, and deliverables for a fixed, transparent cost.
- Experienced project delivery professionals: Our PMO-led framework ensures structured project execution.
- Full risk management: We take ownership of deployed resources and ensure results are delivered on time and within budget.
- Cost-effective solutions: We provide greater value for money than traditional consulting firms.
To learn how we can support your SAP migration strategy, contact us here.