Björn Braemer, an expert in Transformation and Program Management at SAP, shares his insights as one of the co-authors of the “Mapping your journey to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition” guide. Here, he offers practical advice for companies starting – or already progressing through – their transition to cloud ERP.
Q: Your team recently made a comprehensive update to “Mapping your journey to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition.” Why?
A: Since the first edition of the guide was published in 2018, the technological landscape has changed significantly and, of course, we want to provide our customers with the most up-to-date information. That’s our ongoing goal: to offer comprehensive guidance to companies looking to transition to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition. There’s plenty of information on the subject online, coming from different perspectives and with various focal points. We wanted to create a central, reliable source of information that can serve as a planning tool. The entire transition process is covered, from initial considerations to go-live. At the same time, you can read the chapters independently if a specific topic feels more relevant. And it’s all written in a practical, hands-on way – no buzzwords, just real value for the reader.
“A successful SAP migration starts with the right mindset. The cloud mindset makes all the difference.”
Q: What sources did you use?
A: Our approach draws heavily on external sources and focuses on addressing real customer pain points. We gathered insights from various user groups and institutions, such as Koblenz University of Applied Sciences, to document the specific challenges customers face – or perceive they face. While our internal experts, such as the Regional Implementation Groups and the Customer Care Center, played a role, they primarily contributed SAP’s best practices and expertise to answer these customer-driven questions. Using the Pareto principle, we identified the challenges that account for 80% of project success. But we didn’t stop there. We are actively updating the guide based on ongoing customer feedback. For example, we were recently asked to add a chapter on our acquisition of WalkMe – and we’re on it!
Q: Were there any challenges that surprised you?
A: Surprised might not be the right word, but there are two main areas where I see easily avoidable issues.
First, there’s the lack of a cloud mindset. Some decision-makers still struggle to understand that a cloud environment has different requirements compared to an on-premise infrastructure. Throughout the guide, we address this need in several chapters, including the “Clean Core” chapter, which emphasizes standardizing processes and moving away from old customizations. A true cloud mindset requires attention to multiple components, all aimed at achieving greater flexibility, simplicity, and innovation. Everyone involved needs to understand this before the project starts or else you end up with misunderstandings and delays.
Second, there’s often room for improvement in project management. A project setup with clearly defined responsibilities and the right expertise is crucial. And those in charge need to be empowered to make decisions – otherwise, too much time gets wasted on unnecessary approvals or multiple iterations for validation and consensus discussions.
Q: Considering the entire guide, what are the most important recommendations?
A: Having a clear goal is the foundation. It serves as the central guiding element for all individual decisions. The goal must be clearly defined from the outset and, most importantly, pursued consistently. It may sound simple, but it’s so easy to lose sight of the bigger picture in the heat of the moment! For example, does a company primarily want to reduce existing dependencies or get prepared for digital business models? Depending on the objective, the processes will be shaped quite differently.
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“Mapping your journey to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition” provides IT leaders with the perfect blend of theoretical insights and practical guidance to help keep their company digitally prepared beyond 2027.
Thomas Bamberger is president of SAP Customer Evolution.