Is your team S/4HANA-ready?
If your team's first interaction with S/4HANA is at project kickoff, then you're already too late.
S/4HANA implementations are overloaded
Overwhelmed systems and tight timelines
Implementing S/4HANA is no small feat. The process frequently involves transferring an extensive history of your existing system—code, configurations, and data—often within a compressed timeframe of just a few years or even less.
The expectation to "learn on the job"
Another challenge lies in workforce preparation. Users are commonly expected to "learn on the project," navigating new system complexities while simultaneously fulfilling their job responsibilities. This learning curve can lead to delays and reduced efficiency, impacting the overall success of your implementation.
Project Kick-Off: Ready or Not?
Adding to these concerns is the issue of readiness at project kick-off. It's not uncommon for the system to be less than fully operational on day one, creating a set of challenges that can derail timelines and increase costs.
The shift
Early preparation is vital for a successful transition to S/4HANA. The complexity of the implementation requires a well-thought-out plan, and there's no time like the present to get started. In your existing system, several key actions should be your focus.
Optimize your codebaseRefactor and optimize your existing code to enhance efficiency and maintainability. This proactive step will set the stage for a more streamlined S/4HANA implementation. Alongside this, take the opportunity for some digital housekeeping by deleting any obsolete or redundant code. Doing so will not only boost your current system's performance but also simplify the upcoming migration process.
Establish modern DevOps practicesDevOps will enhance your operational efficiency and set the stage for a successful S/4HANA implementation. DevOps practices such as automated pipelines for continuous integration and deployment are particularly beneficial in this context.
Provide trainingProvide early training tailored to the functionalities and capabilities of S/4HANA. This not only helps your team build confidence but also allows them to better anticipate the shifts in workflow and process that the new system will bring.
Enable system accessAccess to a sandbox system can be invaluable. It provides a safe space where team members can freely experiment with the new system without any risk to your live operations. This hands-on experience enables them to learn the ins and outs of S/4HANA, equipping them to handle the live system much more effectively when the time comes.
Enter Nuve Platform
Modern development workflowsNuve empowers you to implement CI/CD workflows that not only improve the quality of your code but also accelerate the pace of your changes, all while minimizing risk to unprecedented levels. Establishing such modern workflows is crucial in today's fast-paced environment, particularly for facilitating a seamless transition to S/4HANA and ensuring ongoing operational continuity.
On-demand sandbox systems One of the pillars of modern development is the availability of on-demand systems stocked with pristine data. Thanks to Nuve's advanced automation capabilities, setting up such a system is just a few clicks away. While this feature is invaluable for implementing modern workflows, it's equally important for providing your team with a secure and isolated S/4HANA environment for hands-on experimentation.
Ready to shift your SAP Basis team's focus where it really matters?
Let Nuve Platform handle the routine tasks so you can zero in on security and optimization.
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FAQ
To get ready for S/4HANA, teams should concentrate on cleaning up their current systems. This includes deleting any outdated code, updating and improving the existing code, and adopting modern DevOps practices. These practices aim to enhance the quality of the code and accelerate the development process.
Early preparation for the transition to S/4HANA is crucial because it allows you to tackle the extensive amount of code and customizations accumulated over the years in your existing SAP system. S/4HANA projects are usually planned to be completed within 1-2 years, which might not be sufficient to clean up, refactor, and test decades' worth of code. By starting this process before the S/4HANA implementation officially begins, you can significantly reduce the workload and set your technical team up for success, ensuring a smoother transition.
During S/4HANA implementations, developers often face the challenge of either migrating a significant amount of existing code to the new system using a "lift and shift" approach, which involves adapting to new technologies while sorting through years of accumulated code, or starting from scratch in the new system. In the latter scenario, developers may have limited experience with the new technologies and methodologies, leading to a steep learning curve and the expectation of learning while working on the project. Proactive organizations understand that addressing these challenges before the project officially starts can significantly smooth the transition process.
Ensure a smooth start to your project. Before the first day, make sure all developers have adequate access to an S/4HANA system and have received the necessary training to be well-acquainted with the system. This preparation helps them to immediately get to work. Moreover, they should already be using DevOps practices, which include automated code checks, peer reviews, and unit testing. These practices are crucial for a successful transition and help in maintaining high standards of code quality and efficiency throughout the project.
Give your SAP team the opportunity to start exploring and familiarizing themselves with S/4HANA long before the actual implementation kicks off. This proactive approach ensures that they are well-prepared and ready to dive into the project, as opposed to figuring things out as they go. Projects often come with their own set of challenges, and ensuring your team is comfortable with the system beforehand eliminates the added difficulty of navigating a new system under pressure.
Optimizing the codebase before transitioning to S/4HANA is crucial. If you bring outdated or inefficient code into the new system, it will lead to poor performance and additional complications. In a greenfield implementation, while you're starting fresh, there will still be commonalities in your business processes, which means some code will be reused. With the pressure of tight timelines, developers will naturally lean towards reusing existing code, and that's perfectly okay. However, it's important to ensure that the codebase has been previously refactored and optimized. This proactive step will facilitate a smoother transition and set the foundation for better system performance in S/4HANA.
Establishing modern DevOps practices is key for a successful S/4HANA implementation because these practices ensure that the code goes through thorough quality checks. This results in cleaner, more reliable code, which is crucial for the stability and performance of the system. DevOps encourages continuous integration and continuous deployment, automating many parts of the development process and promoting a more streamlined, efficient workflow. This, in turn, contributes to a smoother and more successful transition to S/4HANA.
Training plays a crucial role in preparing for S/4HANA because it equips your team with the necessary knowledge and skills before the project starts. This preparation is essential as the team faces a challenging task, needs to balance daily responsibilities, and is expected to learn new systems and processes on the job. Proper training helps minimize technical debt from the beginning, prevents project delays, and enhances the overall experience for the developers, contributing to the success of the transition to S/4HANA.
Nuve fosters modern development workflows through its strong emphasis on automation. It enables the creation of isolated development environments, which are essential for setting up Continuous Integration/Continuous Deployment (CI/CD) pipelines. These pipelines are a fundamental component of DevOps practices, leading to more efficient and reliable development processes.