The brownfield migration - Fast migration to SAP S/4HANA with the abat Conversion Accelerator

A migration to S/4HANA starts with the decision for the migration approach: Greenfield or Brownfield?

The difference can be illustrated by imagining a move to a new home: Do you want to carefully refurnish everything in the new apartment and leave your old belongings behind? Or are you satisfied with

the existing furnishings that you pack everything neatly into boxes and crates and to reuse in your new home while adding some new furnishings?

When does a brownfield approach make sense?

There are some key criteria or frameworks that lend to a brownfield approach:

  • The existing system with organizational structure and processes is to be largely retained.

  • Customer developments should not interfere strongly with standard objects (via modifications etc.). 

  • You want to manage the changeover to S/4HANA in a short period of time and with manageable effort - and gradually realize functional innovations.

  • Converting your system in one step - a so-called "big bang" - is manageable in terms of risk.

If these conditions apply, a move to the new apartment can begin, just as in the real world: the existing equipment is packed in and unpacked again in the new environment - but with new wiring, electrical connections and a comfortable hobby room.

What happens technically with a brownfield approach?

An existing SAP ECC system with all its settings, data, processes, proprietary developments, interfaces, etc. is converted to a new system with the in-memory database technology S/4HANA, including the new ERP system S/4HANA. Thus, a technical conversion to SAP S/4 HANA is not the end of a project, but the beginning of many more innovations around the new "Digital Core" of your company.

Good planning is half the battle

The better the changeover is prepared and planned, the faster you can start innovation cycles and profit from them.

With the abat Conversion Accelerator, we have developed a methodology that clearly structures and simplifies all the necessary steps for the planned conversion. All relevant points are checked and the existing SAP system is analyzed with regard to technical and functional feasibility.

All activities are collected in a backlog and ordered chronologically. In this way, the effort required for a system conversion can be defined very precisely. The project becomes "tangible" and the subsequent conversion can be implemented in a targeted and accelerated manner. In this webinar, you will see how such a changeover is investigated, prepared and managed. For more info on the Conversion Accelerator, click here.

We would be happy to explain the individual steps in the migration to SAP S/4HANA and the use of the abat Conversion Accelerator.

Our Success Stories

Weidmüller

Short interview about the SAP ERP implementation and warehouse redesign at Weidmüller Mexico in Puebla. One of the challenges of the project was the incompatibility of the old warehouse layout with the current SAP requirements. abat changed the warehouse layout for more efficient processes and transparency. Key improvements included optimized goods receiving, storage, picking and shipping, as well…

to the project

B.A.U.M. e.V.

The B.A.U.M. e.V. network faced significant challenges: It lacked a clear strategy for digitizing processes and a system coordinator to integrate the various trades. In addition, the existing CRM solution was not compatible with the newly created Digital B.A.U.M. platform, and there were no certified standard interfaces. What was needed was a future-proof solution that could be used without…

to the project

PFERD

Effective communication is often the key to project success. As a family business with more than 200 years of tradition, the PFERD brand has made communication and trust an important part of its core values. This success story of an S/4HANA migration at the Mexican site describes the challenge and the successful cooperation between abat and PFERD during the project phase and beyond.

to the project

Steinbeis

Since the beginning of the 2000s, Steinbeis has been mapping its business processes with a very sophisticated SAP ERP system that is tailored in detail to its own requirements. Due to the announced end of maintenance, the system will have to be replaced in the medium term. A key objective is to map more processes than before using standard processes. Using a fit-gap analysis, the abat experts…

to the project

Salzgitter AG

In 2018, the Salzgitter Group started to migrate its entire ERP infrastructure to SAP S/4HANA. In the course of this group-wide transformation project, a separate project was to standardize, optimize and automate the merchandise management processes for the procurement of input materials from an affiliated company across all participating group companies. In eleven workshops, abat developed the…

to the project

DESMA

DESMA supports the shoe industry with innovative production solutions for Industry 4.0, highly automated machines, excellent know-how and comprehensive support. However, continuous innovation is only possible if the company optimizes its internal processes. The discontinuation of support for SAP R/3 was therefore a reason for DESMA to take care of a changeover at an early stage. Thanks to abat,…

to the project

Imperial Logistics

Integrated Warehouse and Transportation with SAP S/4HANA

Greenfield implementation of a logistics template in the chemical industry. Imperial Logistics is a pioneer in the use of embedded EWM and TM integration in S/4HANA on Release 1709.

to the project

SAS Automotive Systems

e-Accounting meets the requirements of the Mexican tax authorities

German companies based in Mexico must also adapt their e-accounting to the legal requirements of the Mexican tax authority SAT - and provide information on their key financial figures.

to the project

Our customers

Our SMARTsolution

Conversion Accelerator

The abat S/4HANA Conversion Accelerator bundles our knowledge of existing SAP systems as well as our experience and tools from numerous S/4HANA conversion projects.

to Conversion Accelerator 

Yi

SAP Developer
China

What I find most attractive working at abat is the friendly and relaxed atmosphere. We are coworkers as well as friends. I can ask any question and always receive constructive feedback. Moreover, it is highly encouraged to try new things, which helps broaden the horizon for me and the company alike.

Xu

SAP Consultant
China

I truly enjoy working at abat. The flexible working environment and professional colleagues have made my experience here exceptional. The culture of collaboration and willingness to offer help has allowed me to develop my skills in SAP. Overall, I feel grateful to be a part of such a supportive and dynamic team

Vivien

Consultant
Bremen

I like working at abat because there is a very pleasant, appreciative working atmosphere here with a lot of freedom. There is a lot of trust, so you also have the freedom to try out something new - but if it doesn't work out, there is also the necessary support. That's how I've learned so much! In addition, if you have problems while working in the home office, you can often quickly find colleagues who are happy to help you out via teams.

Tim

Senior SAP Developer
Bremen

At abat, thanks to the great variety of projects, I have the opportunity to constantly expand my horizons and thus always be prepared for upcoming challenges.

Sophie

Working student
St. Ingbert

WORK-LIFE-BALANCE is very important at abat. Thanks to flexible working hours and a great team, you can combine work and university very well.

Quick Link

Contact our brownfield migration experts

Europe
Kathrin Kronberg
Senior Consultant
+49 421 430460
Tobias Plaha
Senior Consultant
+49 421 430460
China
Henrik Lienstromberg
Executive Director
+49 421 430460