Moving to SAP S/4HANA is a big decision – and how you get there has a big impact on your future business. For most organisations, a simple technical upgrade is too limiting: it wastes the opportunity to modernise and transform. But a full re-implementation is disruptive and can be expensive. Enter Selective Data Transition (SDT) which offers a middle ground: a chance to reimagine your SAP system without totally starting from scratch.
Selective Data Transition is a genuine alternative yet not all SAP customers are fully aware of its benefits or how it works. This is surprising. We’ve seen it deliver fast and pragmatic change – especially for organisations that don’t want a complete transformation. They get to modernise and standardise where it makes sense and keep the customisations that give them a competitive edge.
Here’s how it normally works: with SDT you create an empty copy of your existing system, upgrade it to S/4HANA, apply targeted change, then selectively migrate and convert the data you really need. This approach lets you leave behind old baggage - such as divested entities, outdated financial periods, redundant modules - while retaining the fuel your business runs on.
SDT works best for businesses that have decided to move to S/4HANA but don’t want the extremes of a pure technical upgrade or a complete greenfield implementation. If your current system largely works but needs simplification, SDT can be a great way to do it. And even if you end up deciding against SDT – we believe you should be aware that it’s an option to consider.
Through our data discovery process powered by Pioneer, we can help you quickly assess whether SDT is right for you – and rule it out confidently if it’s not. We’ll do a full stocktake of your data and discuss your current system and requirements with you. We’ll explore your options in detail – which might include various flavours of SDT, from what’s called “Lean SDT” (using SAP’s free Business Transformation Centre toolset) through to a full SDT with advanced tools like Natuvion DCS for maximum flexibility. And of course, we’ll recommend SDT only if we think it’s the right fit for you.
We’re approach- and technology-agnostic. This means we’ll give you honest, independent advice across all migration paths and technical options – not just SDT – and a clear recommendation for your situation which takes into account your appetite for change. Plus, you’ll work with a small, highly specialised, senior team, dealing directly with key people rather than wading through layers of consultancy bloat. We work quickly and solve problems unbureaucratically. This means that we are cost-effective as we strip out the overheads and avoid unnecessary complexity.
And if you need some hands-on advice: get in touch, we’d love to chat.
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