SAP ERP migration to S/4HANA and Fiori: 2,5k faster resource planning

Innowise ensured a smooth transition from SAP ECC to S/4HANA to improve operational performance and replaced outdated SAP GUI interface with Fiori to enhance user-friendliness.

Customer

Industry

Manufacturing, Enterprise

Region

US, EU

Client since

2021

Our client is a large international manufacturer producing tires and other rubber products for cars, motorcycles, trucks, and aircrafts with 55k employees on board. Detailed information about the client cannot be disclosed under the provisions of the NDA.

Challenge

Having been in tire manufacturing for over three decades, our client has well-established processes for planning, organizing, and controlling material resources. More than ten years ago, they implemented SAP SCM APO to link all the business and operational processes within one digital ecosystem and benefit from precise supply chain planning, warehouse management and detailed scheduling.

Over time, however, our customer encountered several issues that hindered their expansion plans. In essence, conventional SAP ECC was constrained by the legacy database and complex data model with redundant or fragmented information affecting effective decision-making. Moreover, SAP-integrated software was inconvenient for employees because of an outdated graphical user interface.

Simultaneously, SAP pushed customers worldwide to replace ECC with S4/HANA, a massive rewrite of the business suite, as they would stop maintenance by the end of 2027. Thus, the need for modernization became a necessity that could not be neglected.

Solution

The initial goal was to consolidate and modernize the SAP ECC modules and merge them with no compatibility or data loss issues under the business suite’s umbrella. Based on this, our client commissioned Innowise to smoothly migrate from ECC ERP to S/4HANA. Additionally, our project team replaced outdated GUI with user-friendly, web-compatible Fiory interfaces to configure, manage and operate the SAP business suite core.

Migration from ECC to S/4HANA

Since it was not a typical software project but rather a fundamental change, we evaluated a step-by-step migration plan that considered customer recommendations and objective business needs. Our team had to shift data and information from one system to another, implementing the so-called brownfield approach that allows rapid conversion, saving the existing configuration, customizations, and historical data.

At the first stage, we used Maintenance Planner (MP) to easily and efficiently implement changes in the SAP landscape. Our team analyzed how many add-ons are installed in the ECC and defined whether they will be compatible once the system is upgraded to S/4HANA. To generate the download files for the conversion, we called Software Update Manager (SUM).

Afterward, Innowise initiated Simplification Item Check to evaluate system relevance and consistency, subsequently adjusting SAP ABAP dictionary objects, programs, function modules, screens, interfaces, documentation, and text elements with SPDD and SPAU.

Next, we used ABAP Call Monitor (SCMON) to identify and delete obsolete coding or programs that needed refactoring or optimization. Our vetted team prepared custom code and all ABAP objects for SAP data migration and made all the necessary manual adjustments. We ran SUM and adopted the remaining custom code and dictionary objects that fit an enhanced business model. To troubleshoot errors, eliminate vulnerabilities, and simplify smoke and unit tests, we implemented ABAP Test Cockpit.

Summing up, Innowise attained a smooth SAP S4/HANA migration, having accomplished the stages of

database migration from disk-based storage to an in-memory database, empowered by real-time OLTP and OLAP processing;
data conversion, making data readable and comprehensive for end users;
application code updating.

Replacing SAP GUI with SAP Fiori

Since our customer operated big volumes of data, they strived for more SAP transparency and convenience in their day-to-day routine. Moreover, employees had a difficult time adjusting to the GUI interface during onboarding. Based on this, our client suggested a new approach to user experience and moving away from a legacy GUI interface toward Fiori. Ultimately, our goal was to integrate SAP APO modules in a modern, customizable, and intuitive web application infrastructure that streamlined performance and reduced human errors.

To address this challenge, Innowise deployed about 15+ SAP UI5-based responsive, enterprise-ready web applications. We created a layout that allowed for direct access to different apps and notifications instead of SAP GUI, forcing users to maneuver through a series of menus to accomplish a single task.

Additionally, we strengthened the SAP APO with intelligent technologies as Fiori offers embedded machine learning and advanced analytics to make informed business decisions.

Furthermore, our seasoned developers configured scalable web applications that were inherited from a common interface while using oData as a back-end connection for Fiori solutions. To ensure web apps do not contain flaws or security issues, our QA engineers performed complex testing.

Technologies

Back-end

ABAP 7.5+, CDS(DDL, DML, annotations)

Front-end

AP Fiori, SAP UI5 JavaScript, CSS, XML, VS code, Postman

Database

DB2, SAP HANA DB

Cloud

SAP BTP

SAP/ABAP Unit Testing

Process

Innowise started partnering with the client in September 2021. For precise compliance with our client’s requirements, we began investigating the SCM APO process’ unique features. Then, our business analysts identified the application’s scope and determined the main milestones.

As for the management methodology, we chose an Agile approach with bi-weekly sprints and Monday meetups. Because the project scope allowed for changes, Innowise chose an agile SAP migration strategy and optimized workflow as fast as possible, enabling instant amendments on the go if needed.

We chose the tech stack, relying on our expertise in similar projects and top-tier SAP support and implementation services. Thus, to migrate from ECC to S/4HANA we employed MP, SUM and other SAP-related tools. As for transmission to Fiori, we leveraged SAP UI5 (Javascript framework) for the user side and oData (Microsoft protocol) to build the server side. As a result, we deployed an updated SAP landscape with base views, fragments, controllers and methods for CRUD operations.

Currently, the project is undergoing maintenance with our team consulting customer’s employees on minor edits.

Team

Business Analysts

Scrum Master

Full-Stack Developer

ABAP Developers

Fiori Developer

SAP Basis Specialist

Results

Innowise significantly improved the client’s SAP ecosystem. From now on, supply chain planning, warehouse management and detailed scheduling will boast more accuracy, flexibility and velocity to comply with the ever-changing business environment. By migrating to SAP S4/Hana, we eliminated redundancy and duplication in data and gained more predictability and precision in strategic decision-making. The interface became immensely user-friendly and accessible through a web browser, thereby reducing the number of mistakes.

Our customer now benefits from an easy, scalable and extensible SAP architecture that can deal with a growing number of users with no downtime.

Project duration

September 2021 - in progress

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SAP ERP migration to S/4HANA and Fiori: 2,5k faster resource planning

Customer

Challenge