Why SAP Data Archiving is Critical for a Successful S/4HANA Migration
Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is a transformative step for businesses, offering enhanced performance, real-time analytics, and simplified processes. However, one of the most overlooked yet crucial aspects of this migration is SAP data archiving. Proper data archiving ensures a smoother transition, optimizes system performance, and reduces costs. Let’s explore why it’s indispensable.
The Challenge of Data Overload in SAP Systems
Over time, SAP systems accumulate vast amounts of data, including transactional records, master data, and historical information. While this data is valuable, it can become a burden during migration. Legacy data often consumes significant storage, slows down system performance, and increases migration complexity.
According to Gartner, 60% of organizations face performance issues during ERP migrations due to unoptimized data.
Impact: Excessive data can lead to longer downtime, higher migration costs, and potential risks of data corruption.
How Data Archiving Simplifies S/4HANA Migration
Data archiving involves identifying and moving historical or rarely accessed data to a secure, separate storage system. This process not only reduces the volume of data to be migrated but also ensures that only relevant, high-quality data is transferred to S/4HANA.
Key Benefits of Data Archiving:
- Improved System Performance: By removing unnecessary data, S/4HANA can operate at optimal speed, enabling faster processing and real-time analytics.
- Cost Efficiency: Migrating less data reduces storage costs and minimizes the resources required for the migration process.
- Compliance and Security: Archived data remains accessible for audits and regulatory requirements, ensuring compliance without cluttering the live system.
- Simplified Data Management: A leaner dataset makes it easier to manage and maintain the system post-migration.
Best Practices for SAP Data Archiving During Migration
To maximize the benefits of data archiving, organizations should follow these best practices:
- Assess Data Relevance: Identify which data is critical for daily operations and which can be archived. Use tools like Infobelt Essentials for SAP to automate this process.
- Plan Early: Start archiving well before the migration to avoid last-minute complications.
- Ensure Data Integrity: Verify that archived data remains consistent and accessible when needed.
- Leverage Automation: Infobelt Essentials for SAP is specifically designed to streamline the process and reduce manual effort.
Archiving is Not Optional—It’s Essential
SAP data archiving is a strategic step that ensures a seamless transition to S/4HANA. By reducing data volume, improving system performance, and cutting costs, archiving sets the foundation for a successful migration. Organizations that prioritize data archiving will not only achieve a smoother migration but also unlock the full potential of S/4HANA’s advanced capabilities.
Key Benefits of Data Archiving
- Improved Speed: 80% faster transaction processing.
- Cost Savings: 30% reduction in migration costs.
- Efficiency: 66% less downtime during migration.
- Compliance: Archived data remains accessible for audits and regulatory requirements.
Industry Insights
- Gartner: 60% of organizations face performance issues during ERP migrations due to unoptimized data.
- IDC: Global data is expected to grow to 175 zettabytes by 2025, making data archiving essential.
- SAP: Companies that archive data before migrating to S/4HANA report 30-40% faster migration times.
The Impact of SAP Data Archiving on S/4HANA Migration (Sample data)
| Before Data Archiving | After Data Archiving |
|---|---|
|
Response Time: 5 seconds |
Response Time: 1 second |
|
Data Volume: 10 TB |
Data Volume: 3 TB |
|
Downtime: 72 hours |
Downtime: 24 hours |
|
Migration Cost: $500,000 |
Migration Cost: $350,000 |
Key Benefits
Faster Processing
0
%
Cost Savings
0
%
Less Downtime
0
%
Compliance Ready
Cost Savings Chart
| Cost Category | Before | After |
|---|---|---|
|
Migration Costs
(30% Savings) |
$500K |
$350K |
|
Storage Costs (70% Savings) |
$100K |
$30K |
|
Operational Costs (60% Savings) |
$50K |
$20K |
|
Total Savings |
– |
$250K |