---
title: 5 key steps to prepare for your migration to S/4HANA from SAP ECC
date: 2025-01-16T12:02:00+01:00
author: Flexso
canonical_url: "https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/sap_ecc_cloud"
section: cp.sections.blog
---
![Flexso ECC to S4 HANA](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%271360%27%20height%3D%27544%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

**Rigorous preparation is the key to success for many endeavours and migrations to S/4HANA are no exception. Do you plan to move from SAP ECC or SAP R3? To help you get started, we’ve put together a super-handy overview of five essential projects to tackle beforehand. They will help you save you time and costs, mitigate risks, and set you up for a smooth transition – plus, ensure you make the most of your S/4HANA migration.**

There’s no doubt that a **future-proof ERP system runs in the cloud**. After all, the cloud unlocks real-time data insights, enables smarter workflows, and drives faster innovation. For SAP users, S/4HANA Cloud will soon be the only platform receiving updates and new features. Migrating from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA is therefore more than a technical upgrade – it’s an opportunity to **optimize and futureproof your business.**

**Once you’ve decided to take the leap, preparation with the following preliminary steps will smoothen your journey:**

Optimize and futureproof your business

[Optimize and futureproof your business](https://www.flexso.com/en/solutions/sap-erp-software/sap-s4hana-roadmap)

## Choose the right migration path to S/4HANA

Choosing your migration path is crucial for ensuring a successful, efficient, and cost-effective transition to [SAP S/4HANA](https://www.flexso.com/en/solutions/sap-erp-software) . The three main approaches each come with their own characteristics, benefits, and trade-offs:

- **Greenfield:** start from scratch
- **Brownfield**: complete technical conversion of your existing SAP ECC
- **Shell conversion**: hybrid approach, combining Green- and Brownfield

## To select the path that best aligns with your goals, timeline, and resources, consider the following:

1. **Process design:** Do you want to adopt as many standard best practices as possible (Greenfield), retain a high level of customization (Brownfield), or selectively optimize processes (Shell conversion)?
2. **Data migration**: Is it necessary to bring historical data into the new system (Brownfield), or will migrating open items (e.g. open sales orders, financial open items, and balances) be enough (Shell conversion)?
3. **Go-live strategy**: Do you prefer a phased go-live or is a ‘big bang’ deployment feasible?

## Do the check: are your infrastructure, data(base), and business processes ready for migration to S/4HANA?

Before moving to SAP S/4HANA, it’s essential to ensure that your infrastructure, data(base) and business processes are prepared and compatible. Our experts can guide you with a **comprehensive readiness check** to assess and optimize key areas. More than ensuring a smoother migration, this check will also highlight key pre-projects that can be executed to address gaps and prepare your system.

![SAP S4 HANA Data archiving 01](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27867%27%20height%3D%27%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

## SAP S/4HANA readiness check: 5 essentials to verify

- **Database migration**: are you already using the SAP HANA database? If not, we can help you prepare, including installing simplified code and adaptations required for SAP S/4HANA.
- **Simplifications overview**: identify opportunities to streamline your system by eliminating unnecessary customizations, unused functionalities, and redundant processes.
- **Custom code analysis**: review your custom code to pinpoint what needs adaptation, replacement, or removal to ensure compatibility with SAP S/4HANA.
- **Master data sanity check**: verify and clean your vendor and customer master data, e.g. detect duplicate data, check bank details, etc.
- **Business processes**: with the help of [SAP Signavio](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/sap-signavio-process-optimization) , we’ll verify if your business processes are relevant and up-to-date, and what processes could be replaced by standard SAP processes best practices.

## Integrate customer and vendor data

SAP S/4HANA unifies the separate master data records for ‘Customers’ and ‘Vendors’, from SAP ECC into a single entity: ‘**Business Partners’**. This means that you’ll work with **one streamlined master data entry point** in SAP S/4HANA, instead of managing multiple records. To ensure a smooth transition, it’s highly recommended to synchronize your customer and vendor master data using SAP’s Customer/Vendor Integration (CVI) process before migrating to S/4HANA.

[Discover how CVI smoothens your migration ](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/customer-vendor-integration-s4hana-migration)

## Archive obsolete master data

While SAP S/4HANA’s in-memory HANA database excels in real-time processing and analytics, storing large volumes of outdated or irrelevant master data can slow down your system and raise costs. Archive obsolete or rarely-used master data before migration to **reduce the volume of data to migrate** and ensure a **leaner, more efficient transition and system.**

[Learn how to build a robust data management strategy ](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/s4hana-cloud-data-archiving)

## Optimize your license usage

The cloud requires a new way of working, including a subscription-based license model. S/4HANA Cloud measures application usage with Full Usage Equivalents (FUE), which categorize users based on their capabilities and [authorizations](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/sap-s4hana-implementation-and-integrated-authorization). Each category has its own weighting factor.

![S4 HANA CLOUD MIGRATION FUE](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27867%27%20height%3D%27%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

The **S/4HANA Trusted Authorization Review (STAR)** is a service that helps you transfer your ECC users to S/4HANA Cloud. It helps you estimate the number of FUE you need – now and in the future – by analyzing users, roles, and profiles and simulating potential optimizations. Our experts can help you optimize your license usage.

## How RESA prepares migration to S/4HANA with in-depth analysis

RESA, an important Belgian operator of electricity and gas distribution systems, conducted an in-depth assessment to prepare its migration from SAP ECC to S/4HANA. By mapping the technical, functional, and organizational impact and analyzing all possibilities, the organization hopes to minimize the risks and maximize the returns when transitioning to the new SAP platform.

[Read the RESA case now.](https://www.flexso.com/en/cases/preliminary-study-migration-to-s4hana)

![Resa migration SAP ECC S4 HANA 1](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27867%27%20height%3D%27%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)

## Start preparing today

A **well-prepared migration to SAP S/4HANA makes all the difference**. With the right groundwork, you can turn what seems like a daunting project into a manageable transition:

- save time and costs
- mitigate risk
- ensure a seamless, frustration-free migration
- build internal ambassadors
- make the most of your new SAP S/4HANA Cloud environment

If you’re kicking off your S/4HANA Cloud migration, tackle the pre-projects we outlined above as soon as possible. Need support? Our experts are here to guide you – from readiness checks and migration planning to CVI, not forgetting master data and license optimization.

**Prepare for your SAP S/4HANA migration stress-free and efficient.**   
**Let’s get started together.**

[Contact us.](https://www.flexso.com/en/contact)

---

Written by

![Catherine Essique](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%2794%27%20height%3D%2794%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)**Catherine Essique**

Share

- [Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/sharer/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fsap_ecc_cloud&quote=Authors%20%2B%20brand)
- [LinkedIn](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fsap_ecc_cloud&title=Authors%20%2B%20brand&summary=&source=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fsap_ecc_cloud)
- [Whatsapp](whatsapp://send?text=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.flexso.com%2Fen%2Finsights-blog%2Fsap_ecc_cloud)

![SAP S4 HANA Cloud Release Highlights overview Flexso](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)SAP S/4HANA Cloud: An overview of the latest product releaseWhat’s new in SAP S/4HANA Cloud? Discover the latest innovations and features in your favourite SAP cloud ERP solution on this release page.

[SAP S/4HANA Cloud: An overview of the latest product release](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/sap-s4hana-cloud-release-page)

![SAP Cloud ERP Private 2025 release](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)SAP Cloud ERP Private 2025: why your next S/4HANA upgrade is a business decisionStill running on an earlier SAP S/4HANA release? Discover why SAP Cloud ERP Private 2025 is more than an IT upgrade and how to assess the impact for your business.

[SAP Cloud ERP Private 2025: why your next S/4HANA upgrade is a business decision](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/sap-cloud-erp-private-2025-business-impact)

![S4hana development fiori elements](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)What's new in S/4HANA development: Fiori Elements, RAP and ABAPSAP S/4HANA continues to evolve with modern development capabilities that significantly improve how applications are built and experienced. It is now possible to create Fiori Elements apps faster with ABAP and RAP

[What's new in S/4HANA development: Fiori Elements, RAP and ABAP](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/sap-s-4hana-development-fiori-elements-rap-abap)

![SAP Cloud ERP Accelerator Food 01](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)S/4HANA Cloud Accelerator for the Food IndustryImplement a modern SAP Cloud ERP solution packed with best practices for food companies. Fixed implementation time, reduced cost. Discover all the benefits.

[S/4HANA Cloud Accelerator for the Food Industry](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/s4hana-cloud-erp-implementation-accelerator-food-industry)

![SAP business AI 02](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)Make your SAP S/4HANA agentic in the cloud and on premDiscover how agentic AI enables SAP S/4HANA to reason, act autonomously, and enhance business processes across cloud and on-premise landscapes.

[Make your SAP S/4HANA agentic in the cloud and on prem](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/agentic-ai-sap-s4hana)

![Flexso Kontich 010425 798](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)Prepare your SAP Cloud ERP migration with Flexso’s Digital Discovery AssessmentWhen you plan to move to SAP Cloud ERP, preparation is key to ensuring a smooth migration. But where do you start? With Flexso's **Digital Discovery Assessment (DDA)**, you'll discover in just how SAP Cloud ERP can bring value to your organization.

[Prepare your SAP Cloud ERP migration with Flexso’s Digital Discovery Assessment](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/prepare-your-sap-cloud-erp-migration-with-flexsos-digital-discovery-assessment)

![SAP AI 01](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)SAP Business AI Starter Pack: Launch AI scenarios with a POCReady to kick off your SAP AI journey, but not sure where to start? Explore embedded AI scenarios in SAP with Flexso’s guided, fixed-price Business AI Starter Pack.

[SAP Business AI Starter Pack: Launch AI scenarios with a POC](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/sap-business-ai-joule-starter-package)

![Whitepaper: 7 features of a new ERP system](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)Whitepaper: 7 features of a new ERP system for fast ROI after an acquisitionThe complexity of merging two organizations goes beyond just financial considerations. An ERP system is not only the backbone of an organization; it is a catalyst that can either accelerate or block the success of an acquisition.

[Whitepaper: 7 features of a new ERP system for fast ROI after an acquisition](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/7-features-of-a-new-erp-system)

![Whitepaper dont blame the CEO with right ERP system](data:image/svg+xml;charset=utf-8,%3Csvg%20xmlns%3D%27http%3A%2F%2Fwww.w3.org%2F2000%2Fsvg%27%20width%3D%27375%27%20height%3D%27281.25%27%20style%3D%27background%3Atransparent%27%2F%3E)Whitepaper: Don't blame the CEO – How the right ERP system empowers better decisionsDownload the Whitepaper: "How good are your reports? Decision-making for ambitious CEOs"

[Whitepaper: Don't blame the CEO – How the right ERP system empowers better decisions](https://www.flexso.com/en/insights-blog/dont-blame-the-ceo-with-the-right-erp-system)