“Keep Core Clean” is a common phrase used referring to the importance of ensuring your SAP system’s core data is as clean and streamlined as possible before starting a migration process. A clean core sets the foundation for a successful S/4HANA migration. It ensures data integrity, enhances migration efficiency, optimizes system performance, facilitates system maintenance, and establishes data quality management practices.
In this context, “core” refers to the most important data in the SAP system, such as the master data, transaction data, and configuration data. Keeping this data clean means removing any redundant, outdated, or irrelevant data and ensuring that the remaining data is consistent and accurate.
By cleaning the core data before a migration, you can help ensure a smooth transition to the new database. A clean database will also be easier to maintain and less prone to errors and performance issues, making it a more efficient and effective tool for your organization. By investing time and effort in keeping your core clean, you lay the groundwork for a smooth transition and maximize the benefits of migrating to SAP S/4HANA.
Why Should You Keep Your Core Clean Before S/4HANA Migration?
- Data integrity: A clean core ensures the integrity and accuracy of your data during the migration process. By identifying and resolving issues with bad data, you can minimize the risk of migrating those items to your new system. This ensures that your new S/4HANA system starts with reliable, trustworthy, quality data.
- Migration efficiency: It also helps to reduce the complexity and size of the data to be migrated. This reduces chances of migration downtime, and minimizes the potential for data migration errors or delays.
- Performance optimization: Cleaning your core data helps optimize the performance of your S/4HANA system. This process will help you reduce the database size and improve query and transaction processing speed. A clean core ensures that your new system operates efficiently, delivering accurate and consistent live reports.
- System stability: A clean core simplifies system maintenance and ongoing operations. It reduces the complexity of your data structures, making it easier to manage and future proof your S/4HANA system. With a clean core, you can avoid data-related issues, improve system stability, and enhance the overall system performance.
When preparing for an SAP S/4HANA migration, there are several strategies you can employ to keep your core clean. Remember, the goal in this process is to ensure a smooth transition and optimize your data for the new system.
Keeping Your Core Clean
First, data cleansing is essential. Take the time to thoroughly analyze your existing data and identify any redundant, outdated, or irrelevant records. This process involves data deduplication, data validation, and data enrichment techniques. By removing duplicates, correcting errors, and eliminating obsolete entries, you can ensure that your data is accurate and reliable.
Additionally, conduct system cleanup activities. Remove unused or obsolete programs, jobs, configurations, and customizations. By eliminating unnecessary elements, you reduce system complexity and enhance performance, minimizing potential migration issues.
Another key step is to archive unnecessary data. Evaluate your data landscape and determine what information is no longer required for day-to-day operations. This includes old transactional data, unused master data, and historical records that are not needed for reporting or compliance purposes.
Simplifying data models is also crucial. Review your existing data models and identify areas where complexity can be reduced. Analyze tables, fields, and relationships to streamline or consolidate data structures. Simplifying data models not only improves system performance but also makes your system easier to maintain and upgrade in the future.
Before initiating the migration, thoroughly assess and validate the data. Conduct test migrations and perform data validation exercises to ensure the integrity and completeness of your data. This step allows you to identify and address any potential issues or gaps proactively.
Next Steps to Ensure You Keep Core Clean for S/4HANA Migration:
To ensure your core is clean for an S/4HANA migration and achieve optimal results, it is essential to focus on data quality management, data volume management, and process optimization.
1. Data Quality Management:
A way to minimize the risk of migrating erroneous or incomplete data, is by ensuring data accuracy, consistency, and completeness. To implement effective data quality management processes prior migration, a number of strategies can be put in place. These include defining data standards, establishing data governance practices, and performing regular data quality checks. This involves conducting data profiling, data cleansing, and data validation activities.
2. Data Volume Management:
By reducing data volume, you improve system performance and simplify the migration process. Analyze your data landscape and identify opportunities for archiving or deleting unnecessary data. This includes removing obsolete or redundant transactional data, unused master data, and historical records that are no longer required.
There are many vital aspects when considering a data volume management strategy. Some of these include defining data retention policies, establishing archiving strategies, and implementing data aging techniques to manage data volume effectively. Do not forget that managing data volume is key to maintaining a streamlined core for the migration.
3. Process Optimization:
With optimized processes, you not only improve data quality but also enhance overall system performance and user productivity. Review and streamline existing business processes, eliminating any unnecessary complexity or redundancy. Identify areas where automation or digitization can improve efficiency and reduce manual effort. This includes optimizing data entry processes, standardizing workflows, and leveraging automation tools for data cleansing and validation.
Now, with a better understanding of the importance of thoroughly preparing core data, organizations can streamline the migration process and maximize the benefits of their S/4HANA system. Embracing the importance of a clean core is an ongoing commitment to maintain data integrity and cleanliness, empowering organizations to future-proof their businesses. Remember, these are general strategies, and it’s important to consult with experienced SAP consultants to ensure a successful S/4HANA migration.
