SAP S/4HANA Phase Zero

Overview

Phase Zero – Pre‑Kickoff Readiness

Before the formal SAP Activate methodology begins, Phase 0 is where organizations lay the groundwork for a successful migration. It’s the strategic preparation stage that ensures clarity, alignment, and readiness before committing resources.

What We Do in Phase Zero

Landscape Assessment – Review your current ECC environment, integrations, and custom code.
Data Readiness – Evaluate data quality, governance, and cleansing needs to avoid downstream issues.
Business Alignment – Engage stakeholders to validate objectives and align IT with business priorities.
Migration Approach Definition – Decide on Greenfield, Brownfield, or Hybrid strategies based on your goals.
Risk & Change Impact Analysis – Identify mandatory changes, risks, and user impacts early.

Phase Zero is the “thinking and planning” stage of S/4HANA migration — it ensures you start with clear strategy before the technical work begins.

Name

Description

Strategic Alignment & Vision Setting

Define business objectives for S/4HANA migration.
Align IT and business stakeholders on transformation goals.
Establish governance and sponsorship structures.

Current Landscape Assessment

Review ECC system architecture, integrations, and custom developments.
Identify mandatory changes (e.g., obsolete transactions, incompatible add‑ons).
Assess infrastructure readiness (hardware, cloud options, network capacity).

Data Readiness & Cleansing

Evaluate master and transactional data quality.
Define data governance and cleansing strategy.
Identify data migration scope and tools (e.g., Migration Cockpit, third‑party ETL).

Process Analysis & Optimization

Map current processes against SAP best practices.
Identify inefficiencies and opportunities for redesign.
Use tools like SAP Signavio Process Navigator for scoping and fit‑gap analysis.

Migration Approach Definition

Decide between Greenfield (new implementation), Brownfield (system conversion), or Hybrid.
Evaluate pros/cons based on business case, risk appetite, and timeline.
Define high‑level migration roadmap.

Risk & Impact Assessment

Identify potential risks (technical, organizational, compliance).
Assess change impacts on users and business processes.
Develop mitigation strategies and change management plan.

Business Case & Roadmap Drafting

Build financial justification (costs, ROI, benefits).
Define timeline, milestones, and resource requirements.
Prepare executive presentation for funding approval.

What you get

A migration roadmap tailored to your organization.
A draft business case for moving to S/4HANA.
Data readiness reports highlighting gaps and actions.
Executive confidence that the project is built on solid foundations.

Get in Touch for SAP Services

Unlock the full potential of SAP solutions with our expert support. Whether you need help with implementation, migration, or customization, our dedicated team is here to guide you every step of the way. Reach out to us to discuss your requirements and see how we can transform your business with SAP.

01

Assess Readiness

Conduct an organization-wide assessment to understand how ready your teams are for change and identify potential challenges to address proactively.

02

Engage Stakeholders

Build a network of champions and key stakeholders who can help drive and communicate the change within their respective teams.

03

Implement Training and Support

Develop targeted training programs and support resources to equip employees with the skills and knowledge they need for a successful transition.

Why Phase Zero is Essential

Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is one of the most significant transformations your business will undertake. Phase Zero ensures you start on solid ground — reducing risk, saving costs, and accelerating success.