Prepare your SAP S/4HANA system for a Upgrade. 

Upgrades to SAP S/4HANA: Why are they important for your business? 

SAP S/4HANA is an integrated business solution that offers advanced features and functionality for companies of all sizes. Since its launch in 2015, thousands of companies around the world have adopted SAP S/4HANA and taken advantage of the advantages it offers, such as SAP Fiori and SAP HANA. However, maintaining an up-to-date SAP S/4HANA system is essential to ensure your company has access to the latest features and your data is secure. In this article, we will explore the advantages of upgrading to SAP S/4HANA and how it can be done successfully. 

Advantages of Upgrades to SAP S/4HANA

There are several reasons why companies should consider upgrading to SAP S/4HANA. Some of the advantages include: 

• Maintenance and support: SAP provides core support for all versions of SAP S/4HANA for a period of 5 years. Major maintenance for SAP S/4HANA 1511, for example, expired on December 31, 2020, which means it's important to update your system to stay on a supported version and ensure your company has access to security updates and bug fixes bugs
• New features and functionalities: With each new version of SAP S/4HANA, new features and functionality are added, allowing companies to take advantage of new business opportunities. For example, SAP S/4HANA 2021 has more than 2400 Fiori apps available, and it's a great opportunity to improve and expand your user experience with the new Fiori apps provided with each release. 
• Technical improvements: SAP S/4HANA upgrades also deliver technical improvements such as better performance for SAP GUI for HTML and SAP Fiori Launchpad, as well as general improvements to all SAP Fiori applications based on SAPUI5 technology improvements. Furthermore, companies can benefit from an enhanced database with SAP HANA 2.0 to take advantage of its capabilities on the functional side.
• Functional updates: With an upgrade to SAP S/4HANA, companies can also take advantage of the latest innovations in intelligent technologies such as predictive analytics, AI, machine learning and robotic process automation. This can help improve and redesign business processes and allow companies to realize greater business value. 

Pathways to a successful upgrade to SAP S/4HANA 

Upgrading to SAP S/4HANA can seem intimidating, but there are steps companies can take to ensure a successful upgrade. Here are some paths to a successful upgrade: 

In addition to technical preparation, there are steps to consider for a successful upgrade to S/4HANA: 

• Assess the impact on business processes: S/4HANA is a new platform with advanced features, and there can be significant changes to business processes. It is important to assess the impact of the upgrade on existing business processes, and if necessary, update business practices to take advantage of additional S/4HANA functionality.
• Prepare your team: upgrading to S/4HANA may require new business and technical skills. It is important to ensure that your team is prepared to work with S/4HANA, offering adequate training and support to adapt to new tools and processes. 
• Identify and resolve potential data issues: when migrating from one platform to another, there is always a risk of data issues. It is important to identify and correct any data issues before performing the upgrade. This will help ensure that your data is migrated correctly and that the new platform works properly.

• Test: testing is critical to a successful upgrade. It's important to test all relevant business processes, scenarios, and integrations to ensure everything is working correctly before launching the new platform. This will reduce the risk of failures during implementation and ensure that end users are happy with the new system.
• Plan the transition: it is important to have a clear plan for the transition from the old system to the new one. This could include preparing a support team to help end users, migrating data, implementing training and conducting final tests before launching the new platform. 
• Keep communication open: maintaining open and transparent communication with all stakeholders is critical to the success of the upgrade. This includes project managers, team members, end users, and others involved in the project. Keep everyone informed about the progress of the project, any challenges faced and how they are being resolved. 

Know the determining factors for a Functional Upgrade – And some tips!

We are always looking for ways to increase efficiency and achieve a greater financial return. That's why updates to business technologies like SAP S/4HANA are so important. These updates bring new functionality and improvements that can help drive business forward and increase profitability. 

And the good news?

SAP S/4HANA offers smart technologies like predictive analytics, AI, machine learning, and robotic process automation to help make the transition smoother and more valuable for your business.

To help you understand upgrade potential, the SAP S/4HANA What's New Viewer is an excellent tool for exploring the new features and functions available in each version and package of SAP S/4HANA. In addition, the SAP Fiori lighthouse scenarios can help you identify the applications with the best new business value for specific lines of business. 

As new functionality is added and improved in each SAP S/4HANA release, the upgrade may give you the option to enable these functions so that your business can benefit from them. And with these new features also come process simplifications that need to be evaluated. Therefore, it is important to take the time to evaluate these simplifications in your upgrade planning. 

By following these steps, you can ensure a successful upgrade to S/4HANA.

Remember, it's important to have a clear plan and a dedicated team to help ensure a smooth transition. With S/4HANA, you can leverage advanced capabilities to drive efficiency and innovation in your business processes.