SAP ECC, also known as the SAP ERP Central Component, has been serving businesses for years. The solution has also been hailed as one of the finest ERP solutions in the market. However, technological advancements picked up an unmatched pace over time, and SAP ECC tended to fall short.
This is when SAP can win with entirely newer and much more advanced solutions, the SAP S/4HANA ERP solution. The launch of SAP S/4HANA in 2015 came to pave the way for technological revolution across many business environments.
But following this launch, SAP also announced stopping support for the legacy SAP ECC system by 2025. This was followed by further extensions caused due to the lack of SAP experts in the market. Currently, the support for legacy SAP ECC is extended till 2027.
Nonetheless, the point here is that the legacy ERP is already outdated as businesses are trying to transform themselves into intelligent enterprises. So, let’s see why your business needs to migrate to SAP.
What is SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC)?
Also known as the SAP ERP, SAP ECC is one of SAP’s former ERP offerings. The solution was designed to operate on other third-party databases such as IBM DB2 and Oracle. Most companies and organizations are very familiar with SAP ECC because of its prevalent modules. These modules serve and cater to the requirements of different businesses, making them one of the most widely used ERP solutions.
Additionally, SAP ECC is also the core offering of the SAP Business Suite, but that does not make up the entire comprehensive business suite. This is important because the SAP Business Suite has a lot more than foundational modules. Besides, it also supports many features and functionalities associated with supplying chain and customer relationships.
What is SAP S/4HANA?
Accely’s S4HANA is one of the latest and most advanced offerings from SAP. The solution came as a follow-up to the legacy SAP ECC solution, which ran on third-party databases. Instead, SAP S/4HANA operates on the latest in-memory database HANA which delivers a much greater user experience.
Most importantly, SAP S/4HANA leverages modern cutting-edge technologies, including artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, predictive analytics, and machine learning. All these technologies work together to help your business operate in a much more competitive and fast-changing environment. SAP S/4HANA is the solution every business desperately needs to survive in today’s agile, competitive and fast-evolving business environment.
Why Migrate to SAP S/4HANA?
There are many reasons why your business needs to let go of the legacy solution and think of embracing modernity. Surviving in this business environment is not easy, with so much power in customers’ hands. So, the earlier your business is behind in embracing technology, the better it is for your business. But besides all that, there are other reasons you need to consider and move to the SAP S/4HANA ERP solution. Some of these reasons include:
The 2027 Deadline
Of course, the primary reason you need to migrate to SAP S/4HANA now is that there will be no support for the legacy ERP after 2027. As you might already know, using an ERP solution with support is no good. Besides that, the SAP ECC solution has run its course over time, and it has undoubtedly served the business well. But the current business environment calls for more advanced technologies that offer agility and flexibility. Businesses now need to be sure about their decisions while spending minimal time on decision-making. SAP S/4HANA has advanced capabilities to help you see the future, present, and past and use the information to make better and faster decisions.
Simplification
Most successful businesses in this era are done with unnecessary complexities. This generation needs efficiency and actually getting things done instead of simply contemplating them. So, when you look at the overall structure of the legacy SAP ECC, you will come to realize how complex its structure is. Dealing with these complexities is not worth your time and effort in today’s age. This is what makes it even more important to migrate to SAP S/4HANA. This latest solution sits at the epitome of simplification. SAP S/4HANA is ideally suited to drive automation, simplify management and access to data, and more. Things like these make it much easier for businesses to drive efficiency and meet changing and growing customer expectations.
Get a Competitive-Edge
The next reason why you need to migrate from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA is to stay a step ahead of competitors. It is no secret that competition is at the heart of businesses in this modern age. So, it is important to ensure your business organization remains relevant in these competitions and possibly leads it. Now that leadership will no longer be possible with the legacy SAP ECC solution. It is time to transform and use even better and more advanced technologies to manage and tackle growing competition. Technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, business analytics, and the cloud can help your business stay ahead of the rest.
Enhance Business Processes
SAP S/4HANA comes with some of the most advanced technologies you can avail of in these modern times. But one of the most useful of all these technologies is the in-memory database from SAP HANA. This will play a key role in simplifying all data management and processing processes. The best part about this is you no longer need to use a third-party database; instead, you can use the in-built database. All such capabilities will help you streamline and optimize all business processes. As a result, your business will benefit from extensive growth and expansion with no hassle.
Final Thoughts
SAP ECC might be one of the best ERP solutions you have used, and chances are you are not comfortable parting ways just yet. But now is high time the future of your business takes precedence over your comfort. The more you delay your SAP S/4HANA migration, the more challenges you face during migration. Thus, give this serious thought and consider the aforementioned information. Consequently, you will understand why migrating from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA is important.