Mar 17, 2025 .

Do’s and Don’ts of an SAP HANA Functional Upgrade (Greenfield Approach)

Upgrading to SAP S/4HANA using a Greenfield approach isn’t just a system change—it’s a complete business transformation. While most consultants focus on configurations and best practices, the biggest risks come from process misalignment, data pitfalls, and user resistance.

Here’s what most consultants miss—insights that separate a successful upgrade from a painful post-go-live recovery.

Do’s – Smart Strategies for a Seamless Functional Upgrade

1. Rethink Business Processes, Don’t Just Reimplement Old Ones

Why It Matters: A Greenfield upgrade is the best opportunity to fix broken processes, but many companies just copy old inefficiencies into a new system.
DO start with process reengineering, not system configuration.
DO involve end-users early to redesign workflows based on real pain points.

Pro Tip: Challenge the business: “If we were setting up from scratch today, would we still do it this way?” If the answer is no, change the process before the system forces you to.

2. Get the Chart of Accounts (CoA) Right—It’s a One-Time Opportunity

Why It Matters: The CoA is like the DNA of your finance system. Many companies rush into migrating legacy structures, only to regret it later.
DO align the new CoA with reporting needs, cost centers, and controlling structures.
DO validate with finance teams before finalizing—restructuring later is painful.

Pro Tip: If your finance team says, “Let’s just keep it like ECC,” challenge them. You won’t get this opportunity again without major disruption.

3. Prioritize Master Data Governance Before the System is Live

Why It Matters: Dirty master data kills automation. SAP S/4HANA offers embedded analytics and AI-driven processes—but only if your data is clean.
DO establish governance for material masters, customer/vendor data, and financial records before go-live.
DO enforce a single source of truth—no more duplicate customer or vendor records.

Pro Tip: If your business is struggling with duplicate or incomplete records in ECC, it will only get worse in HANA if left unchecked.

4. Educate Power Users, Not Just End Users

Why It Matters: A functional upgrade changes business processes, approvals, and reporting. If power users don’t understand the changes, they will bypass the system and revert to Excel.
DO train business leads on how the new system improves their efficiency.
DO assign ownership—every department should have a “super user” responsible for ensuring the new system is adopted.

Pro Tip: The most common post-go-live issue is not system failure, but user rejection. If power users don’t embrace S/4HANA, the project’s benefits will never materialize.

5. Design for the Future, Not Just Today

Why It Matters: Business needs evolve, and SAP S/4HANA is designed to support cloud, AI, and automation. If you configure the system only for current processes, you’ll outgrow it too soon.
DO configure with future scalability in mind—especially for financial consolidation and intercompany transactions.
DO align the SAP roadmap with business expansion plans.

Pro Tip: If you’re planning global expansion, M&As, or new product lines, build them into the configuration strategy now rather than doing a painful rework later.

Don’ts – Avoid These Greenfield Upgrade Mistakes

1. Don’t Let IT Drive the Project Alone—Business Must Lead

Many SAP upgrades fail because IT departments drive decisions without business buy-in.
DON’T treat this as an IT upgrade—it’s a business transformation.
DON’T configure without validating real business scenarios.

Pro Tip: The best functional upgrades have a finance leader, supply chain head, and HR lead actively involved—not just IT consultants.

2. Don’t Overcomplicate Workflows with Too Many Custom Approvals

Many companies build excessive approval steps into their new SAP system, making processes slower than before.
DON’T over-customize workflows—stick to SAP’s best practices.
DON’T add approval layers that don’t add business value.

Pro Tip: If a business user asks for an extra approval step, ask “What problem does this solve?” If they can’t justify it, skip it.

3. Don’t Assume Standard SAP Reports Will Cover Everything

SAP S/4HANA has embedded analytics, but not all standard reports will meet business needs.
DON’T go live without validating key reports—especially finance and supply chain analytics.
DON’T assume legacy reporting logic will transfer perfectly.

Pro Tip: Run all critical financial closing and supply chain reports in UAT to catch gaps early.

4. Don’t Ignore Fiori Adoption—Users Will Resist Change

SAP Fiori is a game-changer for user experience, but many companies ignore it, leaving users frustrated with old GUI screens.
DON’T assume users will adapt on their own—provide Fiori training early.
DON’T allow users to revert to SAP GUI unless absolutely necessary.

Pro Tip: If leadership doesn’t use Fiori, end users won’t either. Get executives to champion Fiori adoption.

5. Don’t Rush Cutover—Post-Go-Live

Hypercare is Critical

Many projects end with go-live, but the real work begins afterward.
DON’T underestimate hypercare—set up a dedicated post-go-live support team.
DON’T let consultants leave immediately—keep key experts for the first 3-6 weeks after launch.

Pro Tip: The most common post-go-live issues are workflow failures, missing authorizations, and reporting errors. Plan for them.

Final Takeaway: A Greenfield Upgrade is a Business Strategy, Not Just an IT Project

A successful SAP S/4HANA functional upgrade isn’t just about technical readiness—it’s about business transformation.

Smart businesses use this opportunity to:

Redesign inefficient processes.

Clean up master data for automation & AI-readiness.

Prepare users for a future-ready SAP experience.

A functional upgrade is never just about SAP—it’s about how your business operates for the next 10-15 years. Treat it like a transformation, and the benefits will follow.