info@kagool.com
Simplifying Global SAP Data Migration with Pulse to S/4HANA
Client
eCommerce Service Provider to World Leading Consumer Brand
Industry
Digital Commerce
Our Role
Streamlining a repeated data migration process to quickly, repeatedly, and predictably bring global entities onto the SAP template.
Feature
Pulse & SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud services.
Embarking on a SAP Data Migration is challenging, particularly when faced with the intricacies of managing multiple legacy systems across more than ten global brands. The inherent complexity of such a scenario significantly amplifies the challenges associated with the data migration process. Furthermore, for those unfamiliar with the nuances of SAP, securing the right partner is imperative to navigate the complexities of this sophisticated data journey and ensure the successful execution of the project.
This case study delves into the strategic collaboration between our client and us alongside the deployment of our accelerator product, Pulse to improve their E2E SAP Data Migration process after facing difficulties during previous phases of their programme rolling discrete global brands into a single S/4HANA Public Cloud instance/template.
Previous Challenges
The client's biggest challenge was finding the data-gathering process cumbersome and unclear. Within the S/4HANA system's Data Migration Cockpit (DMC), they were compelled to manually populate DMC Templates, opening the door to human errors. Moreover, the error-handling process heavily relied on SAP default validations, necessitating numerous rounds of reviewing files to uncover and address all data-related issues. This is a slow, very manual process highly reliant on Excel spreadsheets, sharepoint and subject to human error and version control issues. DMC also does not have any inherent data reconciliation process, so this again has to be a new manual process that needs to be designed-built-tested in order which again is subject to a large number of Excel spreadsheets which need to be manually supported which again come with version control management issues.
Recognising the need for a more streamlined approach, the client sought to simplify the methodology for transitioning data from source systems to the DMC format, poised for loading. Crucially, they searched for a solution capable of pre-emptively identifying errors before reaching the critical load stage.
Pulse is Kagool's in-house Software as a Service (SaaS) tool, meticulously crafted to cater to our client's diverse Data Migration needs.
- SAP Certified and Proven Results: As an SAP Certified solution with a track record of proven results, Pulse assumes the pivotal role of orchestrating the extraction, transformation, and export of datasets across the client's brands and objects encompassed by the project. Where previously the migration process was open to human error, automating the vast majority of the process via Pulse improved data quality and eliminated the room for mistakes.
Simplified Template Build and Custom Pulse Solution
In response to the challenges faced during the initial phase of our client's project, we collaborated closely with their in-house Data Migration team to enhance the approach.
The first stage was aligning the current solution to our Pulse tool. The client wanted to keep the DMC in the S/4HANA Public Cloud as the point of ingestion for their data but unfortunately lacked the timescales to accommodate the usual approach for Pulse of establishing connections between the source systems, Pulse, and the target S/4 system.
The data migration journey began by seamlessly aligning the existing solution with our Pulse tool. Acknowledging the client's preference to maintain the Data Migration Cockpit (DMC) within the S/4HANA Public Cloud as the data ingestion point, we tailored our strategy to accommodate their tight timelines. Enter Simplified Templates—a refined version of DMC Templates, trimmed to include only the essential attributes crucial for our client’s migration. Pulse was then customised to ingest and process these simplified files effortlessly, ensuring seamless output in the DMC template format post-validation and transformation within the tool.
The holistic solution birthed a roadmap: A collaborative path where brand partners could effortlessly deliver data in the simplified format, allowing Pulse to identify issues, provide real-time feedback, and culminate in generating output files primed for swift upload to the S/4HANA system. This synergy between Kagool, Pulse, and our client's team catalysed a streamlined and error-resistant Data Migration process.
How did Pulse enhance the process:
- Object-Specific Solutions: Pulse designed dedicated interfaces for each object and client brand, ensuring tailored solutions that adeptly addressed multiple requirements in tandem.
- Manual Output Configuration: Departing from Pulse's typical BAPI-driven approach for SAP systems, we customised the solution to generate outputs in Data Migration Cockpit formats seamlessly. This facilitated smooth file creation and minimised the manual workload downstream.
- Data Transformation: Pulse harnessed the power of rules and lookup tables within its framework to adeptly translate business-provided data into the requisite formats for SAP, streamlining the entire transformation process.
- Validation Rules: Pulse underwent enhancements to incorporate business-specific rules, enabling robust error handling within the Pulse interface before reaching the SAP load stage. This established a proactive channel for early Data Cleansing in the migration cycle.
- Summary Reporting:
Pulse Summaries emerged as a beacon, offering comprehensive insights from data readiness to detailed error breakdowns, providing a panoramic view of the entire process
Making a Difference
By leveraging the Simplified Template solution via Pulse, our client witnessed a remarkable transformation in the efficiency of data migration from target to source. The ability to seamlessly manage multiple brands in parallel marked a significant milestone, allowing for the swift accomplishment of tight deadlines. The transition from migrating a single brand in six months to effectively handling seven brands within 11 months underscored the solution's power in expediting our client's processes.
This success story not only fast-tracked the overall data migration but also instilled confidence that stringent requirements meticulously migrated each data element. In a groundbreaking stride, this marked Pulse's inaugural venture into interfacing with S/4HANA Public Cloud systems. The tool's inherent flexibility and advanced capabilities played a pivotal role, enabling our clients to embark on their SAP journey with minimal issues and greater confidence.
In essence, the collaborative synergy between us and Pulse and our client's team redefined the landscape of data migration. The Simplified Template solution emerged as a beacon, guiding the successful consolidation of multiple brands and setting a precedent for efficiency and accuracy.