S/4HANA Migration Readiness: How to Assess It in 5 Steps

Starting an S/4HANA migration without checking your data readiness is like trying to fly before checking the fuel gauge. It’s possible to get off the ground — but it probably won’t end well.

Readiness isn’t about enthusiasm. It’s about evidence. The best way to measure that is with a structured, five-step approach that keeps everyone honest.

First, profile your data. Run a full scan across your legacy systems and see what you’re actually dealing with. You’ll uncover duplicates, incomplete fields, and more creative field values than you ever thought possible. Awareness is the first step to control.

Next, assess data quality and completeness. Not all data deserves a ticket to S/4HANA. Mark what’s ready, what needs cleansing, and what can safely be retired. This not only reduces migration effort but ensures the new system starts clean.

Third, align your legacy data with SAP’s model. Too many readiness checks fail because they assume the data “mostly fits.” It rarely does. Use AI-based mapping to align rules, attributes, and hierarchies before the project even begins.

Fourth, confirm ownership. Every key dataset needs a responsible owner. Business sign-off on transformation logic isn’t just a formality — it’s your quality control mechanism.

And finally, simulate a trial load. There’s no better test of readiness than seeing what actually happens when your data hits a sandbox. Failures here are lessons, not setbacks.

Following these steps can save months on your project plan. It builds business confidence, reduces rework, and replaces guesswork with measurable progress. Readiness isn’t about slowing things down — it’s about ensuring you take off safely and land smoothly.

Use Xadata to automate data profiling, readiness scoring, and mapping simulations before your S/4HANA project begins at www.xadata.io

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