Discover the complete SAP migration checklist and learn how to plan, prepare, execute, and support your transition to S/4HANA. Avoid risks and maximize results with this step-by-step guide.

The transition to SAP S/4HANA is one of the most impactful decisions a company can make in the coming years. With SAP ECC support ending in 2027, migrating to a more modern platform is no longer just a technological choice — it has become a strategic priority. However, like any major transformation project, success depends on planning, clarity, and control at every stage.

That’s why having a comprehensive SAP migration checklist is essential. And more importantly: the sooner you start planning, the more time you’ll have to mitigate risks, optimize processes, and accelerate ROI.

In this article, we present a complete checklist, divided into six strategic phases, covering over 30 critical points your company must consider. We explain why each item matters, how it contributes to a successful migration, and how to ensure nothing gets overlooked.

Why is a checklist essential for an SAP migration?

Migrating from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA is not just about updating a system — it’s about redesigning how your company operates. It involves finance, logistics, tax, purchasing, compliance, HR, and much more. Therefore, this project naturally involves operational risks, technical challenges, and impacts across multiple departments.

An SAP migration checklist acts like a map. It ensures your company navigates this journey with more safety, control, and visibility. It also helps communicate expectations between teams, track progress milestones, and detect bottlenecks before they become real issues.
 

Key Phases of the SAP Migration Checklist

We divided the checklist into six strategic phases. Each phase includes essential actions that increase the likelihood of success.

1. Strategic Planning

Before any technical changes begin, it's crucial to define the overall strategy.

• Align the migration with the company’s strategic plan
• Define business objectives and expected KPIs
• Choose an approach: Greenfield, Brownfield, or Hybrid
• Create a cross-functional governance committee
• Set timeline, budget, and control milestones
• Select a specialized SAP migration consulting partner

💡 Tip: Companies like Qintess offer end-to-end consulting, from initial analysis to post-go-live support.
 

2. Assessment of the Current Environment

With the strategy in place, it’s time to deeply understand your existing SAP ECC environment.

• Conduct a full technical assessment
• Map all business processes
• Identify integrations with legacy systems
• Document all custom developments (Z-programs, exits, enhancements)
• Assess master and transactional data quality
• Check licenses, software versions, and compliance issues

🔗 Also read: SAP ECC vs SAP S/4HANA: Key differences
 

3. Migration Preparation

This phase prepares the company — both technically and organizationally — for the transition.

• Set up development, testing, and QA environments
• Clean and harmonize data (data cleansing)
• Identify what will be migrated, recreated, or discarded
• Map impacts by business area
• Plan training for key users
• Develop an internal communication strategy

💡 Many companies overlook this step and suffer delays later. Start early.
 

4. Technical Execution

This is where the core technical work begins. Depending on your approach, complexity may vary.

• Execute ECC-to-S/4HANA conversion (Brownfield)
• Configure new processes in S/4HANA (Greenfield)
• Adjust integrations with external systems
• Implement SAP Fiori and real-time analytics
• Apply OSS Notes and align with SAP best practices
• Migrate data and perform consistency tests
   

5. Validation and Testing

Before going live, ensure everything works as planned.

• Perform end-to-end integration testing (UAT)
• Validate critical business scenarios
• Simulate tax, finance, and logistics processes
• Monitor system performance and response time
• Detect usability or performance issues
• Ensure data integrity post-migration

🔗 Tools like SAP Readiness Check help assess risks and dependencies.
 

6. Go-live and Post-Migration Support

This is the most critical moment — where all your planning gets put to the test.

• Define cutover window and go-live schedule
• Deploy dedicated support teams
• Monitor processes in real-time during early weeks
• Correct deviations quickly
• Offer multi-tiered support (L1 to L3)
• Collect user feedback
• Evaluate success metrics and make adjustments as needed

💡 Well-prepared companies reduce operational disruption significantly during go-live.
 

Extra Tips for Success

Beyond the SAP migration checklist, consider:

• Involve business leaders in technical decisions
• Work in sprints with partial deliverables to generate momentum
• Engage users early with training and communication
• Use AI or RPA to streamline post-migration testing and processes
• Document everything — including failures (for continuous learning)
   

How Qintess Can Support Your SAP Journey

Qintess has proven experience in SAP S/4HANA migrations. We apply agile methodologies and value-oriented delivery models, focused on:

• Strategic diagnostics and planning
• Technical execution (Greenfield or Brownfield)
• Compliance and governance
• SAP Fiori UX and performance optimization
• Post-go-live support and continuous improvement

👉 Explore Qintess SAP services
 

Conclusion

Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is inevitable. The sooner your company starts the journey, the greater the benefits — in agility, innovation, and competitiveness.

Using a comprehensive, expert-backed SAP migration checklist aligned with your strategic goals is the first step toward a successful transformation.

If your company is evaluating this move, talk to Qintess. We bring the experience, tools, and business acumen to turn this challenge into a real competitive advantage.