For many transformation leaders, SAP S/4HANA is no longer a “future state” discussion. The migration wave is already well underway, with most enterprises either deep into brownfield conversions or driving full greenfield programs.
Despite the maturity of S/4HANA adoption, there are still misconceptions about what actually drives value—and where the biggest technical levers lie to deliver true business transformation, rather than a costly “technical migration.”
Here’s what we’re seeing across the global SAP programs Brookwood supports—and what’s separating the most successful initiatives from the rest.
1. The In-Memory Core: More Than Just Speed
SAP HANA’s in-memory, columnar architecture accelerates query and transaction speeds by orders of magnitude, but the real advantage lies in architectural simplification:
- Elimination of aggregates and indexes reduces data duplication and complexity, enabling a single source of truth without BW staging layers for many use cases.
- Data compression (often 7–10x) not only cuts storage costs but fundamentally changes backup/recovery approaches, with tiered storage (HANA Native Storage Extension) making warm/cold data cost-efficient.
- The ability to combine OLTP and OLAP on a single system changes how organizations think about planning and analytics—live data can fuel embedded SAC dashboards, predictive models, and operational intelligence without heavy ETL pipelines.
This is where we see the strongest differentiation: the best programs reimagine reporting and planning entirely, rather than replicating ECC-era processes.
2. Process and Data Model Re-Engineering
The Universal Journal (ACDOCA) is a prime example of where simplification translates into capability:
- Replacing dozens of FI and CO tables with a single line-item table enables real-time margin analysis, simplified reconciliation, and accelerates period close.
- Combined with predictive ledger postings and event-based revenue recognition, finance functions can shift to near-continuous closing.
In logistics and supply chain, Predictive MRP (pMRP) and Demand-Driven Replenishment (DDR) leverage HANA’s computational power to run iterative simulations and inventory optimizations previously impractical on ECC hardware.
These aren’t just “upgrades”—they enable net-new planning paradigms for organizations willing to challenge old processes.
3. Cloud-Native Extensibility and the Clean Core Dilemma
For transformation architects, the key challenge is balancing core standardization with business differentiation. S/4HANA Cloud (Public and Private) and the Business Technology Platform (BTP) provide a path:
- Side-by-side extensions via CAP (Cloud Application Programming) and RAP (RESTful ABAP) allow bespoke logic without polluting the core.
- Event-driven integration patterns (via SAP Event Mesh and APIs) decouple S/4HANA from legacy landscapes, enabling microservices and composable business models.
- Proper adoption of Clean Core principles dramatically reduces future upgrade costs and positions enterprises to consume SAP’s rapid innovations—GenAI copilots, Industry Cloud, and sustainability solutions—without regression testing nightmares.
We consistently see successful programs designing extension strategies before migration, not as an afterthought.
4. Talent as the Rate Limiter
While the technology is mature, the biggest constraint we see globally isn’t HANA sizing or data migration complexity—it’s people:
- Senior S/4HANA Solution Architects who can navigate brownfield vs. greenfield trade-offs, carve-out sequencing, and multi-tier deployment models remain in critically short supply.
- Expertise in Data Migration Cockpit, CDS View development, RAP, and integration via CPI or Event Mesh is in high demand but scarce.
- Change and training leaders who understand Fiori adoption, role redesign, and new process models are essential but often overlooked.
At Brookwood, we’re addressing this by embedding specialized talent across functional, technical, and program leadership roles for some of the world’s largest S/4HANA programs. Our teams are often deployed not just to “staff up,” but to advise on skill mix, build internal capability, and prevent delivery bottlenecks.
5. Where Experts Are Focusing Next
For those already deep in S/4HANA, the conversation is shifting to:
- AI-driven operations: Integrating SAP AI Core and Joule copilots for predictive analytics, automated invoice matching, and smart recommendations in supply chain planning.
- Process mining and continuous improvement: Leveraging SAP Signavio to not only map current processes but iteratively optimize post go-live.
- Data federation: Using SAP Datasphere to democratize S/4HANA data while integrating external sources for advanced analytics without overloading the transactional core.
These aren’t just “add-ons”—they represent the next wave of value realization for enterprises that have already stabilized on S/4.
For experienced practitioners, the challenge isn’t understanding why S/4HANA is powerful. It’s about how to fully exploit it while avoiding the pitfalls of over-customization, talent scarcity, and legacy mindset carryover.
The most successful programs we see aren’t just delivering an ERP migration. They’re building a lean, extensible, analytics-driven digital core, supported by specialist talent strategies, and setting the stage for the next decade of agility and innovation.
At Brookwood, we’re proud to be a partner to these programs—not only in finding the scarce skills but in ensuring teams are positioned to truly realize the promise of S/4HANA.
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