In the fourth of a series of posts by Mark Cooper, CEO of PM Eleven, we will outline what we believe are the essential guidelines for an Ellipse to SAP migration. Using our (PM Eleven team) extensive experience in SAP projects over more than 25 years, we will expose the key lessons learned for application to any Ellipse to SAP conversion.
… Don’t risk the operation!
The ambition of converting all the Data will kill you (if you let it)
In a pure data migration exercise, the sooner the focus moves to the data requirements of the “receiver” system (SAP), the better. The reality is that you cannot take everything!
It is best to come to that realisation and work to understand what you REALLY do need in SAP to allow you to work effectively from day 1.
In fact, it is probably best to not prioritise data above everything else. With the exception of financial and open items which must be right on conversion, you can always fix your data.
The key for longer-term success using SAP is to ensure your processes are sound. Without good processes, the data will get worse in any case. So, in my view, it is best to make sure that the business processes are right, and the data will hopefully take care of itself.
PM Eleven experts can guide you on:
- What data to take and what to build.
- Assessment on the quality, quantity and context of data in preparation for transferral.
- Data transformation mapping.
- Data dependencies –remove non-required critical dependencies and contradictions.
- Knowing when and how to put a freeze on Ellipse at go-live (Cutover Scheduling). Note: This knowledge should apply during dress-rehearsals, mock and cutover.
- Business Readiness – get a leader to drive the masses to work through the changes in approach (between Ellipse and SAP). Change can’t be underestimated if you want a successful program, but it isn’t just communication and training…it is really convincing the die-hards to come across!
- Testing is critical.
- Undertaking data defect resolution.
The SI (typically SAP consultants) will be tempted to negotiate a “hands-off” approach to the cleanliness of data. They often reduce risk by simplistically saying “just give me the clean data, and we will get it in… no problems”.
Assuming there is clean data! Even with clean data, the actual loading of the data should be the least of our concerns.
The quality, quantity and context of data is fundamental. Both SAP & Ellipse systems knowledge is important in this role due to the impact on current business operations.
In the next post, I will give you a real-life example of the value of the above.
Final Thoughts
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