Services

Data Migration & Transformationof SAP business data

When business data from a legacy system such as SAP ECC is moved to S/4HANA, copying tables is not enough. I analyse source and target structures, build transformations in ABAP and SQL and optimise the runtime of the migration runs.

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Distinction

Data migration is not system migration

In the SAP world, “migration” refers to three different tasks. This page covers the third.

  • SAP Basis

    System migration: a system copy or OS/DB migration moves an entire SAP system to a new platform. The business data itself stays unchanged.

  • SAP HANA

    Database migration: a migration to SAP HANA, for example with DMO, changes the database of an existing system.

  • Data Migration & TransformationThis page

    Data migration: business and application data is extracted from a source system, transformed, validated and loaded into a new target system.

Typical situations

When data migration becomes a technical task

  • The move from SAP ECC to S/4HANA is due

    The business data has to be transferred into the structures of the new system.

  • Source and target structures do not match

    The data models of both systems are analysed and transformation rules are derived from them.

  • It is unclear what the source data actually contains

    Data analysis with ABAP and SQL before the first migration runs start.

  • The transformation is too complex for simple mapping

    Transformation logic is developed in ABAP, SQL or SQLScript.

  • Migration runs take too long

    Runtime analysis and optimisation on the application and database side.

  • Data also comes from non-SAP systems

    Extraction via interfaces such as RFC, BAPI and batch input, or via formats such as XML.

Scope

What I take on

A data migration follows a fixed sequence. I take on individual steps or the entire technical implementation.

  1. Analysis

    Analysing the data models of source and target system, identifying dependencies and deriving transformation rules.

  2. Extraction

    Reading data from SAP and non-SAP sources – with ABAP and SQL or via interfaces such as RFC and BAPI.

  3. Transformation

    Implementing transformations in ABAP, SQL and SQLScript, and building dedicated tools for analysing and restructuring the data.

  4. Load and runtime

    Carrying out migration runs and optimising their runtime on the application and database side.

  5. Reconciliation

    Checking the migrated data against the source with SQL and ABAP analyses.

Technical depth

Data migration with database and system know-how

Data migration is not only a business task. Runtimes, memory requirements and database behaviour help decide whether migration runs fit into the planned time window.

Because my background is in SAP Basis and database administration, I keep both sides in view: the data itself and the systems that process it.

ABAP
Development for data analysis, transformation and migration; runtime analysis with debugger, SQL trace and runtime history.
SQL and SQLScript
Complex SQL queries and SQLScript on SAP HANA; many years of experience with Oracle, DB2 and Informix.
Interfaces
RFC, BAPI, batch input, LSMW and XML; ODBC and JDBC connections to SAP databases and SAP HANA.
Databases and data volumes
SAP HANA and classic databases of several terabytes; partitioning and performance analysis.
Scripting
Python, shell, Perl and AWK for automation and analyses.

Project experience

Selected projects

Anonymised examples of data migration and data integration.

  • Data migrationEnergy company

    Data migration from SAP ECC to S/4HANA

    Situation
    Business data from SAP ECC is to be transferred to a new S/4HANA system.
    Task
    Data model analysis, data transformation and migration.
    My contribution
    ABAP development for data analysis and transformation, SQL analyses and performance optimisation of the migration runs.

  • Data integrationIT service provider in banking

    Loading data from SAP and third-party systems into SAP BW

    Situation
    Data from SAP R/3 and from third-party systems is to be consolidated and analysed in an SAP Business Warehouse.
    Task
    Extraction, data modelling and load processes.
    My contribution
    Extraction via LSMW, XI, XML and batch input, building InfoCubes, planning and optimising the data load processes, and query design.

  • Data integrationManufacturing company

    Transferring production data into SAP

    Situation
    Production data from the manufacturing plants is to be transferred automatically into SAP (PP module).
    Task
    Development of the interface between production and SAP.
    My contribution
    Interface in ABAP and C++ for transferring the production data into SAP; network design.
More project experience

Contact

Let’s talk about your data migration.

Briefly describe the source and target systems and what needs to happen to the data – that is enough for an initial conversation.

Discuss your project