SAP
BW/4HANA migration: choosing the right conversion path
How to evaluate in-place, remote, and shell conversion approaches based on landscape complexity, technical debt, and business continuity.
Start with the target operating model
A BW/4HANA migration is not only a technical upgrade. It is an opportunity to simplify data flows, retire unused content, strengthen governance, and align analytics with future business priorities.
Understand the conversion options
- In-place conversion retains the existing system and transforms it step by step.
- Remote conversion selectively transfers objects and data into a new BW/4HANA system.
- Shell conversion transfers selected metadata first, allowing a redesigned data-load approach.
Evaluate by environment
Different environments may justify different conversion approaches. A development system can support iterative remediation, while quality and production environments may benefit from cleaner, repeatable migrations into newly provisioned targets.
Decision criteria
- Volume of obsolete objects and transformations.
- Custom code and unsupported content.
- Downtime tolerance and cutover complexity.
- Testing capacity and reconciliation requirements.
- Opportunity to redesign the data model.
Build a migration factory
Standardize object assessment, remediation, transport sequencing, reconciliation, and defect management. Repeatable procedures reduce risk across environments and create an auditable path to production.