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SAP S/4HANA Program Playbook

Migrate from SAP ECC to S/4HANA with readiness assessment, a chosen conversion path, master-data cleansing, custom-code remediation, validated conversion, and a rehearsed cutover with hypercare.

Difficulty
Expert
Phases
4
Total Duration
38 weeks
Roles
6

SAP S/4HANA Program

SAP S/4HANA is SAP's current ERP suite, and mainstream support for the older ECC platform is ending. Moving to S/4HANA is one of the largest programs an enterprise undertakes; it touches finance, supply chain, HR, and every integration in between. This playbook governs that move with risk controls proportionate to the stakes.

The first strategic decision is the path: a brownfield system conversion that preserves history and configuration, a greenfield reimplementation that re-engineers processes, or a selective hybrid. The rest of the program follows from that choice.

Phase-by-Phase

Readiness and Strategy. Run the readiness checks, choose the conversion path with explicit trade-offs, and assess the volume and risk of custom ABAP code. Custom code is usually the largest hidden cost.

Data and Code Remediation. Cleanse master data before migration; dirty data multiplies downstream. Remediate custom code against the new data model and APIs, and redesign integrations around modern APIs behind an anti-corruption layer.

Conversion and Test. Execute the conversion in non-production first, validate end-to-end business processes against the legacy baseline, and run performance and volume tests. Expand-and-contract keeps old and new addressable during transition.

Cutover and Hypercare. Execute the cutover with a rehearsed runbook, run a hypercare period with elevated support, and stand up continuous-improvement governance for the new platform.

Team and Roles

An enterprise architect owns the target design. Backend/ABAP engineers remediate code. Data engineers and a DBA own data migration and quality. Security validates authorizations and controls. Product owns process design and sign-off.

Risks and Mitigations

  • Business disruption: rehearse cutover repeatedly; keep rollback ready.
  • Data consistency: reconcile migrated data against source totals.
  • Scope creep: lock process-redesign scope per phase.

Success Criteria

Business processes match or improve on the legacy baseline, cutover downtime stays within the agreed window, and process efficiency improves after hypercare.

Tooling

Use SAP's migration tooling, a data-quality pipeline, an API and anti-corruption integration layer, performance test harnesses, and unified observability for hypercare.

Vibgrate CLI

See a real scan run

A replay of the actual CLI running against our test repositories — live progress, real findings, a genuine DriftScore. Nothing executes in your browser.

Replay
demo@vibgrate — bash
npx @vibgrate/cli scan
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
Vibgrate Drift Report
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
── node-turborepo (node) .
Runtime: >=18.0.0 (6 majors behind)
Frameworks:
Turbo: 1.13.4 → 2.10.12 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
1 current 1 1-behind 3 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/admin (node) apps/admin
Frameworks:
TanStack Query: 5.102.5 → 5.102.5 (current)
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
React DOM: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Vite: 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 (3 behind)
Dependencies:
3 current 9 1-behind 3 2+ behind 4 unknown
 
── @repo/api (node) apps/api
Frameworks:
Express: 4.22.2 → 5.2.1 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 behind)
Dependencies:
7 current 5 1-behind 3 2+ behind 4 unknown
 
── @repo/web (node) apps/web
Frameworks:
Next.js: 14.2.35 → 16.3.3 (2 behind)
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
React DOM: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
2 current 6 1-behind 3 2+ behind 5 unknown
 
── @repo/config (node) packages/config
Frameworks:
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
2 current 2 1-behind 5 2+ behind 0 unknown
 
── @repo/database (node) packages/database
Frameworks:
Prisma: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
1 current 0 1-behind 3 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/types (node) packages/types
Frameworks:
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Dependencies:
0 current 0 1-behind 1 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/ui (node) packages/ui
Frameworks:
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
React: 18.3.1 → 19.2.8 (1 behind)
Dependencies:
1 current 4 1-behind 1 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
── @repo/utils (node) packages/utils
Frameworks:
TypeScript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 behind)
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 behind)
Dependencies:
0 current 1 1-behind 2 2+ behind 1 unknown
 
Tech Stack
Frontend: React, React DOM
Meta-frameworks: Next.js
Bundlers: tsx, Turbo, Vite
CSS / UI: Autoprefixer, PostCSS, Tailwind CSS
Backend: Express
ORM / Database: Prisma, Prisma Client
Testing: Vitest
Lint & Format: ESLint, ESLint Prettier, ESLint React, Prettier, typescript-eslint
 
Services & Integrations
Auth: JWT 9.0.3
Databases: Prisma 5.22.0
 
TypeScript
v5.3.3 · strict ✔ · MIXED · target: ES2022
 
Build & Deploy
Package Managers: pnpm
Monorepo: npm-workspaces, pnpm-workspaces, turbo
 
Product Purpose Signals
Frameworks: react, nextjs
Evidence: 177
Top Signals:
- [heading] Dashboard (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)
- [title] Revenue Overview (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)
- [copy] workspace:* (packages/ui/package.json)
- [copy] ./dist (packages/ui/tsconfig.json)
- [copy] ./src/index.ts (packages/ui/package.json)
- [copy] @repo/config/tsconfig-base.json (packages/ui/tsconfig.json)
- [copy] @repo/ui (packages/ui/package.json)
- [copy] #3b82f6 (apps/admin/src/pages/Dashboard.tsx)
Unknowns:
- No pricing or billing evidence found.
- No integrations/connectors evidence found.
- No route structure evidence found.
 
Security Posture
Lockfile ✖ · .env ✔ · node_modules ✔
 
Platform
Native modules: turbo
 
Code Quality
Files: 36 · Functions: 183 · Avg complexity: 2.62 · Avg length: 21.13 lines
Max nesting: 2 · Circular deps: 0 · Dead code: 0%
God files: apps/admin/src/pages/Products (448 lines)
 
Database Schema
postgresql · 8 models · 1 enum
Models: Address, CartItem, Category, Order, OrderItem (+3 more)
 
Findings (16 errors, 11 warnings)
Node.js runtime ">=18.0.0" reached end-of-life on 2025-04-30 (latest: 24.0.0).
vibgrate/runtime-eol in .
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in .
60% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in node-turborepo.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in .
@types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in .
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/admin
Vite is 3 major versions behind (current: 5.4.21, latest: 8.2.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/admin
vite is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^5.0.12, latest: 8.2.2).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/admin
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/api
Vitest is 3 major versions behind (current: 1.6.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/api
@types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/api
vitest is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^1.2.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/api
Next.js is 2 major versions behind (current: 14.2.35, latest: 16.3.3).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/web
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in apps/web
@types/node is 6 major versions behind (spec: ^20.11.0, latest: 26.3.0).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in apps/web
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/config
56% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/config.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/config
eslint-plugin-react-hooks is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^4.6.0, latest: 7.1.1).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in packages/config
Prisma is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.22.0, latest: 7.10.0).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/database
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/database
75% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/database.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/database
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/types
100% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/types.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/types
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/ui
TypeScript is 2 major versions behind (current: 5.9.3, latest: 7.0.2).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/utils
Vitest is 3 major versions behind (current: 1.6.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/framework-major-lag in packages/utils
67% of dependencies are 2+ major versions behind in @repo/utils.
vibgrate/dependency-rot in packages/utils
vitest is 3 major versions behind (spec: ^1.2.1, latest: 4.1.11).
vibgrate/dependency-major-lag in packages/utils
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
Top Priority Actions
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
1. Upgrade EOL runtime in node-turborepo
End-of-life runtimes no longer receive security patches and block ecosystem upgrades.
./.
>=18.0.0 → 24.0.0 (6 majors behind)
Impact: −10 drift points (runtime & EOL)
 
2. Fix security posture: no lockfile found
Without a lockfile, installs are non-deterministic. Run the install command to generate one and commit it.
./
Missing: package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, or yarn.lock
 
3. Upgrade Vite 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 in @repo/admin (+2 more)
3 major versions behind. Major framework drift increases breaking change risk and blocks access to security fixes and performance improvements.
./apps/admin
Vite: 5.4.21 → 8.2.2 (3 majors behind)
./apps/api
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 majors behind)
./packages/utils
Vitest: 1.6.1 → 4.1.11 (3 majors behind)
Impact: −5–15 drift points
 
4. Reduce dependency rot in @repo/types (100% severely outdated)
1 of 1 dependencies are 2+ majors behind. Run `npm outdated` and prioritise packages with known CVEs or breaking API changes.
./packages/types
typescript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 majors behind)
Impact: −5–10 drift points
 
5. Reduce dependency rot in @repo/database (75% severely outdated)
3 of 4 dependencies are 2+ majors behind. Run `npm outdated` and prioritise packages with known CVEs or breaking API changes.
./packages/database
@prisma/client: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 majors behind)
prisma: 5.22.0 → 7.10.0 (2 majors behind)
typescript: 5.9.3 → 7.0.2 (2 majors behind)
Impact: −5–10 drift points
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
Architecture Layers
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
Archetype: nextjs (80% confidence)
Files classified: 24 (11 unclassified)
Folders classified: 8
apps/admin/src presentation 100% 4 files
apps/admin/src/pages presentation 100% 2 files
apps/api/src/middleware middleware 100% 2 files
apps/api/src/routes routing 100% 2 files
apps/web/src/app presentation 100% 4 files
apps/web/src/app/products presentation 100% 2 files
apps/web/src/app/products/[id] presentation 100% 1 file
packages/ui/src presentation 100% 6 files
Unclassified source (sample): 11
 
presentation 15 files drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high
routing 4 files drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high
middleware 2 files drift ███████▍░░░░░░░░░░░░ 37 risk moderate
config 2 files drift ░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 0 risk none
shared 1 file drift ████████████████████ 100 risk high
 
╭──────────────────────────────────────────╮
DriftScore Summary
╰──────────────────────────────────────────╯
 
DriftScore: 66/100
Risk Level: HIGH
Projects: 9
Classified: 8 nano · 1 micro · 0 small · 0 standard
Billable: 0.42 · 9 detected → 0.42 billable projects (micro-project pricing)
0.1 micro · 0.32 nano
These fractions add up across repositories, then round down to whole billable projects.
 
Score Breakdown
Runtime: ████████████████████ 100
Frameworks: █████████▏░░░░░░░░░░ 46
Dependencies: ██████▏░░░░░░░░░░░░░ 31
EOL Risk: ████████████████████ 100
 
Scanned at 2026-08-26T09:08:28.481Z · 7.1s · 286 files scanned · 56 workspace files · 27 dirs
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