There are three different deployment and transition options for SAP S/4HANA. Each customer’s situation is unique, which means there is no one-size-fits-all method. Two of the most typical ways are new deployment (Greenfield) and migration (Brownfield). The third rarer option is (Bluefield).

Test automation helps with a successful transition to SAP S/4HANA, regardless of the transition method. Depending on the strategy chosen, SAP S/4HANA can be implemented either in the company’s own data center (on-premise) or in the cloud (private/public cloud). Test automation makes the prep before transition, the transition process and the functionality of business processes post-transition much more comprehensive and efficient.

With Greenfield deployment, the S/4HANA system is built and deployed as a completely new system. Only the necessary master and transaction data is transferred from the old system to the new one. A new deployment is a good option in a situation where the ERP system in use is very old, lags behind in upgrades, or the system environment has become unnecessarily complex. In that case, it is good to start with a clean slate!

It is a good idea to start building test automation keeping in mind the deployment of the new SAP S/4HANA at the same time. During the crucial initial phase, it is best to work with an experienced partner and a proven solution for testing support. Since end-user-level test automation requires a relatively stable environment, it is essential to pay particular attention to critical business processes when testing processes.

Migration refers to the conversion of an existing SAP system to a new S/4HANA system using SAP conversion tools. This option is particularly suitable for companies that want to move and convert the framework, data and configurations contained in their current ERP system to the new S/4HANA. However, before conversion, it is important to critically examine whether the data to be transferred is necessary in the new system.

In terms of test automation, migration is a simpler option to implement due to its straightforwardness — much of the existing test automations can be reused. It is wise to plan some of the new tests needed before an upgrade and ensure in advance that the test automation won’t break down during the upgrade. The first round of testing should be carried out, at the latest when setting up a new environment. Here, the focus should be on automating the testing of business-critical long processes, while also covering integrated systems.

Test automation’s greatest advantage is evident during the migration itself —  it takes a considerable amount of testing in several rounds to keep business-critical E2E running. Automating much of this testing guarantees efficiency. The test automation can even be used while performing regression testing of future development.

The transformation of environment refers to the integration of existing systems that are separate or in different locations. While migrating, it is possible to transfer individually picked data and certain applications to the new system. Business processes can be renewed during the  transfer — it is common to focus on processes most important to the organization’s business. The migration is often implemented in stages which requires continuous testing and corrective measures.

Test automation can be based on the same critical business process review as in the Green and Brownfield options. When core business processes are renewed and transferred to a new system, it is important to be able to ensure data integrity and functionality of the processes — data migration is not a one-time operation.

Automation unleashes its full potential when tests are automated and regression testing is performed on numerous E2E processes. Multiple and frequent testing work demands automation, which saves a whole lot of time and man-hours. When tests can be performed whenever needed, it is easy to get accurate feedback on errors and solve problems quickly. With test automation running multiple tests efficiently, the business runs smoothly and the transition to SAP S/4HANA is successful.

With the number of cloud-based ERP systems rapidly growing, manual testing needs an increasing number of resources. Robot-based test automation is the solution — a whole lot of time is saved when robots do the testing work for you.

It takes a lot of prep to migrate to SAP S/4HANA. It is important to secure the quality of the current SAP environment before deploying the new one. This is where the challenges of quality assurance in the SAP environment and the opportunities that  test automation offers become most clear.