SAP system migration checklist: why Asian enterprises are migrating to SAP S/4HANA Cloud solutions

The Migration Imperative

According to Deloitte’s 2024 Global ERP Trends report, 84% of businesses cite “keeping pace with innovation” as the main driver for ERP modernization. In Asia, this trend is amplified by the region’s rapid economic growth, regulatory changes, and increasing customer expectations.

SAP’s own research shows that companies using S/4HANA Cloud experience 20% faster time-to-market, 30% lower operational costs, and significantly improved agility across functions.

Why it matters to Asian enterprises

1. Scalability for Growth Markets

Asia’s emerging economies—from Southeast Asia to South Asia—are hubs of entrepreneurial growth. Cloud-based ERP allows businesses to scale operations quickly, launch new subsidiaries, and localize processes without large upfront infrastructure investments.

A 2023 McKinsey Asia study emphasized that cloud ERP can reduce time-to-launch for new markets by up to 40%compared to legacy systems.

2. Compliance and Localization

The regulatory environment in Asia is diverse and fast-changing. SAP S/4HANA’s localization features help companies navigate GST in India, e-invoicing in Indonesia, or PEPPOL requirements in Singapore with confidence. According to PwC, the ability to embed compliance workflows into ERP systems is a key differentiator in markets with strong government oversight.

3. Intelligent Automation and AI

SAP S/4HANA Cloud leverages AI and machine learning to automate repetitive tasks like invoice matching, forecasting, and inventory optimization. For Asian manufacturers, retailers, and service providers, this leads to improved accuracy and faster decision-making.

BCG’s analysis in 2023 found that businesses adopting AI-enabled ERP systems saw up to 50% faster closing cyclesand 25–30% gains in working capital efficiency.

4. Enhanced Supply Chain Resilience

COVID-19 and geopolitical disruptions have exposed vulnerabilities in supply chains. SAP S/4HANA’s integration with SAP Business Network helps Asian enterprises build resilient, collaborative supply chains that can respond in real time to disruptions.

KPMG notes that firms using connected ERP + supply chain tools achieved 25% faster recovery times post-disruption.

5. Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) Reduction

While migration requires upfront investment, Deloitte reports that cloud-based S/4HANA customers realize 15–25% TCO savings over five years due to reduced hardware costs, faster upgrades, and lower maintenance overhead.

SAP’s RISE with SAP program offers bundled services—licensing, infrastructure, migration tools—that de-risk the transition while making the cost curve more predictable.

A strategic decision, not just an IT one

SAP migration is more than a system switch. It’s a strategic enabler for Asian businesses to innovate faster, operate leaner, and stay compliant in a region of complexity and opportunity.

At VISEO, we are helping clients across Asia-Pacific navigate this journey with confidence—whether it’s through SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the RISE with SAP program, or tailored industry-specific accelerators.

Preparing for SAP ECC End of Support in 2027

As 2027 marks the pivotal SAP ECC end of support, an urgent pivot within the landscape of enterprise technology is imminent. The cessation of updates and security patches for SAP ECC not only signals an end but heralds a transformational beginning—a call to enterprise technology transformation. Forward-thinking organizations are now tasked with crafting robust business transition strategies to migrate to advanced systems like SAP S/4HANA. The shift is more than a mere IT upgrade; it’s a stratagem, crucial to sustaining competitive advantage and catalyzing growth in a future-driven market.

The momentum for this shift is gaining, as enterprises seek not only to preserve the continuity of their operations but also to unlock new avenues of innovation and efficiency. With the SAP ECC end of support 2027 approaching, businesses are at a crossroads, where choosing the path of technology evolution will shape their future for decades to come.

• Approaching the end of mainstream maintenance, SAP ECC will become a legacy system by 2027, necessitating proactive migration measures.
• Migrating to SAP S/4HANA presents opportunities for enterprise technology transformation, critical for modern business operations.
• Effective business transition strategies will minimize disruption and maximize the benefits of new systems, assuring continuous innovation.
• Ensuring data integrity and compliance, post-2027, is paramount, with the added advantage of leveraging AI and IoT in process optimization.
• Preparation now determines future success, with the closing window before SAP ECC end of support serving as a catalyst for change.

Ready to move?

With less than two years before SAP ECC support ends, the time to start planning is now. Don’t let legacy systems hold back your growth in Asia’s most dynamic markets. Explore how your business can make a smart, strategic move to SAP S/4HANA with the right guidance and partner.

Let’s shape the future of enterprise transformation—together.