Moving from SAP Business ByDesign to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Cloud isn’t an upgrade. It’s a reset
In Part 1, we explored why organisations rarely leave SAP Business ByDesign (ByD) because it stops working but because growth changes what they need from an ERP platform.
The most common misunderstanding is assuming the move to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public is a technical upgrade.
It isn’t.
Re-implementation, not a lift and shift
In most cases, the transition from ByD to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public is a re-implementation, involving:
- Fit to standard process design
- Selective data migration rather than full history
- Integration redesign aligned to SAP’s Clean Core approach
SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public is deliberately standard driven. This is a conscious design choice to enable continuous innovation and predictable upgrades.
Clean Core: constraint or enabler?
A key principle of SAP S/4HANA Cloud is clean core:
- The ERP core remains standard
- Configuration and in-app extensibility are tightly governed
- Custom logic is placed in side by side extensions, typically on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP)
For organisations used to stretching ByD with workarounds, clean core can feel restrictive at first. In practice, it often delivers the opposite:
- More stable upgrades
- Lower long term maintenance effort
- Clearer separation between standard process and differentiation
Industry solutions such as QPPS CPGWorks by Birchman demonstrate how industry specific requirements can be met without compromising clean core, using supported extensibility rather than modifying the ERP itself.
Pace is possible with discipline
A re-implementation does not have to mean a multi year project.
The Alfrecell case study shows what’s achievable with a focused, fit to standard approach. Alfrecell moved from SAP ECC to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public in 12 weeks, demonstrating that speed, standardisation and quality are not mutually exclusive when scope and decision making are aligned.
Understanding that this is a reset not an upgrade changes the entire conversation. Handled well, it removes years of accumulated technical debt and establishes a future proof platform. Handled poorly, it feels disruptive and expensive.
Which brings us to the most important question.
Is now the right time to move or not yet?
In Part 3, we look at when moving to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public makes sense and when staying on SAP Business ByDesign, at least for now, can still be the right decision.
Click below to read part 3:
» Moving from SAP Business ByDesign to SAP S/4HANA Cloud isn’t an upgrade. It’s a reset
