SAP S/4HANA: The search for the best approach

SAP founds SDTE as a quality initiative

Not every company can or wants to completely rebuild its existing system landscape (“greenfield”) or simply convert it technically (“brownfield”). For these more complex cases, a third way has established itself in recent years: selective data transition (SDT). According to the 2025 Transformation Study, almost 50% of companies have opted for this approach. 

To standardize this approach methodologically, qualitatively, and organizationally, SAP has launched a globally organized group of experts – the Selective Data Transition Engagement Community (SDTEC). The SDTEC was founded in 2018 by SAP together with experienced transformation partners. The aim was to create a quality-assured framework for selective migrations – i.e., for projects in which companies make targeted decisions about which data, processes, and organizational units are to be transferred to the new SAP S/4HANA environment. SAP responded to the growing needs of many large companies whose ERP landscapes have grown, diversified, or become fragmented through mergers over the years. While greenfield approaches are often too costly and brownfield projects too inflexible, selective data transition offers a balanced, controlled transformation. The advantages are obvious: legacy data and system structures can be selectively cleaned up, consolidated, and transferred in a targeted manner. The result: system environments are not only migrated but also modernized, while processes are streamlined, data cleaned up, and innovations made usable more quickly. In addition, lower data volumes mean that the operating costs of the production system are minimized, which is a factor that companies should not underestimate when operating in cloud environments.

Competence alliance for complex migrations

In addition to SAP itself, SDTEC includes a few carefully selected partner companies with proven, extensive experience in data and system transformations. Key members include cbs Corporate Business Solutions (Heidelberg), Natuvion GmbH (Walldorf), and SNP Schneider-Neureither & Partner SE (Heidelberg). These three partners work closely with SAP. Together, they develop methods, tools, and governance structures to make migrations reproducible, transparent, and auditable. SAP acts as the patron. The SDTE methods are implemented by the partners.

What are SDTEC's goals and methods?

SDTEC sees itself as a working group that continuously develops knowledge, experience, and standards for selective migration. The focus is on the standardization of methods (development of common process models for SDT projects); quality assurance (definition of test criteria and guidelines for risk minimization); knowledge exchange (regular coordination between SAP and its partners on project feedback and best practices); and governance (ensuring that SDT projects comply with SAP's support and architecture specifications). All in all, SDTEC offers not only technical security, but also organizational and strategic stability – and thus a reliable foundation for a successful transition to SAP S/4HANA.

What are the benefits for SDTEC's customers?

Companies that rely on members of the Selective Data Transition Engagement Community (SDTEC) as part of their SAP S/4HANA transformation benefit in several ways.

A key advantage is methodological certainty. Close cooperation between SAP and its SDTE partners has resulted in a uniform, standardized migration approach. This joint methodology minimizes risks and ensures that projects are implemented transparently, traceably, and in accordance with SAP's technical and architectural specifications.

All migration steps are documented and auditable, which is particularly important for regulated industries and international corporations. Companies can rely on proven procedures, in-depth expertise, and close cooperation with SAP – a decisive factor for complex, multi-stage migrations.

Another added value lies in the improvement of data quality. During selective migration, companies can clean up, consolidate, or partially restructure their legacy data. This not only leads to higher data integrity in the new system, but also lays the foundation for more efficient, data-driven business processes in the SAP S/4HANA environment. That is a decisive factor contributing to the better use of AI.

Natuvion also offers all these options as part of transformations from various manufacturers to SAP or from SAP to other providers.