SAP migration without a testing strategy? Prepare for chaos

Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is a complex, high-stake undertaking for organisations, with success hinging on a well-defined and executed test plan. Without a robust approach to quality engineering, the risk of costly disruptions and extended hypercare periods increases significantly. Test planning plays a critical role in SAP migrations and requires domain knowledge and deep insights into SAP testing.

Why is test planning crucial in SAP migrations?

Test planning is the backbone of successful software delivery. It provides a structured approach to verifying that all systems, processes, and integrations function as expected in the new environment. In the context of SAP migrations, where businesses are often moving from older systems to the highly integrated and sophisticated S/4HANA, the stakes are especially high. Effective test planning ensures that organisations can maintain operational continuity, reduce risk, and achieve faster, smoother transitions.

Test planning: business first

Test planning involves defining the scope, approach, resources, and schedule of testing activities. It outlines the objectives, timelines, responsibilities, and success criteria for each testing phase, providing a clear roadmap to ensure that the migration aligns with business requirements. This planning phase is where the foundation for project success is laid, influencing the quality of the end product and the overall project timeline. In essence, test planning is geared toward business objectives, but uses technology to fulfill them, especially in SAP testing.

How to approach test planning in SAP migrations

Test planning for an SAP migration project typically begins with a deep dive into the organisation’s current state, including its business processes, existing SAP modules, and integration points. This foundational understanding is essential, as it enables the creation of comprehensive test scenarios that reflect real-world operations.

In an SAP context, test planning also needs to account for the specific structure imposed by SAP workflows. These workflows standardise and guide many processes but also require detailed validation to ensure that custom configurations and third-party integrations function correctly within the new S/4HANA environment. Key steps in this process include:

1. Requirements analysis: Identifying business-critical processes and the impact of the migration on each.
2. Test strategy definition: Establishing the overall testing approach, including the mix of manual and automated testing, together with performance & security testing.
3. Test case development: Creating test cases that cover both functional and non-functional requirements.
4. Environment setup: Preparing test environments that accurately reflect the production environment.
5. Test data preparation: Ensuring realistic and comprehensive test data is available.
6. Risk assessment: Identifying potential points of failure and their business impact.

What sets SAP test planning apart?

Test planning for SAP migrations is more structured than for many other enterprise systems, largely due to the standardised nature of SAP solutions and the critical business processes they support. SAP S/4HANA, for example, introduces new data models, integration frameworks, and process automation features that require a different testing approach than legacy ERP systems. The presence of prebuilt SAP workflows can streamline this process, but also adds a layer of complexity, as custom configurations and industry-specific requirements must still be validated.

Pitfalls in SAP test planning and how to overcome them

Despite its importance, test planning is often underestimated, leading to common pitfalls such as:

• Inadequate requirements gathering: Without a clear understanding of business processes, test plans can miss critical scenarios.
• Over-reliance on manual testing: Failing to leverage test automation can slow down the project and reduce test coverage.
• Insufficient test data: Without realistic data, test results may not accurately reflect production outcomes.
• Underestimating integration complexities: Overlooking the interconnected nature of SAP modules can lead to missed dependencies.

To overcome these challenges, organisations should invest in thorough requirements analysis, adopt test automation where possible, and ensure close collaboration between IT and business teams.

The role of domain knowledge and test automation tools in test planning

Domain expertise is critical in SAP testing, as it enables testers to anticipate potential issues, identify critical test cases, and prioritise test scenarios effectively. Testers with deep industry knowledge (for instance in domains like Financial Accounting or Sales & Distribution) can better understand the business impact of failures, ensuring that testing efforts align closely with organisational goals.

Modern test automation tools, like those supported by TTC Global, play a crucial role in efficient SAP testing. Tools like Tricentis Tosca are not only tightly integrate with SAP, they also reduce the time and effort required for repetitive tests, enhance accuracy, and enable continuous testing throughout the migration project.

SAP test planning: don’t do it on your own

Test planning for an SAP S/4HANA migration is such a complex undertaking that organisations usually don’t have all the necessary skills on board. TTC Global brings deep SAP expertise and a commitment to quality engineering. Our proprietary SAP Accelerator Packs are specifically designed to streamline the migration process, offering prebuilt test scripts, automation frameworks, and best practices that reduce time to value. These accelerators, combined with TTC Global’s extensive industry experience, ensure faster, more predictable project outcomes.

Test planning in SAP migration projects is a critical success factor, requiring a strategic approach, deep domain knowledge, and the right automation tools. With TTC Global’s proven methodologies and SAP Accelerator packs, organisations can reduce risk, improve test coverage, and achieve a smoother, more successful migration to S/4HANA.

Ready to take the next step in your SAP journey? Connect with TTC Global today to learn how we can support your transformation.