Roadmap to SAP Clean Core: Expert Guide to Reducing Technical Debt and Accelerating Innovation
“The biggest misconception about S/4 Hana Clean Core is that it’s just another project. It’s not—it’s a mindset. The real challenge isn’t complexity but resistance to change. If you treat it as a one-time task, you’ll end up back in complexity, losing its benefits.”
Is your SAP system weighed down by years of custom code, making upgrades slow, costly, and frustrating? You’re not alone. According to ASUG, 55% of organizations in 2024 faced challenges upgrading to new SAP S/4 Hana offerings due to custom code. Finding experts to maintain or enhance it was difficult for 45%, while high maintenance costs (39%) and significant cost burdens (36%) added to the strain.
A complex, heavily customized SAP system limits agility, increases technical debt, and makes adopting innovations like AI, automation, and cloud-native functionalities harder.
That’s why forward-thinking organizations embrace SAP Clean Core—a strategy that reduces unnecessary modifications, simplifies system maintenance, and accelerates innovation.
In this guide, we’ll explain how Clean Core simplifies SAP environments, reduces long-term costs, and sets the stage for future-proof operations.
The True Cost of Not Adapting to a Clean Core Mindset
While some organizations feel their legacy systems suffice, this mindset can be increasingly shortsighted. Outdated systems expose businesses to security vulnerabilities, making them more susceptible to breaches, compliance risks, and data loss.
Even large enterprises today realize that clinging to outdated infrastructure limits business agility and competitiveness. The real cost isn’t just licensing or infrastructure—it’s future-proofing.
“Delaying cloud migration means missing out on critical cloud-native functionalities.
Early adopters gain the advantage of strategic implementation while those who delay may face rushed, costly migrations as end-of-support deadlines approach.”
– Jitendra Surve,
Director Technology,
A5E Consulting
Common Objections to Clean Core Adoption
Inertia & mandate-driven change
You’ve likely invested years in SAP, and your current setup works—so why change? If migration feels like a mandate rather than a business-driven need, you’re not alone. But delaying this shift comes with its own risks.
Cost complexity
Cloud pricing adds financial uncertainty, with higher licensing costs, BTP add-ons, usage-based pricing, and extra costs for extended capabilities.
Skill gaps
Clean Core shifts the skill demand from traditional SAP to BTP, cloud, and automation—areas where expertise is still evolving. The talent gap makes hiring and upskilling challenging.
These hurdles make adoption difficult, particularly for cost-conscious markets transitioning from on-premise to cloud-native operations.
Now, let’s look at some of the benefits of the SAP Clean Core approach
The Business Impact of the SAP Clean Core Approach
SAP Clean Core delivers specific, measurable improvements:
Core Key Performance Metrics:
– 80% reduction in software customization
– 70% of core business processes automated
– 50% reduction in database size
– 80% of core business processes standardized across countries
Source: https://www.sap.com/products/erp/rise/methodology/clean-core.html
Operational Improvements:
– Upgrade timelines reduced from 3–6 months to just a few days
– 99% reduction in testing time
– Seamless six-month upgrade cycles with minimal business disruption
Business Continuity Improvements:
– Near-zero system downtime during upgrades
– Minimal disruption to business operations during maintenance
– Close to 100% system availability
– Streamlined testing processes that don’t require extensive business user involvement
Cost Reductions:
– Lower upgrade service costs through simplified processes
– Testing efforts shift from months to days
– Decreased customization maintenance needs
– Smaller database storage costs
– Decreased resource allocation for upgrade projects
Clean Core Methodology Roadmap
A Clean Core approach is about making the right choices based on your current SAP footprint. Clean Core adoption varies depending on whether an organization is already using SAP or implementing it for the first time.
Existing SAP Users: Private Cloud & Strategic Migration
- Greenfield implementation: A complete system rebuild—ideal for companies that want to rethink and optimize business processes from scratch.
- Brownfield implementation: A direct path to Clean Core by preserving critical customizations, maintaining functionality, and converting systems with minimal disruption.
“For highly customized systems, Brownfield might be the safer route, but for those struggling with inefficiencies, Greenfield is an opportunity to start fresh.”
Organizations New to SAP: Public Cloud & Fit-to-Standard
Adopt a fit-to-standard approach and use this opportunity for business process re-engineering. This means:
- Aligning with SAP best practices from the start
- Taking advantage of public cloud options
- Building clean processes from the ground up
Jitendra adds – “Organizations must choose: adopt SAP best practices for agility or keep legacy processes. Public cloud enables faster upgrades but limits flexibility.”
The Human Element
“It’s not just about the technology itself; it’s about the people driving the change. You need those key business leaders – the ones deeply familiar with the existing processes and ready to modify them, not just discard them. They’re your internal champions. ”
Other critical roles include:
- Controllers who act as gatekeepers and user advocates
- Skilled service request raisers who translate business needs into actionable requests for SAP
- Change management specialists who guide the transformation
Get these roles right, and you’ve laid a solid foundation for a successful migration.
While timelines vary based on the chosen path, successful implementation depends on making the right strategic choices upfront. The focus should remain on quality and sustainable business value rather than speed alone.
Regardless of the approach, businesses must assess these factors.
SAP Clean Core Checklist
System Assessment
- How customized is our SAP system? Is it bloated or close to standard?
- What’s the cost of maintaining customizations and recurring fixes?
Business Goals & Readiness
- Are we aiming to cut costs, boost performance, or enable new tech?
- Is our organization prepared for the level of change required?
Customizations & Data Management
- Which customizations are critical, and are they Clean Core-compatible?
- What’s the impact of removing custom workflows?
- How will we manage data migration and ensure accuracy?
Resources & Expertise
- Do we have in-house SAP cloud expertise or need external support?
- What level of external support (technical, strategic) is required?
Timeline & Milestones
- Is our implementation timeline realistic and aligned with business goals?
- How will we measure success at each stage?
Risk Management & Business Continuity
- How will we minimize disruption during implementation?
- What are potential risks, and how can we mitigate them?
- Do we have a post-go-live troubleshooting plan?
Integration & Scalability
- How will Clean Core integrate with third-party tools and cloud solutions?
- Is our SAP system scalable for future growth?
Change Management
- How will we handle employee resistance and training?
- Do we have a clear communication strategy for end users?
- How do we ensure adoption and ease of transition?
Post-Implementation Support & Optimization
- What ongoing support and system optimization plans are in place?
- What KPIs will measure Clean Core’s impact?
Making the Right Choice
Clean Core is a mindset strategic shift, not just a technical upgrade. For heavily customized SAP environments, it can feel more like a constraint than an advantage. If rethinking workflows isn’t feasible, a private cloud approach ( RISE with SAP, which includes SAP BTP and other cloud services) may offer a smoother transition.
For new adopters, GROW with SAP offers a streamlined entry into Clean Core for scalability and smoother upgrades. But you have to consciously resist customization creep. When you start tailoring processes outside SAP’s standards, you risk losing the benefits you adopted Clean Core for.
The real question isn’t whether Clean Core is good or bad—it’s whether your business is ready for it.
Need expert guidance? Contact us to discuss the best strategy for your transition.
Related Posts
Post a Comment
You must be logged in to post a comment.