Migration Guide · S/4HANA Paths
Greenfield, Brownfield, or Bluefield? A Plain-Language Guide to Your SAP Migration Path.
The hardest decision in moving to S/4HANA isn't whether to move — it's how. Here's what each path actually means, in plain English, and how to know which one fits.
First Decision
Public Cloud or Private Cloud?
Before you choose a migration approach, you choose a destination. Two fundamentally different models — same SAP S/4HANA, very different fit.
Public Cloud
GROW with SAP
SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Public Edition. Multi-tenant SaaS, preconfigured best practices, clean core, fast time-to-value. Best for mid-market and net-new SAP customers.
See GROW with SAP →Private Cloud
RISE with SAP
SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Private Edition. Single-tenant managed cloud, flexibility to retain customizations, deployed on the hyperscaler of your choice. Best for complex enterprises and ECC customers with valuable customizations.
See RISE with SAP →Second Decision
Which Migration Approach?
Once you know your destination, you choose how to get there. Three approaches — and the right one depends on your landscape, not your preference.
Start Clean
Greenfield
Build S/4HANA from scratch. Redesign processes around SAP best practices. Replace custom code with standard functionality. It delivers the cleanest, most AI-ready outcome but requires the most change management.
- →Carries forward: Nothing — clean slate
- →Speed: Slowest (most change management)
- →Outcome: Cleanest, most AI-ready system
- →Best for: Major transformation, leaving legacy behind, net-new public cloud
~18%
of migrations — ISG 2026
Convert in Place
Brownfield
Technically convert your existing ECC system to S/4HANA. Your configurations, historical data, custom ABAP, and existing processes come with you. Fastest go-live path — but legacy complexity comes along for the ride.
- →Carries forward: Everything — including technical debt
- →Speed: Fastest from an existing SAP system
- →Outcome: Familiar, but legacy complexity persists
- →Best for: Preserving configuration investment, minimizing initial disruption
~34%
of migrations — the most common path
Keep What's Worth Keeping
Bluefield
Selective Data Transition (SDT). Migrate the data and processes worth keeping; rebuild the rest clean. Dial in exactly the right level of transformation and ROI without exceeding your cost, risk, and change-management constraints.
- →Carries forward: Only what adds value
- →Speed: Tunable — between Greenfield and Brownfield
- →Outcome: Right-sized transformation, controlled risk
- →Best for: Meaningful change without full-Greenfield disruption — fastest-growing approach in 2026
Fastest-growing
approach heading into 2026
How deBCor Helps You Choose
We Lead With Your Landscape — Not a Preferred Path.
A short assessment of your custom code, data, integrations, and process complexity tells us far more than a generic recommendation ever could. We inventory what you have, identify what's worth keeping, and give you a clear recommendation — with the rationale — before any commitment.
We've delivered across every path. We've taken over stalled programs and stabilized live systems mid-flight. We don't have a preferred answer — we have your answer.
54
Countries on a single Public Cloud rollout
4 months
ECC to S/4HANA migration with 10× pandemic order volume
#5
SAP Gold Partner ranking in the USA
Going public cloud?
See GROW with SAP →Moving from ECC?
See RISE with SAP →On ECC and worried about 2027?
See ECC End-of-Support →Not sure which path is yours?
Start with an honest assessment of your landscape. We'll recommend the right destination and the right approach — with a clear rationale.