Understanding your data footprint and its challenges

Every transaction, report, and system interaction contribute to the massive amounts of data your business generates – and this data can quickly spiral out of control. Without proper management, growing data volumes can increase costs, slow system performance, and complicate compliance.

Your data footprint holds the key to smoother SAP operations – but unmanaged, it can become your biggest obstacle. Let’s look at what it is, why it matters, and explore the risks of letting it grow unchecked.

What is a data footprint?

Your data footprint refers to the total amount of digital information your business generates and stores in SAP systems. This includes all types of data, including transaction, master, configuration and historical data.

Why it matters

Managing your data footprint effectively is more than just housekeeping – it’s a strategic move to enhance system efficiency, maintain compliance, and keep costs under control.

The rising challenges of growing data volumes

As your business grows, so will your data. This expansion brings the following challenges:

1. Higher storage costs: Excessive data inflates operational expenses, especially as businesses transition to cloud-based systems.

2. Performance issues: Bloated databases can lead to slower processing times, creating delays in critical workflows.

3. Compliance complexities: Retaining unnecessary data increases the risk of non-compliance with ever-evolving regulations.

Why optimizing your data footprint is crucial for SAP S/4HANA migrations

SAP S/4HANA is designed to deliver a lean, high-performance experience. However, migrating unoptimized or unorganized data into the new system can dampen these benefits.

Optimizing your data footprint before the transition ensures:

• A streamlined migration process with fewer hiccups.
• Cost savings by reducing data storage needs.
• A foundation for maximizing the full potential of SAP S/4HANA’s capabilities.

Understanding the challenges of an unchecked data footprint is the first step, but how do you take control of it? The answer lies in data archiving.

The role of data archiving in streamlining SAP systems

Keeping your SAP systems lean and efficient starts with strategic data archiving. In this section, we’ll uncover how archiving works, the benefits it delivers, and how SNP simplifies the process with innovative solutions.

What is data archiving?

Data archiving involves moving rarely accessed data from your active SAP system into an external storage. By doing so, you reduce the strain on your system while ensuring that historical data remains accessible when needed. It’s a smart way to optimize performance and maintain compliance, while preserving access to critical data records.

Three key benefits of data archiving for SAP systems

Archiving isn’t just about reducing clutter. It’s a game-changer for SAP performance and efficiency:

1. Improved system performance: With less data bogging down your system, processes run faster and smoother.
2. Reduced storage costs: Free up expensive system resources by moving inactive data to more cost-effective storage options.
3. Easier compliance: Organizing and archiving data makes it easier to meet regulatory requirements, reducing the risks of audits or penalties.

How SNP simplifies data archiving

With SNP Outboard ERP Archiving, the archiving process becomes effortless and efficient:

• Automated workflows: Save time and resources with fully automated data archiving.
• Minimal disruption: SNP’s solutions integrate seamlessly into your existing systems for a smooth transition.
• Proven expertise: With SNP, you’ll have a trusted partner to guide you through every step of the archiving process.

Archiving is an essential piece of the puzzle, but what about those outdated legacy systems? In the next section, we’ll tackle system decommissioning and how it helps you manage legacy data effectively post-migration.

Tackling legacy systems with system decommissioning

Even after migrating to SAP S/4HANA, outdated legacy systems can drain resources and impact efficiency. This section explains why system decommissioning is the strategic solution for managing legacy data and how SNP makes it easy.

The legacy system challenges after an S/4HANA migration

Legacy systems are often left running after a migration to SAP S/4HANA to maintain access to historical data. However, this approach creates significant issues:

• High maintenance costs: Keeping old systems operational is expensive and unsustainable.
• Compliance risks: Legacy systems can be harder to secure, increasing regulatory and security concerns.
• Operational inefficiencies: Managing multiple systems leads to fragmented data and unnecessary complexity.

System decommissioning as the solution

System decommissioning offers a cost-effective way to retire legacy systems while preserving access to their data. Here’s how it can benefit your business:

• Streamlined operations: Eliminate the need to maintain outdated systems without losing valuable historical records.
• Secure data storage: Retain legacy data in a compliant and accessible format.
• Reduced costs: Free up IT budgets by removing redundant systems and infrastructure.

Why SNP Datafridge is the optimal solution for legacy data management

SNP Datafridge allows you to retire outdated systems while maintaining easy access to critical historical data. It helps you eliminate the inefficiencies of legacy systems and keep your valuable data secure and readily available.

Here’s how it works:

SNP Datafridge securely offloads your legacy data, giving you easy access to the data you need – whenever you need it – without the hassle of managing old infrastructure.

It’s designed to meet your business where it is, simplifying access to legacy information so you can focus on what’s ahead, not what’s behind:

• Reduce IT workload: Eliminate the costs and effort of maintaining old servers or running outdated software.

• Ensure peace of mind: Store your historical data securely, with the ability to retrieve it in just a few clicks.
• Maximize resource efficiency: Redirect savings from decommissioning legacy systems into your SAP S/4HANA environment, fueling innovation and progress.

With SNP’s proven expertise and SNP Datafridge’s intuitive interface, system decommissioning becomes more than just a cost-cutting measure – it’s a transformative step towards a future-proof digital strategy.

With your data footprint under control and your legacy systems retired, what’s next? A partner that can bring it all together. Why businesses choose SNP

Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is a significant undertaking. It’s not just about upgrading systems – it’s about rethinking how your business manages data, operates and grows.

Here’s how SNP can support your business

Proven experience: With decades of SAP transformation projects under their belt, SNP knows how to navigate even the most complex migrations.

Tailored solutions: SNP understands that no two businesses are alike, crafting strategies that fit your unique needs.

Seamless execution: From day one to go-live, the SNP team works side by side with yours to ensure a smooth transition.

At its core, SNP is more than a service provider: It’s a transformation partner committed to helping your business thrive in the S/4HANA era.

Over to you: Take control of your data footprint today

 Managing your legacy systems and data effectively is crucial for maintaining a competitive edge. With SNP’s decommissioning and archiving solutions, you can confidently retire outdated systems while ensuring your critical data remains accessible and secure. By streamlining your processes, reducing costs and enhancing system performance, you’re not just keeping up with change – you’re driving it. Take control of your data footprint today and set the stage for a successful SAP S/4HANA migration with SNP by your side.