A Comprehensive Guide to Key SAP Data Objects for Successful Data Migration

Migrating to SAP is a critical endeavor for organizations aiming to modernize their systems and enhance operational efficiency. The success of an SAP implementation largely hinges on the effective migration of key data objects from legacy systems to the new SAP environment. In this blog, we’ll explore the essential data objects involved in such migrations, spanning various SAP modules including Financial Accounting (FI), Controlling (CO), Materials Management (MM), Sales and Distribution (SD), and more.

Financial Accounting (FI)

1. General Ledger (GL) Accounts: Central to financial reporting, GL accounts store all transactional data.

2. Chart of Accounts (CoA): A comprehensive list of all GL accounts used within the organization.

3. Company Codes: The smallest organizational units for which financial statements are prepared.

4. Profit Centers and Cost Centers: Used for internal management and allocation of costs.

5. Business Areas: Segments for which separate financial statements can be created.

6. Segments: Enable reporting on different dimensions, such as product lines or geographical regions.

Controlling (CO)

1. Cost Elements: Basic cost and revenue elements.

2. Cost Centers: Units within an organization where costs are incurred.

3. Profit Centers: Organizational units in accounting that reflect a management-oriented structure.

4. Internal Orders: Used for tracking costs of specific tasks or jobs.

5. Activity Types: Represent work or services provided within the organization.

6. Statistical Key Figures: Quantitative metrics used in cost allocations.

7. Controlling Areas: Represent organizational units within the CO module.

Materials Management (MM)

1. Material Master: Contains all information related to materials.

2. Vendor Master: Stores details about suppliers.

3. Purchase Orders: Records of purchase transactions.

4. Inventory Data: Information about stock levels and storage.

5. Purchase Requisitions: Internal requests to procure goods or services.

6. Source List: Approved suppliers for specific materials.

7. Quota Arrangement: Proportions of total procurement assigned to different sources.

8. Info Records: Conditions and data specific to a material and vendor relationship.

Sales and Distribution (SD)

1. Customer Master: Stores customer details.

2. Material Master (Sales Data): Sales-specific information about materials.

3. Pricing Conditions: Pricing details and conditions.

4. Sales Orders: Records of sales transactions.

5. Contracts: Agreements with customers.

6. Billing Documents: Records of billing processes.

7. Shipping Data: Information related to the shipping of goods.

Production Planning (PP)

1. Bill of Materials (BOM): Lists components needed to produce a product.

2. Work Centers: Locations where production activities are performed.

3. Routing: Defines the sequence of production operations.

4. Production Versions: Different methods of producing a product.

5. Production Orders: Instructions to produce specific products.

6. Material Requirements Planning (MRP) Data: Information for planning material requirements.

Plant Maintenance (PM)

1. Equipment Master: Information about individual pieces of equipment.

2. Functional Locations: Hierarchical locations where equipment is installed.

3. Maintenance Plans: Scheduled maintenance activities.

4. Work Orders: Instructions for maintenance tasks.

Project System (PS)

1. Project Definitions: Basic information about projects.

2. WBS (Work Breakdown Structure) Elements: Hierarchical breakdown of a project.

3. Networks: Logical relationships between project activities.

4. Activities: Tasks within a project.

5. Project Budgets: Financial planning data for projects.

Human Capital Management (HCM)

1. Employee Master Data: Information about employees.

2. Organizational Units: Structure of the organization.

3. Positions: Individual job positions within the organization.

4. Jobs: Job descriptions.

5. Personnel Numbers: Unique identifiers for employees.

6. Payroll Data: Information related to employee compensation.

Warehouse Management (WM)

1. Warehouse Structures: Hierarchical structure of the warehouse.

2. Storage Bins: Specific locations within the warehouse.

3. Stock Data: Information about stock levels.

Supplier Relationship Management (SRM)

1. Vendor Master (SRM specific): Supplier information tailored for SRM.

2. Catalog Data: Product catalogs from suppliers.

3. Purchase Orders (SRM specific): SRM-specific purchase records.

4. Contracts (SRM specific): Supplier agreements specific to SRM.

Customer Relationship Management (CRM)

1. Business Partners (Customer Master): Comprehensive customer information.

2. Opportunities: Potential sales opportunities.

3. Leads: Prospective customers or sales leads.

4. Service Requests: Customer service records.

Extended Warehouse Management (EWM)

1. Warehouse Structure: Detailed layout of the warehouse.

2. Storage Bins: Specific storage locations.

3. Handling Units: Units used to manage stock.

4. Stock Data: Information about inventory levels.

Advanced Planning and Optimization (APO)

1. Demand Planning Data: Forecasting and planning data.

2. Supply Network Planning Data: Information for supply chain planning.

3. Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling Data: Detailed production planning information.

Transportation Management (TM)

1. Freight Orders: Instructions for transportation.

2. Freight Units: Units to be transported.

3. Shipping Data: Information about shipments.

Environment, Health, and Safety (EHS)

1. Hazardous Substance Data: Information about hazardous materials.

2. Safety Data Sheets: Documents with safety information.

3. Incident Records: Records of safety incidents.

Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC)

1. Risk Data: Information about risks.

2. Control Data: Data related to internal controls.

3. Compliance Data: Information about compliance requirements.

Key Considerations for Data Migration

1. Data Mapping: Identify how data from the legacy system maps to the SAP system.

2. Data Cleansing: Ensure data is accurate and up-to-date before migration.

3. Data Enrichment: Add missing information required in the SAP system.

4. Data Transformation: Convert data into the required format for SAP.

5. Data Validation: Validate data post-migration to ensure accuracy.

6. Testing: Conduct thorough testing to ensure the system works as intended.

Tools for Data Migration

• SAP Data Services: Data integration and transformation software.

• SAP LT (Landscape Transformation): Real-time data replication tool.

• LSMW (Legacy System Migration Workbench): Tool for migrating data from non-SAP systems to SAP.

Conclusion

Understanding and effectively managing the migration of key SAP data objects is crucial for a successful SAP implementation. Proper planning, data mapping, and thorough testing are essential to ensure data accuracy and system functionality. By focusing on these critical aspects, organizations can achieve a seamless transition to their new SAP environment, paving the way for enhanced operational efficiency and business success.