Why So Many S/4HANA Migrations Fail Due to Authorizations

Why So Many S/4HANA Migrations Fail Due to Authorizations

S/4HANA migrations come with technical, organizational, and functional complexity. One area is frequently neglected: users and authorizations. The result is delayed go-lives, inefficient role models, and high manual effort. Anyone taking SAP migrations seriously needs to address user authorizations early, especially the interaction between classic SAP GUI roles and Fiori authorizations.

Authorizations: Underestimated but Business-Critical

Many projects approach the topic too late. Instead of redesigning the role concept, they simply transfer the legacy system. "Lift & Shift" might work on paper but fails in practice. Without cleaning up old roles, clearly separating functional and technical components, and adapting to Fiori, gaps and redundancies appear. Testing comes too late, and role adjustments happen under pressure in the production system.

On top of that, the complexity of Fiori is often underestimated.

Fiori Authorizations: Risk and Key to Success

Fiori changes how users interact with SAP. Apps rely on catalogs, groups, spaces, and pages. These require thoughtful design and clean implementation. Without a clear Fiori strategy, structure, maintainability, and user experience suffer. The challenge lies not just in the technology but in aligning business and IT. Ignoring this leads to a chaotic Fiori Launchpad and frustrated users.

Our Approach at Yellow Sailor

We get involved early, already during project planning. We clarify key questions: How many users are there? Which applications and processes are used? Which transactions can be replaced by Fiori apps?

Based on that, we develop a modular, scalable role concept. We strictly separate technical and business roles. We define a robust Fiori strategy that balances usability and maintainability. Redundancies are identified and eliminated. Every role is tested in a sandbox environment. We ensure structured documentation, use automation for role checks, and stay in close coordination with the project team.

Conclusion: Authorizations Define Migration Success

Trying to fix Fiori roles and SAP user authorizations after go-live means working reactively, not strategically. Effort increases, acceptance drops. Authorizations must be treated as an integral part of migration planning and execution. With a clean concept, a solid Fiori authorization structure, and early integration into the overall project, we at Yellow Sailor ensure exactly that.