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<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\nThis raises key questions for user companies: Where are we today\u2014and how do we get to Clean Core? The three steps outlined below provide a sensible approach and point to helpful methods and tools (from SAP and partners).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 1: Tool-supported code analysis (bottom-up)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
First, in-house developments must be evaluated. The following SAP classification of \u201eclean core extensibility\u201c into four levels serves as a target criterion for future enhancements.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Level A \u2013 Ideal<\/strong>: Use of public interfaces with stability contracts only.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Level B \u2013 Proven<\/strong>Use of established APIs and classic SAP technologies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Level C \u2013 Limited<\/strong>: Read access to internal data objects.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Level D \u2013 Critical<\/strong>: Extensions or modifications that are not recommended.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
When clearly defined in technical terms, classification provides a solid basis for systematic consolidation. The following SAP tools can help with this:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC)<\/strong>: Classification of in-house developments, identification of rule violations and \u201etechnical debt.\u201c.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Readiness Check (including simplification items)<\/strong>Identifies functions or artifacts that are eliminated, replaced, or transformed with S\/4HANA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Partner solutions provide additional benefits:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- smartShift<\/strong>Automated evaluation and \u201erestructuring\u201c of customer-owned code \u2013 including usage reference.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- IBIS Prof. Thome<\/strong>: Comprehensive evaluations and assigns extensions used to technical process contexts using machine learning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Step 2: Process and fit-gap view (top-down)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Once you have reached the process level, the next key question arises: Is a special process really necessary, or can it be brought back into the standard? The Clean Core Initiative has two clearly separated layers:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- core processes <\/strong>are primarily designed via Configuration\/Central Business Configuration (CBC) to ensure compliance with standards.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A few, clearly justified special processes<\/strong> are implemented as extensions to the BTP \u2013 only where there is genuine benefit or a competitive advantage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
The desired clean core for processes thus simplifies innovation: continuous improvements can be rolled out more quickly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
While custom code can still be assessed fairly well using technical analyses, it becomes much more challenging when it comes to organization-specific business processes. What is needed is a so-called fit-gap analysis, which brings together current process usage, technological possibilities, and company requirements. Fit-gap analyses check whether the current form of the process variants used ...<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- on incompatible technology<\/strong> based (to be replaced by S\/4HANA functionality or BTP apps),<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- overly complex <\/strong>is or <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- unorthodox customization <\/strong>contains, which is not viable in cloud-based clean core processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Readiness check process analyses, SAP Signavio, and other partner solutions provide assessments here; SAP Best Practices define the clean core target vision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Step 3: Leveraging master data used in processes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Master data quality is often overlooked in traditional process analyses, yet it is crucial for clean processes. SAP partner IBIS Prof. Thome closes this gap by focusing on master data, which is often criminally neglected. The analysis examines the following questions in particular:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Which master data is relevant in which processes?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Do the existing parameterizations correspond to the actual process usage?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- In which areas is it useful to simplify master data parameters?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In addition to examining process usage and data consistency, cleaning up and archiving unused master data can also make a significant contribution to improving data quality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- IBIS Prof. Thome has developed a five-level classification system specifically for this purpose, covering master data objects (materials, business partners, etc.) and their use in processes \u2013 analogous to the enhancements:<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A = active use in clean processes (public cloud-ready)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- B = Use in customized variants (Z customizing; CBC mapping possible)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- C = Use in processes with innovations (e.g., S&OP \u2192 IBP)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- D = Process used not applicable with S\/4HANA or highly customer-specific \u2192 Revision necessary<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- E = Use unclear \u2192 manual analysis<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
All three steps are important.<\/strong>Code analysis alone is not enough. Process and master data evaluation are equally important \u201ecleaning agents.\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Benefits for IT and specialist departments<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Faster innovation: Continuous improvements, rapid adoption of new AI capabilities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Lower TCO<\/strong>Reduced maintenance and operating costs, simplified upgrades.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Robust governance<\/strong>Less dispersion, greater transparency, improved auditability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- safety gain<\/strong>Reduced attack surfaces.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
practical guide<\/h2>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Classify: Assign to extensibility levels A\u2013D; form risk clusters.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Check process fit: Compare with SAP best practices and target process map; document fit gap.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Evaluate master data: Data profiling; classification A\u2013E; define cleanup and simplification plan.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Deciding: Standard vs. individuality as a mindset decision \u2013 business case for each deviation.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Transform: Refactor\/decouple to BTP, configuration via CBC, clean up, archive.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Establish governance: policies, quality gates, lifecycle management.<\/li>\n<\/ol>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Initial situation: An SAP system becomes \u201edirty\u201c when customer-specific code, undocumented modifications to the standard system, and fragile integration interfaces are mixed with the product standard. Excessive process customizing and poor master data quality are also problematic. The consequences are rising costs, more difficult upgrades, and reduced flexibility.<\/p>","protected":false},"author":2573,"featured_media":158242,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"pmpro_default_level":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[44345,26405,44340],"tags":[],"coauthors":[40853],"class_list":["post-158238","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-extra-2512","category-advertorial","category-mag-25-12","pmpro-has-access"],"acf":[],"featured_image_urls_v2":{"full":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-400x180.jpg",400,180,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-768x346.jpg",768,346,true],"large":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"image-100":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-100x45.jpg",100,45,true],"image-480":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-480x216.jpg",480,216,true],"image-640":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-640x288.jpg",640,288,true],"image-720":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-720x324.jpg",720,324,true],"image-960":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-960x432.jpg",960,432,true],"image-1168":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"image-1440":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"image-1920":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"trp-custom-language-flag":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-18x8.jpg",18,8,true],"bricks_large_16x9":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"bricks_large":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"bricks_large_square":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis.jpg",1000,450,false],"bricks_medium":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-600x270.jpg",600,270,true],"bricks_medium_square":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-600x450.jpg",600,450,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-24x24.jpg",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-48x48.jpg",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-96x96.jpg",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/e3mag.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/2512_ex_ibis-300x300.jpg",300,300,true]},"post_excerpt_stackable_v2":"
Ausgangslage: \u201eSchmutzig\u201c wird ein SAP-System, wenn sich kundeneigener Code, undokumentierte Eingriffe in den Standard und fragile Integrationsschnittstellen mit dem Produktstandard vermischen. Problematisch sind auch exzessives Prozess-Customizing und eine schlechte Stammdatenqualit\u00e4t. Die Folgen sind steigende Kosten, erschwerte Upgrades und eine geringere Flexibilit\u00e4t.<\/p>\n","category_list_v2":"Extra 2512<\/a>, Advertorial<\/a>, MAG 25-12<\/a>","author_info_v2":{"name":"Prof. Dr. Andreas Hufgard, IBIS Prof. Thome","url":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/author\/andreas-hufgard\/"},"comments_num_v2":"0 comments","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158238","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2573"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=158238"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158238\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":158256,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/158238\/revisions\/158256"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/158242"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=158238"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=158238"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=158238"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/e3mag.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=158238"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Robust governance<\/strong>Less dispersion, greater transparency, improved auditability.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Lower TCO<\/strong>Reduced maintenance and operating costs, simplified upgrades.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- overly complex <\/strong>is or <\/li>\n\n\n\n
- A few, clearly justified special processes<\/strong> are implemented as extensions to the BTP \u2013 only where there is genuine benefit or a competitive advantage.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- IBIS Prof. Thome<\/strong>: Comprehensive evaluations and assigns extensions used to technical process contexts using machine learning.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Readiness Check (including simplification items)<\/strong>Identifies functions or artifacts that are eliminated, replaced, or transformed with S\/4HANA.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
- Level B \u2013 Proven<\/strong>Use of established APIs and classic SAP technologies.<\/li>\n\n\n\n