- The document provides guidance on deploying SAP S/4HANA with a cloud mindset by adhering to five "Golden Rules": start with pre-configured processes, build on quality data, use modern integration technologies, use modern extensions technologies, and ensure transparency on deviations. - It outlines SAP Activate methodology templates for planning integrations and extensions by collecting requirements, assessing alignment with guidance, designing, and documenting decisions. - Any deviations from the Golden Rules must be clearly documented and approved by a Solution Standardization Board to track plans to move back to clean core principles over time. Adhering to the rules can provide benefits like faster time to value and adoption of innovations.

1. Implementing SAP S/4HANA with a Cloud Mindset
SAP Activate Methodology Template
February 15, 2024

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PUBLIC 2
Golden Rules for Deploying SAP S/4HANA with a Cloud Mindset
Living the Clean Core Philosophy
1. Start with pre-configured processes, foster cloud mindset by adhering to Fit-to-Standard and Agile deployment
detailed in SAP Activate
 Adopt SAP standard processes SAP Best Practices, SAP Enterprise Management Layer (*)(**), SAP Standard Content or
Partner templates(**) for fit-to-standard
 Where the pre-configured processes do not exist - process configuration and personalization should follow SAP recommended
configuration standards (IMG)
 Utilize SAP Fiori UX and pre-defined processes and data
2. Build your solution on quality data (configuration, master and transactional) to leverage innovations
 Ensure data quality including accuracy, completeness, consistency, timeliness, validity and uniqueness.
 Manage data volumes to optimize resources utilization and ensure data privacy.
3. Use modern integration technologies
 Follow SAP Integration Solution Advisory Methodology.
 Use SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) for Integration.
 Leverage SAP Business Accelerator Hub for available APIs.
4. Use modern extensions technologies
 Follow guidance from Extend SAP S/4HANA in the cloud and on premise with ABAP based extensions –
(A) Extend solution using released remote or local SAP APIs; (B) Extend SAP objects only via predefined extension points; and
(C) Leverage cloud-enabled and released technologies.
 Use SAP Application Extension Methodology to develop modern extensions
 Retire custom ABAP extensions that you no longer need and renovate existing custom ABAP extension using cloud extension
techniques.
5. Ensure transparency on deviations from these Golden Rules for Operational Excellence
 Any deviation has to be clearly documented as part of the deployment process; this will help the customer replace these with
standard capabilities if they are offered in the future.
 Use standard capabilities of SAP Application Lifecycle Management tools to document the solution.
Customers that adhere to these
rules realized following
benefits:
• Faster time to value due to an
adoption focused mindset.
• Lower cost of initial
deployment and on-going cost
of running the solution.
• Ability to adopt innovation
delivered by SAP at a faster
rate.
• Lower risk during the transition
of the solution.
• Reduction of technical debt
and adoption of high degree of
standards, regardless of the
transition method.
• Higher flexibility for customer
to chose the right, qualified
partner.
• Transition to a future-proof
solution utilizing modern
technologies.

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Golden Rules 1 and 2 “Pre-configure Processes” & “Quality Data”
Conduct Fit-to-Standard Workshops and Design and Implement in Sprints
Fit-to-Standard Workshops
• Show and Tell
• Business Driven Config Questions
• Feedback
• Review Process Flows and Scripts
Solution Realization
Prepare Explore
Value Discovery
• High Level
Scoping
Realize
Implement Backlog
Sprints and
Confirmation with
Business and IT
1-2
wks
1-2
wks
Discover
Release
Planning
Q-Gate
Report on Golden Rules
Document Findings
• Key Business Decisions
• Confirmation of Scope
• Roadmap Items
• Build Backlog
• Process Models
• Delta Requirements
• New Business Process
Planning and Design
• Integration
• Extensibility
• Output Management
Prepare Business Processes
for Fit-to-Standard
• Business Driven Configuration questionnaires
• Select key processes to be shown
• Prepare workshops – demo, roles, data, process flows
Prepare Landscape and Technical Setup
• Business Driven Configuration questionnaire
• Select key processes to be shown
• Setup system and activate pre-configuration
2
3
2 4
• Use SAP Best Practices for SAP
S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Enterprise
Management Layer, or SAP
Standard Content to build the
system for fit-to-standard
workshops.
• Collect delta requirements on top of
pre-configured processes during fit-
to-standard workshops.
• Review SAP product roadmap
before considering extensions.
• Evaluate configuration options
before considering extensions.
• Use techniques and APIs available in
SAP S/4HANA Cloud for integration
and extensions.
• Implement Solution Standardization
Board to govern the process with
clean core mindset.
• Document all decisions with regards
to deviations from the Golden Rules.
5
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Activate Fiori for Business Roles in Scope
• Scope & Business Roles
• Rapid Fiori Activation
1 Approach
1
3
2
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Golden Rule 3 “Use modern integration technologies”
Integrations Planning and Design
Related business scope item
needed for business settings for
the integration
Integration Scope item if available SAP
provides out-of-the-box integrations for
various integration scenarios.
Technical consultant completes the list by
adding all necessary details to write setup
instructions or to apply for a new/extended API.
Determine Details
Align and Optimize Detail Setup
Instructions
Collect Integration
Requirements
Sign-Off
Integrations are
integral part of a end-
to-end business
process.
Output from fit-to-
standard.
Eliminate duplicates,
optimize landscape.
Identify integration Best
Practices to use.
Identify customer driven
integrations.
Avoid extending
standard integrations.
Detail integrations -
use APIs you find on
SAP Business
Accelerator Hub
Process Overview
Document all
integrations with
and without public
interfaces.
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3
2
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SAP Activate for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
2
Use SAP Integration
Solution Advisory
Methodology.

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Golden Rule 4 “Use modern extensions technologies”
Extensions Planning and Design
Collect Details
Assess alignment with
Extensibility Guidance
Detail Setup
instructions
Collect Delta
Requirements
Sign Off
Extensions are part of a
business process.
Output from fit-to-
standard.
Aim to minimize extensions
and use standard where
possible.
Use the Guide for
Extensibility to determine
best way to extend the
software to meet the
requirements.
Use key-user extensibility, on-
stack developer extensibility,
and side-by-side extensibility
before considering classic
extensions.
Use published APIs on SAP
Business Accelerator Hub.
Sign-off extension
with customer on
design and efforts.
Process Overview:
Document all
extensions with and
without public APIs.
Extension Requirement
Guidance for Extensibility
Decide on Design
Design Extension
and Document
2
1 3 4
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SAP Activate for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
Use SAP Application
Extension
Methodology to
develop modern
extensions.

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© 2022 SAP SE or an SAP affiliate company. All rights reserved. | PUBLIC 6
Golden Rule 5 “Ensure Transparency on Deviations”
Document Exceptions
Document all Clean Core Q-Gate
responses from Explore to Deploy.
Ensure documents are complete and
updated after activity.
Capture all recommended actions and
follow-up activities in the Runbook in
SAP Cloud ALM.
Business Process
Design Document
• Business Process Model
• Process Steps
• Needed Products
• Needed Extensions
• Integrations
• KPIs
List of Business Processes not adhering
to Golden Rules with explanation and
links to documents
Technical Design Document
Test Script
Setup Guide
Solution Standardization Board Tracker
Program
Documentation
Standards
List of Deviations
Document all deviations –
business reasoning, functional
& technical decisions
SAP Activate for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition
Establish Solution Standardization Board to govern the process for all
deviations. Create Runbook to track plans to adhere to Clean Core principles.

7. Contact information:
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