Arlington, Va. – September 18, 2026 -- Organizations that hand strategic S/4HANA migration decisions to implementation partners face higher risks of cost overruns, project delays, and outcomes misaligned with business priorities, according to new research from Info-Tech Research Group. The warning comes as SAP's end of mainstream maintenance for ECC in 2027 forces enterprises to finalize migration plans.
Info-Tech says implementation partners lack full business context for critical trade-offs
Info-Tech's Build Your S/4HANA Migration Plan blueprint states that while technical partners are essential for execution, they cannot determine organizational priorities, transformation goals, or acceptable trade-offs. These decisions influence deployment strategy, governance, and organizational change throughout the migration.
"Most organizations do not run ERP transformations often enough to build deep internal experience," said Mia Scherba, research analyst at Info-Tech Research Group. "Implementation partners are critical to execution, but they cannot determine what the business should prioritize or which trade-offs it can accept."
Four planning failures consistently undermine migration outcomes
Info-Tech identifies four recurring risk factors: underestimating migration complexity by treating S/4HANA as a technical upgrade rather than a full ERP transformation; making critical decisions in isolation despite their interdependence; expecting implementation partners to define business direction; and insufficient attention to change management and user adoption.
Blueprint outlines three-phase methodology ahead of technical engagement
The framework guides migration teams through three phases. "Discover the Current SAP Landscape" assesses internal capabilities, strategic intent, and technical complexity to establish a realistic baseline. "Define the Migration Plan" evaluates deployment methods and migration strategies against organizational capacity. "Prepare for Migration" formalizes governance and documents decisions before technical partners are engaged.
Supporting tools include a S/4HANA Project Management Worksheet, S/4HANA Complexity Assessment, S/4HANA Decision Guide, and S/4HANA Migration Readiness Brief, designed to help organizations evaluate scenarios and communicate implementation strategy before technical delivery begins.