Migrating from SAP BPC, which is nearing its end of life, to a new solution requires careful planning and should be supported by a robust business case. In order to support that we have identified a number of factors in building that case:

1. Assess the Current State of your SAP BPC implementation:

Understand your existing SAP BPC implementation thoroughly. Identify pain points, limitations, and areas where it falls short – this can include changed business requirements and potential scope of deployment that may have evolved since first implementation as well as user satisfaction factors.

Evaluate the impact of SAP BPC’s end-of-life status on your organisation’s operations, compliance, and support, there may be, for example, incremental or even specialist extra IT resources needed to support legacy desktops which add overhead and introduce security risks.

2. Define your Objectives:

Clearly articulate the goals of the upgrade. What do you want to achieve with the new solution? Examples include improved performance, enhanced functionality, or better integration with other systems as well as access to new generation functionalities such as machine learning or AI assistance that can help improve processes.

3. Evaluate Business Benefits:

Highlight the benefits of upgrading.  These could include increased efficiency, better decision-making, reduced manual effort, and improved data accuracy.

Quantify these benefits wherever possible. For instance, estimate time saved, cost reductions, or increased revenue due to better planning and reporting.

4. Risk Assessment:

Identify the risks associated with staying on SAP BPC beyond its end-of-life date.  These risks may include security vulnerabilities, lack of support as the availability of consultants and partners with dedicated capabilities continues to decline as well as potential compliance issues.

Compare these with the risks of moving to a new solution.

5. Solution Options:

Research and evaluate alternative solutions, there are a number described in the article https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sap-bpc-navigating-end-maintenance-kabeelah-amh5e/?trackingId=VSVHbVd20Ep3%2Bra3g1gFCQ%3D%3D which are a good starting place.  Consider your strategy in relation to cloud-based or on-premises options, available in the modern CPM (Corporate Performance Management) tools, and their compatibility with your existing landscape.

Explore the various vendors, features, user satisfaction ratings and pricing.  Look for solutions that align with your organisation’s long-term strategy and that will scale appropriately with your business growth objectives.

6. Cost Analysis:

Estimate the total cost of ownership (TCO) for each of the scenarios: staying with SAP BPC (including extended maintenance costs) compared with migrating to a new solution.

Include license fees, implementation costs, training, and ongoing support expenses.

7. ROI Calculation:

Calculate the return on investment (ROI) for the upgrade.  Compare the benefits that could be realised (e.g. time savings, process improvements, enhanced automation) against the total costs.

While the benefits cannot always be presented in a purely financial manner, the actual cost of ownership should be compared with non financial benefits included as supporting information.

8. Stakeholder Buy-In:

Engage all of the key stakeholders, including finance, IT, and business leaders. Ensure that critical time lines such as your version’s maintenance end date and consequential risks are articulated alongside the business benefits of alternatives.

Address concerns and ensure alignment with organisational goals.

9. Implementation Plan:

Outline the migration process which should include timelines, resource impacts (internal and external), and milestones.

Consider impacts of changes to scope, reviews of business processes as well as potential phasing alongside the practical deployment requirements for data migration, testing, user training and change management.  Understand the impacts of business cycles where they affect internal resources such as budget cycles and year end, for example.

10. Future-Proofing:

Consider the need to future-proof your CPM system.  Evaluate requirements for scalability, flexibility, and adaptability to evolving needs in the context of your business.

Evaluate how the new solution aligns with your organisation’s technology driven priorities such as digital and financial transformation strategies.

The business case should be tailored to your organisation.  Consider the scope of the existing SAP BPC deployment alongside scope and business requirements for a new solution, factors that affect your industry and your growth plans .  Collaborate with relevant teams, gather data, and present a compelling case that demonstrates the value of upgrading to a new solution.