Clean core, explained on one page

“Clean core” is one of SAP’s most-used phrases, and one of the least explained. Here it is on one page.

What it means

A clean core is an SAP system kept close to standard. Changes and extensions are made in ways SAP supports and upgrades don’t break: through configuration, released APIs, and extensions built side-by-side on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) rather than modifications inside the core.

Why it matters

• Upgrades get smaller. Fewer modifications mean less to retest and fix every time SAP releases an update.
• New features arrive faster. Including SAP’s AI capabilities, which work best on standard processes and clean data.
• Lower running costs. Less custom code to support, document and explain to new team members.

The five areas to look at

1. Custom code. Find what is used, what is duplicated and what is dead. Retire what you can.
2. Extensions. Move suitable extensions out of the core onto BTP.
3. Integrations. Rebuild point-to-point interfaces on SAP Integration Suite using released APIs.
4. Data. Clean master data and keep it clean with ownership and rules.
5. Processes. Adopt standard processes where they are good enough, which is more often than people expect.

Where to start

A clean core assessment gives you a list of what to keep, rework or retire, and a plan to get there without stopping the business. It pairs naturally with an S/4HANA move, but you can start on ECC today.

Talk to us about a clean core assessment.