S/4HANA Migration at Scale: Why Finance Can’t Be Left Behind

As global enterprises accelerate their move to SAP S/4HANA, many are discovering a critical blind spot: the impact on finance and AP operations. Below, we outline the risks, the roadblocks, and how Basware helps ensure continuity, compliance, and control throughout the migration process.

At Basware, we’ve supported over 1,000s of businesses through ERP transitions and consolidations, including some of the most complex SAP environments in the world. We understand what it takes to deliver continuous AP performance during a migration. And we know where the pitfalls are.

A Transformation That Touches Every Corner

The S/4HANA migration is one of the largest IT transitions ever undertaken by global enterprises. With SAP’s 2027 deadline fast approaching, companies are moving fast to modernize. But this isn’t just an upgrade. It’s a fundamental shift in how businesses run, from backend architecture to operational workflows.

This scale brings opportunity, but also risk. It’s a chance to rethink finance and bring best-in-class solutions like Basware into the picture. But while system architects and IT leads focus on the ERP core, financial operations often sit just outside the spotlight. That’s a mistake. Invoice processing, compliance, cash visibility, and supplier relationships all rely on the stability of AP operations.

Two Fronts of Risk: External and Internal

S/4HANA introduces simultaneous pressure from both sides of the business.

Externally, the challenges include:

• Custom-built AP workflows in ECC that will not function in S/4HANA without major redevelopment
• Fast-changing compliance and e-invoicing mandates across multiple markets
• Standard S/4HANA features that fall short of modern automation needs
• Limited ERP vendor focus on process optimization beyond core functionality

Internally, the risks compound:

• Invoice processes may break without early intervention and integration, affecting payment schedules and critical supplier relationships.
• Resource constraints during testing and deployment phases leave AP teams overstretched
• Shared Service Centers lack end-to-end visibility across multiple ERP instances
• Change fatigue builds as teams adapt to evolving systems and processes

In short, AP is being asked to deliver business continuity while standing on shifting ground.

Why a Parallel Track Makes Sense

S/4HANA rollouts are rarely linear. Many organizations are pursuing multi-year, phased deployments by geography or function. That means waiting for end-to-end ERP visibility could take years.

Rather than delay, leading companies are adopting a parallel approach. By decoupling AP automation from the S/4HANA roadmap, they gain faster time to value and greater control while freeing IT to focus on the ERP core.

How Basware De-risks the Journey

Basware enables finance and AP teams to stay ahead of change. Our Invoice Lifecycle Management platform supports your operations before, during, and after your ERP migration. With Basware, you can:

• Centralize AP workflows across all ERP systems, including legacy and out-of-scope instances
• Ensure compliance in over 190 countries with built-in e-invoicing and tax validation
• Maintain uninterrupted end-to-end visibility on invoice processing regardless of your S/4HANA deployment timeline
• Equip Shared Service Centers with full visibility and control, right from the start
• Deliver business value now, rather than waiting for the ERP rollout to be complete

We don’t replace SAP. We complement it and make it stronger.

Basware and SAP: A Proven, Scalable Partnership

Global customers like Imerys, KION Group, and Empire Portfolio trust Basware to help them modernize financial operations alongside their S/4HANA programs. They value our ability to deliver seamless automation, secure compliance, and continuity at scale.

If your organization is preparing for S/4HANA or is already mid-journey, now is the time to align AP with your future goals.

Let’s turn your migration into a strategic advantage and put finance where it belongs: at the heart of your transformation.

Join us on August 20 at 3:00 PM CET for an exclusive customer webinar where we’ll go deeper into this subject.

Register here