After Implementing S/4HANA: How Life Sciences Companies can deliver real added Value
The technical migration to SAP S/4HANA is complete—an important milestone. But the real transformation begins after go-live. This article shows how companies in the life sciences industry systematically unlock added value following their S/4HANA implementation—from Fiori and embedded analytics to process optimization, compliance, CSV, and a structured workshop as the next step.
S/4HANA after Go-Live: Why the real added Value is just beginning
The technical migration to SAP S/4HANA is complete—a milestone that required a significant investment of time, budget, and energy. Many companies in the life sciences industry are now at exactly this point: The new system is up and running, but it still feels much like the old one.
Why?
Because a brownfield approach was deliberately chosen to minimize risk and ensure continuity: existing processes, familiar interfaces, and trusted reports. This is the right approach for many companies and is essential for a smooth transition. But the real transformation is only just beginning—and it will determine whether your S/4HANA project remains merely a consolidation measure or becomes the foundation for a genuine competitive advantage.
So, what specific next steps have proven effective on the journey toward an SAP S/4HANA implementation that truly capitalizes on new opportunities and potential?
From SAP GUI to SAP Fiori: User Experience as a Driver of Efficiency
SAP Fiori is not just a cosmetic change. It is a paradigm shift: away from the complex, menu-driven world of the SAP GUI, toward role-based, task-centered applications that work on any device.
For companies in regulated industries, this adds another dimension: Fiori apps are designed to require fewer clicks, reduce user errors, and ensure that audit trails remain transparent.
What exactly needs to be done
Fiori-Readiness-Assessment
Which of your most frequently used transactions already have fully developed Fiori equivalents?
Which apps offer new features that aren’t available in the GUI and provide added value in terms of transparency and efficiency?
Role-Based Launchpad Design
Not all Fiori apps for everyone—but the right ones, quickly accessible without clicking or scrolling.
Change Management and Training
The biggest hurdle is not technical, but cultural. User acceptance comes from engagement.
CSV Evaluation
In a regulated environment, the implementation of new Fiori apps requires a structured risk assessment, and any necessary testing must be scheduled.
Real-world experience shows that companies that systematically transition to Fiori after a release upgrade report higher employee satisfaction due to a modern, innovative work environment, as well as increased efficiency and transparency thanks to integrated full-text search, management apps, and other useful features.
Embedded Analytics: Say Goodbye to Z-Reports and Legacy Queries
In many brownfield projects, thousands of lines of ABAP code have been migrated in the form of Z-reports and custom queries. They work—but they come at a cost: high maintenance costs, dependence on developer resources, a lack of real-time capability, and growing compatibility issues with future updates.
With its integrated embedded analytics platform, SAP S/4HANA offers a native alternative that operates directly on HANA data—without data export and without delay.
Procedure
Custom-Code-Analyse
SAP’s own tools, such as the Custom Code Migration App, identify redundancies and opportunities for standardization.
Prioritization by Business Impact
Which reports are used daily? Which ones are used only for periodic closings?
Step-by-Step Migration to CDS-Based Reports
Parallel operation allows for the ongoing verification of data integrity in new analyses.
For GxP-related reports
Conduct the necessary validation activities in accordance with the change control procedure.
Process Optimization: From Lift & Shift to true S/4HANA Logic
For many, “brownfield” meant that the old processes were transferred to the new system exactly as they were. That was the right approach for the migration.
However, SAP S/4HANA uses a simplified data model—no longer a traditional general ledger, but a unified material ledger and centralized business partners—which opens up new possibilities when processes are adapted accordingly. In addition, it is important to determine which functionalities may be used in compatibility mode and will be replaced by new features.
Specific Strategies for Life Sciences Companies
Master Data Governance
Consistently use the Business Partner as the central object, resolve duplicates, and implement Master Data Governance (MDG).
Deprecated Features
Determine which functions in use have an expiration date—such as WM, PP-DS Planning Board, or Transportation—and plan the necessary activities for their replacement.
Artificial Intelligence
At which points in the supply chain can the use of AI generate added value, and what scenarios does SAP already offer?
Considering Compliance and CSV After the S/4HANA Implementation
For companies in the life sciences industry, every system change made after implementation is also a compliance decision. Every new Fiori app and every process change requires a controlled procedure.
What is often underestimated is that the release change itself is typically covered by a change control process. The subsequent optimization, however, often consists of many small changes—each manageable on its own, but which, taken together, involve a considerable amount of documentation work if there is no structured approach in place.
Recommendation
- Establish a streamlined, risk-based change control process for post-go-live changes in accordance with GAMP 5 and EU GMP Annex 11.
- Take advantage of the principle of categorized changes: Not everything requires a complete revalidation.
- Use a validation lifecycle management tool or structured SAP solution documentation to document changes in a traceable manner.
- Take audit trail requirements under 21 CFR Part 11 and Annex 11 into account right from the start when configuring new features.
Managed Services and Application Support:
Shaping Operations Strategically
After implementation, the focus shifts from project mode to operational mode. Many companies underestimate the effort required to keep an S/4HANA system up-to-date, stable, and compliant—especially given the regular SAP update cycles.
SAP Application Management Services (AMS)
Structured support with defined service levels that also meets regulatory requirements for change documentation.
Continuous Improvement Backlog
Not a one-time optimization project, but an ongoing process—with prioritized requirements, quarterly reviews, and measurable KPIs.
Update-Management
SAP regularly releases enhancement packages and feature updates. A structured process for evaluating, testing, and documenting these updates is essential for validated systems.
Where to Start? A Framework for the Period Following the S/4HANA Implementation
Not all measures are given the same priority. The following classification has proven effective in practice.
Short term (0–6 months): Quick Wins
- Identify “low-hanging fruit” apps and enable Fiori Launchpad for them
- Custom Code Scan and Initial Identification of Redundancies
Medium term (6–18 months): Structural improvements
- Migration of Prioritized Z-Reports to Embedded Analytics
- Process Reengineering in Core Areas
- Launch the Master Data Governance Program
Long-term (18+ months): Strategic Transformation
- Build and Modernize the BTP Integration Landscape
- Establish Managed Services for Sustainable, Compliant Operations
- Evaluate AI-powered features such as SAP Joule and Predictive Analytics
Conclusion: The release change marked the starting point
S/4HANA does not realize its full potential on the day of go-live, but rather in the months and years that follow—when companies consistently take advantage of the new capabilities the system offers.
Particularly in the life sciences industry, where regulatory requirements and operational excellence are inextricably linked, a structured post-go-live strategy pays off twice over: It increases efficiency and transparency while also making the system more audit-ready.
The next step doesn’t have to be a major project. A structured assessment that maps the current state and identifies the most significant levers is often the most effective way to get started.
DHC is here to support you—with an eye for both the technical and regulatory aspects.
Your Next Step: DHC S/4HANA Value Workshop
What You’ll Take Away
System Check and Maturity Assessment
Joint assessment of your S/4HANA system: utilization rate of Fiori and standard functions, volume of custom code, reporting landscape, integration status, and outstanding compliance issues.Identification of Specific Optimization Opportunities
Where are your biggest levers for improvement? Which measures will have a quick impact, and which require longer-term planning? Together, we’ll structure your personalized optimization backlog.Prioritized Action Plan
You’ll leave the workshop with a clear roadmap: prioritized actions and a shared understanding of the next steps—tailored to your resources, budget, and regulatory requirements.Compliance Check for Post-Go-Live Changes
Our experts in computer system validation and GxP compliance will work with you to assess which planned changes are relevant to validation—and how to implement them efficiently and in a way that stands up to audits.Format and Schedule
- Duration: 1 to 2 days on-site at your company
- Participants: IT management, SAP key users, quality management, and, if applicable, executive management
- DHC Team: SAP consultants with life sciences experience and CSV/GxP experts
- Outcome: Written summary with a prioritized action plan and next steps
Are you interested in the S/4HANA Value Workshop?
Schedule an initial informational meeting now—with no obligation—during which we can discuss your current situation, the workshop’s objectives, the relevant participant groups, and the appropriate technical and regulatory scope.
Frequently Asked Questions about optimizing S/4HANA after Go-Live
What comes after the S/4HANA implementation?
Once the system goes live, the actual optimization begins. This includes, among other things, the transition to Fiori, the use of embedded analytics, process optimizations, ensuring compliance, and a structured improvement plan for ongoing operations.
Why is a brownfield approach not sufficient?
A brownfield approach minimizes risks during the transition but often carries over existing processes, reports, and user interfaces virtually unchanged. The actual added value of SAP S/4HANA often only becomes apparent through subsequent optimization.
What role does Fiori play after the release change?
SAP Fiori improves user-friendliness, transparency, and efficiency. In regulated industries in particular, the transition can also help reduce operational errors and make audit trails easier to trace.
Why should companies review Z-Reports using embedded analytics?
Z-Reports and legacy queries require maintenance, are often inflexible, and complicate future updates. Embedded Analytics offers a native, HANA-based alternative with real-time capabilities.
What are the benefits of an S/4HANA Value Workshop?
A workshop provides clarity on the level of maturity, opportunities for optimization, compliance requirements, and priorities. Companies receive a structured action plan for the period following the go-live.