Transition to SAP Cloud ALM: Typical customer scenarios
As SAP ALM and business transformation experts at blue.works, we guide you step by step through the process of converting from SAP Solution Manager to SAP Cloud ALM. SAP Solution Manager will remain in regular support until the end of 2027. However, SAP recommends completing the transition to SAP Cloud ALM before this date. It is important that your customer situation is examined individually.
The preferred platform for ALM
SAP Cloud ALM is designed to provide professional and efficient application lifecycle management for companies. It is characterized by lower operating and maintenance costs and impresses with its simple implementation and use as well as innovative functionalities.
Now is the right time to switch to SAP Cloud ALM for operations
Switching to SAP Cloud ALM for operations offers a number of advantages. In addition to little effort for updates, simple operation and use, simplified monitoring without agents (agentless), the extended monitoring scenarios, such as synthetic and end-user monitoring, should be emphasized.
Adoption of SAP Cloud ALM for implementations at your own pace
Many good and stable functions are already available in the area of implementation in SAP Cloud ALM and the good news is that the “value-driven development” approach has been chosen for SAP Cloud ALM, i.e. the functions that bring the most added value come first. In addition, functions are deployed and then continuously expanded. For example, extended functions for testing, deployment management and solution documentation are planned for 2023/2024, but it is already quite possible to test or deploy with SAP Cloud ALM.
Despite the announced end of support for SAP Solution Manager at the end of 2027, SolMan still retains its relevance and still offers significant added value. The current Solution Manager is the best ever, as it has few (child) problems and offers a wide range of functions.
SolMan with Focused Build has proven to be particularly indispensable for complex implementations or migrations to S/4HANA. Thanks to its clear and stringent process flows, it enables efficient coordination of teams and roles in projects with many partners, efficient and structured solution documentation and powerful test management. This promotes transparency and controls critical dependencies, which helps to identify risks at an early stage.
The considerable investment that many companies have made in implementing and customizing the Solution Manager, as well as its proven reliability, make it a very good solution.
Finally, the Solution Manager offers essential functions for compliance management and adherence to regulatory requirements. With its integrated change control management, test management and documentation of processes and configurations, it ensures that companies can meet regulatory requirements and guarantee operational continuity. SAP Cloud ALM will have to wait a little longer for these regulatory requirements. However, we will update you as soon as this area is also supported.
In summary, it can be said that despite the end of support (end of 2027), SAP Solution Manager is still a valuable tool, especially for complex S/4HANA projects. However, it is advisable for companies to have a long-term plan for replacement or substitution to minimize potential risks.
It should also be considered whether SAP Cloud ALM and SAP Solution Manager are used side-by-side and together offer a hybrid ALM solution (i.e. Solution Manager and SAP Cloud ALM are both part of the so-called Business Transformation Suite). Companies can thus take advantage of both solutions and adapt their ALM strategy to their individual requirements and time constraints, as long as SAP Cloud ALM does not offer all the required functions, in order to then enable a smooth transition at their own pace.
Typical customer scenarios: Do you recognize yourself?
1. strong on-premise foodprint
If your current orientation is on-premise and you are planning (or are already in the process) of implementing SAP S/4HANA on-premise by 2028, we recommend using SAP Cloud ALM for Operations. For the implementation area, you should currently stay on SAP Solution Manager and complete the SAP S/4HANA implementation with it before you start the transition to SAP Cloud ALM for the implementation. If you do not yet have an ALM solution, SAP Cloud ALM for Implementations can also be a very good solution. Read our success story here.
2. implementation of SAP S/4HANA Cloud
If you or one of your business units is planning to implement SAP S/4HANA Cloud, we recommend using SAP Cloud ALM for Operations and Implementation. SAP Cloud ALM is the perfect fit for the implementation of SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
3. extensive Solution Documentation / Test Suite & Test Automation in use
Have you invested heavily in Solution Documentation, Test Suite and/or Test Automation and do you have an extensive amount of documents in the Knowledge Warehouse (KW) as well as automated test cases? Wait a little longer with the changeover in the Implementation area until the required functions are available and continue to use SAP Solution Manager in the meantime. But: We already recommend the use of SAP Cloud ALM for Operations.
4. intensive use of Change Request Management / SAP in a regulated environment
If you work in a regulated environment and/or have a complex ChaRM setup (e.g. dual maintenance, retrofit, digital signatures, etc.), we recommend waiting until the necessary functionalities are available before switching to SAP Cloud ALM for the Implementations area. Continuous delivery of new functions is planned over the next few years. For the Operations division, there is no reason why SAP Cloud ALM should not be used.
5. use of non-SAP / third-party ALM solutions
If you are currently using a non-SAP tool for Application Lifecycle Management, you should consider SAP Cloud ALM for Implementation and Operations. Contact us so that we can show you the possibilities of our alm360 Hub. This allows you to integrate more than 4000 products with SAP Cloud ALM in a short space of time.
We at blue.works are ready to support you in the efficient and smooth transition from SAP Solution Manager to SAP Cloud ALM or the parallel operation of SAP Solution Manager and SAP Cloud ALM. Get in touch with us to discuss your SAP strategy and find out how we can help you make a successful transition.
The blue.works SAP ALM Assessment: Your path to your Business Transformation Suite
As SAP ALM and business transformation specialists at blue.works, we are at your side when it comes to ensuring a smooth transition from SAP Solution Manager to SAP Cloud ALM. We offer much more than just the SAP Cloud ALM Readiness Check: our comprehensive SAP ALM Assessment aims to develop a detailed roadmap and a clear target picture for your transition to SAP Cloud ALM. We place particular emphasis on holistic solutions and strive to seamlessly integrate SAP Cloud ALM with other tools such as Jira, DevOps, Monday.com and ServiceNow to create a comprehensive business transformation suite for your business.
You can find out more about this service here.
