Successful Test Automation for SAP S/4HANA Migration: A Leading CPG Manufacturer Case Study
Customer Profile
A leading South Korean manufacturer of household and personal care products, producing various brands of detergents, oral care products, and cosmetics.
Industry: Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturing (household products, cosmetics, etc.)
Size: Major domestic household products manufacturer, operating multiple business sites domestically and internationally
Business Challenges
The company faced several challenges due to its complex distribution structure during the migration from SAP ECC to S/4 HANA.
Complex Distribution Channel Structure
Diverse Distribution Channels: Over 20 different distribution channels including large retailers, e-commerce platforms, home shopping networks, convenience stores, and H&B stores
Channel-Specific Integration Methods: Different interface implementations for each channel, including EDI, API, and batch processing
Complex Ordering Patterns
Diverse Ordering Methods: Monthly fixed orders with returns, bulk one-time orders, small-quantity high-frequency orders, and other channel-specific ordering patterns
Seasonal/Special Cases: Various edge cases occurring at month-end/quarter-end, and special ordering patterns related to seasonal products and promotions
Testing Complexity
An IT Systems Manager at the household goods manufacturer stated:
"Each distribution channel has its own unique ordering characteristics. When including seasonal promotion special cases, they amount to tens of thousands of variations. It was impossible to test all ordering patterns with manual testing."
Solution: Implementation of Test Automation
To ensure the stability of their S/4 HANA migration, the CPG manufacturer implemented the PerfecTwin test automation solution.
Comprehensive Data Test Automation
Complete Reproduction of S/O Data from Over 20 Distribution Channels: Automated testing using actual order data including retailer company codes, order/delivery information, order unit/price information, etc.
Utilization of Interface DB: Building test scenarios based on actual interface messages collected from the existing ECC environment
Data Migration Validation
Detection of Various Master Data Errors: Pre-emptively identifying and correcting various data errors in sales outlets, customers, materials, partner credit information, etc. that could occur during migration
Business Logic Difference Validation: Verifying business logic differences between ECC and S/4 HANA, particularly in returns processing and discount applications
Results and Benefits
Through the implementation of the test automation solution, the manufacturer was able to secure a high level of stability in their S/4 HANA migration process.
Dramatically Improved Testing Efficiency
An SAP Project Manager at the company commented:
"After implementing PerfecTwin, we moved away from manual testing that took weeks and became able to automatically verify all channel ordering patterns in a short time."
Key Achievements
Reduced Testing Time: Over 90% time savings compared to manual testing
Expanded Test Coverage: Comprehensive testing of all distribution channels and ordering patterns
Improved Data Accuracy: Identification of data mapping errors and exception cases that would be difficult to discover manually
Ensured Business Continuity: Prevention of major distribution channel integration issues after migration
Conclusion
This case demonstrates the importance of test automation for consumer goods companies with complex distribution structures to successfully perform SAP S/4 HANA migrations. Particularly for companies with diverse distribution channels and ordering patterns, an automated testing approach is essential to overcome the limitations of manual testing and ensure high levels of data accuracy and system stability.
