Why SAP Clean Core Is the Path to a Future‑Proof ERP Architecture

SAP Clean Core – the mindset to build for the future

Business models are shifting, the technology landscape is evolving — and fast. That’s why a new approach is required for how ERP systems are developed, extended and operated. SAP Clean Core is not just a technical detail from SAP, but a strategic cornerstone for organizations that want to be faster, more stable and ready for innovation. In this article you’ll get a clear explanation of what Clean Core is, why it matters now and ahead, and how you can start the journey.

Clean Core: the change SAP expects you to take seriously

Over decades, ERP systems have become increasingly complex and heavily customized. Tailored code, altered standard flows and advanced integrations have led to what SAP itself refers to as “technical debt”. The result? Escalating maintenance costs, delayed and risky upgrades — and difficulty embracing new innovation. In short: you fall behind both technically and commercially.

With SAP Clean Core the paradigm shifts. Instead of building in the core, you build around it or side‑by‑side. With standard as a foundation, documented APIs and business logic relocated out from the ERP into side modules, your ERP becomes not just faster to upgrade – it becomes an enabler for innovation and rapid change.

What does Clean Core look like in practice?

Clean Core is a broad concept that addresses many dimensions of an SAP system.

• Upgrade‑ready and documented functional development built on standard technology and best practices
• Integrations that are upgrade‑safe, documented and stable in terms of monitoring and operations.
• Processes built on SAP Best Practice and connected end‑to‑end.
• Data of high quality, complete, and used as intended.
• Daily operations that support the above principles, with scheduled maintenance windows and proactive monitoring & actions.

In this article, we focus specifically on how companies can build and manage additions to standard ERP functionality. It’s primarily about:

• Keeping the SAP S/4HANA core as structured as possible.
• Avoiding modifications to standard functions whenever possible.
• Create business logic outside the core by utilizing tools in SAP Business Technology Platform.
• Use APIs and develop event-driven integrations.
• Structure data so that master data can be reused and managed centrally.

It’s not just about technology. Clean Core requires a shift in culture, governance, and architectural philosophy. As described above, SAP itself highlights five dimensions: processes, extensions, integration, data, and operations. All must be addressed.

why Clean Core is Crucial in Today’s ERP LandscapE

SAP’s investment in cloud solutions, automatic upgrades, and AI solutions relies on customers keeping their systems updated. If ERP is a “black box” full of old code and unknown dependencies, you cannot:

• Receive new functionality from SAP.
• Upgrade without extensive testing projects.
• Leverage SAP Business Technology Platform, AI, and automation.
• Build a flexible architecture with sustainable cost structure.

Unlike classic on-prem systems, SAP’s SaaS solutions are built with limited direct code customization capabilities. As a result, customer-unique and business-critical needs must be handled in new, more sustainable ways – outside the core. CIOs and architecture leaders facing a cloud transformation are at a crossroads: continue patching and fixing – or structure for the future.

Common Challenges on the Path to Clean Core

A few obstacles typically emerge:

• Legacy code and dependencies are often poorly documented.
• The business wants to retain its “customized advantages”
  i.e., focus on what’s being lost.
• IT departments lack time, tools, or expertise.
• Insufficient governance allows old patterns to persist.

As Eero Koskinen Enterprise Architect SAP points out in Implema Talks – Why Clean Core matters for SAP and your business:

“Clean Core is as much about architecture and governance as it is about code. You must start with understanding, not technical decisions.”

What Does the Organization Gain from Clean Core?

For IT, the Benefits are Clear:

• Lower TCO for systems covered by a clean core roadmap.
• Gradually simpler handling of upgrades and testing.
• Creates better overview of existing assets, including up-to-date documentation.
• Investment for the future, enables cloud migration.

The Business Gets:

• Faster and more secure development process for changes.
• Lower risks and higher quality in processes and data.
• Access to innovation and AI-driven solutions to keep pace with SAP’s development.

Management Gets:

• Better cost control.
• Improved governance and transparency.
• Opportunity for more agile planning and insight.
• Ability to grow without getting stuck in technical debt.

Want to Start Structuring with Clean Core?

Start with a code and process inventory in the business system. What do you have in the ERP core today? How and what is being used? Which parts can be decommissioned, moved, or should be reused but perhaps in a different form?
We recommend a 4-step approach:

1. Define a Clean Core strategy.
2. Conduct a Clean Core Assessment: code analysis + process mapping.
3. Pilot project: archive unused code and migrate selected functions to SAP Business Technology Platform.
4. Based on strategy and gained experience – define a Clean Core Roadmap building a long-term plan for code migration, phasing out special solutions, governance, and automation. Update strategy and plan regularly based on experience gained.

SAP Partner with Clean Core in its DNA

We know how to take you from current state to Clean Core, without starting over or risking operations. Implema is Sweden’s leading SAP partner in fast, structured, and efficient SAP implementation – with experience from 100+ migrations.

Want to Know more? Conduct a Clean Core Assessment? Define your Clean Core Roadmap
Contact us and we’ll help you with your next step?