Enhancing global manufacturing efficiency through SAP on AWS

The challenge: scalable cloud migration for SAP

A global steel manufacturer operating across eight countries needed to migrate its mission-critical SAP system to the cloud to improve scalability and efficiency. This transition posed several challenges, including ensuring minimal downtime, providing a robust foundation for a future migration from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA, and controlling operational costs. The manufacturer also required a standardised implementation that could be replicated across all its sites.

Choosing the right partner and platform

The client selected iOCO, an AWS Advanced Consulting Partner, to deliver the expertise and technical capabilities necessary for a seamless SAP migration. With over a decade of collaboration between SAP and AWS, the AWS cloud offers purpose-built environments designed for SAP’s memory-intensive workloads. These solutions enhance performance and cost efficiency. For example, a Forrester Consulting study commissioned by AWS in 2021 reported a 103% ROI within three years for SAP customers migrating to AWS.

Implementation approach

iOCO began the project by engaging with the client in an advisory role to design a tailored roadmap. The client’s SAP applications were moved to a Virtual Private Cloud (VPC) built on AWS, with Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2) High Memory instances forming the backbone. These instances are purpose-built for running large in-memory databases like SAP HANA, enabling predictable performance and reducing management complexity.

Key highlights of the implementation include:

• Steel Mill template development:
  iOCO leveraged a custom Steel Mill template developed by Acron, a division of EOH. This template was adapted to meet the client’s unique requirements and ensured seamless replication across all eight locations.
  
  
• Remote implementation:
  Following delays caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, iOCO adopted a remote implementation strategy, rolling out the solution to four countries so far, starting with smaller zones to test scalability.
  
  
• Security-first design:
  SD-WAN direct connectivity and VPNs provided fast, secure access to the SAP environment. Multi-factor authentication, encryption, and isolated environments enhanced security.
  
  
• Backup and disaster recovery:
  Amazon S3 ensured highly durable, cost-effective backups with redundancy across multiple Availability Zones. HANA System Replication (HSR) was used to replicate SAP HANA databases between two AWS Availability Zones, ensuring high availability.
  
  
• SAP Fiori implementation:
  Custom apps built with SAP Fiori improved user experience, productivity, and data quality while enabling remote work capabilities.

Results: operational efficiency and scalability

The migration delivered significant benefits, including:

1. Cost efficiency and scalability:
   Infrastructure utilisation was optimised by powering down unused resources, reducing OpEx.
   New SAP systems can now be provisioned in minutes instead of days or months.
   
   
2. Enhanced security:
   AWS’s robust security measures—including firewalls, encryption, and isolated environments—offer peace of mind.
   
   
3. Improved reliability:
   HANA System Replication between Availability Zones ensures high availability and data durability.
   Amazon S3’s redundancy safeguards against data loss while supporting long-term retention.
   
   
4. Operational flexibility:
   Elastic capacity in the cloud supports the manufacturer’s dynamic SAP requirements.
   Remote work capabilities and customisation through SAP Fiori enhanced productivity.

By migrating to AWS with iOCO’s expertise, the steel manufacturer now operates on a scalable, secure, and efficient SAP ecosystem, poised for future transitions to SAP S/4HANA.