SAP PO migration: time to panic or time to plan?

Hundreds of integrations. Multiple systems. Different stakeholders. And a deadline that keeps getting closer.

Sounds familiar? If you're still running SAP Process Orchestration (PO), it's time to plan your next move. With mainstream maintenance ending in December 2027, the clock is ticking. But how do you migrate hundreds of integrations without losing control? Where do you start? And how do you keep your business running while making the switch?

In this blog, we walk you through our three-step approach to SAP PO migration. From assessing your integration landscape to choosing the right migration strategy and planning a smooth go-live.

Time to panic? Not if you have the right plan.

At McCoy, we turn complex SAP PO migrations into manageable steps. With a clear assessment, a practical migration roadmap and a phased go-live approach, you stay in control throughout the process.

Here's how we do it.

First things first: where are you migrating to?

Before you start, there's one important decision to make. Will you move to SAP Integration Suite on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), or choose another middleware solution? Sticking with SAP has several advantages.

SAP Integration Suite offers built-in tools to assess your current SAP PO landscape. These tools also help migrate integration objects from SAP PO to SAP Integration Suite. This can save valuable time and reduce manual work.

Already using SAP BTP? Even better. You can add SAP Integration Suite to your existing platform. It also fits naturally into your SAP cloud architecture and future integration strategy. Once you've decided to move to SAP Integration Suite, it's time to turn your migration plans into action.

Together with McCoy's SAP BTP, SAP PO and SAP Integration Suite experts, you'll go through three phases.

Phase 1: Know what you're migrating

Before you start migrating, you need to know exactly what you're dealing with. Which integrations are currently running? Which systems are connected? And which integrations can move as they are, or need improvements?

A thorough assessment helps you make the right decisions from the start.

Step 1. Get a complete overview

Our SAP PO experts assess your entire PO landscape. Using a combination of SAP tools and McCoy templates, we create a complete inventory of your integrations.

Step 2. Bring structure to your landscape

Next, we organize the inventory into logical groups. For example, by connected system or integration pattern. This makes it easier to plan and manage the migration.

Step 3. Choose the right migration approach

Not every integration needs the same treatment. Some can be migrated as they are. Others may benefit from improvements or a complete redesign. Together, we determine the best approach for each group of integrations.

There's no one-size-fits-all solution. The right choice depends on your integrations, business needs and future strategy.

Phase 2: Build and migrate with confidence

With the assessment completed and the migration roadmap in place, it's time to get to work.

Step 1. Set up SAP BTP

Not using SAP BTP yet? Our technical consultants help you set up the platform, including the architecture, security and development guidelines. Already have SAP BTP in place? Then we build on your existing environment.

Step 2. Migrate your integrations

Based on the migration strategy, we migrate, develop or redesign the integrations in scope. Some integrations can move with limited changes. Others need adjustments to make the most of SAP Integration Suite.

Step 3. Test, test, test

Your SAP PO environment is still running. That's a big advantage during testing. You can compare the results of your new integrations with the existing ones in SAP PO. This helps validate whether everything works as expected before go-live. Once your integrations are built and internally tested, you're ready for the next phase.

Phase 3: Go live, your way

Migrating hundreds of integrations is one thing. Going live with all of them at once? That's a different challenge. Imagine coordinating all your internal teams, external partners and connected systems for one big integration test and go-live. Sounds complicated? It can be. That's why we look at ways to make testing and go-live more manageable. During the assessment phase, we help you choose a go-live strategy that fits your landscape.

There are two possible approaches.

Option 1: Go live in phases

Not all external partners will be available at the same time. And not every integration needs to go live on the same day. By grouping integrations per stakeholder, system or integration pattern, you can plan smaller go-live moments. This also gives you more flexibility during development and testing. Instead of managing one large migration, you work in smaller, manageable steps.

Option 2: Keep SAP PO connected during the transition

Another option is to temporarily connect SAP Integration Suite to your existing SAP PO environment. Your internal systems connect to SAP Integration Suite, while SAP PO continues to handle connections to external systems. You can then move external connections to SAP Integration Suite step by step, based on your partners' availability. This allows you to gradually phase out SAP PO without having to switch every connection at once.

The goal is simple: a controlled transition that fits your business, not the other way around.

Done and done! What's next?

Your integrations are running on SAP Integration Suite, and SAP PO can be phased out. But a successful migration doesn't end at go-live. We make sure your integrations come with the right documentation and guidelines. This helps your team manage, support and further develop your integration landscape. And just like that, you're ready for the next step in your SAP integration journey.

A few things to keep in mind

Before you start your migration, here are two important takeaways:

• Start communicating early. Involve your internal teams and external stakeholders as soon as possible. Their availability can have a major impact on your migration timeline.

• Think beyond SAP PO. Are you also planning an SAP S/4HANA migration? Take this into account from the start. It could be the perfect opportunity to introduce standard APIs and align with SAP's clean core strategy.

Ready to make your SAP PO migration manageable?

You don't have to tackle hundreds of integrations all at once. With the right preparation, a clear roadmap and a flexible approach, you can make your migration a structured and manageable project.

Want to know more about our migration approach? Get in touch with Jan Laros (jan.laros@mccoy-partners.com).

Have technical questions about SAP Integration Suite or how it compares to SAP PO? Puck van Vlerken (puck.van.vlerken@mccoy-partners.com) is happy to help.