What Is SAP Maturity Assessment and Why It Predicts S/4HANA Success
Posted on February 11, 2026 by Laeeq Siddique
What is SAP Maturity Assessment, and Why Does it Predict S/4HANA Success?
The move to SAP S/4HANA is now so much more than simply a technical upgrade – it’s nothing short of a business transformation. But many of these organisations are diving headfirst into the journey with no idea if their processes, systems, data, and people are prepared for it.
This is where SAP maturity assessment comes into the picture.
An SAP readiness evaluation which we deliver, enables an organization to discover readiness gaps, risks, and priorities and is one of the best indicators for S/4HANA implementation success.
In this guide, we’ll dissect:
- What is an SAP maturity assessment
- Why it matters before S/4HANA
- Key dimensions assessed
- How it saves money, reduces risk, and avoids delays
What is SAP Maturity Assessment?
An SAP maturity assessment is a formal review of an organisation’s existing SAP landscape, operational model, and digital capabilities.
It evaluates how well an organization is positioned in terms of the following areas:
- System architecture
- Business processes
- Data quality
- Integration
- Security
- Governance
- Skills and operating model
The goal is simple:
Know where you are today before plotting a new course.
Why SAP Maturity Assessment Matters Ahead of S/4HANA
S/4HANA is more about readiness than tools, or timelines for that matter.
Organizations that miss maturity assessment tend to experience:
- Extended project timelines
- Cost overruns
- Poor system performance
- Unused S/4HANA capabilities
- Business disruption post go-live
SAP readiness evaluation offers data-driven insights, which is a breath of fresh air vs. the confusion and conjecture.
How SAP capability analysis Can Determine Your S/4HANA Readiness for Success
Identifies Real Transformation Scope
Many organisations still don’t understand how much change is required to the way they run their business with S/4HANA.
A maturity assessment reveals:
- Custom code complexity
- Process inefficiencies
- Technical debt
- Data inconsistencies
In this way, there is less likelihood of scope creep and unrealistic planning.
Reduces Migration and Conversion Risks
The common reasons for S/4HANA migrations failure are:
- Poor data quality
- Complex integrations
- Outdated custom developments
An SAP capability analysis brings these risks to the surface, before migration gets underway – enabling proactive mitigation.
Aligns Business and IT Expectations
S/4HANA is not an IT project.
The assessment aligns:
- Business objectives
- SAP roadmap decisions
- Cloud vs on-premise strategy
- Innovation priorities
This is an important hallmark of long-term success.
Key Aspects of an SAP Maturity Assessment
There are generally 6-8 critical dimensions to cover in a full SAP capability analysis.
SAP Landscape and Architecture Maturity
Evaluates:
- ECC system complexity
- Add-ons and custom objects
- Compatibility with S/4HANA
- Cloud and hybrid readiness
This factor establishes the technical feasibility as well as the migration method.
Business Process Maturity
Assesses:
- Process standardisation
- Manual vs automated workflows
- Synchronization of the process with SAP best practices
S/4HANA is a great because poor process maturity tends to lead to over customisation.
Data and Information Maturity
Focus areas include:
- Master data quality
- Data governance
- Archiving and data volume
- Reporting readiness
For S/4HANA and embedded analytics, clean governed data is crucial.
Integration and Interface Maturity
Evaluates:
- SAP and non-SAP integrations
- Middleware usage
- API readiness
- Real-time vs batch integrations
This establishes whether S/4HANA can function as a digital core to the extent required.
Security and Compliance Maturity
Assesses:
- Role design
- Authorisation complexity
- Compliance controls
- Identity and access management
Late-discovered security holes can cause serious delays to go-live.
Governance and Operating Model Maturity
Reviews:
- Decision-making structures
- Change and release management
- SAP governance processes
- Vendor and partner dependencies
Good governance enables stable post-go-live operations.
Skills and Capability Maturity
Evaluates:
- In-house SAP skills
- S/4HANA knowledge readiness
- Training and enablement plans
S/4HANA programs have to take into account one of the largest hidden risks in S/4HANA programs is skill gaps.
SAP Maturity Levels Explained
Maturity in most studies is categorized to the following levels:
- Initial – Reactive, fragmented, manual
- Defined – Documented but inconsistent
- Standard – Customizable as per best practices of SAP
- Optimised – Automated, scalable, data-driven
Knowing where you are can set a realistic S/4HANA scope.
SAP Maturity Assessment vs SAP Readiness Check
| Aspect | SAP Maturity Assessment | SAP Readiness Check |
| Scope | Business + IT | Technical only |
| Focus | Transformation readiness | System compatibility |
| Outcome | Strategic roadmap | Technical findings |
| Predictive Value | High | Limited |
Both are helpful but maturity assessment provides context and direction.
When Is the Right Time You Should Perform an SAP Maturity Analysis?
Best time:
- Before selecting an S/4HANA approach
- Before engaging system integrators
- Before finalising budgets and timelines
Also useful:
- Mid-program to course-correct
- Post-go-live to assess optimisation opportunities
Business Value of SAP Maturity Assessment for Implementation and Innovation
A good SAP capability analysis will provide:
- Clear migration strategy
- Reduced project risk
- Accurate cost and timeline estimation
- Better S/4HANA adoption
- Stronger business outcomes
It substitutes speculation with understanding.
Final Thoughts
An SAP maturity assessment is not a “nice to have”—it’s predictive of S/4HANA success.
Organisations that understand their maturity:
- Make better architectural decisions
- Avoid unnecessary complexity
- Maximise S/4HANA value
- Achieve smoother, faster transformations