Webinar recap: key takeaways on migrating from SAP BPC to OneStream

With SAP BPC approaching the end of its maintenance lifecycle, we are seeing many organisations reassessing their Enterprise Performance Management (EPM) strategy. But finance teams have relied on BPC for years, and the question cropping up more frequently in conversations is not only whether or not to modernise, but how to make the transition successfully.

In our webinar, Migrating from SAP BPC to OneStream, our consultants explored the practical considerations involved in moving from a familiar BPC environment to a unified cloud-based EPM platform. The discussion focused not just on the technology, but on how organisations can use migration as an opportunity to reimagine their finance processes.

Why organisations are moving beyond BPC

For many BPC users, the end of maintenance for Microsoft and Netweaver is providing the catalyst for change. (Click here for the latest EOM dates & timelines). However, the real drivers for migration go beyond support timelines. 

Increasing reliance on Excel, complex application landscapes, manual processes and the growing cost of maintaining legacy environments can make it difficult for Finance to respond quickly to changing business requirements.

This creates an opportunity to step back and consider what Finance actually needs from its EPM platform, rather than simply replacing an existing technology with another.

Don't simply replicate BPC in OneStream

One of the most important messages from the webinar was that a BPC-to-OneStream migration should not be treated as a straightforward ‘lift-and-shift’ exercise.

Attempting to recreate existing BPC applications and processes on a like-for-like basis is just transferring legacy complexity into a new platform. Instead, we advise organisations use the migration to rationalise their data models, simplify processes and consider how Finance wants to operate in the future.

This is particularly important when considering data architecture. BPC is fundamentally a multidimensional, cube-based environment, whereas OneStream supports a combination of multidimensional and relational data structures. This gives organisations greater flexibility to determine where different types of data should sit.

For example, detailed employee-level information required for workforce planning can be managed through relational registers, rather than forcing highly variable transactional data into a traditional cube structure. The result is a more streamlined and scalable model that supports multiple business processes.

Integration and data migration require careful planning

Migrating data across to OneStream from BPC is about more than moving historical balances. It is an opportunity to rationalise data, improve quality and strengthen governance.

Integration also needs to be considered early. Organisations should review how data currently flows between BPC and other source systems and determine how these processes should work in the new environment. A successful migration can replace manual or highly technical processes with more controlled and transparent workflows.

Take a pragmatic approach to migration

It is important to choose the right migration pathway. A phased approach can allow organisations to run BPC and OneStream alongside one another, gradually moving processes across and delivering value along the way.

This reduces implementation risk, provide sopportunities to test and refine the new environment, and gives Finance users time to adapt to new processes.

Key takeaways for SAP BPC users

• Don't wait for the deadline– the end of maintenance may be the catalyst, but organisations should start assessing their options well before a forced migration becomes necessary.
• Don't replicate the past– a migration is an opportunity to simplify processes and redesign the EPM architecture — not recreate every BPC model exactly as it exists today.
• Rethink your data model– OneStream's ability to combine multidimensional and relational structures can support planning and reporting requirements that don't naturally fit within a traditional cube.
• Treat integration as a strategic consideration– reviewing source systems, data flows and data quality early can deliver significant improvements beyond the technology migration itself.
• Take a phased approach where appropriate– a carefully planned transition, rather than a ‘big bang’ transformation can reduce risk, deliver early wins and help users build confidence in the new platform.

Moving from BPC to OneStream: an opportunity to transform

Ultimately, migrating from SAP BPC to OneStream is about much more than replacing a legacy EPM platform. It is an opportunity to simplify your organisation’s finance technology landscape, strengthen data governance across the Group and create a more flexible foundation for consolidation, planning, reporting and analysis.

With BPC's end of maintenance fast-approaching, it’s time to consider how to migrate and what your finance team could achieve by doing things differently. If you missed the webinar, watch the session on demand below:

Ready to start your move to the cloud? Contact us for a no-obligation discussion about your financial systems landscape: