Posted on February 26, 2025
The Port of Rotterdam has taken a significant step in its digital transformation. In collaboration with partner myBrand Conclusion, SAP ECC was migrated to SAP S/4HANA using RISE with SAP. This transition provides the organization with a flexible and future-proof ERP environment that supports innovation and optimizes processes.
The Port of Rotterdam plays a crucial role in global logistics. Companies operating here handle more than 438 million tons of goods annually and provide over 193,000 jobs. The Port of Rotterdam Authority manages, develops, and operates the port, ensuring efficient business processes and optimal support for customers and partners through an advanced physical and digital infrastructure.
RISE with SAP
IT in general, and the ERP environment in particular, play a critical role in the efficiency and innovation of the Port of Rotterdam. The Port Authority managed a wide range of business processes with SAP ECC, from Finance and Procurement to HR and Real Estate. Additionally, the organization utilizes SAP Fiori, an intuitive user interface that makes working with SAP systems more efficient and user-friendly.
To ensure the continuity of business processes, migrating to SAP S/4HANA was a logical choice. By opting for the cloud solution RISE with SAP, the Port Authority laid a solid foundation for a smooth migration and further optimization.
Step-by-Step Migration
RISE with SAP provides companies with a comprehensive solution to modernize systems and processes and migrate them to the cloud. The Port of Rotterdam chose to transition its existing SAP environment ‘as-is’ to SAP S/4HANA Cloud and then optimize it step by step. This approach allows for a controlled reduction of customizations and the adoption of SAP Best Practices.
“Over the years, a lot of custom development has been built into SAP ECC. We cannot and do not want to part with it all at once,” says Claudia de Andrade-de Wit, Head of Digital & IT at the Port of Rotterdam Authority. “With RISE with SAP and the expertise of myBrand Conclusion, we can gradually optimize our processes in the cloud after migration, leveraging the SAP Best Practices that S/4HANA offers. This reduces our dependency on customizations and increases our flexibility, enabling us to respond more quickly to the IT needs of both the Port of Rotterdam and the Port Authority.”
Solid Preparation
A successful migration requires solid preparation. The Port Authority placed great emphasis on planning, team formation, and organization-wide involvement. During the preliminary phase, four test migrations were conducted, and a total of 1,247 scenarios were tested, validating 1,328 SAP S/4HANA transactions and 38 SAP Fiori transactions. Additionally, 1,126 custom objects were modified to ensure a smooth transition.
The migration weekend felt like the Rotterdam Marathon. Over four days, 80 hours of work were put in to complete the transition. On Saturday evening, the decision was made: the go-live on Monday could proceed. “At moments like this, you see that the cultural fit with the Port of Rotterdam Authority, which we already felt when we established our collaboration in 2023, truly works,” says Lotte Egbertzen, Regional Director South at myBrand Conclusion. “We both share a ‘no words, just actions’ mentality.”
Strong Foundation for Innovation
With the transition to SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the Port of Rotterdam Authority has established a solid foundation for further innovation. In the coming period, the organization will focus on further development using fit-to-standard, clean core, and end-to-end principles. This approach makes the SAP environment more manageable and efficient.
“We look back on a successful migration and are now focusing on further optimization,” concludes De Andrade-de Wit. “Thanks to the flexibility and scalability of SAP S/4HANA Cloud and the excellent collaboration with myBrand Conclusion, we are ready for the future.”
