Laying the Groundwork for Your Move to SAP Cloud ALM

In our previous blog, we introduced the concept of Selective Data Transfer (SDT), SAP’s structured, one-time approach for moving valuable content from SAP Solution Manager into SAP Cloud ALM.

In this post, we focus on a crucial next step: getting your SAP Cloud ALM environment ready, so before any data is migrated, it’s essential to make sure your SAP Cloud ALM environment is ready to receive it not just technically, but strategically.

Getting this foundation right is what separates a smooth transition from one filled with rework, confusion, and misalignment.

Readiness is About More Than Just Setup

The best migrations start with structure, clarity, and ownership. That means ensuring:

• You know what’s being migrated and why: Define a focused scope for your project. Migrate what’s valuable, leave behind what’s not.

• You know who owns what: Align content ownership between SAP Solution Manager and SAP Cloud ALM, using consistent user and role definitions.

• You maintain the connection between process and system: Map your landscape clearly (via system groups) so processes stay tied to the right environments after the move.

• Your teams are ready: Involve the right people early. Many roles will shift from reactive support to proactive lifecycle ownership in SAP Cloud ALM.

Use SAP Readiness Check to Reduce Surprises

SAP offers a Readiness Check tool that gives you a clear view of what’s ready to transfer, what needs attention, and what’s out of scope.

It helps answer questions like:

• Which documentation is most used or out of date?

• Are there gaps in your data structure?

• Are there elements that need manual alignment?

This saves time and helps your team focus on what's worth moving.

Fig 1: SAP Activate Roadmap for transition to SAP Cloud ALM

What You’re Really Doing: Laying the Foundation for the Future

Selective Data Transfer isn’t just a migration utility, it’s a chance to modernise your ALM approach:

• Replace outdated content with streamlined libraries

• Clarify ownership and reduce grey areas

• Move away from custom-heavy setups toward standardised, cloud-ready practices

The decisions you make here will affect how quickly your teams can adopt Cloud ALM and how confidently you can evolve beyond SAP Solution Manager.

Final Thought: The Migration Starts Before the Upload

Spending time now to prepare your SAP Cloud ALM tenant, from project structure to user access will save you time and headaches later. With the right setup, your Selective Data Transfer will be faster, cleaner, and more reliable.

In our next blog, we will guide you through testing your migration data and handling any errors before going live in SAP Cloud ALM.

If you need support setting up your instance contact us today for more insights on your SAP Cloud ALM journey!