Clean Core

Name: leverX Company
Brand: LeverX
Rating: 4.9 (114 reviews)

Unlock greater agility, innovation, and efficiency in your SAP landscape with a Clean Core approach and LeverX’s expertise and support.

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Clean Core is a strategy that keeps the SAP system standardized and upgrade-safe by minimizing unnecessary customizations and shifting extensions to SAP-approved technologies. Instead of modifying the core, businesses can enhance functionality by leveraging a side-by-side approach, APIs, and modular cloud services on SAP BTP as the preferred method, while keeping the on-stack ABAP implementation approach as an alternative option. This approach is fully aligned with SAP Cloud strategy, ensuring system stability, simplifying upgrades, and providing the flexibility needed to adapt and innovate.

As a trusted SAP Gold Partner and Global Strategic Supplier, LeverX provides structured methodologies, deep technical expertise, and best practices to help enterprises successfully transition to Clean Core.

By following the Clean Core approach, our clients can create a foundation for agility and scalability, ensuring that their SAP system remains adaptable to future demands without compromising reliability. Here’s what our Clean Core approach allows you to achieve:

Minimize core modifications: Keep SAP S/4HANA as close to standard as possible to ensure stability and compatibility with future updates.
Shift customizations to external layers: Use SAP BTP, APIs, and modular cloud architectures to implement business-specific functionality without altering the core.
Ensure upgrade stability: Develop extensions that remain unaffected by SAP updates, reducing system disruptions and maintenance costs.
Align with SAP best practices: Structure business processes around standard SAP functionality to ensure long-term efficiency and adaptability, keeping pace with SAP’s cloud-centric future.
Enforce governance and lifecycle control: Establish clear policies for developing, deploying, and maintaining extensions, including the upkeep of existing classical SAP developments, to prevent technical debt.
Enable long-term innovation: A Clean Core makes it easier to adopt continuous SAP innovations, AI-driven automation, and cloud capabilities without reworking the system.

Key Process Steps in Clean Core Implementation

LeverX applies a structured, five-phase approach to Clean Core transformation, designed to meet each customer's needs, profile, and development practices. Our framework ensures a transformation strategy that aligns with business objectives and SAP best practices.

We don’t just provide recommendations — we become your trusted partner throughout the entire transformation journey, delivering sustainable modernization and ensuring long-term success.

Organizational cloud readiness (Prerequisite)

Before adopting Clean Core, businesses must assess their cloud readiness and align IT and business strategies. LeverX experts help organizations by:

Conducting cloud readiness assessments to evaluate existing systems, processes, and potential transformation challenges.
Developing a strategic roadmap for SAP S/4HANA migration, ensuring alignment with business goals and securing organizational buy-in.
Facilitating stakeholder engagement and change management initiatives to bridge the gap between IT and business teams, ensuring a smooth transition, as well as IT and user adoption.

New technologies’ awareness

Understanding SAP’s extensibility options is critical to a Clean Core approach. LeverX provides guidance on:

Selecting the right extensibility strategy, including ABAP development, SAP BTP services and tools, integration and AI frameworks, and SAP S/4HANA On-Stack development.
Building awareness of side-by-side extension capabilities using SAP-approved technologies and approaches while ensuring system integrity.
Conducting training and workshops to upskill customer teams on SAP BTP and cloud-based innovative solutions like SAP Business AI and Business Data Cloud.

Business processes review

Clean Core success depends on aligning business processes with SAP standard best practices. LeverX supports businesses by:

Analyzing existing processes and identifying areas for standardization according to SAP existing functionality and future roadmaps.
Optimizing workflows using SAP best practices to enhance efficiency and reduce customization needs.
Defining a transition strategy to ensure minimal disruption while adopting SAP-standardized processes.

Addressing technical debt

Managing and reducing technical debt (shortcuts today can lead to burdensome code debt tomorrow) is essential for maintaining a Clean Core. LeverX helps organizations by:

Auditing legacy customizations and determining which can be re-engineered or replaced with SAP-standard functionality.
Designing a modular, future-proof architecture that prevents technical debt accumulation.
Implementing best practices for an upgrade-friendly SAP environment by establishing governance to manage corrections and modifications.
Providing end-to-end support, from re-engineering to seamless deployment, ensuring that modernized solutions are effectively delivered and integrated.

New implementations

Governance is key to sustaining a Clean Core for all new developments which are planned for the system. LeverX helps to ensure compliance by:

Establishing clear guidelines for new developments, focusing on side-by-side extensibility and API-driven integrations.
Implementing SAP governance frameworks to maintain transparency, security, and long-term system stability.
Providing continuous support to enforce best practices for all future SAP enhancements.
Delivering end-to-end implementation, from planning and design to deployment and ongoing optimization, ensuring a seamless and compliant transformation.

Faster innovation cycles

Quick adaptation to SAP updates

Lower Total Cost of Ownership (TCO)

Reduced maintenance and upgrade costs

Stronger compliance & risk management

Governance-driven customizations

AI-driven business flows and extensions

Improved operational efficiency

Seamless cloud extensibility

Future-proof, upgrade-stable architecture

Enhanced system performance

Reduced technical debt and optimized resource utilization

How Clean Core Approach is Applied to RISE Methodology

RISE with SAP is designed to help businesses transition to the cloud, while ensuring flexibility, scalability, and continuous innovation. However, without a Clean Core, companies risk accumulating technical debt, increasing maintenance complexity, and facing upgrade challenges. To address this, RISE with SAP embraces Clean Core as a fundamental principle, enabling a structured and future-proof transformation to SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

Meanwhile, another SAP methodology designed for mid-sized companies adopting SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition – GROW with SAP – follows a predefined Clean Core-compliant framework, ensuring standardization, upgradeability, and governed extensibility.

The Clean Core approach in RISE methodology followed by LeverX:

Evaluate the current SAP landscape and identify technical debt.
Define business challenges and opportunities for Clean Core adoption.
Assess SAP BTP capabilities relevant to extensibility needs.

1. Discover

Develop a Clean Core strategy using SAP Enterprise Architecture (SAP EA), Integrated Solution Architecture Methodology (ISA-M), and best practices.
Establish governance models and quality gates to manage changes.
Document extensibility requirements and align with business needs.

2. Prepare

Conduct in-depth analysis of custom ABAP code to assess compatibility.
Optimize integration architecture using SAP ISA-M for API-first development.
Create an extensibility roadmap aligned with SAP’s long-term strategy.

3. Explore

Implement Clean Core-compliant extensions (SAP BTP, Cloud ABAP, or SAP Build).
Refactor customizations to reduce dependencies on SAP’s core.
Leverage Business AI and SAP Business Data Cloud to enhance automation, decision-making, and innovation within a Clean Core framework.
Deploy change control and governance frameworks to monitor compliance.

4. Realize

Continuously monitor and optimize Clean Core integrity.
Support future business innovations without disrupting SAP S/4HANA.
Ensure alignment with SAP’s evolving roadmap.

5. Deploy & Run

Comprehensive landscape assessment: Analysis of existing customizations, integration layers, and business processes.
Strategic Clean Core alignment: Developing modernization roadmaps that prioritize upgrade stability and extensibility.
SAP best practice implementation: Leveraging SAP Application Extension Methodology, Integration Solution Advisory Methodology (ISA-M), and SAP BTP services.
Governance and compliance enforcement: Establishing frameworks to ensure all extensions remain Clean Core-compliant post-migration.

LeverX starts with a comprehensive evaluation of your SAP landscape, identifying technical debt and opportunities for optimization. Through interactive workshops, we engage key stakeholders to jointly define a Clean Core strategy:

Assessing existing customizations and their impact on upgrade stability, identifying redundant or high-maintenance custom code that can be re-engineered or replaced. Workshops focus on technical debt analysis, risk assessment, and evaluating the feasibility of SAP-standard alternatives.
Aligning the Clean Core strategy with SAP’s roadmap and business objectives, ensuring that transformation efforts support long-term goals. Discussions cover SAP BTP adoption, side-by-side extensions, Business AI capabilities, and SAP Business Data Cloud for enhanced automation and innovation.
Defining a step-by-step transition plan, incorporating governance frameworks for monitoring compliance, risk mitigation strategies, and phased implementation to minimize disruptions. Workshops address change management, stakeholder alignment, and establishing governance structures for sustainable customization control.

Side-by-side extensibility

Shifting business logic to SAP BTP and other cloud solutions to minimize dependencies on SAP S/4HANA’s core, leveraging an API-first and event-based architecture for seamless integration. Harnessing AI capabilities to optimize processes, enhance decision-making, and drive intelligent automation within the Clean Core framework.

On-stack developer extensibility

Implementing controlled ABAP modifications within SAP’s three-tier extensibility framework, ensuring modular and upgrade-stable developments.

Key-user extensibility

Empowering business users with SAP’s low-code/no-code tools, reducing IT workload while maintaining system flexibility.

Classic ABAP extensions (legacy systems

Retained only in exceptional cases and strictly governed to mitigate risks and align with SAP’s long-term roadmap.

Validate Your Clean Core Transition with LeverX’s Proof-of-Concept Approach

To ensure a seamless Clean Core transition, businesses must adopt the right extensibility approach, while maintaining compliance with SAP best practices. LeverX’s Proof-of-Concept (PoC) process helps organizations evaluate and validate the most suitable strategy — whether side-by-side extensibility with SAP BTP, on-stack ABAP development, key-user extensibility, or selective legacy modifications. Through structured testing and analysis, we minimize risks, ensure scalability, and align your transformation roadmap with SAP’s long-term vision.

Pilot development

Creating and testing Clean Core-ready extensions using SAP BTP services and tools, ABAP approaches, and AI capabilities.

Feasibility testing

Running new extensibility models in a controlled environment to validate performance and scalability.

Refined migration strategy

Using real-world insights from the PoC to optimize your Clean Core roadmap before full deployment.

Stakeholder alignment

Facilitating cross-functional workshops to ensure business and IT teams are fully aligned on the Clean Core vision and understand the business value of the approach.

Accelerate Your Clean Core Transformation with LeverX’s Packaged Solutions

LeverX offers predefined Clean Core transformation packages designed to help businesses streamline their transition, minimize risks, and ensure long-term system stability. Our expert-led approach covers every stage of the Clean Core journey — from assessment to implementation — ensuring compliance, scalability, and innovation. These offerings complement the broader modernization strategy by providing structured, ready-to-implement solutions that address key aspects of Clean Core adoption.

LeverX evaluates your SAP landscape to identify customizations, technical debt, and opportunities for modernization. We provide:

A comprehensive assessment of your SAP environment to determine Clean Core readiness.
A strategic roadmap outlining how to transition custom functionality to SAP BTP.
A feasibility analysis to define the optimal modernization approach.
Recommendations aligned with business priorities and SAP’s best practices.

Why LeverX?

Proven track record

For over 20 years, we have helped businesses worldwide succeed with SAP. We’ve already completed 950+ projects for over 800 clients, including top names on the Fortune 500 list.

Industry experts

The LeverX team comprises professionals with hands-on knowledge in 30+ industries, including manufacturing, logistics, and oil  and gas.

SAP partnership

We implement SAP projects end-to-end  and collaborate with SAP on the development and enhancement of its existing solutions.

Quality and security track record

LeverX operates in compliance with international standards such as ISO 9001, ISO 27001, ISO 22301, and ISO 55001, ensuring reliability and quality in every project.

Investment in innovation

We actively integrate advanced technologies, such as Data Science, IoT, AI, Big Data, Blockchain, and others, to help clients efficiently address their business challenges.

Flexibility

Our team is available 24/7, which enables us to quickly deploy projects, maintain process transparency, and adapt each development phase to meet your specific requirements.

FAQ

How does Clean Core impact ongoing SAP system maintenance?

Clean Core significantly reduces maintenance efforts by eliminating unnecessary customizations and ensuring a standardized, upgrade-stable system. Since modifications are shifted to SAP-approved extensibility layers like SAP BTP, updates and patches can be applied seamlessly without the risk of breaking custom functionality.

What challenges might businesses face when transitioning to Clean Core?

The transition to Clean Core requires businesses to reassess legacy customizations, align with SAP best practices, and adopt new extensibility models. Common challenges include identifying which customizations should be retained, ensuring user adoption of new processes, and managing integration complexities. LeverX helps mitigate these risks through structured assessments, governance models, and Proof-of-Concept (PoC) initiatives.

Can Clean Core be applied to hybrid SAP landscapes that combine on-premise and cloud solutions?

Yes, Clean Core principles can be implemented in hybrid environments by ensuring that custom functionality resides in upgrade-safe, cloud-based platforms like SAP BTP while keeping the SAP S/4HANA core clean. LeverX helps businesses design hybrid strategies that balance on-premise stability with cloud innovation, ensuring a smooth and flexible transition.

How does Clean Core support long-term digital transformation initiatives?

Clean Core is foundational for future-proofing SAP landscapes by removing technical debt, enabling AI-driven automation, and ensuring compatibility with emerging technologies. Businesses that adopt Clean Core can seamlessly integrate SAP’s latest innovations without costly rework, keeping their ERP modern, scalable, and competitive.

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