SAP is migrating its CallidusCloud Commissions customers to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management. What does this mean?

This means that SAP has officially rolled out a program to assist its customers in transitioning their CallidusCloud Commissions customer base currently supported by 3rd party technologies (i.e., Oracle database and Informatica integration) to SAP's HANA database, integration, identity management, and analytics technology stack.

A large migration like this can be intimidating, and Canidium wants you armed with the facts. This will allow you to plan a smooth transition to a better, faster version of the solution you know and rely on today. 

With an end-of-maintenance date of December 31, 2026, our clients are naturally curious about it. We went straight to the source to get answers to some of the myths circulating about this transition.

A discussion with SAP's Kevin Coxwell, Vice President of go-to-market - Sales Performance Management, clarified a few myths about migrating to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management and how it impacts your business.

In this article, we will debunk 5 myths surrounding this migration. We will explore the reasoning and benefits of migrating to the SAP HANA database.

Myth 1: Migration will be just as cumbersome as implementing a new solution.

Users concerned about the difficulty of migration can take comfort in the proprietary migration tools SAP has designed to streamline the process. These tools, a significant investment by SAP, are designed to expedite your journey by lifting and shifting your data and configurations, helping ensure your valuable information remains intact and operational disruptions are minimized.

Myth #2: Migration will be expensive.

Cost is always a key consideration with any migration. SAP is investing in making the transition to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management as cost-efficient as possible. Licensing for both legacy and new systems, along with implementation costs, SAP is working with each customer to produce a cost-benefit that is in the customer's best interest.

Myth #3: End of Maintenance will result in disruptions.

On July 17, 2023, SAP announced the end of maintenance for CallidusCloud Commissions will occur on December 31, 2026. SAP is working with each customer on the ideal timing of your move over the next three years, but does this mean that those who don't migrate before then risk disruptions to operations? Coxwell explained that SAP assures that CallidusCloud users will benefit from leveraging the same data model to reduce disruption.

Myth #4: The migration will change my core product experience.

Despite the migration, the core application remains the same, which minimizes the learning curve to ensure a smooth migration experience in terms of user training and adoption. Another big misnomer is that the data model has changed. Coxwell shares that this is inaccurate and that CallidusCloud users will benefit from leveraging the same data model to reduce disruption. 

Myth #5: Moving from CallidusCloud Commissions to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management really doesn't benefit the user.

The value of SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management lies in its enhanced features and capabilities. As Coxwell points out, "A gigabyte in SAP HANA goes a lot further than a gigabyte in Commissions on Oracle" due to the efficiency SAP HANA's columnar database delivers to maximize storage. Additionally, processing time improves, keeping your sellers informed and motivated with real-time sales results and speeding up the end-of-period payout process.  

What organizations will gain from moving to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management

Innovation and Improved Performance

As SAP can drive a more significant focus on developing SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management, you can expect to experience greater innovation and improvements to the user experience. Testing between the two platforms has shown SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management significantly boosts data processing speed. The performance gains can be especially beneficial for organizations that seek real-time data processing and analytics. Leveraging an end-to-end SAP technology stack enhances speed and quality. It allows support to focus exclusively on SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management customers.

Access to Enterprise Tools

SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management provides access to SAP's enterprise-grade technology that supports global businesses with reporting, integration, identity management, and world-class reporting and analytics (powered by SAP Analytics Cloud). Removing the reliance on third-party applications drives a better user and support experience. 

Running on a Hyperscaler 

Hyperscalers are large-scale data centers that specialize in delivering massive amounts of computing power and storage capacity to organizations and individuals across the globe. There are several benefits for applications that run on a hyperscaler. SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management now runs a microservice architecture on Google Cloud Platform (GCP), which means users will not be negatively affected when part of the application is heavily leveraged (i.e., processing large calculations/pipelines while other users are building comp plans). GCP provides continuous delivery, which ends the dreaded long maintenance windows and minimal disruption during deployments. 

What is my next step?

Complimentary migration assessment with SAP

SAP is offering and currently scheduling complimentary migration assessments. This will clarify the timing and support required to make a smooth transition. It allows organizations to plan far in advance with a clear idea of allocating resources before the announced end-of-maintenance date.

Why You Should Start Planning Now

When it comes to your CallidusCloud Commissions move to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management, transitioning is a strategic move that offers a myriad of benefits. 

Waiting until the last minute is not advisable, as migration can impact your day-to-day operations. Many customers have shown eagerness to transition to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management to take full advantage of the latest technology. Planning now can ensure a smooth and strategic transition. 

Migrating to SAP SuccessFactors Incentive Management is not just a technology upgrade; it's a strategic move to deliver your business a better future. With SAP's investment in migration tools, cost efficiency, and performance improvements, it's clear that this transition offers numerous advantages. To stay competitive and take full advantage of the latest technology, it's time to begin planning your move as early as possible.

As you and your team begin thinking about your strategy, consulting with experts on both the legacy and SAP platforms is essential. As a strategic partner, Canidium is working in lockstep with SAP to help businesses like yours make a successful migration.

Contact Canidium today to ascertain what will be involved in your migration.

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