The SAP Activate methodology structures an S/4HANA transition into distinct phases. The Realize phase is dedicated to building and configuring the solution based on the requirements and design specifications finalized during the Explore phase. This "build" activity explicitly includes the hands-on adaptation, remediation, and development of custom code to ensure it is compatible and optimized for the SAP S/4HANA environment. Developers perform the necessary code adjustments, create new extensions, and conduct unit testing during this phase before the solution moves to integration testing and final deployment.

B. Deploy: This phase focuses on the final cutover to the production environment and go-live activities; all development work, including code adjustments, should be completed by this stage.

C. Explore: This phase is for fit-to-standard analysis and workshops to identify gaps and define the requirements for custom code, not for performing the actual coding adjustments.

D. Prepare: This phase involves project planning and initial scoping. Custom code is analyzed for impact (e.g., using SAP Readiness Check), but the actual remediation work does not begin yet.

1. SAP Activate Roadmap Viewer: In the official "Transition to SAP S/4HANA" roadmap

the task "Adapt Custom Code for SAP S/4HANA" is explicitly listed as a key activity within the Realize phase. (Accessed via SAP Activate Roadmap Viewer

Workstream: Technical Architecture and Infrastructure).

2. Denecken

S.

et al. (2020). SAP Activate: Project Management for SAP S/4HANA. SAP Press. In Chapter 6

"The Realize Phase

" the text describes this phase as where the project team builds the system

which includes all configuration and development activities like custom code adaptation.

3. Childress

M. D.

& Nake

C. (2020). SAP S/4HANA System Conversion Guide. SAP Press. Chapter 4

"The Realize Phase

" Section 4.5

"Custom Code Remediation

" states

"During the realize phase

your development team will work on remediating your custom code based on the analysis performed in the prepare phase."

4. Wehling

U. H. G. G.

et al. (2019). Guiding the Digital Transformation: A Process Model for the Introduction of SAP S/4HANA. Proceedings of the 52nd Hawaii International Conference on System Sciences. The paper describes the Realize phase as when "the system is built and tested

" which encompasses the development and adaptation of custom code. (p. 5487). https://doi.org/10.24251/HICSS.2019.661