Expectations in Upgradation of CRM 4.0 to CRM 2007

Upgrading from CRM 4.0 to CRM 2007 can be complex considering the fact that, UI framework is completely changed in CRM 2007. It could be quite a challenge If the client has done a lot of customizing and custom development in CRM 4.0 PCUI and want to retain most of it in new web UI. 

As you already know, SAP provides a path to upgrade from CRM 4.0 to CRM 2007. However, the upgrade is not part of a standard delivery and can only be done as a part of a customer project.

Standard tool is available to Upgrade from CRM 4.0 to CRM 2007. But this tool is limited for some components only (CRM Application Server), most of the components cannot be upgraded. They can only be migrated.

Some of the challenges and learning from our upgrade project, 

1. Since the CRM 2007 Web UI framework is completely different, UI Customizing and development done in PCUI cannot be reused. Infact, these changes are lost and have to be redone in CRM 2007 Web UI.
2. Since the customizing done in PCUI is quite a large, we made what is called as “ master list document”, that contain the OOB features and the enhancements and modifications done on top of standard.  
3. The next step is to compare CRM 4.0 features (OOB) and enhancements with CRM 2007 web UI.  Analyze how much of it is available as OOB in CRM 2007. 
4. Work as a team to analyse if some of the enhacements done is PCUI can be done in a better way (right way) in web UI.
5. Refer the latest upgrade guide as well as the migration guide from SAP for list of components for upgrade. 
6. Refer SAP notes like 1118231 for UI and 1037748 for EEWB etc
7. In CRM 2007, for business transactions that need more memory space customize the memory threshold (100 MB) accordingly.

Conclusion:

1. Make sure to divide the project into phases. First phase can just be a technical upgrade from CRM 4.0 to CRM 2007. Make sure that everything works fine within the context. Next phases could be to implement new functionalities (Sales, Service, Marketing etc). 
2. Even though most of the functionalities need to be rebuilt in web UI, spend time in analyzing the earlier version of CRM. This would help in minimizing the surprises for the end users as they are used to the earlier PCUI screens. This also helps to make sure some of the ease of use features and critical developments are taken care in new version.