Introduction into SAP Clean Core
A clean core, in the context of an ERP system like SAP S/4HANA, is essential for ensuring stable and reliable operations while being agile and innovative. By maintaining a clean core, businesses can future-proof themselves and remain competitive in an ever-evolving business landscape. SAP point-of-view document on Clean Core defines it as “a concept to achieve modern, flexible and cloud-compliant ERP. For an up-to-date ERP we achieve a clean core by integrating and extending the system in a way that is cloud compliant, and by governing master data and business processes. With that, when it comes time to upgrade a system, changes can be put in place without significant manual efforts to test and adapt existing structures.”
Clean Core Elements and Criteria
For partner products built for SAP, helping to keep the SAP core clean can be established by ensuring a strict separation between 3rd party extension and SAP core:
Please find more general and in-depth information about clean core in the blog: SAP S/4HANA Clean Core. Partners should support their customers on the journey to a clean core by providing compatible extensions and add-ons – and get them certified as clean core compatible.
Customers can find certified partner solutions for clean core in SAP Certified Solutions Directory.
Launching Clean Core certification program for partner applications
SAP Integration and Certification Center (SAP ICC), part of SAP Partner Innovation Lifecycle Services (PILS) announces the launch of certification program for partner applications following the clean core criteria, with which it's possible to show clean core compatibility to customers.
Clean Core Criteria for external partner solutions and extensions
With clean core, SAP wants to make sure that partner applications follow the methodology in both development and delivery of partner solutions to SAP customers. In the optimal case, this is ensured by using SAP recommended extension options only, as described in the SAP S/4HANA Cloud extensibility model. Partner apps following the 3-Tier-model outlined in this document can earn the clean core designation:
ABAP Cloud add-ons (“Tier-1 / -2”) built for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition. Certification scenario is generally available, and if you want to receive more details, please contact us at icc@sap.com.
- Side-by-side solutions running on SAP Business Technology Platform (“Tier-1”) and integrating with SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition. Technical feasibility will be checked and confirmed through SAP Extension Suite Certification.
"Classic" ABAP solutions ("Tier-3") do not qualify for clean core. They should be made ready for cloud, and for that please check the links and information provided here: Custom ABAP code migration to SAP S/4HANA Cloud.
Please also find further technical details regarding the certification program in this presentation.
Action item for you as SAP Partner
Start working with SAP ICC to check that your extension or add-on follows the best possible, cloud-ready development practices for SAP ERP solutions.
Earn SAP-certified for clean core with SAP S/4HANA Cloud designation after successful certification, so customers will know at the first glance that your solution supports their clean core efforts.
Solutions certified for clean core also get a filtered listing in SAP Certified Solutions Directory.
- SAP Managed Tags:
