SAP Migration · 5 min read · May 2026
The true cost of dirty data in an SAP migration
By Thinklytics Partners, SAP S/4HANA Practice
The cost of a data problem rises sharply the later it is found. A duplicate cleaned during planning is routine. The same one found after go-live is an incident.
Topics covered
- Data Quality
- Cost
- Migration
- S/4HANA
Frequently asked questions
What does dirty data cost in a migration?
More the later it is found. A duplicate cleaned in planning is a task, at conversion a schedule risk, and after go-live a business incident when finance cannot reconcile.
How much does skipping data prep cost?
Programs that skip it run about 30 percent longer and 30 to 50 percent over budget. The most expensive line item in any migration is rework discovered at cutover.
How much effort should go to data prep?
Best practice puts 25 to 30 percent of total migration effort into data preparation and validation, precisely because skipping it causes rework.
Is there an upside to clean data beyond avoiding cost?
Yes. Clean, governed data produces a digital core ready for modern analytics and AI, which is the reason most companies are modernizing in the first place.
When is the cheapest time to fix data?
During planning, before you commit to a date. The same fix gets dramatically more expensive at conversion and after go-live.
How do we control the cost?
Run a readiness assessment first, front-load remediation where it is cheap, and keep the data workstream senior so problems are caught early.