Ctac keeps TomTom on track during Bluefield migration to SAP S/4HANA

TomTom, known for its location technology, successfully migrated to SAP S/4HANA using a Bluefield approach. This process is often seen as time-consuming and costly, but turned out to be the best and most efficient route for TomTom. As a technical partner, Ctac played a key role in this migration.

It was a revolution in the early 2000s: the TomTom Navigator. For the first time, drivers could effortlessly find their way with a portable system, without relying on expensive built-in navigation or a crumpled road map on the passenger seat.

More than twenty years later, TomTom is still active in navigation hardware, but its focus has shifted primarily to software and services. The company provides traffic and routing information to partners such as BMW, Uber, and Bolt, who use this data to optimize their mobility services.

The next step? Together with partners like Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta, TomTom is working on the smartest map in the world. This ‘collaborative map-making’ process, part of the Overture Maps Foundation, combines open map data with TomTom’s own advanced layers, such as real-time traffic information, routing data, and autonomous driving insights.

Migrate to SAP S/4HANA. But how?

To stay ahead in a rapidly evolving industry and foster new partnerships, TomTom needed a digital transformation. Its existing SAP ECC system no longer met the needs of the dynamic organization. The decision was made to migrate to SAP S/4HANA. But the question remained: how would TomTom approach the migration?

When transitioning to SAP S/4HANA, organizations typically choose between two approaches: Greenfield (building a completely new system) or Brownfield (retaining existing processes and data). However, there is a third option: Bluefield. This hybrid approach allows companies to preserve valuable structures while eliminating unnecessary data.

Bluefield: the best of both worlds

Although Bluefield is often seen as time-consuming and costly, TomTom – with Ctac as a partner – proved that this does not have to be the case.

“Our old IT environment felt like an overloaded truck—slow and difficult to maneuver. This was due to the sheer volume of data we had, much of which was redundant. Bluefield allowed us to create a clean and optimized environment without starting from scratch,” says Ron Hogeboom, IT Enterprise Architect at TomTom. By selectively migrating data, TomTom achieved a more efficient and flexible system.

Thorough preparation with Readiness Check

A Bluefield approach requires careful preparation, says Murali Chilakalapalli, Project Manager at TomTom. “Through a Readiness Check, we mapped out our ECC configuration and worked with Ctac to determine the migration strategy and timeline. Thanks to test migrations, we knew exactly what to expect.”

For the migration process, TomTom created a copy of its existing ECC environment in a standalone setting, where IT specialists cleaned up unnecessary data. This optimized environment was then migrated to the latest version of SAP S/4HANA in the SAP Private Cloud within RISE with SAP. RISE with SAP provided TomTom with a scalable and flexible cloud environment, a streamlined migration process, reduced risks, and a predictable implementation.

Indispensable support from Ctac

TomTom has a specialized in-house IT team and carried out the migration itself. However, Ctac’s support was indispensable, says Chilakalapalli. “Ctac provided the right tools, best practices, and training, helping our team quickly familiarize itself with the new environment. They also assisted us with IT infrastructure setup, technical management, and conversion processes.”

Thanks to Ctac’s expertise and support, the migration went smoothly, and TomTom went live with SAP S/4HANA in just seven months. Chilakalapalli looks back on the process with satisfaction. “You can’t underestimate a migration like this. It’s a complex process that requires tight planning and close collaboration between all parties. And strong partners—like Ctac. We could truly rely on them.”

On January 1, 2024, TomTom went live with the first part of the system. Three months later, the full transition was completed. The benefits were immediately noticeable. “Improved user experience, faster processes, and real-time insights,” Chilakalapalli sums up. “We now have a solid foundation for further optimization.”