Avoid replacing a technology platform unless it's an absolute necessity

Avoid replacing a technology platform unless it's an absolute necessity

Hi,

We are currently using SAP HR in version 4.6C on EP 5.0. Our organization is exploring an option -- to tear out the front end from the back end -- that is, building the ESS/MSS interface from scratch on a different platform, like WebLogic or WebSphere without going through SAP EP.

At the initial evaluation stage, we felt that it is very technically challenging to achieve this. We'd appreciate some expert advice.

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I cringe a little every time I see a question like this. Why would you want to put yourself through such an exercise? There would have to be some massively compelling business or technical reason to do so, and for the most part, such excuses are few and far between. And, as you yourself admit, it would be technically challenging to do so.

In general, my expert advice is to save your energy and expertise for the problems that can really make a difference. Ripping out one technology platform in favor of another is a bad idea is 99.9 percent of the time, especially when it comes to using packaged software such as SAP HR.

This was first published in March 2006