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Published on: 20.08.2025

SAP S/4HANA at Infrabel: a look back at a structuring transformation

On June 1, 2025, Infrabel reached a key milestone in the modernization of its information system.
The Belgian railway infrastructure manager switched to SAP S/4HANA, SAP’s latest ERP generation.

A large-scale project, led by Infrabel, to which Sapristic actively contributed by providing three consultants integrated into the internal teams.

Our role: support, secure, coordinate.
More broadly, this migration illustrates how a public company modernizes its digital backbone to gain in resilience, operational clarity, and performance.

SAP S/4HANA at a glance

SAP S/4HANA is SAP’s latest ERP version, designed for real-time operations and system simplification.

Based on HANA in-memory technology, it offers:

  • native integration across business processes,
  • instant data processing,
  • a unified architecture, designed for performance and scalability.

S/4HANA is progressively replacing SAP ECC, with a strong promise: to merge operational efficiency with predictive capabilities.

From a legacy ERP to an agile, future-proof foundation

Before the migration, Infrabel was operating with a SAP ECC6.0 environment enriched over time with various applications, including some developed on Oracle Forms.
This fragmented landscape limited process consistency, data exploitation, and overall agility of the IS.

The move to S/4HANA marks a turning point:

  • Unified data, available in real time,
  • Better aligned cross-functional processes across departments,
  • Enhanced management thanks to tools like SAP Ariba,
  • Preparation for automation and predictive maintenance.

A demanding journey, carried out with rigor

The project was launched in early April 2023. It mobilized around 120 people, including internal teams, partners, and SAP experts.
Go-live took place on June 1, 2025, after an intense preparation phase and a freeze on developments in the old system for nearly 9 months — a classic approach to avoid duplicate workloads and ensure a clean cutover.

All SAP R/3 modules were covered, making this transition a full-scale project with strong strategic implications.

“This project marks a major step in the modernization of our systems.
Thanks to your commitment, Infrabel was able to ensure a smooth transition to the new system.”
— Benoît Gilson, CEO of Infrabel, addressing all teams involved

A complete data migration

Unlike other projects where only certain datasets are migrated, Infrabel opted for a full migration of its data, with no partial selection or conversion — except for Business Partners.

This ambitious choice ensures full continuity of information and immediate use of the new ERP without losing historical data.

The role of Sapristic in the project

Three Sapristic consultants were integrated into the project teams, with cross-functional positioning and strong autonomy.
They contributed in particular to:

  • aligning business processes with SAP flows,
  • validating the quality of migrated data,
  • coordinating the testing and cut-over phases.

They also worked on two specific business processes, directly linked to sustainability and resource management:

  • ZW2R: Waste to Recycle,
  • ZC2G: Cradle to Grave.

Their knowledge of Infrabel’s context and their ability to bridge operational and technical requirements facilitated their integration and impact within the teams.

What this migration changes in practice

With SAP S/4HANA, Infrabel now has an ERP that is:

  • centralized, with smoother, more consistent workflows,
  • real-time, for better anticipation and decision-making,
  • open, ready to integrate AI, smart automation, or predictive maintenance,
  • compliant, especially in terms of procurement and budget management.

The effects are already visible:

  • shorter processing times across several processes,
  • greater reliability of interdepartmental data,
  • improved clarity for asset managers and buyers.

What we take away for our future clients

This success reinforces a strong conviction: digital transformation is not just about changing tools.
It requires a clear vision, rigorous governance, fine-tuned coordination between stakeholders, and end-to-end support.

An ERP like SAP S/4HANA is not only faster or more user-friendly.
It is a strategic backbone, capable of structuring operations sustainably, securing decisions, and paving the way for new uses.

Are you asking yourself the right questions?

  • Do you need to assess your application landscape?
  • To consider a move to SAP S/4HANA?
  • To validate your priorities before starting a digital journey?

At Sapristic, we put our expertise at the service of projects that are realistic, useful, and well executed.
Let’s talk about it.

A quick reminder…

Standard support for SAP ECC ends on December 31, 2027.
For many companies, that means less than 30 months to plan, align teams, test, and migrate.

Now is the time to make the key decisions.

Want to avoid a race against time? Contact us.

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