What are the main differences between SAP ECC6 and S/4 Hana?

SAP ECC6 (Enterprise Central Component 6) and SAP S/4HANA are both enterprise resource planning (ERP) software solutions provided by SAP. However, there are several differences between the two systems:

1. Database: SAP ECC6 runs on traditional databases, such as Oracle, IBM DB2, and Microsoft SQL Server, while SAP S/4HANA runs exclusively on the SAP HANA in-memory database.
2. User Interface: SAP S/4HANA has a modern, intuitive user interface, with a focus on role-based, personalized experiences for users. In contrast, SAP ECC6 has a more traditional user interface that may require more training for users.
3. Architecture: SAP S/4HANA has a simplified data model that allows for faster processing and real-time insights. SAP ECC6, on the other hand, has a more complex data model that can slow down processing times. In other words: SAP ECC6 is built on the traditional SAP Business Suite architecture, which uses a two-tier client-server model. In contrast, SAP S/4HANA is built on the SAP HANA in-memory platform and uses a simplified architecture with a single database layer, which enables real-time processing and analysis of large volumes of data.
4. Data Model: SAP S/4HANA has a simplified data model compared to SAP ECC6. This means that tables have been consolidated and redundant data removed, resulting in a more streamlined and efficient system. This also allows for faster processing times and improved performance.
5. Analytics: SAP S/4HANA provides built-in analytics and reporting capabilities, including predictive analytics and machine learning, which are not available in SAP ECC6. This allows for real-time insights and decision-making.
6. Functionality: SAP S/4HANA has streamlined and simplified several key business processes, such as finance, procurement, and supply chain management. SAP ECC6 has more complex business processes, with more customization options.
7. Integration: SAP S/4HANA has built-in integration with other SAP products and cloud services, such as SAP SuccessFactors and SAP Ariba. This enables end-to-end business processes and greater flexibility for businesses in contrast to SAP ECC6 which requires additional middleware for integration.
8. Industry-specific solutions: SAP S/4HANA provides industry-specific solutions for retail, utilities, manufacturing, and other industries, while SAP ECC6 requires additional customization for industry-specific solutions. E.g. product lifecycle management (PLM) for manufacturing, project management for construction, and demand-driven material requirements planning (DDMRP) for supply chain management. These features are not available in SAP ECC6.

Overall, SAP S/4HANA represents a major shift in the SAP product landscape, offering a more streamlined, modern, and integrated ERP system, with enhanced analytics and industry-specific functionalities.