Shut Down SAP - Without SAP ILM
Keep your data, understand it and use it with AvenDATA.

From R/3 to ECC 6.0 to HANA: We archive SAP systems of all generations and industry solutions – from Bank
Analyzer to IS-U modules. Audit-compliant, high-performance, and entirely without SAP ILM.

The Challenge

Many companies face the problem that their SAP legacy systems continue to generate high costs even though they are no longer used operationally. The reason is clear: for legal purposes, especially to comply with retention requirements, the systems cannot simply be switched off.
SAP ILM (Information Lifecycle Management) is the solution offered by SAP for data archiving and rule based data deletion. However, its use comes with significant challenges. The solution is deeply integrated into the SAP landscape, requires an active system and is hardly usable without extensive customizing.
Typical issues with SAP ILM and legacy systems:
Complex customizing: SAP ILM must be configured individually. Tables, archive objects, deletion rules and authorizations all need to be adapted with great effort.
High implementation effort: Implementation often takes months and ties up both internal and external resources.
Ongoing license and maintenance costs: Even in decommissioning scenarios, SAP specific costs continue to accrue.
Outdated infrastructures: Old hardware and SAP versions generate operating costs and security risks.
Lack of flexibility: ILM is tightly bound to the SAP system and operation outside the SAP context is hardly possible.
The AvenDATA Alternative: AvenDATA offers a more cost effective, faster and ultimately better alternative: a fully web based solution for audit compliant archiving of your SAP data. Independent of the SAP system, without lengthy customizing, and ready for immediate use.

Proven Alternative to SAP ILM
with More Than 17 Years of Project Experience

For more than 17 years, AvenDATA has continuously advanced the archiving of historical SAP data, developing a practical and audit compliant alternative to SAP ILM. In hundreds of projects, we have refined our solution to reliably address all requirements from business departments, audits and legal inquiries.
At the core is our research platform ViewBox, which has proven itself both in audit practice and in company wide access. It replaces complex ILM structures with a clearly structured, web based interface that is user friendly, high performing and fully compliant.
Today, more than 50 percent of DAX companies rely on ViewBox — a clear signal of its stability, flexibility and suitability for international use. From Europe to Asia to North America, our solution is already in productive use worldwide.

Your SAP Reports Continue — As Interactive Reports
in ViewBox

Even after your SAP system has been decommissioned, your reports remain intact – accessible, traceable and available at any time. AvenDATA not only transfers all relevant data but also ensures that you can continue to use it permanently through the web based ViewBox solution – without SAP ILM.
Our services at a glance:
  • Reproduction of key SAP standard reports and business evaluations
  • Implementation of individual reports, including customer specific Z reports
  • Archiving of all related documents such as invoices, booking records or orders to ensure complete traceability
Even before the project begins, we work with you to define which reports will be required in the future, whether for tax requirements, legal obligations or business analysis. Our experience from numerous SAP decommissioning projects across a wide range of industries flows directly into the implementation.
In ViewBox, these reports remain available for years, for research, evaluation or audits. Entirely independent of the original SAP system and without ongoing SAP licenses.
Whether for tax audits, internal reviews or legal inquiries, ViewBox keeps you in control. Audit compliant. Searchable. Always accessible.

Fast Project Execution and Measurable ROI
– Even for Complex
SAP Systems

Decommissioning an SAP system usually takes between one and six months, depending on system complexity and data volume. Thanks to our clearly structured and standardized project methodology, we can efficiently and securely archive even large SAP landscapes.
We have already successfully migrated SAP systems with more than 30 terabytes of data into our archiving solution, including standard reports, Z reports and complete document archiving.
Our clients quickly benefit from significant savings, particularly in the areas of:
  • SAP and ECM licenses
  • Databases and operating systems
  • Maintenance and infrastructure costs
  • Internal staff resources
In the majority of our projects, the return on investment is achieved in less than twelve months, driven by noticeably lower operating costs and the elimination of unnecessary system overhead.

SAP
 System Analysis

The first step in decommissioning any SAP system is a detailed analysis of your existing environment. This analysis forms the basis for an accurate assessment of project duration and costs as part of the archiving of your SAP legacy system.
We review both technical and business aspects, including:
  • Access options to the SAP system
  • Type, structure and size of the database
  • Scope and relevance of existing SAP reports
  • Individual specifics such as Z reports or interfaces
The results are summarized in a binding fixed price proposal, giving you maximum planning and decision making certainty.

SAP
 Project Archiving

Once the system analysis is complete, the actual project begins, structured, efficient and with clearly defined milestones.
In a joint kick off meeting, we clarify all organizational and technical requirements with your team. From that point on, we take over the majority of tasks for you, including:
  • Setting up system access
  • Exporting and transferring the relevant data
  • Reproducing key reports and Z reports
  • Documenting all steps to ensure audit compliance
Depending on complexity, the project duration ranges between one and six months. Our experienced project managers guide you through the entire process and ensure smooth execution with minimal resource requirements on your side.
At the end of the project, we carry out structured testing and acceptance phases together with you to confirm that all data has been archived completely, accurately and traceably.

SAP
 Archiving Results

After the project is completed, all relevant tables, documents and reports from your SAP system are transferred into our proprietary software solution ViewBox.
ViewBox is a web based research platform that allows you and authorized stakeholders to access archived information quickly, securely and transparently, even years after the SAP system has been decommissioned.
A key added value is the reconstruction of all essential standard and custom reports (such as Z reports), ensuring that business, tax or legal evaluations remain possible without the need for an SAP license.
Once ViewBox has been successfully implemented and accepted, the original SAP system can be fully decommissioned.
At the end of the project, you receive comprehensive project and procedural documentation that records every step in a transparent manner, with particular focus on:
  • the method of data migration
  • the structure of the archived content
  • the testing and acceptance phases carried out
In addition, every step of the archiving process is documented in an audit compliant manner in our Jira ticketing system, from the initial data export through to final acceptance and, if applicable, later deletion of the source system. This ensures that third parties or auditors can always trace exactly how the archiving was performed.
Consideration of ADK Archive Files
and DART Extracts
In addition to the complete decommissioning and archiving of your SAP system, we also take the following points into account:
  • ADK archive files:
    Data already archived in the form of ADK files is integrated into our solution and remains accessible.
  • DART extracts:
    Our solution supports the processing of DART extracts, ensuring that tax relevant evaluations remain possible even after the SAP system has been decommissioned.
ViewBox – Making Archived SAP Data Intelligently Usable
The Software and Research Platform from AvenDATA
With ViewBox, AvenDATA provides a powerful, web based research platform designed specifically for accessing data from decommissioned SAP and other legacy systems.
Through an intuitive web interface, archived information can be quickly located, structurally analyzed and selectively provided – completely independent of the original SAP system or SAP ILM.
Your benefits with ViewBox:
  • Clear and understandable access to archived data, even years after decommissioning
  • Audit compliant research functions for internal and external audits
  • Structured data management to support audits, tax reviews and legal inquiries
A Standout Feature: Rule Based Data Deletion. ViewBox offers rule based data deletion. Based on legal or internal retention periods, legacy data is deleted automatically — fully GDPR and GoBD compliant, without any manual effort.
The software itself and the underlying cloud infrastructure are certified multiple times and are regularly subjected to independent security and functionality testing, ensuring maximum availability and protection of your sensitive business data.
The software itself and the underlying cloud infrastructure are certified multiple times and are regularly subjected to independent security and functionality testing, ensuring maximum availability and protection of your sensitive business data.
Learn more about the ViewBox
ViewBox – Ihre Brücke
für alle Ihre Legacy Systeme/Altsysteme in die Vergangenheit
Für Fachabteilungen, Steuerprüfer, Wirtschaftsprüfer, interne Controller oder Rechtsabteilungen: Ihre archivierten SAP-Daten bleiben vollständig durchsuchbar, verständlich und auswertbar – ganz ohne SAP-Zugang
Ready for the
next step?
In a free one hour expert session we analyze your SAP system together, whether ECC, S/4HANA or R/3. We will show you live how to decommission your system efficiently and keep your data permanently available and usable without SAP ILM.
AvenDATA offers a powerful alternative to SAP ILM — easier to operate, clearly predictable in effort and independent of the SAP license model.
Session agenda:
  • Joint alignment on data structure, data transfer and the report landscape
  • Live demo of our ViewBox archiving and research solution
  • Insight into the replication of central SAP reports such as FI, CO, MM and SD
  • A reliable estimate of project effort, timeline and costs
Transparency from the start:
Our proposals are based on clearly defined fixed prices, with no hidden costs and no renegotiations. Quality, reliability and fair value for money come first.
Our proposals are based on clearly defined fixed prices, with no hidden costs and no renegotiations. Quality, reliability and fair value for money come first.
Book your personal expert session now — free of charge, non binding and with a clear view of your ILM alternative.
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Quick Answers to Your Questions –
 Personal and without obligation Regarding
Alternative to SAP ILM

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