Comparing transactionSHUTTLE versus LSMW (Legacy System Migration Workbench)
The Legacy System Migration Workbench (LSMW) is a technical tool provided by SAP® to assist with the data migrations during initial implementations. It is also used by some SAP customers to make changes to master data in SAP en masse.
When used in the direct input mode, LSMW works very well for moving large volumes of data. It is a higher performance tool than transactionSHUTTLE; however, it is a complex tool requiring highly trained and experienced resources.
Winshuttle transactionSHUTTLE software presents a non-technical alternative for updating SAP records in far fewer steps than LSMW; without technical resource involvement. Here are some key differences between transactionSHUTTLE and LSMW:
Much Easier to Use transactionSHUTTLE is much easier to use than LSMW. LSMW is a complex technical tool and for simple tasks such as mass change to master data, there may be 14 steps involved, while transactionSHUTTLE can carry out the same task in 3 easy steps.
Authorization transactionSHUTTLE does not require developer-level authorization and runs with authorizations that a user commonly has. The use of LSMW typically requires extra authorizations in SAP and is not available to most business users or functional analysts.
Integrated Logs In transactionSHUTTLE, the results that are returned from SAP reside in the same spreadsheet as the data making it very convenient and quick to correct and reprocess erroneous records. In LSMW/SM35, the results that come back from SAP reside in a separate screen which can be painful to iteratively identify and fix erroneous records.
Header & Multiple Line Item Data
transactionSHUTTLE allows the loading of common transaction data such as invoices, journal vouchers, purchase orders, etc. where each record can have a variable number of line items. This kind of data is impossible to upload with LSMW's Batch Input Recording mode without programming since the number of fields in the recording has to match the number of fields to upload exactly.
Native Excel Integration transactionSHUTTLE works natively with Excel data without needing to convert it to tab-delimited or comma delimited formats. transactionSHUTTLE also works with Excel formulas natively, so individual fields can be calculated or referenced from other sources. With LSMW, data has to be converted to a tab delimited or comma delimited file format before it can be uploaded. Native Excel integration leads to significant productivity improvements.
More Powerful Recording transactionSHUTTLE provides several different recording modes and a more powerful recorder than the LSMW batch-input recorder. Thus, transactionSHUTTLE is able to handle more transactions and applications when compared to LSMW.
Download data from SAP
With transactionSHUTTLE, you can also download data from SAP. While running transactions, transactionSHUTTLE allows you to download specific screen fields into an Excel column. With transactionSHUTTLE you can also automate the running of reports and downloading these reports into local files. LSMW does not allow such downloads.
No Transports Required With transactionSHUTTLE, no transports are required to move upload programs from one system to another. A script can be easily recorded in a QA system and immediately run on production without waiting for transports.
To learn more, read our White Paper An Easy Alternative to LSMW to Update Customer Master Records in SAP in the resources section.
"With Winshuttle, you can import massive amounts of data directly from a spreadsheet, which is a format that employees know and understand. It's changed how we approach all kinds of SAP data” from mass changes to periodic data cleansing."
- Lynn Farrell, SAP HR and Payroll Manager, Southwark Council
"We're a victim of our own success. I'm adding another member to our team because of the sheer volume of data we're handling with transactionSHUTTLE. This solution has completely changed how we approach and manage many of our projects."
- Peter Hebert, manager of HR data management, RBC
"transactionSHUTTLE gives us the ability to do things we weren't able to do before. We have significantly reduced our manual data entry costs, reduced headcount, and minimized the burden on IT."
- Paul Cahill, Director of Information Technology, Hubbell Wiring Systems
"We have saved over $1 Million in avoided programming, reduced data entry workload costs and Service Level Agreement (SLA) costs."
- Chantal Gauvreau, Business Process Manager, SAP Center of Excellence, Canada Post
"Winshuttle offers the complete automation solution. It's easy-to-install, well-documented desktop software, with excellent technical support"
- Erin Stone, SAP FI/CO Senior Analyst, B. Braun
"Data entry is no longer an IT headache. Our users no longer blame our SAP system and instead fully embrace it."
- Rick Davis, Manager, Enterprise Systems
We now use the term "Winshuttling" to refer to any solution that makes our lives easier.
- Steve Walker, Manager of Supply Chain Systems, Under Armour