LSMW vs. Winshuttle

Remove the complexity from data migration with a simple, flexible tool

The SAP LSMW (Legacy System Migration Workbench) is a tool provided by SAP to  migrate legacy system data into an SAP system. LSMW is a complex tool intended for technical users and its use typically requires developer-level authorizations.

Key differences between Winshuttle Transaction and LSMW

• Ease of use: For simple tasks, such as mass changes to master data, Legacy System Migration Workbench requires at least 14 steps. Winshuttle Transaction can carry out the same task in just three easy steps: record, map, and run.
• Authorizations: Permission to use LSMW typically requires extra authorizations in SAP and is not available to most business users or functional analysts. Transaction does not require developer authorizations and runs with typical user authorizations.
• Integrated logs:  In LSMW/SM35, the results retrieved from SAP reside in a separate screen and involve a painstaking process to iteratively identify and fix erroneous records. With Transaction, the results retrieved from SAP reside in the same spreadsheet as the data, which enables users to quickly and easily correct and reprocess erroneous records.

Manage SAP complexity, tight Excel integration and full power recording

• Complex SAP transactions: Legacy System Migration Workbench requires hundreds of hours of development time when mapping complex transactions like sales orders, hierarchy screens, and cell-level mapping. Transaction can easily handle these transactions with a simple three-step process: record, map, and run.
• Native Excel integration: LSMW requires users to convert data to a tab-delimited or comma-delimited file format before it can be uploaded into SAP. Transaction works natively with SAP/Excel data and does not require users to convert it to tab-delimited or comma-delimited formats, leading to significant productivity improvements. Transaction also works with Excel formulas so that users can calculate individual fields or reference them from other sources.
• More powerful recording: Transaction provides a selection of different recording modes and a more powerful recorder than the LSMW batch-input recorder, which enables Transaction to handle significantly more transactions and applications than LSMW.

Download real-time data, without any special transports - both author and run-time versions

• Download data from SAP:  With Transaction, users can also download real-time data from SAP. While running transactions, users can download specific screen fields into an Excel column and use the powerful SAP F4 Lookup feature to preview data from specific fields in SAP before downloading.
• No transports required: With Transaction, users do not need transports to move upload programs from one system to another. Instead, they can easily record a Shuttle file in a quality assurance (QA) system and immediately run it on a production server without waiting for transports.
• Run-time version: With LSMW, all users are allowed to create or change the upload script. Transaction also comes in a run-time version for users who will not be authoring scripts. With Winshuttle Runner, (or by executing scripts as a web service on Winshuttle Server), users can only run existing scripts. Using Winshuttle Central provides further command and control of users executing scripts by incorporating workflow authorization processes, and version control of scripts.

Easy scheduling, fail-safe backup, streamlined Excel integration

• Run not posted: Transaction can check if the data in the Excel or Access template has already been posted, which helps prevent the creation of duplicate documents, sales orders, and other data. LSMW has no such feature.
• Scheduler: Transaction enables users run Shuttle files in an unattended mode via a built-in scheduler. Users can run the listed files in SAP automatically at the specified date and time and send a notification after the file has been run. LSMW offers no such facility.
• Back up SAP data: Transaction can back up (download) existing SAP data before uploading new data into SAP. In cases where a user needs to roll back SAP data, they can use Transaction to reverse the updated SAP data to its state prior to the upload. LSMW has no such capability.
• Excel add-in feature: The Excel add-in for Transaction enables users to upload data into SAP from the Excel interface. LSMW has no such feature.
• IS Utilities: Transaction works seamlessly with SAP’s industry solution, IS Utilities. LSMW does not work with IS Utilities.
• Support: Winshuttle offers round-the-clock support (24 hours a day, 5 days a week) with the help of three support offices in Seattle, London, and Chandigarh (India). SAP does not offer phone support.
• Customers: Winshuttle has more than 1,000 customers worldwide and recently earned back-to-back-to-back 99.5% customer satisfaction ratings for our services, products, and support team.