Alexander Kunevich, S/4HANA Conversion PM, ACBaltica
But the landscape has shifted. Today’s business environment demands more structure, more automation, and more insight – even for SMEs. Basic software or spreadsheets can’t keep up with growth. And that’s where a new wave of cloud-based ERP solutions comes in.
Packages like GROW with SAP make enterprise-grade functionality of S/4HANA, the latest ERP solution from SAP, available to mid-market companies, while competitors such as Oracle and Microsoft follow a similar path with SME-adapted versions of their flagship ERPs. What used to be “too big for small business” is now accessible – and scalable.
So, what changed? Let’s break it down.
Enterprise-grade ERP, scaled for SMEs
The key shift is that tools like GROW with SAP bring the same S/4HANA technology used by Fortune 500s to smaller companies – but in a format designed for growth.
That means:
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Core finance and accounting
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Real-time analytics and automation
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Industry-specific processes
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AI features embedded across functions
… all available for a business with 500, 100, 50, or even 15 employees.
Instead of starting from scratch, SMEs get prepackaged best practices based on SAP’s 50+ years of experience. These processes have been tested and refined across industries, giving smaller firms a head start in setting up operations efficiently.
Cloud: from skepticism to superpower
When ERP first shifted to the cloud, many were skeptical. Will there be issues with reliability? What if subscription costs willl be even highr than those for on-premise solutions?
As our Senior Partner Pavel Zhylko often recalls, those were real concerns during the early days. But today, cloud has proven to be an enabler of ERP accessibility. Here’s why:
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No infrastructure burden: vendors take care of servers, updates, and security
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Lower upfront cost: no expensive licenses or hardware to buy
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Scalability on demand: add users or modules as needed without IT bottlenecks
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Continuous updates: security patches and compliance improvements happen in the background
In short, cloud ERP has removed traditional barriers and made powerful systems available to smaller, faster-moving companies.
Best practices vs. heavy customization
In the old ERP world, large on-premise projects meant months of customization to fit existing workflows. Modern cloud ERP flips this model.
Instead of configuring all their business processes from scratch, companies start with out-of-the-box best practices – proven, compliant processes refined by SAP across industries. This means:
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Faster implementation
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Lower costs
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Simpler upgrades down the line
Of course, flexibility hasn’t disappeared. Modern ERP still allows extensions and integrations when unique needs arise. But the philosophy has shifted: standardize where possible, customize only where it creates a real competitive advantage.
At ACBaltica, we often advise clients to align their processes with SAP best practices rather than over-customize. It speeds up deployment and keeps the total cost of ownership low – while still leaving room for differentiation when needed.
Why scalability matters for fast-growing businesses
Startups and scale-ups often double or triple in size quickly – and that’s where lightweight tools fall short. What worked for 5 employees doesn’t work for 100.
Statistics confirm the challenge: 93% of businesses outgrow some of their digital tools, and nearly a quarter outgrow all of them.
That’s why modern ERP solutions are designed with scalability at their core. With GROW with SAP, companies can:
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Handle more users and transactions without losing performance
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Add new modules (like manufacturing or advanced analytics) as needs evolve
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Expand into new markets with built-in multi-currency and compliance support
And importantly, they can do it fast. Many SMEs go live on GROW with SAP in just a few months – giving them enterprise-grade ERP before operational complexity gets out of hand.
The future of ERP: accessible, scalable, smart
Cloud, automation, and preconfigured best practices have removed the old barriers to ERP adoption. What was once a privilege of global corporations is now a practical tool for companies of any size.
For a startup with tight margins, that means world-class ERP without enterprise-level bills. For a mid-sized company, it means scaling operations with the same systems their largest competitors rely on.
Looking ahead, ERP providers will continue to double down on user-friendly, scalable, AI-powered systems that adapt as businesses grow. The line between “enterprise ERP” and “SME ERP” is fading fast.
With solutions like GROW with SAP, advanced ERP is no longer out of reach – it’s a growth enabler for every business.
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