Switching to the cloud is no longer a question of if – instead, it's a question of when. Businesses face mounting challenges with on-premise ERP systems – like high maintenance costs, technical debt due to the need to integrate multiple systems, and very limited ability to scale or innovate. And don't forget the end of maintenance for SAP ECC announced for 2027 (for versions older than 6.0, it will come even earlier, in 2025).With all that in mind, it's clear that sticking to on-premise systems most probably would only widen the gap between your company and modern, agile competitors.
RISE with SAP was designed exactly for such needs, helping you move into the cloud and overcome your challenges in the smoothest manner possible and considering your unique business situation and needs.
Get started with RISE with SAPRISE with SAP is more than just another SAP S/4HANA offering. Instead, it's a package of products and services available at a single subscription fee and aimed to help companies move into the cloud. According to SAP CEO Christian Klein, RISE with SAP is a Business Transformation as a Service (BTaaS), aiming to transform "each and every enterprise into an intelligence enterprise". Not only does it help you switch from an on-premise ERP system to the S/4HANA Cloud, but it also supports the modernization of your IT landscape and the optimization of your processes, along with time- and market-proven best practices. As a result, you make your IT environment secure and scalable and ensure it supports future growth.
RISE with SAP is a three-in-one service pack: Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Software as a Service (SaaS), and Platform as a Service (PaaS). Let's explore the content of the offering in more detail.
The name speaks for itself: at this phase, we discover and analyze your existing IT infrastructure, business processes, and operations. We focus on identifying gaps and inefficiencies in the current setup to address them through the cloud transition.
We also define the project's target scope, objectives, and business value and analyze the company's readiness for cloud migration and the potential return on investment.
The stage results in a clear value proposition and roadmap.
At this stage, we shift from exploring your current setup to setting up the new project. We onboard key stakeholders, establish a project governance framework, and ensure we have all the necessary resources.
At this phase, we also introduce the "clean core" approach to reduce unnecessary customizations and simplify the system landscape (also by following the SAP best practices). We also build a project plan that aligns with declared goals.
Eventually, as a result of this stage, we ensure we have all the foundational elements for a smooth implementation.
In this stage, with the key stakeholders, we dive deeper into specific business requirements and conduct a fit-to-standard analysis, ensuring alignment of core business processes with SAP's pre-configured best practices.
We identify if there's a need for additional customizations, explore requirements for integrations (if there are any), and investigate and plan data management strategies. We also establish project governance models to ensure effective management, accountability, and structured execution. It's also the moment to explore additional extensions and enhancements to address unique business challenges.
Eventually, at this stage, we get clarity on how the solution will integrate with existing workflows and meet organizational goals.
At this stage, the solution begins shaping through configuration, adoption, and testing – all based on the specifications identified during the previous phase.
We also conduct comprehensive testing (to validate the system's functionality, data integrity, and performance) and the first iterations of user adoption training (to ensure end-users can effectively utilize the new system).
This stage aims to ensure the system is ready for deployment and aligned with the desired outcomes.
At this stage, we finalize the setting and roll out the configured productive system. If needed, at this stage, we also activate AI capabilities and other advanced features for operational efficiency and data-based decision-making. Then, we perform final tests to ensure seamless system operation in the live environment.
This phase is critical for verifying that all components seamlessly work together, providing a stable foundation for all business operations. When we ensure everything works as expected and the deployment is complete, the company can finally start using the new system in its daily operations.
Run is the final implementation stage, focusing on achieving the desired goals and supporting the end-users in the live environment. With continuous monitoring and support, we ensure that the system operates smoothly and issues are promptly addressed. At this phase, we shift from system configuration to refining business processes – all to unlock further opportunities for growth.
Eventually, this stage ensures that the company maximizes the long-term value of its investment in SAP solutions while maintaining a focus on sustainable growth and transformation.
