RISE with SAP: SAP’s Business Transformation as a Service

The need for digital transformation is here and it’s urgent. Countless businesses are experiencing a vital need to adapt and transform. But digital transformation requires more than migrating to the Cloud or investing in new technology. Enterprises must evolve new business models and adopt innovative practices to succeed in a changing environment.

SAP decided to address these needs. It now provides a ‘holistic offering’ that assists its customers in transforming their business, regardless of their digital transformation stage. In this post, we’ll explain what RISE with SAP is, its advantages, and what it offers to enterprises.  

The need for digital transformation is here and it’s urgent. Countless businesses are experiencing a vital need to adapt and transform. But digital transformation requires more than migrating to the Cloud or investing in new technology. Enterprises must evolve new business models and adopt innovative practices to succeed in a changing environment.

SAP decided to address these needs. It now provides a ‘holistic offering’ that assists its customers in transforming their business, regardless of their digital transformation stage. In this post, we’ll explain what RISE with SAP is, its advantages, and what it offers to enterprises.  

What is RISE with SAP?

RISE with SAP is SAP’s Business Transformation as a Service offer. The package simplifies moving to the Cloud, cuts total ownership costs, and helps enterprises modernize their business model.

In addition to SAP’s core applications’ licenses, Rise with SAP provides its users with maintenance and hosting—all included in a single subscription model. Enterprises won’t need to worry about separate licensing and maintenance fees, and all applications will be hosted by SAP’s Cloud.

Implications of RISE with SAP

Transitioning from multiple licenses to a single subscription model will reduce IT complexity and initial investment costs. One offer, one contract, one vendor. 

RISE with SAP also comes with SAP Business Technology Platform consumption credits; customers will benefit from SAP BTP’s intelligent technologies and integration possibilities, which will further simplify enterprise’s business processes.

Customers with on-premise workloads in S/4HANA will migrate to the Cloud. Customers that run S/4HANA on different clouds or customers with customized S/4HANA applications will get access to a cloud edition of S/4HANA.

All this adds up to significantly lower infrastructure costs. SAP CEO Christian Klein estimates that RISE with SAP customers will experience a reduction in TCO of up to %20 over five years.

Additionally, SAP compares its customers’ processes with industry standards and provides custom recommendations, training, and tools. And SAP technical architects are available for support.

What Does RISE with SAP Offer?

RISE with SAP is an inclusive offering that encompasses many SAP assets that are central for enterprises. These include:

• SAP S/4HANA Cloud: SAP’s leading ERP which provides customers with the deployment option of their choosing. Also includes embedded AI, RPA, and advanced analytics. 

• Consumption credits for SAP Business Technology Platform: enables fast development of solutions. Offers an AI and an analytics layer. Customers benefit from SAP to SAP and SAP to non-SAP integration possibilities.

• Infrastructure as a service (IaaS): ensures high performance and reliability.

• SAP Business Network Starter Pack: creates connections with suppliers, carriers, and assets. Enables fast data exchange.

• Embedded tools and services: helps achieve a seamless migration from current ERP models to SAP S/4HANA Cloud.

• Business process intelligence: provides insights into your business processes with analytics and real-time monitoring. Users get the opportunity to improve and automate tasks. 

Business Transformation in Three Key Elements

In a Q&A interview, SAP CEO Christian Klein describes the mindset behind RISE with SAP:

“We take the content, the expertise, the data of our customers and allow them to discover, analyze, benchmark, and redesign their business processes.”

The model is highly customer centric. Customers choose their SAP partner, their vendor, and the speed they wish to implement the offer. SAP helps with everything else.   

1. Redesign of the Business Process

SAP has over 40,000 customers worldwide. RISE with SAP customers can compare their business performance against this massive database and improve using robotic process automation and AI services.  

2. Technical Migration to the Cloud

Automated services? Check. Technical support? Check. SAP tools? Check.

SAP provides all the requirements for a simple and smooth transition. Customers can even choose their cloud infrastructure and whether they prefer running on SAP data centers or hyperscalers.

3. Intelligent Enterprise ‘Starter Pack’

This comprises of three main parts: SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP BTP, and SAP Business Network. The combination of cloud infrastructure, intelligent technologies, integration, and a unified platform for supply chain management realizes a complete digital transformation that guarantees better business results.

Wrapping Up

Business Transformation as a Service is a novel concept and we’re yet to see if RISE with SAP delivers on its promises. But the validity of its need and the value of the model can’t be argued. Past year’s events proved the urgency for digital transformation, yet many businesses struggle with the process. SAP’s subscription offering provides both the means and the strategy on how to adapt and improve, helping enterprises thrive in a changing environment.