RISE with SAP made its debut in 2021, and the following year it started to enjoy tremendous adoption from the installed base. Then in 2023, SAP launched a new offering with a different focus: GROW with SAP. But are users clear on what this new offering is all about? Not quite!
In this article, we’ll explain the differences between RISE and GROW with SAP in simple terms, and which one to opt for based on your situation and needs.
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What is Rise with SAP?
Launched in early 2021, the RISE with SAP offering offers a new way to leverage the German software publisher’s leading ERP solution, through a subscription that includes many SAP tools:
- S/4HANA SAP application
- Cloud infrastructure
- Managed SAP services
- Access to the Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP)
- As well as a suite of tools and solutions (which have recently been updated)
RISE with SAP was launched in a private cloud configuration (S/4HANA ERP is identical to the On-premise version, except it is available as a private cloud subscription with a choice of hyperscaler), and in a Public Cloud configuration (multi-tenant).
Of note, private cloud and public cloud offerings are designed to target different clients.
The private cloud solution has been very successful for clients of the SAP installed base who wanted to preserve their past investments in SAP ERP and migrate towards cloud-based S/4HANA for various reasons (security, TCO, scalability…). The private cloud was also a hit with new customers whose businesses have a greater-than-average level of complexity, or who operate in regulated industries with strict requirements that could only be met by a private cloud solution.
The public cloud solution has proved popular with smaller clients, or those with a limited scope looking for a standardized SaaS “digital core” rather than a comprehensive private cloud solution.
What about the cloud costs? The public cloud solution delivers the best total cost of ownership (TCO) of the two, but remains a standardized cloud solution with fewer configuration or development possibilities within the ERP.
In conclusion, RISE with SAP has been very successful, but more so with large companies and small-to-medium sized enterprises (SMEs, which are upper-to-mid market), as well as with the SAP private cloud offering.
How about SMEs?
Today’s reality is that the current ERP market, including its growth potential, lies in the smaller SME market. And the RISE with SAP offering, as initially conceived, is intended to attract larger companies, while only partially addressing the needs of smaller SMEs.
Such clients usually have fewer users and have no need for tools like Signavio, which is provided with RISE with SAP, to assess and ultimately improve processes in their business. With their simpler processes, implementing a SAP ERP software tailored to their industry is a fast and agile option. This is what was missing with RISE with SAP.
What is GROW with SAP?
Out of this realization came GROW with SAP: a public cloud S/4HANA as a Saas, made available in accelerated and standardized implementation for core functions.
GROW with SAP focuses on new SAP clients unfamiliar with SAP systems, which in the IT jargon are referred to as “Greenfield” or “Net New” clients who are looking to implement a plug-and-play solution that is adapted to their industry, and that can be tailored to their needs.
The offer comes with the following SAP solutions:
- SAP S/4HANA public cloud SAP software (the digital core)
- Basic activation services provided by SAP and project boosters
- Access to the learning hub and the SAP community for mutual support
- Access to the Business Technology Platform for development by extension
- Additional software depending on the package chosen (basic or premium)
- (Additional) services from partners who have extended SAP “best practices” to industry verticals (e.g., retail, CPG, mining, life sciences, etc.).
The proposal is to quickly and securely implement a standardized SAP S/4HANA solution in just a few weeks, and then grow from there, rather than starting with a complete solution that takes 10-12 months to implement, instead of three.
To summarize:
RISE with SAP is the right solution for you if:
- The installed base is already immersed in a SAP environment and you are looking to move to the cloud while preserving your initial investment, with a private cloud focus.
- You are a new client in the upper-to-mid market or in a large company with complex processes and you wish to have everything available in the ERP system, with a private cloud focus.
- You are part of a regulated industry and have no choice but to move to the private cloud.
GROW with SAP is the right solution for you if:
- You are dealing with a new implementation (Greenfield/Net new) with a public cloud focus.
- You are an SME with a smaller scope, willing to complement the solution with specialized add-ons (from the SAP portfolio or not).
- You are looking for standardization to reduce TCO rather than customization.
- You want to be up and running quickly, with a short-term, simple project based on SAP best practices and partner industry verticals.
