In keeping with the motto of the annual congress of the German-speaking SAP Users' Group (DSAG) e.V., the organizers conducted a survey together with America's SAP Users' Group (ASUG). The results clearly show that there is still reluctance to digitally transform one's ERP. We took a closer look at the "pain points" and asked Tobias Többens, our Head of Development, about them.
According to the DSAG Investment Report 2023, the numbers of S/4HANA switchers are increasing, but nevertheless: Half still have the migration ahead of them. Among other things, this is related to the cloud roadmaps: "This makes it even more difficult for customers to switch, because SAP has to ensure that the new cloud portfolio offers an alternative both functionally and technically," comments Jens Hungershausen, DSAG Chairman and participant in our anniversary event of the RetailOneSolution Network.
Holistic support for the conversion to S/4HANA
Tobias Többens, Head of Development, Consult-SK GmbH
The results of the DSAG survey are reflected in the ERP landscape of our customers: Some still have the migration to S/4HANA ahead of them! At a large number of our customers, our own solutions have already been successfully implemented on S/4HANA and are proving to be extremely powerful and future-proof. We take a holistic approach and offer our customers comprehensive support throughout the entire conversion process to S/4HANA.
"For those customers who are in the process of converting their system to S/4HANA or have yet to do so, we are here to lend a helping hand. We know that these conversions can come with some challenges. That's why we work closely with our customers to successfully convert their existing solutions to HANA. In doing so, we make sure that the transition is as smooth as possible and that there are no costly interruptions.
In addition, we are also involved in migration projects that involve migrating customer's own coding. We understand that this can be a complex task at times. Our experienced teams help overcome the many technical and business challenges. We rely on proven methodologies and best practices to ensure that the migration is efficient and successful," explains Tobias Többens, Head of Development.
Clear demands on SAP
In this context, another conclusion is: "Cloud-first, cloud-only no!" SAP's announcement that it is working flat out on the cloud roadmaps is not very helpful, because it implies that on-premises customers will be denied major innovations such as artificial intelligence and green ledgers. Likewise, functional modules and extensions built on the Business Technology Platform (BTP). Jens Hungerhausen in the Press release of the DSAG to this: "To clarify the position of DSAG: We are in favor of the use of the cloud and know that innovations today must be provided primarily on cloud technology. But what is important here is the freedom for each individual company to be able to decide for itself the way in which it uses these innovations."
Cloud or on-premise? Definitely: Both!
Cloud-First also at CSK? Like Hungershausen, Többens sees the needs of the customer as paramount and focuses on diversity:
"Our primary goal is to offer our customers a viable and seamlessly integrated solution that is also future-oriented. In this respect, the SAP public cloud plays a significant role in our efforts to provide innovative solutions. Nevertheless, we perceive that there is uncertainty among some of our customers with regard to the cloud. We understand that cloud concepts are still uncharted territory for many companies. For this reason, we strive to offer our customers tailored solutions.
Our own solutions are extremely versatile and can be run both on-premise and in the private cloud. We know that every organization is unique, and we tailor our solutions accordingly. Where it makes sense, we also offer solutions for the S/4HANA Public Cloud. A good example of this is our user-friendly FIORI interfaces, which make using our solutions even more convenient.
We continue to strive to develop and offer solutions that are precisely tailored to the needs of our customers. This undoubtedly includes solutions in the SAP Public Cloud and Business Technology Platform (BTP). We understand that every business is charting its own path to the future, and we stand ready to support them along the way and deliver innovative solutions that help them succeed."
What is even possible under the current circumstances?
For example, this assistance is first preceded by an investigation at one of our customers to find out, to what extent the current legacy solution Biller Direct can be replaced by SAP S/4HANA Cloud for Customer Payments. This comprehensive analysis enables us to make tailored recommendations and highlight the opportunities that could arise from a switch to this innovative solution. We are convinced that the cloud is not only an alternative, but also an opportunity to optimize business processes and achieve competitive advantages.
