Every SAP user will use the open source ecosystem

The digital transformation also affects ERP systems, in the DACH region of course primarily the SAP world. Modernization is imperative. And this is by no means just a matter of migrating to the Linux-based SAP HANA database. Rather, the task is to leverage a comprehensive open source ecosystem. This is the only way SAP users can strengthen innovation and remain competitive.

SAP users not only face the challenge of having to migrate to SAP HANA and SAP S/4HANA. At the same time, they have to drive innovation and introduce new business models in order to maintain rapid adaptability and responsiveness in a highly competitive environment. The establishment of agile end-to-end processes is indispensable for this.

But what is the state of play? Today's SAP landscapes are often characterized by fragmentation with multiple ERP instances and static processes with limited automation options. According to a recent IDC survey, 53 percent of the SAP respondents therefore also cite
users consider the consolidation of the SAP application landscape to be one of the main reasons for migrating to SAP S/4HANA (1). SAP users are thus aware of the problem.

However, such a migration is not the end of the story. Digital transformation also requires the use of new applications, technologies and architectures in areas such as artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML), Industry 4.0, IoT, data analytics, big data, RPA or containers and microservices. And there is currently still a long way to go. According to the IDC study, only six percent of the SAP companies surveyed use features such as ML or IoT in their ERP suite.

SAP users thus have to overcome several challenges. They must be able to quickly implement the SAP philosophy of "keep the core -clean" and, at the same time, side-by-side enhancements and the integration of SAP and non-SAP solutions in hybrid end-to-end processes.

The only answer to these challenges can only be: no new silos, but use of an open source ecosystem that supports fast, future-proof end-to-end integrations and automation of all IT processes. From a user perspective, maximum flexibility in operation must also be ensured: whether in an on-premises or hybrid multi-cloud environment. 

When companies migrate to SAP S/4HANA, they are initially faced with the decision of what to do with the source code for custom developments. Custom code is typically tightly coupled to the monolithic approach of traditional SAP ECC systems.

This is another reason why a like-to-like migration can hardly be mapped and, moreover, offers no added value. Therefore, before an SAP user immediately starts to adopt the ABAP code, he should define a long-term integration strategy that does not create any new dependencies, for example with regard to limitations or high costs.

The same applies, mutatis mutandis, to many of SAP's ecosystem partners. They, too, need to modernize their solutions and extensions: Cloud-native development, con-tainerization of add-ons and specialist applications are at the top of the priority list and tie up a lot of resources. The operating platform, on the other hand, follows open source standards and can be implemented flexibly and compatibly - entirely according to individual customer requirements.

Simplify - end-to-end automation of IT processes

The specific strategic tasks in the context of SAP migration and modernization can be viewed in terms of "Simplify, Extend and Run". Simplify means the realization of a simple and agile IT environment. Important tools are automation with Ansible and Smart Management. With end-to-end automation of IT processes, a bridge can be built between silos wherever possible.

With Ansible it is possible to manage processes across servers, storage devices, network
devices, services, containers and clouds. The Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform solution, for example, can be easily integrated with existing tools and processes through RESTful APIs and a self-service portal, making it suitable for end-to-end deployment across the enterprise.

Related to the SAP landscape, Ansible enables fast, efficient and reliable provisioning and management of SAP workloads. This reduces administration effort, eliminates potential sources of human error, eliminates repetitive manual tasks, and realizes a more consistent and stable infrastructure. Ultimately, automated workflow management also contributes to significant cost savings.

In the SAP area, Ansible is used specifically for HANA deployments and configurations exactly according to SAP Notes specifications. Ansible is also used in hybrid cloud deployments, that is, in the automated provisioning and management of traditional and new containerized SAP workloads as well as non-SAP applications in hybrid cloud environments. And Ansible is also used in establishing DevOps processes in the SAP domain.

In addition, regular day-2 operations such as patch and cluster management or test automation can also be reliably mapped with Ansible. In the context of RISE with SAP, hundreds of Ansible playbooks are currently being created and use cases mapped, many of them within open source community projects. 

Recently, it has also been possible to automate processes in SAP-
address applications themselves. In the process, automations are carried out from Ansible during ongoing SAP operation, for example with the administration of rights, the creation of users or even the execution of processes.

Consequently, automation does not end with infrastructure or maintenance activities; instead, the focus is increasingly on "housekeeping" in ongoing SAP operations. One example of this is SAP GUI automation directly from Ansible, which supports end-to-end processes in real time. This overcomes silo boundaries and media discontinuities, and new self-services can be mapped right down to the business department. 

The possibilities offered by automation have not even begun to be exhausted today. However, current examples already demonstrate its capabilities. The Schwarz Group, for example, which operates over 12,500 stores under the Lidl and Kaufland brands, already runs up to 5,000 jobs per day on Red Hat Ansible Automation Platform to manage the store servers of its stores. This creates operational security and freedom for innovation.

Smart management should also be mentioned in the Simplify context. The As-a-
Service offering from Red Hat supports users in proactively identifying, analyzing, and resolving a wide range of potential software security and configuration issues with over 600 rules specifically for SAP environments. As a result, the exact Ansible playbooks are generated automatically, which then perform all necessary adjustments fully automatically and securely, if desired.

Extend - Integration of SAP with non-SAP systems

In the context of Extend, it is a matter of following the SAP motto "Keep the Core clean" on the one hand and implementing the SAP concept of side-by-side extensibility on the other. SAP HANA and SAP S/4HANA offer many new possibilities for integrating and extending the digital core on an API basis, so that innovations, hybrid cloud deployments and end-to-end processes can also be implemented in an agile and timely manner.

SAP's Side-by-Side Extensibility concept aims to connect SAP-
data, processes, and user interface with state-of-the-art programming environments, continuous integration and continuous delivery, and DevOps methods. So-called side-by-side extensions for S/4HANA systems allow, in contrast to classic ABAP-based in-house developments, the simple implementation of end-to-end processes and thus also integrate the SAP landscape with non-SAP systems.

Run - Hybrid Cloud Platform as Target Architecture

Finally, the Run theme leads to the question of which platform should be used that enables the management of SAP and non-SAP environments within the enterprise and in the cloud. When deciding on a hybrid cloud platform, an SAP user should ensure that it supports unified, cloud-native application development on any infrastructure, i.e., a hybrid multi-cloud mix including on-premises implementations. The requirements profile, in short, should be: Freedom to choose the platform for current and future SAP workloads and no vendor lock-in in terms of cloud providers. More and more companies are turning to the Red Hat OpenShift enterprise Kubernetes platform.

Red Hat OpenShift includes the functionality and services required to run a container management platform certified for diverse, mission-critical applications on a wide variety of infrastructures. This includes aspects such as SLAs, multiple security layers, automation, and cluster management. 

For example, with Red Hat Open Shift as the foundation, users can move containerized applications between clouds while preserving functionality. They no longer need to ensure that their workloads support the proprietary limitations of individual public clouds, but can select public cloud providers based on criteria such as availability or cost efficiency.

In general, Red Hat OpenShift offers several application modernization and migration features. This includes modernization tools for moving legacy applications along with their virtual machines (VMs) into Red Hat OpenShift. Other, proprietary virtualization solutions are no longer needed. By enabling consistent management of disparate applications - traditional and cloud-native - enterprises can immensely improve operational efficiency without stifling innovation.

And as an open hybrid cloud platform, Red Hat OpenShift also supports comprehensive edge implementations, i.e. also the factory edge concept, with which the manufacturing industry can decisively optimize production and logistics processes. Factory Edge with the provision of computing resources remote from central data centers directly at a device such as a robot on the factory floor is currently a trend topic in the manufacturing industry. Cen-tral drivers for this are primarily Industry 4.0 projects, for example in connection with topics such as IoT, artificial intelligence, robotics, augmented and virtual reality, digital twins or 5G.

But what does this mean for SAP users? Quite simply, in an open hybrid cloud or multi-cloud IT infrastructure based on containers, Kubernetes, AI and ML, and automation, SAP applications can also be an essential component of agile end-to-end processes - and thus of an innovative factory edge implementation with real-time integration into SAP transactions and data.

Open hybrid cloud environments are now being used more and more as a target architecture for SAP and non-SAP workloads, as many examples demonstrate. Atos, for example, has predefined and deployed more than 2500 SAP BAPIs (Business Application Programming Interfaces) as RESTful endpoints in Red Hat OpenShift. This allows developers to easily create, deploy and integrate SAP customizations as microservices, even without ABAP knowledge.

Overall, every migration and modernization project in the SAP area should be seen in the context of a redesign and consolidation of the entire IT landscape. IT silos continue to hinder companies in the flexible and future-oriented design of the IT infrastructure. Consequently, a uniform technical basis must be selected that supports seamless, hyperscaler-independent connection of existing and new applications and services. And the means of choice for this is already, for many SAP users, the Red Hat OpenShift enterprise Kubernetes platform and its associated open source infrastructure and software ecosystem. This can bring savings right at the start of SAP modernization, often even before the migration to HANA and S/4HANA.