SAP Solution: Editor-in-chief blog

The window of opportunity for SAP to correct its course is closing. The next two years will determine whether SAP will become a cloud company or remain the ERP leader for standard business software.

The SAP Business Technology Platform can become the platform not only for S/4, but also for its successor. For this to happen, however, the BTP must be functionally convincing and not just a technical fireworks display.

To err is human, and that is why many industries have prototypes with which to test the future. While the automotive industry keeps surprising, SAP is content with a promise of maintenance until 2040.

Since the beginning of this year, Christian Klein has been communicating in a completely confused manner and without any context. Always in the best of moods, he says whatever comes to mind, true to the motto: What do I care about last day's chatter?

Should existing customers now believe SAP that cloud computing is very attractive: Faith belongs in the church and the cloud is a bad cloud cuckoo land. But a good foundation is the guarantee for success.

Cloud computing severely restricts individualization because it is determined by standards. SAP's demand to "Keep the Core Clean" is therefore logical. However, the added value of ERP only comes from modifications and coding.

With the elimination of the 9000 euro S/4 flat rate, SAP is trying to move all existing customers to S/4 this year. The trick: It's not about operational systems, but only about license rights - but SAP has never made a precise distinction here.

The S/4 conversion is a paradigm shift and not a technical release change. SAP talks about digital transformation and the intelligent enterprise, but conceals the fact that this requires not only Hana and S/4, but also a suitable ERP architecture.

Often, a lack of resources is the impetus for change. Many existing SAP customers are confronted with the well-known shortage of IT specialists. One successful solution is automation at SAP Basis in the CCC/CCoE.

A double challenge for SAP's existing customers: How to bring Abap modifications from the Z namespace to S/4 and how to realize future customization on the SAP Business Technology Platform?

There are currently two currents in the SAP community. At one pole is SAP with many business innovations, at the other end the existing customers and partners with IT tools to harden infrastructure and ERP architecture, a bipolar challenge.

The SAP Executive Board works diligently and strives. As the executive board of a global corporation, on the other hand, it should act strategically, lead with vision, and act conceptually. Instead of leaving repair service behavior to capable management, SAP board members are content with operational tasks.