The SAP Cloud Platform: Development Environment for SAP-based Extensions
Companies looking for a new ERP today or looking to modernize their existing digital core are quickly landing on SAP S/4HANA. The software suite has clear advantages, such as tremendous speed and a modern user interface. Companies also benefit from best practices in the area of functions and processes, which are provided as standardized solutions.
But what about companies that, for various reasons, have not yet decided on SAP S/4HANA and want to continue working with their existing SAP ERP for the time being? And how can companies that are already using SAP S/4HANA and want to add individual functions to the standard help themselves? A special solution has been developed for them: The SAP Cloud Platform (SCP).
Why companies don't want to rely on SAP S/4HANA (for now)
There are various reasons why companies do not yet want to switch to SAP S/4HANA:
- The consulting market is as good as empty.
- SAP has extended the maintenance period for SAP ERP until 2027, leaving more time for the changeover to SAP S/4HANA and its preparation.
- Companies hold on to their existing SAP ERP because of numerous individual in-house developments.
Last but not least, SAP is pursuing the goal of primarily bringing standardized processes to companies with SAP S/4HANA, SAP Analytics Cloud, and SAP Sales Cloud, for example. These are based on best practices from various industries and should therefore be ready for use in the shortest possible time and lead to rapid success. In reality, however, many companies have their own developments and individual solutions for specific tasks that are only covered to a limited extent by best practices.
Extend proven solutions and develop new functions with the SAP Cloud Platform
Therefore, the question arises: How can I continue to use my existing SAP ERP or use the new SAP S/4HANA in such a way that in-house developments and individual approaches are still possible? The SAP Cloud Platform was developed to solve this problem.
This is a standardized environment for SAP-based developments. It serves as a development, test and runtime platform and also offers options for analysis and collaboration. Since the developments take place directly on the platform, there is no risk to the existing ERP.
The functions and processes developed in the SAP Cloud Platform serve on the one hand as a supplement to existing SAP software solutions, but also as a driver of innovation. Thus, many "new" SAP functions actually have their roots in the SAP Cloud Platform or are even sold there via the App Shop. In addition, SAP ERP can be functionally modernized through the back door, so to speak, even after 2027 thanks to the SCP. Last but not least, user interfaces can be customized to offer the best possible user experience.
Of course, the SAP Cloud Platform can be used not only in the "old" SAP world, but also for SAP S4/HANA. In the end, both sides benefit from this: The customer, because individual additions are also possible on the new system, and SAP, because the new world can thus be made additionally palatable.
Who is the SAP Cloud Platform suitable for?
The SAP Cloud Platform can be described as a true all-rounder for the development of individual functions in SAP landscapes. On the one hand, it is suitable for customers who want to use an older ERP for longer and modernize it at the same time. On the other hand, it is also a convenient solution for all those who already use SAP S/4HANA and want to add individual functions to the software. These can be realized both as an own development in the environment of the SAP Cloud Platform or simply supplemented via its services and apps, as far as they already exist and are available.
This makes the SAP Cloud Platform the linchpin for all those who want to develop individual SAP-based solutions and, on the other hand, fall back on existing in-house developments. It is therefore not without reason that it is also referred to as SAP's Swiss army knife, with which SAP users can "whittle down" their solutions individually.
