Wrinkles in SAP Basis

The many aspects of SAP system operation have been set up more or less individually according to requirements. As a rule, SAP Basis teams are responsible for this in companies. The SAP Basis tasks are important for keeping SAP running smoothly and are diverse: Ensuring server operation with server refresh, setting up and operating storage pools, ensuring optimal network or data connections, security management, monitoring and maintenance tasks, release changes or updates to databases, importing SAP updates, integrating and connecting non-SAP apps, creating SAP system copies and much, much more.

It is in the nature of things that SAP Basis teams have always had to deal with strategy and architecture changes specified by SAP. Together with a variety of challenges and often with great commitment, the numerous tasks are mastered by "SAP Basis".  

Now, however, the SAP Basis community has been quite startled by SAP's S/4 Hana cloud strategy. And it seems that this is causing a lot of concern. In recent conversations with SAP Basis experts from companies, several have clearly expressed their incomprehension about SAP's Hana cloud strategy. This is understandable, as the existence of SAP Basis teams in companies is at stake.

One customer, for example, asked something like this: If everything is in the cloud, do you still need an SAP basis? Who, if not us, should ensure the cloud migration? But what happens afterwards? Will there then be a kind of SAP Basis processing?

Are we being wound up?

Justified conclusions and considerations? Or: exaggerated pessimistic scenarios? The fact is, at least for now: according to the DSAG Investment Survey 2024, 61 percent do not plan to use the Rise with SAP offering. In the 2022 report, 57 percent of respondents stated that it is very and somewhat unlikely that they will consider Rise for their company.

The Grow with SAP offering is also not currently playing a major role. And whether the new Rise with SAP migration and modernization programme will turn the tide for SAP will be interesting to see, according to DSAG. In any case, the user association emphasizes: "Many of the companies surveyed would like to remain on-prem with their ERP systems."

Also interesting: According to the user association, SAP ERP, or SAP Business Suite 7, was still clearly in the lead in 2024 with 68%, ahead of S/4 Hana On-prem with 44%. It also states that cloud operating models such as S/4 Hana Private Cloud (11%) and S/4 Hana Public Cloud (6%) "still play a subordinate role".

Brought in by SAP

SAP has to be credited with having solved the SAP Basis problem outlined above with its S/4 Cloud strategy. It is understandable that everything behind the "SAP cloud wall" is virtually non-existent for the SAP Basis teams in companies, or possibly no longer exists to a much lesser extent. Because SAP Basis tasks are reserved for SAP.

However, the SAP cloud operating model chosen by a company is crucial. Accordingly, something can change for the SAP Basis in a company - up to and including the loss of the SAP Basis - or not at all or only to a certain extent. The service level agreements (SLAs) provided or selected are also extremely important.

In any case, various CCCs and their SAP Basis teams are sensitized to take a very close and critical constructive look at the S/4 Cloud strategy. In order to then make the best decision for themselves, if necessary together with external SAP Basis experts and without any possible influence from SAP.

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