SAP recently launched RISE with SAP offering as a business transformation-as-a-service, a holistic solution that combines infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS). RISE with SAP is the best solution offered by SAP which caters to the evolving demands of businesses especially in a time when businesses are increasingly looking at redesigning IT platforms and architectures to lower costs, increase flexibility, create a unified IT landscape that integrates multiple systems to enhance/standardize the business processes, and comply with regulatory requirements. However, organizations still don’t have full knowledge and information about RISE with SAP, especially about the solution’s key differentiators. Here are a few features that make RISE with SAP unique.

One comprehensive offering that provides everything needed to simplify the transformation journey.
One contract and SLA that caters to all operations and issue handling across the stack (implementation and advisory services from SAP and/or partners in support or RISE with SAP are contracted separately.)
Attractive total cost of ownership which allows customers to realize returns on investment sooner when compared to a traditional ERP deployment.

Here are other core benefits that the solution offers:

SAP support during business transformation to SAP S/4HANA SAP provides support during the move to SAP S/4HANA including adoption of new capabilities (SAP BTP, SAP Cloud Integration etc.) to realize business outcomes. Without RISE with SAP, engagement is limited to product support, or the businesses will have to pay extra amount to utilize SAP services. Contract/Licenses

Shelfware software cost: The core benefit of the RISE with SAP is that businesses can utilize cloud extension policy to terminate redundant on-premises licenses. With Full Usage Equivalent (FUE) model, businesses can allocate each FUE to any one of the user types and change allocation during the subscription term to avoid wastage. Without RISE with SAP, businesses will get limited flexibility on the shelfware.
Total cost of ownership: SAP new licenses model is based on the Full Usage Equivalent (FUE) that takes different users and their usages to predict the overall cost. Additional software [industry and line of business (LoB)] or add-on packages can be purchased as per the business requirements. Additionally, SAP offers the following to help businesses move from on-premises landscape to the cloud:
- Cloud Extension Policy (CEP)
- SWAP rights (with Approval)
- Price Protection (with Approval)

Without RISE with SAP, businesses have to deal with multiple parties to get the cost and will not be able to achieve true benefits. Infrastructure

Choice of hyperscaler: SAP allows businesses to choose their preferred hyperscalers to suit business needs, across geographies with RISE with SAP. Otherwise, separate contractual agreements are required with different hyperscalers which adds to overall complexity.
Service level agreement (SLA): SAP offers a standard SLA of 99.7% on the core RISE with SAP offering i.e., full stack of the ERP landscape and if required, 99.9% of SLA can be sold with a price uplift. Without RISE with SAP, businesses have multiple SLAs i.e., SAP software and infrastructure, and multiple vendors for issue resolution which takes considerable time and effort.
Stay current on the ERP landscape: SAP owns the responsibility for timely patching of all software components leading to improved compliance, better security, and reduced risks. Without RISE with SAP, the responsibility of applying patches and updates rests with businesses which again must be planned with technology partners at an additional cost. Technical managed services (TMS): SAP provides 24/7 service delivery for PRD and 24/5 for non-PRD systems, technical system operations, technical landscape deployment, and setup of RFC connections. More details can be found in the service description guide.

Security Security is one of the most important topics of conversation as the focus is not only on roles and authorizations but also on areas such as infrastructure security, cloud integration, and data security. With RISE with SAP, both hyperscaler (managed by SAP) and SAP own the responsibility to provide services (Figure 1). The other pending services (client endpoints, account and access management, and data governance and rights management) can also be covered by SAP or by the businesses themselves. One of the significant features is that SAP IT and Cloud Security coordinates and schedules four external penetration tests per year for the SAP Cloud offerings (including SAP HEC) with external contractors. The external contractor performs the penetration test and if any issues are found, they are resolved on priority.

Figure 1: Security comparison of RISE with SAP and Hyperscaler directly

Source: SAP

Tools

Integration with Business Processes Intelligence: With RISE with SAP, SAP provides free access to Business Process Intelligence starter pack (SAP Signavio process insights, Signavio Process Manager, Signavio Collaboration Hub) for businesses to analyze how processes perform, get tailored recommendations, and benchmark them against industry standards. This is one of the most required capabilities to support process improvement within the organizations and for non-RISE customers, this is available at an extra cost.
Leveraging the cloud – SAP Business Technology Platform: With RISE with SAP, SAP provides access to Business Technology Platform to extend and integrate with any other SAP, partner, or third-party solution, using the same data model and business services as SAP applications. The SAP S/4HANA must be agile and responsive not only at the core but also at the edge.

Other tools (Figure 2) offered as part of RISE with SAP are:

Tools and services (SAP Readiness Check and custom code migration)
SAP Business Technology Platform (consumption services credits)
SAP Business Network Starter Pack (SAP Business Network Starter)
- Ariba Network
- SAP Logistics Business Network, freight collaboration option
- SAP Asset Intelligence Network

Figure 2: RISE with SAP Offerings

Source: SAPinsider

RISE with SAP provides businesses with a path to become intelligent enterprises irrespective of their starting points in the transformation journeys. SAP experts guide, support, and act as trusted advisors to businesses during all stages of their transformation journeys. Customers can either connect with SAP or partners to understand and fully leverage RISE with SAP offering to their benefit.

RISE with SAP – The Right Choice

Reading time: 4 mins

Akash Kumar

Associate General Manager, HCL

Key Takeaways

⇨ RISE with SAP is a bundle of existing SAP solutions and support businesses to create a unified IT landscape.

⇨ The core benefit of the RISE with SAP is that businesses can utilize cloud extension policy to terminate redundant on-premises licenses.

⇨ RISE with SAP provides businesses with a path to become intelligent enterprises irrespective of their starting points in the transformation journeys.

RISE with SAP offering is a business transformation-as-a-service, a wholistic solution that combines infrastructure-as-a-service (IaaS) and software-as-a-service (SaaS). In this article, learn about RISE with SAP’s core functionalities, benefits it offers, and how businesses can avoid shelfware with RISE with SAP.