A Simpler Path to Modern ERP With GROW with SAP
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Key Takeaways
⇨ GROW with SAP offers mid-market companies a strategic opportunity to move to the SAP Public Cloud, allowing for a clean, pre-configured transition without migrating complex customizations from older systems.
⇨ The implementation of GROW with SAP requires expertise in leveraging extensibility tools rather than heavy customization, ensuring a 'clean core' that simplifies future upgrades and reduces risks.
⇨ Understanding the distinction between GROW and RISE methodologies is crucial for SAP professionals, as it helps tailor solutions to the specific needs of agile businesses and those transitioning from non-SAP systems.
The 2027 deadline for SAP ECC is a fast-approaching reality, and for mid-market companies running on older systems, the thought of a massive ERP overhaul can be daunting. But what if the conversation shifts from a painful, mandatory upgrade to a strategic, agile evolution?
This is exactly the opportunity presented by the GROW with SAP methodology for companies looking to transition to the SAP Public Cloud edition. However, to seize it, leaders first need clarity on what it is and what it isn’t.
Why GROW with SAP
Derrick Day IT Director of SAP Basis at Resolve Tech Solutions (RTS), a firm specializing in SAP implementations, draws a critical distinction. “The first thing is to differentiate between the RISE and GROW methodologies,” he explains. “RISE with SAP is for customers who are already on SAP and looking to move their solution to a private cloud solution. On the other hand, GROW with SAP is a public cloud solution for Greenfield migrations.”
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According to Day, this Greenfield approach is a game-changer. Instead of migrating years of complex customizations and potential clutter, GROW with SAP offers a pre-configured, best-practice foundation. For a mid-sized company, this opens an exciting new path. As Day notes, “For smaller companies looking to be agile, GROW with SAP presents an exciting opportunity because it allows them to retire or eliminate a lot of their technical debt and not worry about bringing that over.”
Therefore, more than just a technical reset, this approach de-risks a company’s entire ERP strategy by aligning it with SAP’s public cloud innovation path and giving the organization more control over its future.
Leveraging Corners, Not Cutting Them
While GROW with SAP is designed for rapid deployment, this aspect can make leaders nervous, due to fears of cutting corners and a messy go-live. This is where the value of an experienced implementation partner becomes non-negotiable. How do you achieve speed without sacrificing quality?
Day shares a powerful anecdote from Formula One champion Jackie Stewart: “People would ask him, ‘What’s better, to go fast or go smoothly?’ And he said, ‘both… going smoothly will enable you to go faster.’”
This philosophy is central to how firms like RTS approach a GROW with SAP project. “At RTS, we don’t cut corners but leverage them,” Day states. This leveraging comes from RTS’ deep expertise in SAP’s extensibility tools. Instead of heavy customization within the ERP itself, RTS uses the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), SAP Ariba, and SAP SuccessFactors to build out required functionality.
The result is a pristine, future-proofed system. “Clean core, clean core is huge,” Day emphasizes. “When we use the extensibility concept, we maintain the clean core of ERP, which simplifies future upgrades, patches, and so on, so that they’re de-risked and they’re easier to perform.”
Ultimately, the journey to a modern ERP is about finding a partner who understands the nuances of both the software and the specific business reality. Day’s final piece of advice cuts to the heart of the matter: “At RTS, we take a business-first approach instead of a technology-first one. However, at the end of the Day, any approach must resonate with the business.”
What This Means for SAPinsiders
Master the distinction between GROW and RISE to guide effective client conversations. A core responsibility for any SAP professional is to act as a trusted advisor, which begins by positioning the right solution for the right problem. Thus, the first step in any S/4HANA Cloud discussion is to articulate the fundamental difference between the RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP methodologies. The latter is a powerful tool for two distinct markets. The first is agile small and medium businesses on legacy systems who want to avoid complex multi-step upgrades. The second is the vast universe of non-SAP customers who can now adopt a world-class ERP with a lower barrier to entry and minimal risk.
Clean Core is the very heart of a value proposition towards SAP S/4HANA migration. The most critical value an implementation partner adds in a GROW with SAP project is architecting a solution that preserves the integrity of the core ERP. For SAPinsiders, this means your expertise must extend beyond the core SAP S/4HANA application. True value is delivered by mastering the extensibility ecosystem. This provides a direct business benefit for the client.
Reframe speed as smoothness to overcome client skepticism. Operating smoothly in an SAP context means leveraging the assets that enable rapid deployment without compromising quality. SAPinsiders must build trust by explaining that speed is the result of pre-configured, templated solutions, proven experience, and IP, and using the standardized foundation of GROW as a fulcrum to accelerate the delivery of a robust, reliable solution.
