Understanding The Value of RISE with SAP

What You’ll Learn

• The key components and benefits of the RISE with SAP offering.
• How RISE with SAP simplifies the ERP migration and business transformation process.
• The stages involved in the SAP RISE implementation.
• Who should consider using RISE with SAP for their business needs.
• How Panaya supports and accelerates SAP S/4HANA conversions.

What Is RISE With SAP?

RISE with SAP, first introduced in January 2021, is a comprehensive offering designed to help current SAP ERP customers accelerate their transition to a cloud-based business suite. The package includes software and infrastructure managed by SAP in a unique licensing and services model. The bundled and optional applications are available in a private or public cloud, ensuring a digital transformation that’s suited to each customer’s needs.

2025 saw significant updates to the RISE offering, including a global menu of bundled and unbundled components, and a rebranding of the private edition of RISE with SAP as SAP Cloud ERP Private. The private cloud version of the S/4HANA suite at the heart of RISE with SAP now includes components like SAP Taulia solutions, and the SAP Business Network Supplier Portal to enhance financial and supply chain efficiency. SAP BTP serves as the central platform for AI-driven integration, automation, custom development, and intelligent decision-making across the offering, as AI and machine learning have become core to SAP’s architecture. This reinforces a strategy intended to keep the S/4HANA core clean, which simplifies system upgrades and aligns with rapid innovation cycles. Optional add-ons include previously bundled tools like SAP Datasphere, SAP Joule, and sustainability apps.

Transformation tools and expert services included in the RISE with SAP 2025 package – such as SAP LeanIX and SAP Signavio – help accelerate time to value, streamline business processes, and shape future-ready architecture. Integrated security follows a Zero Trust model with automated patches, encryption, and centralized governance to reduce IT burden and enhance protection. With SAP Master Data Governance bundled in the offering, a single source of truth is maintained, data quality improves, and long-term extensibility is supported.

SAP presents RISE as “business transformation as a service,” rather than a new product offering, in an effort to encourage organizations to engage with them through a service-based model and to drive greater adoption of their flagship S/4HANA ERP platform. In addition, the latest RISE with SAP package extends the 2027 end-of-support deadline for ECC to 2030 and beyond, which can be another key driver for migration. While much has been written about RISE with SAP since its introduction, new questions are arising in response to its latest structural, branding and technological changes. So, let’s dive into the 2025 evolution of RISE with SAP and get a better understanding of its true business value.

What Is The SAP RISE Offer In 2025?

The RISE with SAP offering centers on providing customers with a performant ERP platform, S/4HANA, whose capabilities encourage process innovation, digital transformation, and business agility. It includes a subscription-based licensing model that combines ERP products, third-party hosting, and other services. As of 2025, the new commercial RISE package provides a more modular, itemized SKU framework, replacing the previous RISE tiers (Base, Premium, Premium Plus) with a global menu of bundled and unbundled components. Each component (hosting, support, modules) is treated as a separate SKU, with its own price and configuration.

RISE with SAP centralizes licensing and points of contact across all involved vendors, removing a lot of complexity and piecemeal licensing challenges. This ‘simplification’ makes technical support, SLAs, project planning, and cost forecasting much more manageable to enterprises trying to quantify the cost of moving to SAP S/4HANA.

In short, SAP RISE helps companies get started with SAP S/4HANA, accelerating their cloud adoption journey and transformation into an “intelligent enterprise.”

What Are The SAP RISE Components In 2025?

The SAP Cloud ERP Private package, the evolution of the previous RISE Premium tier, bundles an enriched set of components designed for comprehensive business transformation.

1. SAP S/4HANA Cloud Suite

The core of RISE with SAP remains the S/4HANA Cloud Edition (Public or Private). This allows customers to run SAP’s ERP platform in an SAP data center or with a third-party “hyperscaler” of choice (AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, etc.). The underlying HANA database platform continues to provide real-time business statistics and analytics, now further empowered by embedded AI for predictive insights.

• Private Cloud Edition: Similar to SAP S/4HANA on-premises running in a third-party data center (private cloud). It’s a single-tenant environment offering optimal physical and network security, monitoring, operational SLAs, and full customization capabilities. SAP manages the infrastructure (even with a hyperscaler), while customers control upgrade schedules. Current SAP ECC customers moving to PCE can adopt Brownfield, Greenfield, or hybrid migration strategies.
• Public Cloud Edition: SAP’s multi-tenant cloud ERP offering, running exclusively in SAP’s data center. It’s scalable, efficient, and affordable but offers minimal customization. Customers migrating from SAP ECC to the Public Cloud Edition will typically need to redesign business processes to conform to SAP’s standards and best practices.

2. SAP Business Network Starter Pack

This pack extends the core ERP, providing credits for access to the SAP Business Network, including solutions like ARIBA, Fieldglass, Concur, and the Supplier Portal. It’s designed to foster a more unified, collaborative, and intelligent aggregation of core business processes, delivering:

• A network of partners for diverse business needs.
• Network-wide process orchestration for enhanced collaboration with suppliers, carriers, and customers.
• A single platform to connect with SAP and third-party networks, crucial for modern supply chain and procurement efficiency.

3. SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and AI Capabilities

SAP BTP continues to be pivotal for coherent access to the portfolio of SAP products, services, and solutions. In 2025, BTP is increasingly the central hub for SAP development and integration, with a strong emphasis on AI and machine learning. Key ERP capabilities available through SAP BTP are:

• Database and data management: This includes comprehensive tools to store, access, process, integrate, and interpret data, including SAP HANA Cloud for powerful in-memory databases.
• Analytics: Products like SAP Analytics Cloud enable sophisticated planning, forecasting, and informed decision-making, leveraging machine learning for aggregated data analysis and intelligent planning.
• Application development and integration: Customers can extend current applications with customization accelerators that support agile innovation and integrate with various systems. The focus for 2025 and going forward is on “clean core” strategies, in which custom developments reside on the BTP rather than directly modifying the S/4HANA core.
• Intelligent automation: This capability has advanced significantly with developments in AI, machine learning, robotic process automation (RPA), and IoT support. SAP Intelligent RPA automates repetitive tasks, while embedded AI assists in areas like invoice matching and demand forecasting within S/4HANA. While the built-in AI assistant Joule is no longer bundled by default, its capabilities can be optionally integrated via BTP.

RISE with SAP provides cloud credits for services under the BTP umbrella.

4. Business Process Intelligence Starter Pack (SAP Signavio)

The SAP Signavio Business Process Transformation Starter Pack remains a crucial bundle within RISE, providing access to solutions that drive process-led transformations:

• Signavio Process Insights: Offers insights into critical business process metrics, performance, and industry benchmarks.
• SAP Signavio Process Manager: A comprehensive cloud-based modeling platform for driving and de-risking projects.
• SAP Signavio Process Collaboration Hub: Enhances communication, collaboration, and knowledge sharing to optimize processes and foster continuous improvement.

5. Tools and Services for Technical Migration

SAP provides technical tools and services to facilitate a smooth migration to S/4HANA. These include custom code analysis utilities that identify components needing migration or remediation due to S/4HANA platform changes (e.g., deprecated T-codes, incompatible SQL syntax). These embedded tools are particularly valuable for those opting for the RISE Private Cloud Edition, supporting various migration strategies.

Stages Of A RISE With SAP Implementation

RISE with SAP is designed as a comprehensive business transformation package. While specific steps vary, a typical implementation journey includes:

Discovery and Planning

• Initial Assessment: Understanding current SAP systems, processes, and business priorities.
• Scope Definition: Clearly defining focus areas (finance, HR, supply chain, sustainability, etc.).
• Project Planning: Setting realistic timelines, allocating resources, and defining budget.

Implementation

• SAP Environment Setup: Provisioning the necessary cloud infrastructure, whether with SAP or a hyperscaler.
• Data Migration: Moving existing data to the new S/4HANA system.
• Configuration: Customizing SAP settings to align with specific business needs.
• Integration: Connecting other systems and services, leveraging SAP BTP for seamless data exchange across hybrid and multi-cloud environments.

Testing

• User Acceptance Testing (UAT): Ensuring the system meets user and business requirements.
• Performance Testing: Verifying system capacity under expected loads.
• Security Testing: Ensuring data and processes adhere to the latest security standards, such as incorporating Zero Trust principles.

Deployment

• Training: Comprehensive training for end-users on the new SAP system.
• Go-Live: Launching the system for production use.
• Monitoring: Continuous tracking of system performance, user adoption, and compliance.

Optimization and Scale

• Feedback Loop: Gathering user feedback for ongoing improvement and iterative adjustments.
• Updates and Patches: Regularly applying system updates for new features and security patches, many of which are automated by SAP.
• Scale: Expanding the SAP solution to other parts of the business or integrating new functionalities, including advanced AI and sustainability modules.

Ongoing Support

• Maintenance: Regular checks and proactive maintenance activities managed by SAP or partners.
• Consultation: Ongoing engagement with SAP experts or system integrators for best practices and optimizations.

Does RISE With SAP Include S/4HANA Conversion Services?

No. While RISE with SAP provides the bundled software, infrastructure, and some technical tools, customers are still responsible for the actual migration of their data and functionality into the target SAP S/4HANA environment.

Customers can choose to manage this complex initiative internally or engage with experienced Systems Integrators (SIs) to assist. They can opt for Brownfield (conversion of existing system), Greenfield (new implementation), or hybrid methodologies, each with distinct considerations. Many Tier I and Tier II SIs offer specialized services that complement and add significant value to a RISE with SAP program.

Who Should Consider RISE With SAP In 2025?

Customers interested in transitioning to a more flexible, subscription-based licensing model should consider the RISE with SAP offering. As they move away from traditional CapEx to OpEx for ERP, they will also be able to optimize their business processes with the agility and efficiency of cloud-hosted operations. This includes accelerating cloud adoption and S/4HANA migration, which is especially critical with the approach of ECC end-of-support in 2027.

RISE with SAP is also particularly compelling in 2025 for customers seeking to increase innovation and operational efficiency. Intelligent technologies such as AI, machine learning, and process automation capabilities are directly integrated into S/4HANA and BTP, at the heart of the RISE package.

For businesses seeking an all-inclusive ERP transformation that leverages cloud agility and machine intelligence, RISE with SAP is ideal. It enables integration and data sharing among hybrid cloud environments and edge applications, supporting complex, distributed landscapes. It also facilitates continuous updates, reduces the internal IT burden, enhances security, and improves sustainability reporting and management across the supply chain.

Is RISE With SAP Mandatory For S/4HANA Adoption?

No, using RISE with SAP is not mandatory for companies moving to the SAP S/4HANA platform. Organizations still have the option to implement S/4HANA on-premises or manage their own S/4HANA cloud hosting with a hyperscaler. However, SAP’s strategic direction strongly favors the RISE offering, often bundling new features, particularly those related to AI and advanced functionalities, within the RISE cloud subscription models.

How Panaya Accelerates Your SAP S/4HANA Conversion

Even with RISE with SAP, the S/4HANA conversion remains a significant undertaking. Panaya plays a crucial role in helping companies accelerate and de-risk these complex initiatives. Through its broad change analysis capabilities, Panaya provides invaluable, proactive intelligence regarding technical and functional risk factors.

Customers gain foresight into:

• Custom and standard components that may not function in their target S/4HANA environment.
• Critical business functions requiring reengineering.

Panaya’s analyses identify risk factors often missed by other toolsets, offering strategic intelligence for more effective conversion planning. It safely down-scopes project risk based on component usage and likelihood of failure, often reducing remediation efforts by more than 50%.

For those choosing the Brownfield approach, Panaya offers:

• A pre-built project plan with correction and unit test tasks.
• Auto-code corrections to further accelerate projects.
• A test and defect management platform, fully integrated within its Change Intelligence offering, which reduces testing efforts by at least 50% and significantly contributes to an error-free go-live.

Key Takeaways For 2025

• RISE with SAP has evolved into a comprehensive, heavily integrated model (the SAP Cloud ERP Private package) for transition to a cloud-based business suite.   
• RISE with SAP includes an expanded, more modular set of bundled components and services, including SAP S/4HANA, SAP Business Network, SAP BTP, migration tools, and more. 
• RISE centralizes subscription-based licensing, significantly simplifying ERP migration and alleviating IT burdens.  
• AI and sustainability are embedded and central to SAP’s cloud offerings in 2025.  
• Panaya remains a critical partner for de-risking and expediting all SAP S/4HANA conversions. 
• RISE with SAP is ideal for businesses prioritizing agility, efficiency, innovation, and robust security in their ERP systems.

Final Thoughts

RISE with SAP represents a compelling option for organizations looking to move to SAP S/4HANA in a cloud-first world. It encompasses a broad range of software, Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), and Cloud Managed Services (CMS) in a unified, subscription-based licensing model, including hyperscaler SLAs. With its increased focus on bundling key tools like SAP LeanIX and its deep integration of AI and sustainability capabilities, RISE with SAP aims to simplify and accelerate complex transformations.

For those seeking a streamlined, managed, and innovation-driven path to the intelligent enterprise, RISE with SAP offers a robust framework. However, companies are advised to also consider the long-term implications and potential cost structures associated with the updated bundling and consumption-based AI pricing.

Frequently Asked Questions