Why Move to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public?
With mainstream maintenance for the legacy SAP ERP system coming to an end, organisations are facing a clear deadline to transition to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public. Moving to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public however, is about far more than meeting SAP’s support timelines.
It is an opportunity to modernise operations, streamline processes and create a more agile, data driven organisation that is ready for future growth.
Key Benefits of SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public
- Access to real-time analytics and embedded intelligence across all business functions.
- A simplified data model that reduces complexity and speeds up reporting.
- Seamless integration with cloud-based solutions, including SAP BTP and SAP Analytics Cloud.
- A future-proof platform that receives continuous innovation from SAP.
- Removal of technical debt and legacy customisations that slow down the business.
Knowing SAP as we do, Birchman recognises that most often, it is the CFO/finance Director who is the lead sponsor for an ERP solution.
They recognise the wider impact it can have on a company and how it can help organisations achieve their goals and strategies.
Our SAP Qualified Partner Package Solution has been created from inception with the sponsor in mind. Find out more in the video below:
Is Your Business Ready for SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public?
Full Transcript of the Video
Are you a CFO in a mid-size company still running a legacy SAP ERP system? Now is the perfect time to transform with SAP S/4 HANA and Rise with SAP via Birchman.
- Get actionable insights
- Grow revenues
- Be agile and competitive in a changing world
- Drive efficiencies
Birchman’s Moveworks is an SAP-qualified partner-packaged solution with software and outcome-driven services to enable you to assess the suitability of SAP S/4HANA and Rise with SAP for your organisation.
Create a digital transformation roadmap, create a business case.
Build a Business Case for SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public Migration
A strong business case is the foundation of any successful SAP migration planning process. It provides the justification for investment, secures executive sponsorship, aligns stakeholders around a common vision and establishes realistic expectations for costs, timelines, risks and business outcomes.
Beyond the technical requirement to move from legacy SAP ERP systems, a well developed business case should clearly demonstrate how SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public can deliver measurable value through improved efficiency, greater agility, enhanced user experiences and ongoing innovation.
A well structured business case for your move to SAP S/4HANA should typically cover the following areas:
|
Area |
What to address |
|---|---|
|
Strategic fit |
How the move supports your organisation’s wider growth and digital strategy. |
|
Total cost of ownership |
Licence, implementation and ongoing support costs compared to your current system. |
|
Expected benefits |
Efficiency gains, revenue opportunities and risk reduction that the project will deliver. |
|
Risk assessment |
Key risks to delivery and the mitigations you will put in place. |
|
Delivery approach |
Your preferred migration pathway, partner and high-level timeline. |
Birchman’s Moveworks Methodology for SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public Migration
When you choose to move, Moveworks will:
- Transform critical business systems and minimise risk
- Leverage intelligent technologies
- Reduce the timeline and cost of moving
- Deliver maximum business value
By partnering with Birchman, you will also benefit from Business change management, Digital transformation services and our global SAP rollout capabilities.
We provide industry-specific expertise and can provide local knowledge ‘on the ground’ through United VARS; 70+ Global SAP partners providing high-quality local SAP implementation and support in over 100 countries.
Discover how we can help you understand your options.
Find out more about SAP S/4HANA Move here: https://birchmangroup.com/s4hana-move/
SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public and RISE with SAP: What’s the Difference?
Many organisations beginning their SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public migration ask the same question: should we deploy SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public directly or use RISE with SAP?
They are not the same thing and understanding the difference matters for your SAP migration planning.
The table below explains the key distinction:
|
SAP S/4HANA (direct) |
RISE with SAP |
|
|---|---|---|
|
Deployment model |
Cloud, on-premise or hybrid |
Fully managed cloud (SAP hosts and operates) |
|
Commercial model |
Traditional licence and implementation |
Single subscription covering software, hosting and tools |
|
Best suited for |
Organisations with complex customisations or specific hosting requirements |
Mid-size organisations seeking a faster, lower-risk move to the cloud |
|
Transformation tools |
Selected separately by the customer |
Included as part of the RISE package |
Birchman’s Moveworks package is built for organisations considering RISE with SAP as their preferred path for a move to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public. Our team can help you evaluate which approach is right for your specific situation.
How can Birchman help?
At Birchman, we help customers define their digital transformation strategy and roadmaps to deliver business change and transformation.
As an SAP platinum partner, we couple our Digital Transformation expertise with industry-leading knowledge and SAP experience to drive business-wide change.
If you’re ready to transform with S/4HANA, speak to one of our digital transformation experts here: https://birchmangroup.com/contact-us/
Start Your SAP Cloud ERP Public (S/4HANA) Migration Assessment
The first step towards a successful SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public migration is understanding your current landscape, identifying opportunities for improvement and defining a clear path forward.
Birchman’s MoveWorks Assessment provides a structured, expert-led evaluation of your existing ERP solution, helping you understand your readiness for SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public and the actions required to achieve a successful transformation.
What the Assessment Covers
- Current system landscape and technical debt review.
- Business process analysis to identify gaps and improvement opportunities.
- Data quality and volume assessment to inform your migration approach.
- Customisation inventory to determine what can be retired or replaced with standard functionality.
- High level effort and cost estimate to support your business case.
Gain a Clear Roadmap for Success
By the end of the assessment, you will have a comprehensive understanding of what your move to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public involves, the value it can deliver and a practical roadmap for achieving a successful migration with confidence.
Ready to begin your SAP transformation journey?
Book your SAP migration planning session with our Birchman experts and take the first step towards a smarter, more connected business.
FAQs
Find answers to common questions about planning and delivering an SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public migration below.
Question #1: What happens if you miss the deadline to migrate from SAP ECC to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public?
Ans: SAP has committed to providing extended maintenance for ECC customers beyond the 2027 deadline but at an additional cost.
Organisations that delay will face rising maintenance fees, reduced access to innovation and growing technical risk.
Planning your SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public move now avoids that cost and gives you more control over the timeline.
Question #2: How long does a typical SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public migration assessment take?
Ans: A focused readiness assessment typically takes between two and four weeks, depending on the complexity of your current landscape.
Birchman’s Moveworks assessment is structured to deliver clear findings and a prioritised roadmap within that timeframe.
Question #3: Which departments should be involved in planning an SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public move?
Ans: SAP migration planning works best when it is a cross-functional effort.
Finance, IT, operations, supply chain, HR and senior leadership should all be represented during the assessment and design phases to ensure the solution meets business-wide needs.
Question #4: What internal resources are needed for a successful SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public project?
Ans: You will need a committed executive sponsor, a project manager and subject matter experts from each key business function.
IT resources are needed for technical integration and data migration work.
Change management resources are equally important to drive adoption and manage the transition for end users.
Question #5: How do you prioritise business processes during an SAP transformation?
Ans: Start with the processes that carry the highest business risk or the greatest opportunity for improvement.
Core finance and procurement processes are typically prioritised first due to their impact on reporting and compliance.
A process impact assessment during your SAP migration planning phase will help you build a logical sequence for the rollout.
Question #6: What data preparation is required before migrating to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public?
Ans: Data preparation is one of the most critical workstreams in any move to SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA) Public .
You will need to cleanse master data records, rationalise open transactional data and agree on data migration rules for each object.
Starting this work early significantly reduces risk and avoids delays during the final stages of the project.
