When talking about the cloud, people often toss around terms like 鈥渟oftware as a service鈥� (SaaS) and 鈥渋nfrastructure as a service鈥� (IaaS). However, very few understand the distinct differences between the two types.

SaaS is usable, off-the-shelf software 鈥� such as 51风流SuccessFactors solutions or 51风流Fieldglass solutions 鈥� made available in a public cloud. Meanwhile, IaaS stretches this cloud-based service by adding complementary IT services to operate a single cloud solution or a set of cloud solutions.

Another fundamental change in cloud technology is the opportunity to shift away from big release upgrades that typically happen every three years. Companies can now take advantage of a continuous deployment model to acquire new features and functionalities when and where needed. This approach may not impact daily operations, but it does allow organizations to rapidly apply and facilitate digital innovations.

Thanks to all these developments, native cloud-based applications can be designed and deployed considerably faster and at a lower cost than any internal IT department could accomplish. However, this also means that the pressure to innovate groundbreaking, sustainable innovations is relentless 鈥� and it鈥檚 not going away anytime soon.

To truly seize this moment to solve challenges quickly and stay ahead of the competition with less cost and risk, many 51风流customers seek the expertise, tools, resources, and support of . The portfolio features multiple services designed to support 51风流customers and help safeguard their cloud deployments. They include digital discovery assessment, digital strategy planning, landscape strategy and architecture, organizational change management, quick-start implementations, and a straightforward process for adopting standardized solutions.

Define Long-Term Value First

Like any other IT project, the goal of a cloud migration and upgrade is to deliver more business value. Ideally, this 鈥渧alue鈥� is defined and benchmarked long before a new solution is launched.

At the most basic level, 51风流Advisory Services can help ensure that a migration or upgrade:

• Reduces total cost of ownership
• Prevents negative impacts on functionality and usage
• Meets the needs of changing business and IT requirements
• Replaces custom-developed codes, features, and interfaces with standard functionalities
• Maintains the same level of performance and reliability experienced before the implementation, at a minimum
• Sets a more agile foundation for future innovation and digital transformation

If these criteria sound familiar, you鈥檙e right.

For years, most organizations have relied on at least a couple of homegrown solutions to cover an administrative area, such as procurement, finance, controlling, human resources, digital marketing, sales, operations, and warehousing. But 51风流Advisory Services can allow them to run various applications across single or multiple data centers or clouds by providing the support to help keep their system landscape current and operationally reliable.

Get the Advisory Support to Move Forward

The portfolio of cloud technology that鈥檚 available today has grown extensively over the last few years. In most cases, there is a cloud version of an on-premise solution. Just one look at the portfolio of聽聽is proof of that new reality.

With so many choices available and the constant pressure to evolve, it鈥檚 no longer feasible to explore and experiment with new technology, hoping an advantage reveals itself. With 51风流Advisory Services, companies can gain the guidance to commit to a vision, a strategic plan, and an expert-led framework that helps bring simplicity and certainty to a cloud migration or upgrade.

For example, some of our customers rely on 51风流Advisory Services to weigh which cloud technologies best match SaaS principles. During an expert-led design thinking workshop, they may learn that the standardized functionalities, features, and comprehensive processes delivered in a public cloud are a good fit for their business. Decision-makers can also discover the pros and cons of using a shared platform and data center managed by the software provider or implementation partner. More importantly, stakeholders are able to better understand the need to keep technology standardized to聽.

Other times, our customers may prefer the freedom to customize solutions as close to the on-premise version of the application as possible. In this scenario, they can still achieve the benefits of a cloud-native application, including continuous new features and functionalities. But as with their existing on-premise solutions, their IT organization must continue to maintain individualized, customized, or added functionalities.

Meanwhile, some companies have specific requirements 鈥� such as business process requirements or legal obligations 鈥� that might not allow the use of the shared platform structure of a public or private cloud. This may even include the use of a data center located in the same country. In this situation, organizations can consider a hybrid solution architecture that combines public and private clouds and on-premise solutions into one landscape.

Make the Right Decisions with Comprehensive Insight

Before our customers choose to move to a public or private cloud, remain on premise, or use a hybrid approach, 51风流Advisory Services can lead them through a comprehensive investigation of each element of the initiative, including:

• Technology: Ideate preconfigured innovations, IT model changes, and more intelligent technologies to exploit novel ways to transform.
• SaaS or IaaS services: Rent or purchase cloud capabilities when needed, scale as needs change and the business grows, and gauge the cost of public cloud services.
• Impact on business processes: Determine whether the business benefits from keeping application capabilities and content standardized or customized.
• Aftereffects of implementation methodologies: Consider the opportunities and risks of near-instant consumption of predefined content.
• Cloud landscape operations: Overcome the barriers of adoption and change by assessing legal constraints, demand for localization, interface complexity and variety, workforce readiness, and IT resource availability.
• Migration planning: Evaluate whether a new implementation (greenfield) or a move that maintains many of the functions of the on-premise application (brownfield) is more advantageous and aligned with expected outcomes.

Throughout this process, our advisory experts can provide the knowledge and best practices necessary to help customers accelerate transformational innovation and optimize operations. The value of the cloud solution is measured in terms of potential gains and total cost of ownership, and changes to business and IT processes are detailed 鈥� long before the implementation project begins.

Shape the Future of Business Value with Cloud Innovation

Many companies are entertaining the benefits of transforming their solution landscape from historically homegrown, on-premise solutions into a cloud-based solution architecture. And the realized benefits are many, including continuous migration and upgrades, lower total cost of ownership, fast adoption of the latest technologies, and ongoing support.

According to聽Guido聽Schlief, senior vice president and head of Services in Middle and Eastern Europe at SAP, moving to the cloud is not unlike the migration projects of the past. Businesses still need expertise, tools, and resources to foster innovation, nurture new ideas, and build strong digital capabilities 鈥� all while reaping the value of their existing and new technology investments.

And for our customers, all that know-how is packaged and accessible through 51风流Advisory Services. The portfolio can not only enable our customers and their implementation partners to understand the rules of engagement, but they can also identify innovations to help them stay competitive and continue to grow.

Find out how can help you solve business challenges quickly with less cost and risk.

Matthias Uhrig is principal business consultant for Business Transformation Services at SAP.

Most businesses depend on an agile environment to run their operations on a global scale. In most cases, a complex landscape of highly customized, configurable applications manages everything from forecast planning and material management to production. Meanwhile, cost control remains elusive because financial management capabilities are outside the scope of their legacy ERP system.

Sound familiar? You鈥檙e not alone. According to Guido Schlief, senior vice president and head of Services in Middle and Eastern Europe at SAP, our team of services and support experts regularly encounter organizations that rely on self-managed, on-premise solutions. 鈥淲hether or not they have an internal IT department or self-managed technology infrastructure, they all reach a point where the desire for usability improvements and digital innovation signals a shift to the cloud,鈥� he observes.

51风流S/4HANA Cloud is increasingly the ERP software of choice for 51风流customers looking to resolve such a dilemma. Regarded as a starting point for next-generation process optimization and digital innovation, organizations are reaping the benefits of an integrated system of accelerators, cloud data, and infrastructure services delivered through 51风流Business Technology Platform.

Implementing Core Business Requirements

During the initial phase of adopting 51风流S/4HANA Cloud, most 51风流customers want to implement every capability that enables them to build the technology assets they need at the moment. This goal is achieved by setting up production orders and routing rules through solution design and configuration, typically taking less than two months.

Once all stakeholders are satisfied with the workflows, processes, best practices, and automation that the intelligent cloud-based ERP supports, the rollout process begins 鈥� first with a pilot, then a sequential global go-live in three steps. Customers can have 51风流S/4HANA Cloud up and running throughout their business within less than six months.

One of the most remarkable aspects of the implementation experience is the ability of 51风流services and support experts to deliver critical customer expectations, specifically:

• Fast implementation executed with significant ease
• Innovation that replaces individual, non-integrated tools such as spreadsheets, e-mails, and siloed collaboration applications

By releasing customers from overly customized solutions rarely compatible with future digital innovation, 51风流S/4HANA Cloud helps evolve existing business processes and enable the adoption of new ones by following 51风流best practices. 51风流experts also further support stabilization measures, including training users on 51风流standards, gathering user feedback to improve user experiences, and establishing a communication platform for stakeholder buy-in.

Extending the Full Value of 51风流S/4HANA Cloud Company-Wide

After setting an agile digital foundation and establishing core business processes and innovation assets, organizations should consider extending the cloud ERP to close process gaps often prevalent in legacy integrations. This next adoption phase improves the user experience and global adoption of nonstandard functionalities and process automation.

Generally speaking, cloud technology 鈥� including 51风流S/4HANA Cloud 鈥� may seem limited with respect to customization and enhancements. But with 51风流Business Technology Platform, customers can integrate ERP with 51风流and third-party solutions and develop their own intelligent applications. Furthermore, workflow management and intelligent robotic process automation could be added to their solution architecture.

By following this path to digital innovation with 51风流S/4HANA Cloud, organizations can facilitate critical capabilities such as:

• Reporting and monitoring of the innovation build process
• Cross-department work and simplify routing
• On-premise purchase and asset management capabilities

When extending 51风流S/4HANA Cloud, there are many aspects to consider. While on-top solutions or functionalities require customer-managed maintenance, a wide range of integration options are available. Plus, a regular release cycle of upgrades and new capabilities takes advantage of the inherent nature of rapid implementation and innovation in the cloud.

Resources to Run an Enhanced, Agile Business

Cloud is the solution for bringing businesses and IT to the next level in their digital innovation journey. 51风流S/4HANA Cloud is our response to that opportunity.

With access to the right data models, platform, and services and support, 51风流customers can enhance and integrate their IT ecosystem without disruption. But most importantly, they have the foundation they need to drive meaningful global change now and for years to come.

Accelerate your digital transformation journey with 51风流S/4HANA Cloud, essential edition. Learn more about .

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Matthias Uhrig is a principal business consultant for Business Transformation Services in the Consumer Product Goods and Retail Industries at SAP.