Learn what RISE with SAP includes, how it works, and why companies choose it to simplify and accelerate their move to SAP S/4HANA in the cloud.
Most ERP transformations stall before they begin, not because companies lack a strategy, but because execution is fragmented. Infrastructure decisions happen in one place, licensing in another, and support in a third. Deadlines slip. Ownership blurs.
RISE with SAP restructures this process. It consolidates infrastructure, software, and technical support under one solution. That means fewer dependencies, faster approvals, and a clearer delivery model. Instead of coordinating multiple vendors, businesses get a single accountable partner backed by standardized tools and methodologies.
In this article, we’ll break down what RISE with SAP is, how it works, and how it helps companies move to the cloud quickly and easily.
What RISE with SAP Really Is
RISE with SAP is a subscription-based offer designed to help companies move their ERP systems to the cloud and modernize their business processes along the way. SAP calls it Business Transformation as a Service. But behind the term is a very specific structure that brings together infrastructure, software, technical services, and support, all under a single contract with SAP.
The idea is simple: instead of companies handling cloud migration, system conversion, licensing, and operations separately, RISE with SAP combines them into one package. This includes:
- SAP S/4HANA Cloud, the core ERP system
- Cloud infrastructure from SAP’s partners (AWS, Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, etc.)
- SAP Business Technology Platform for extensions, integrations, and analytics
- Tools and services for system readiness checks, process insights, and lifecycle management
- SAP support and service-level agreements that cover the full scope.
RISE with SAP vs. GROW with SAP
RISE with SAP is aimed at both new and existing SAP customers. For those already running SAP ERP on-premise, it offers a path to migrate to S/4HANA in the cloud, whether private or public. For companies just starting with SAP, especially smaller ones, SAP has introduced a separate offer called GROW with SAP. Designed for businesses with less complex processes, it focuses on fast, public cloud adoption and preconfigured industry scenarios.
The key difference between them is that RISE with SAP supports larger, often more customized environments, including private cloud setups, while GROW with SAP is focused on ready-to-run solutions in the Public Cloud, where time-to-value is more important than tailoring every detail.
In short, RISE is for larger, existing SAP customers, while GROW is for new and smaller businesses.
Learn more about what makes GROW and RISE with SAP different and how to take the right path.
Core Elements of RISE with SAP and Their Features
RISE with SAP isn’t a single product — rather, it’s a customer journey supported by several components that cover ERP, cloud infrastructure, integration tools, process insights, and external collaboration. Each part plays a specific role in helping companies move to SAP S/4HANA in the cloud with fewer obstacles.
Here’s what’s included in the offer:
SAP S/4HANA Cloud (Cloud ERP)
This is the core of RISE with SAP. Companies can choose between two deployment models:
- SAP Cloud ERP Private (for more flexibility and control)
- SAP Cloud ERP (for faster adoption with standard processes).
S/4HANA Cloud provides enterprise-level ERP functionality for finance, procurement, manufacturing, sales, and other processes. This ensures real-time operations and automation, replaces the traditional ECC and simplifies the system landscape by removing outdated custom code and manual workflows.
This core component gives companies a modern, cloud-based ERP platform with embedded analytics and intelligent features like predictive accounting, demand-driven replenishment, or real-time inventory tracking.
SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP)
SAP Business Technology Platform is SAP’s development and integration layer. BTP includes tools for building custom apps, automating processes, connecting systems, and analyzing data, all while keeping the core ERP clean.
It covers:
- Application development
- Integration (SAP and third-party)
- Data and analytics
- AI and automation tools
BTP allows companies to build what they need without modifying the ERP itself. That reduces upgrade risks and simplifies lifecycle management.
SAP Business Network starter pack
This gives organizations access to a limited version of SAP’s Business Networks, including Ariba (procurement), Asset Intelligence Network, and Logistics Business Network. It allows basic collaboration with partners, suppliers, and logistics providers.
Thanks to this, companies can exchange purchase orders, delivery updates, or asset data directly with business partners, reducing emails and manual updates.
Tools and services for transformation
SAP provides tools that support the system move and process optimization. These include:
- SAP Readiness Check assesses current ERP and highlights what’s needed to move to S/4HANA
- SAP Signavio analyzes and improves business processes
- Custom code analysis tools identify non-standard code that may block clean migration
- Lifecycle management tools help manage updates, patches, and changes post-go-live.
These tools reduce unknowns during migration, give visibility into process inefficiencies, and help plan clean future operations.
Cloud infrastructure
Companies can choose to run their systems on a hyperscaler of their choice: Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud Platform (GCP), or SAP’s own infrastructure. The infrastructure is bundled into the RISE subscription, so there’s no need for separate contracts with the cloud provider.
This simplifies procurement and helps ensure the environment is set up according to SAP’s technical standards.
Technical managed services by SAP
RISE includes basic technical operations handled by SAP. This covers infrastructure-level monitoring, system backup, restore, patching, and updates. SAP is responsible for system availability and performance at the infrastructure and platform level, as defined by standard SLAs.
However, this does not include application-level monitoring, business process management, or functional support. These areas must be handled by internal teams or through additional service agreements with SAP or certified partners.
This setup reduces the burden on internal IT and ensures the environment aligns with SAP’s lifecycle and compliance standards.
What Businesses Gain With RISE
Now that we’ve covered what’s included in RISE with SAP, let’s look at what businesses actually gain from using it. The value of the offering comes not just from what’s bundled inside, but from how those components are delivered as a single service, with SAP acting as the central point of accountability.
Here are four core benefits that make RISE with SAP a practical choice for companies moving to SAP S/4HANA in the cloud.
Structured migration, shorter timelines
Companies no longer need to piece together infrastructure, licensing, services, and support on their own. RISE with SAP provides a predefined path that reduces planning and coordination effort, helping teams focus on execution.
In one case shared by SAP, Bertrandt, an engineering services company, completed their full SAP Cloud ERP Private go-live in under five months after kickoff. That wasn’t a shortcut; it was the result of fewer moving parts and a clear, bundled approach, among the other factors.
Reduced vendor complexity
One of the biggest reasons projects slow down is the involvement of too many disconnected vendors: one for cloud, another for ERP, a third for support. RISE with SAP changes this. Customers sign one contract with SAP, which covers infrastructure, software, and key services.
This doesn’t mean partners are excluded; they still play a role in configuration and consulting, but ownership of delivery is centralized. That reduces delays, miscommunication, and finger-pointing during critical stages.
Higher system availability and global standardization
Running SAP systems across multiple infrastructures and regions often creates bottlenecks, downtime, and inconsistencies. RISE with SAP offers a unified environment with guaranteed service-level agreements managed by SAP.
Nestlé used RISE during its migration to S/4HANA. They reported a system availability increase to 99.97% after simplifying its global IT landscape — a result directly linked to moving away from fragmented infrastructure.
Process transparency and continuous improvement
Tools that are included, like SAP Signavio and SAP Readiness Check, give companies deep visibility into their current business processes and how those processes can be improved. This allows for cleaner transformations instead of copying old inefficiencies into a new system.
Companies can use real process data to redesign operations based on industry benchmarks, user behavior, and system usage patterns.
How to Begin Your RISE with SAP Journey
RISE with SAP simplifies many things, such as licensing, infrastructure, and support by bundling them under one contract. But that doesn’t mean it’s a plug-and-play solution. Companies still need to plan their move carefully, define responsibilities, and choose the right approach based on their existing systems, business needs, and internal capacity.
Here’s what you need to know before starting a RISE with SAP project.
1. Understand what’s included by default
Every RISE with SAP contract includes:
- SAP Cloud ERP / SAP Cloud ERP Private
- Infrastructure from a certified hyperscaler (e.g., AWS, Azure, Google Cloud)
- SAP Business Technology Platform (limited usage rights for development, integration, and analytics)
- SAP Business Network Starter Pack (basic access to Ariba, Asset Intelligence, and Logistics Business Networks)
- Tools and services for assessment and transformation (like SAP Readiness Check and SAP Signavio Process Insights)
- Standard technical support and system operation managed by SAP
This forms the foundation. Everything else, from implementation to advanced support and change management, is either handled by your internal team or through partners and additional service agreements. SAP also offers optional service packages like Enterprise Cloud Services or MaxAttention, but these are contracted separately.
2. Additional support and services
SAP also offers extended service packages for customers who need more than the standard technical scope. These include:
- Proactive application and performance monitoring
- Application lifecycle management and optimization
- Dedicated service delivery teams
- Upgraded SLAs and personalized support models
These services are typically delivered through SAP Enterprise Cloud Services (ECS) or certified SAP partners and must be contracted separately, as they are not part of the default RISE offering.
3. Run readiness checks and assess your system landscape
Before starting any technical move, SAP recommends running tools like:
- SAP Readiness Check to evaluate your existing system and identify gaps
- Custom Code Analyzer to flag modifications that may block migration
- SAP Signavio Process Insights to analyze current workflows and identify areas for improvement
This step helps set realistic timelines and avoids unexpected issues during implementation.
4. Choose your deployment option early
RISE supports both SAP Cloud ERP and SAP Cloud ERP Private. Each comes with trade-offs:
- SAP Cloud ERP: faster to deploy, based on standard processes, limited customization
- SAP Cloud ERP Private: more flexible, supports legacy custom code, suitable for complex businesses
Your existing system complexity, industry requirements, and long-term goals will determine which model fits better.
5. Define project roles and responsibilities
RISE simplifies the contract structure, but it doesn’t replace the need for:
- Implementation consultants
- Change management and user training
- Integration with non-SAP systems
- Support for business process redesign
Decide early whether you’ll work with a partner, rely on internal resources, or expand SAP’s support scope through managed services.
RISE with LeverX 一 a Certified SAP Partner
At LeverX, we’ve helped companies move to SAP S/4HANA using the RISE with SAP model, from mid-sized manufacturers to global enterprises with complex system landscapes. As a certified SAP partner, we bring both technical expertise and project experience to every stage of the transformation.
We don’t treat RISE as a theoretical framework. We’ve implemented it. We’ve managed projects where infrastructure, licensing, extensions, and cloud integration all had to align under tight deadlines. We’ve seen where things go wrong, and we’ve developed time-tested strategies to prevent common pitfalls, inconsistent business readiness, or underestimated migration complexity.
So, when you RISE with LeverX, you’re not just implementing software; you’re executing a transformation with a team that’s done it before. Book a free consultation to learn how we can help you.
