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.
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:
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.
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:
This is the core of RISE with SAP. Companies can choose between two deployment models:
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 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:
BTP allows companies to build what they need without modifying the ERP itself. That reduces upgrade risks and simplifies lifecycle management.
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.
SAP provides tools that support the system move and process optimization. These include:
These tools reduce unknowns during migration, give visibility into process inefficiencies, and help plan clean future operations.
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.
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.
SAP also offers extended service packages for customers who need more than the standard technical scope. These include:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
SAP also offers extended service packages for customers who need more than the standard technical scope. These include:
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.
Before starting any technical move, SAP recommends running tools such as SAP Readiness Check, Custom Code Analyzer, and SAP Signavio Process Insights.
This step helps set realistic timelines and avoids unexpected issues during implementation.
RISE supports both SAP Cloud ERP and SAP Cloud ERP Private. Each comes with trade-offs:
Your existing system complexity, industry requirements, and long-term goals will determine which model fits better.
RISE simplifies the contract structure, but it doesn’t replace the need for:
Decide early whether you’ll work with a partner, rely on internal resources, or expand SAP’s support scope through managed services.
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. That’s why we have built a comprehensive approach that covers every stage of transformation:
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.