SAP S/4 HANA RISE or GROW? Navigating SAP’s ERP Offerings

SAP offers two distinct paths for adopting S/4HANA, its next-generation ERP suite: the RISE program and the GROW program. Each path caters to different business needs and transformation strategies.

The RISE Program: Elevating to a Private Cloud

RISE with SAP represents a comprehensive service that propels businesses into a private cloud environment. This fully managed service allows customers to select their preferred hyper-scaler while SAP oversees the infrastructure. It’s a tailored solution that offers the flexibility to choose a consulting partner for implementation, ensuring that the transition to S/4HANA is smooth and aligned with the company’s unique requirements.

Key Aspects of RISE:

• Managed Service: SAP handles the infrastructure, offering peace of mind and expertise.
• Hyper-Scaler Choice: Freedom to choose the infrastructure provider that best fits the business needs.
• Consulting Partner Selection: Ability to select a consulting partner that understands the company’s vision and goals.

The GROW Program: Thriving in the Public Cloud

On the other side of the spectrum is the GROW program, SAP’s offering for S/4HANA public cloud. Delivered as a true Software as a Service (SaaS) solution, it enables customers to leverage the agility and scalability of the public cloud. Whether launching a core ERP solution or deploying new scenarios as a sidecar to an existing on-premises or RISE ERP, GROW offers rapid deployment and expansion capabilities.

Key Aspects of GROW:

• SaaS Solution: A true cloud experience with all the benefits of SaaS.
• Flexibility: Ideal for quickly deploying new scenarios or expanding to new regions.
• Sidecar Option: Complements existing ERP solutions, providing additional agility.

Tailoring the Approach

It’s important to note that the choice between RISE and GROW is not one-size-fits-all. Each customer’s situation is unique, and the decision should be personalized based on specific business needs, existing infrastructure, and strategic goals.

When it comes to service transformation, the functionality offered by both the public and private cloud options is largely the same. Existing SAP ECC customers eager to adopt the new capabilities of Service Cloud, Field Service Management (FSM), and S/4HANA Service can choose either path

based on their position in the S/4HANA transformation journey and the urgency to modernize services.

Questions to start the decision process on GROW vs. RISE

Even before starting a detailed analysis of the functionality in S/4HANA itself, these checks can already help to understand key aspects when to choose which solution:

• GROW is designed for customers wanting to move towards standardized processes while leveraging the latest innovations from SAP through regular updates. GROW is always a greenfield implementation.
• RISE was developed for customers requiring a higher degree of customization and requiring more control over their solution. RISE allows for a brownfield implementation approach.
• For regulated industries, such as pharma or life science, RISE is typically the only option where the speed of innovations and updates can be controlled by the customer.
• If GROW is a valid option, it is important to check for which industries GROW is available, if an industry-specific functionality is required or desired. The list of industries available for GROW can be found at https://www.sap.com/products/erp/grow/industry.html

Finally, when looking for a specific functionality, it is important to compare the feature scope descriptions of SAP S/4HANA Cloud public edition and private edition, as there are some differences. For a more detailed analysis, SAP offers a tool called Digital Discovery Assessment, which guides the user through a set of questions to match the customer's requirements with the best-fit SAP S/4HANA Cloud solution. This assessment also serves as a starting point for the implementation partner.

Case Scenario: A Strategic Move

Imagine a company operating on SAP ECC with plans to transition to S/4HANA in three years. They are intent on migrating from SAP CRM on-premises to SAP Service Cloud and FSM while also capitalizing on the new features of S/4HANA Service. However, waiting three years is not an option. In this scenario, the company could opt for the S/4HANA Public cloud as a sidecar to their existing SAP ECC. This approach allows them to implement Service Cloud and FSM, connect to the S/4HANA Service sidecar solution, and maintain communication with SAP ECC for financial and other essential data.

Making the Informed Choice

The decision between RISE and GROW hinges on a strategic evaluation of the company’s current state and future aspirations. Whether seeking a managed private cloud experience or the flexibility of a public cloud, SAP’s offerings provide a foundation for growth and innovation. As businesses consider their service transformation, understanding the nuances of each program will be crucial in making an informed choice that aligns with their transformation journey. VASS experts can help you assess which model is right for your business needs. Contact us to set up a no obligation discussion on the merits of RISE vs. GROW for your service transformation.