S/4HANA or RISE with SAP
Which is the right choice for you?
As the 2027 deadline approaches, SAP customers face a pivotal decision: move directly to S/4HANA or transition through RISE with SAP. The choice shapes everything – from infrastructure control to business transformation potential.
In the Whitepaper, “S/4HANA or RISE with SAP: Which is the right choice for you?”, Avantra breaks down both approaches, clarifying what each option offers, how they differ, and what organizations need to consider in order to migrate with confidence.
Key Learnings and Challenges Explored
The Whitepaper reveals the real implications of selecting between S/4HANA and RISE with SAP – highlighting the strategic and operational differences leaders must evaluate:
- S/4HANA migration urgency: With ECC support ending December 31, 2027, customers face a complex 2–3 year migration timeline requiring significant planning.
- Control vs. complexity: S/4HANA offers strong control over the environment but requires additional subscriptions and services for full transformation capabilities.
- RISE with SAP’s bundled model: While RISE offers a holistic “business transformation as a service” package, its single contract doesn’t include all operational responsibilities across hybrid landscapes.
- Public vs. Private confusion: The public cloud edition is fully SAP-managed with limited customization, while the private cloud edition supports hyperscaler choice and greater flexibility – contrary to common assumptions.
- Limited visibility in hybrid ecosystems: Organizations with third-party systems and non-SAP applications still face transparency and observability gaps even after adopting RISE with SAP.
These complexities make it essential to evaluate the long-term operational impact – not just the licensing model – before choosing a path.
Key Solutions and Strategic Insights
Avantra’s Whitepaper outlines how enterprises can make the most of either option – S/4HANA on its own or RISE with SAP and ensure a smooth, efficient transition to the future of SAP. With Avantra, organizations gain:
- Support for S/4HANA migration: Observability, automation, testing, and audit tracking streamline planning and implementation, even across complex landscapes.
- Native integration with RISE: The Avantra Cloud Edition provides full visibility across hybrid environments, including on-prem, non-SAP, and third-party applications.
- Over 100 automated maintenance services not included in RISE contracts, covering batch jobs, upload times, short dumps, client settings, and more.
- Enhanced AIOps capabilities for intelligent automation, hyperautomation, and continuous operational improvement.
- Multi-tenant support for MSPs, empowering providers to oversee all customer landscapes from a single panel.
Whether you choose S/4HANA or RISE with SAP, Avantra helps you maximize value, reduce complexity, and maintain full operational control.
