Nondisruptive SAP ERP modernization on IBM Power
SAP ECC is an ERP solution that has operated the core business of numerous global companies for over 20 years. SAP launched its next-generation ERP, S/4HANA, in 2015 and announced plans to stop supporting ECC by 2027, but more than 60% of customers have not yet begun the transition to S/4HANA.One. The main reason for this hesitation is the complexity and cost of migrating to a new ERP platform. With ECC driving mission-critical processes, companies cannot afford to disrupt their day-to-day operations. SAP’s approach to simplify this starting in 2021 has been to create a SaaS-based solution for S/4HANA, with a single agreement called RISE with SAP that includes the software, infrastructure and services for migrating to S/4HANA. SAPinsider’s RISE with SAP 2023 report found that a single contract that enables cost-effective moves is a key benefit.2.
With the 2027 deadline to transition to S/4HANA approaching, now is the time for companies to begin executing a modernization strategy that takes into account priorities, the environment, and the ROI of innovation. As with most enterprise IT modernization programs, there is no one solution fits all. Depending on your current ERP environment, moving to S/4HANA may require modernizing your stack from applications to databases to infrastructure. The key to determining the most non-disruptive approach is to identify what needs to change and what to keep in your architecture, considering the short- and long-term benefits.
SAP offers both cloud and on-premises deployment options for S/4HANA. However, SAP has announced that all of its latest innovations related to generative AI and sustainability capabilities will only be available in the cloud version of S/4HANA, available only through the RISE offering. This also means that any S/4HANA you deploy to the cloud other than through RISE is S/4HANA AnyPremise. That is, rather than an on-premises license hosted in the cloud. S/4HANA Cloud. If your business wants to move to S/4HANA Cloud, host S/4HANA AnyPremise in the cloud, or continue to run SAP workloads in an on-premises environment, IBM® It offers the flexibility and choice of hybrid cloud options and is the only IaaS provider to offer SAP-certified instances on Power and Intel x86 architectures.three.
SAP ERP Modernization on Power Servers
More than 4,800 customers worldwide have chosen to run their mission-critical SAP HANA environments on IBM Power servers. Running on IBM Power AIX, IBM i, and Linux environments, SAP ERP workloads can be deployed on-premises or in the cloud for production, DR, test, and development use cases. Tom McPherson, General Manager, IBM Power, said: “Clients can build a long-term hybrid cloud strategy, leveraging the benefits of the cloud while also fostering an on-premises SAP on Power environment.” Power’s SAP-certified hybrid cloud deployment options for customers moving to S/4HANA include:
Scroll to see the full table.
As a premium provider for RISE with SAP, IBM is the only SAP partner offering cloud infrastructure and consulting services.4. Simplify your customers’ transition to S/4HANA by combining IBM Power Virtual Server on IBM Cloud with advisory, implementation, application, security and technology management services.
IBM’s ManagePlus control plane, included as standard in RISE premium vendor offerings, has the flexibility to provide managed services for RISE through SAP and supported non-RISE applications. This allows IBM to manage end-to-end workflows that include SAP and supported non-SAP applications. It also allows customers to innovate at their own pace by lifting and shifting their existing SAP environment to a RISE-enabled cloud environment.
Building on a 50-year partnership with SAP, IBM combines SAP-enabled transformation expertise with IBM consulting and enterprise-grade cloud platform capabilities to help accelerate clients’ ERP modernization journey. With RISE, we will work with you to build and support a non-disruptive, cost-effective execution strategy for your S/4HANA transformation.
If you’d like to learn more, join the webinar “Nondisruptive Modernization of SAP Workloads Running on AIX, IBM i, and Linux Environments.” Here we cover:
- Cloud modernization options for SAP ERP on AIX, IBM i, and Linux on Power
- Important considerations while evaluating these options
- How to get started
Join the IBM TechXchange Webinar on March 6, 2024
1 https://www.theregister.com/2023/10/11/sap_ecc_migration_s4hana/
2 https://sapinsider.org/research-reports/rise-with-sap-2023/
3 List of Certified IaaS Platforms for SAP HANA
4 https://newsroom.ibm.com/2022-02-10-IBM-and-SAP-Strengthen-Partnership-to-Help-Clients-Move-Workloads-from-SAP-R-Solutions-to-the-Cloud, Find an IBM on SAP Partner
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