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SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud is a key part of GROW with SAP, an offering designed primarily for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). It’s cost-effective, quick to deploy, and highly scalable, making it an excellent fit for businesses that want a modern ERP solution without the hassle of managing infrastructure.
Having worked with both On-Premises and Public Cloud, I can see why more businesses are making the shift. Here’s why SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud stands out:
1. Continuous innovation
You’ll always have access to the latest innovations. Unlike On-Premise and Private Cloud, where upgrades require planned projects, SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud delivers updates automatically twice a year, every six months. This ensures businesses stay ahead with new features, best practices, and security enhancements without any manual effort.
2. Lower total cost of ownership
With Public Cloud, there’s no need for heavy infrastructure investments or a large in-house IT team. The subscription-based model makes costs predictable, scalable, and eliminates surprise expenses tied to traditional IT management.
3. Faster deployment & Time-to-Value
Implementing an On-Premise ERP can take months or even years, but SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud is built for speed. Pre-configured best practices and standardized business processes enable businesses to go live faster, helping realize value sooner.
4. Flexibility & scalability
As your business grows, your ERP should grow with you. Public Cloud provides scalable computing power, storage, and connectivity without the complexity of managing infrastructure. GROW with SAP supports this by offering elastic resources, so businesses can expand seamlessly without worrying about system constraints.
5. Security & compliance
Security is a major concern for businesses, and SAP takes it very seriously. With built-in compliance to global standards, regional data residency options, and continuous monitoring, your data stays protected. SAP handles security, so businesses don’t have to manage risks in-house.
6. Standardization & best practices
SAP Public Cloud follows a “fit to standard” approach, meaning businesses leverage SAP’s industry best practices rather than over-customising their ERP. While this might sound restrictive, it actually:
- Drives efficiency
- Simplifies operations
- Reduces the cost of maintaining custom code
Need some flexibility? SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) provides extensibility, integration, and innovation options without altering the core system. With BTP, businesses can customize applications, connect SAP with third-party apps, and leverage AI-driven analytics, ensuring they stay adaptable while benefiting from SAP’s standardized, cloud-first approach.
7. Seamless integration
Public Cloud doesn’t mean isolated systems. With SAP BTP and pre-built Application Program Interfaces (APIs), connecting SAP with third-party applications is effortless, no complex development needed. These APIs act as seamless links, ensuring smooth data flow for everything from customer data syncs to payment processing and automated workflows.
The result? A truly connected, efficient business environment without the headache of heavy custom integrations.
Addressing common myths about Public Cloud
Many businesses have concerns, but let’s clear up some misconceptions:
- “What about data security?” – SAP ensures businesses can choose data centres that comply with regional and industry regulations. Your data stays secure and compliant, no matter where you operate.
- “We won’t be able to customise anything.” – Not true! While Public Cloud promotes standardisation, SAP BTP allows for extensions, so you can still tailor the system to fit your needs.
- “SAP forces updates on us.” – Updates aren’t just forced changes. SAP provides a structured upgrade process twice a year, allowing companies to test updates in advance and adopt new features smoothly.
Final thoughts
At the end of the day, choosing the right SAP S/4HANA deployment model depends on your business needs. But if you’re looking for a modern, agile, and cost-effective solution, SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud is a strong contender.
The businesses that thrive with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud are those that:
- Embrace change
- Simplify processes
- Leverage best practices instead of trying to replicate outdated ways of working
So, if you’re considering SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, be open to change, focus on efficiency, and take advantage of what the system offers, rather than forcing it to work like your old ERP.
Cloud is the future, and SAP is making it easier than ever to transition. The real question isn’t just “Should we move to the cloud?” but rather, “Are we ready to take our business to the next level?”
