As the adoption of SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP (Public and Private Editions) continues to accelerate, one of the key issues that frequently comes up is how to deal with the need for customization. This Insights post provides a deeper look at the extensibility tools available for managing custom processes and debunks the myths that cloud doesn't support company-specific requirements.

The Bramasol team sees this issue arise in nearly every SAP Cloud ERP implementation project we handle for clients, with their primary question being how best to balance any needed modifications against the goal of maintaining stability of the core for ease of maintenance and installing future updates.

In some cases, company leaders are hesitant to even undertake the move to cloud, despite its many benefits, because they are worried that their unique requirements can't be supported. It's unfortunate when decision makers tend to view standardized cloud environments as a straightjacket that limits their options; when, at least in the case of SAP Cloud, it is much more like a tailored suit that gives you the benefits of a solid underlying structure along with various ways to tailor a perfect fit.

The digital transformation journey, especially within the software and SaaS sectors, has seen a significant shift toward cloud-based ERP systems. This trend is driven by various factors, including the need for greater agility, scalability, and efficiency in operations. More large and mid-sized SaaS companies are moving away from traditional on-premise ERP systems or low-end cloud ERPs to comprehensive cloud-based ERP solutions. This shift allows for easier access to data, enhanced collaboration, and real-time analytics.

With COP29 coming up November 11-22, 2024 in Baku, Azerbaijan, this is a good opportunity to review progress toward climate goals and to update new developments in SAP's ongoing focus on delivering end-to-end carbon management and ESG reporting solutions.

Life sciences includes a broad range of scientific fields that study living organisms and their interactions with the environment. Some of the key areas within life sciences include:

• Biology: The study of life and living organisms, including their structure, function, growth, evolution, and behavior.
• Biotechnology: The use of biological systems, organisms, or derivatives to develop or create products, often focusing on medical or agricultural applications.
• Genetics: The study of genes, heredity, and genetic variation in living organisms.
• Microbiology: The study of microorganisms, such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and protozoa.
• Pharmacology: The study of drugs and their effects on living organisms.
• Medicine: The science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing diseases in humans.

As with many other industry segments, companies in the life sciences arena are grappling with disruptive changes in their go-to-market strategies while at the same time looking to improve their business processes via digital transformation. This new Insights Post explores how the SAP ecosystem can help life sciences companies align initiatives in both of these areas with digital transformation initiatives that embrace new subscription-based revenue opportunities and simultaneously map out an optimized roadmap for moving to more efficient cloud-based ERP and overall business systems.

With each quarterly earnings announcement showing dramatic increases in cloud ERP revenue, SAP’s strategic shift to S/4HANA cloud services is clearly now in full swing. In Q1 2024, revenue from the Cloud ERP Suite was up 32% and reached $3.48 billion US, marking nine straight quarters of 30%-plus growth. 

Previous episodes in this Insights Series have explored the challenges created by new Digital Solutions Economy paradigms for billing, fulfillment, invoicing, revenue accounting, and compliance across a wide range of industries. In this new Insights post, we take a look at the management, revenue accounting, and compliance issues for Professional Services companies.

As we come to the end of another year, this is a good opportunity to look ahead at the key trends to watch during 2024.

Previous posts in this blog series have addressed how SAP solutions such as Quote-to-Cash (QTC), the Billing and Revenue Innovation Management (BRIM) portfolio, and Revenue Accounting and Reporting (RAR) can be meshed seamlessly to integrate frontend and backend processes for subscription-based Digital Solutions Economy (DSE) offerings.  We have also explored how SAP RISE and GROW can enhance and streamline overall implementations.

As we reach the halfway point in 2023, it is a good opportunity to take another look at over-arching trends, both to update those we have already identified and to add some new ones, such as the unprecedented explosion in generative AI applications.