Think Twice Before You RISE: Is SAP’s Cloud Offering Right for You?

SAP has positioned RISE with SAP as a game-changing, all-in-one solution designed to simplify the move to the cloud. With promises of streamlined licensing, managed services, and seamless cloud integration, RISE seems attractive for businesses looking to modernize their ERP landscape.

However, before you sign on the dotted line, it’s crucial to evaluate whether RISE truly aligns with your business needs—or if it’s just another vendor lock-in strategy that limits your flexibility and control.

Let’s break down some key considerations before leaping.

1. Loss of Control Over Infrastructure & Licensing

One of the most significant shifts with RISE is the transition from owning and managing your SAP infrastructure to a fully SAP-controlled environment. This means:

• You no longer have direct control over your underlying cloud infrastructure.

• Licensing terms, especially for BTP and infrastructure, become more complex to manage

• Customization and third-party integrations must change to match SAP’s new clean core strategy

This shift can be a significant limitation rather than a convenience for businesses that have spent years fine-tuning their SAP environments.

2. Standard SLAs May Not Meet Your Performance Needs

When moving to RISE, SAP provides predefined Service Level Agreements (SLAs) that outline system uptime, response times, and support availability. However, these may not align with your business's specific needs, leading to:

• Potential performance issues if your operations demand high availability beyond SAP’s standard SLAs.

• Limited customization options for critical workloads or specialized industries.

• Extra costs if you require higher SLA guarantees beyond SAP’s standard offering.

If your business requires highly customized performance parameters, RISE’s one-size-fits-all approach might not be the best fit.

3. Hidden Costs for Upgrades, Extra Servers & Disaster Recovery

RISE is marketed as an all-in-one cloud solution, but many customers discover that scaling up can be expensive. Some hidden costs to watch out for include:

• Upgrades and additional servers: If your system demands grow, adding more capacity could result in significant extra costs.

• Disaster Recovery (DR) solutions: While basic DR features may be included, full redundancy and fail-over options typically require additional fees.

• Third-party software integration: Integrating your third-party application (maybe even your core applications) with SAP will significantly increase your one-time migration costs. 

RISE might simplify your initial setup, but its long-term cost structure could make it more expensive than expected.

4. Unclear Exit Strategies Could Lock You In 

One of the biggest concerns with RISE is the lack of clarity around exit strategies. If, down the line, you decide that RISE no longer meets your needs, what are your options?

• Can you migrate back to an on-premises model or another cloud provider without significant disruptions?

• Are there contractual penalties or restrictions that make exiting difficult?

• What happens to your data and custom configurations if you leave the RISE ecosystem?

Many businesses worry that adopting RISE could mean losing long-term flexibility, making it challenging to switch strategies in the future.

Is RISE a Game-Changer or a Vendor Lock-In Strategy? 

SAP presents RISE as a transformative cloud offering, but of course it’s not a perfect fit for every business. While some companies may benefit from its streamlined approach, others might find it too restrictive, costly, or difficult to exit. 

Before making a decision, ask yourself: 

- Does RISE’s licensing model optimize my costs or limit my flexibility? 

- Are SAP’s standard SLAs enough for my business-critical operations? 

- Am I prepared for potential extra costs as my system scales? 

- Do I fully understand my exit options if I leave RISE? 

The best approach? Do your due diligence. Analyze your needs, long-term goals, and cost structures before committing to RISE. 

What’s Your Experience with RISE with SAP? 

We’d love to hear from you! Have you explored RISE? Are you currently using it? Share your insights in the comments below! Let’s discuss whether RISE is truly a step forward—or just another way to get locked in.