Building Your Digital Transformation Roadmap for SAP Cloud ERP Private

With mainstream maintenance for SAP ECC coming to an end and more pressure than ever to move to the cloud, many organizations are now exploring their digital transformation roadmap options for SAP Cloud ERP and SAP Cloud ERP Private (formerly RISE with SAP).

SAP Cloud ERP (the public cloud version) is designed for highly standardized SaaS environments, making it a great fit for companies ready to rebuild their ERP landscape from the ground up and fully adopt standard processes.

For organizations that already rely on mature SAP processes and want to extend their landscape into the private cloud or hybrid models, the path can be more challenging. This is where SAP Cloud ERP Private (RISE with SAP) comes in.

For an SAP Cloud ERP Private transformation to run smoothly, IT teams should work through a few critical to-dos on their roadmap.

This blog explains how IT teams should prepare a migration to an ERP private cloud solution.

1. Select the right hyperscaler(s)

A stable, secure, and flexible hyperscaler environment is essential for running SAP in the cloud. It meets the goal of having an Intelligent Enterprise, an organization that uses integrated data, automation, and AI-driven insights to run its business more efficiently and make better decisions.

 Since IT and business processes need to be tightly integrated in the cloud, choosing the right cloud platform is one of the first major decisions on your SAP Cloud ERP Private digital transformation roadmap.

In many instances, you don’t have to limit yourself to one hyperscaler. Depending on your strategy and requirements, a multicloud setup can make sense, where you run SAP on one platform and other workloads on another.

Keep in mind that SAP provides its services only in specific hyperscaler regions, and not every Business Technology Platform (BTP) SaaS service is available everywhere. If you want to avoid latency issues or mandatory internet traffic between services, verify which SAP solutions are supported in which regions.

2. Prioritize security from day one

Your SAP ERP is the core of your business-critical operations, and downtime, especially from a cyberattack, is a worst-case scenario. To strengthen security during your cloud transition and ongoing operations, you should follow these best practices:

• Ensure a cloud security governance strategy is in place covering topics such as definition of roles, policies, controls, and monitoring practices that ensure secure, compliant, and accountable use of cloud services across the organization.
• Start with a dedicated landing zone on your chosen platform so you can control all internet and WAN connections.
• Ensure a clean network structure with full micro segmentation and centralized network and internet access via transit gateways.
• Deploy comprehensive firewall protection, either through the hyperscaler’s native service or a centrally managed enterprise firewall.
• Make sure connections between data sources stay inside the hyperscaler network, and the SAP tenant is linked using standard approaches like VNet or VPC peering.

3. Ensure your third-party integrations still work

If your SAP landscape relies on third-party tools, you’ll want to make sure those integrations continue to function seamlessly post-migration. The Archive and Integration Platform should be tightly connected to SAP and ideally run in the same data center or region as SAP Cloud ERP Private.

Solutions such as SAP Global Trade Services (GTS) or Extended Warehouse Management (EWM) can be provided by SAP, but they can also run in your own landing zone.

Pay close attention to SAP add‑ons. Tools that previously ran directly on SAP servers may require new deployment models in the cloud. Reviewing the SAP Certified Solution Directory upfront can save a lot of surprises.

4. Modernize your support processes for the cloud

Cloud platforms operate very differently from traditional on-premises environments. Standardization and automation are at the center of everything, and IT teams moving to SAP Cloud ERP Private (RISE with SAP) need to reflect that in their support processes.

SAP’s ITSM (IT Service Management) tools come with highly standardized processes. All changes and adjustments must be requested through a ticketing system, which can feel unfamiliar compared to traditional service models.

IT teams should assess their own support process maturity and ensure they’re ready for standardized ITSM workflows. This helps prevent misaligned expectations during the transition.

5. Clarify responsibilities early

SAP users are familiar with the traditional RACIs that outline who owns what. But with SAP Cloud ERP Private (RISE with SAP), some responsibilities shift, especially around technical adjustments and maintenance planning. These may now fall to the customer, not the service provider.

An updated Roles & Responsibilities Matrix defines which tasks your organization must own moving forward and what SAP or a partner will handle. A partner such as Syntax can help develop the Roles & Responsibilities Matrix.

Decide whether internal IT will take on these responsibilities or whether you’ll work with a service provider to bridge gaps between key users, module owners, and SAP. This is especially important for companies planning a hybrid SAP environment.

Creating an SAP Cloud ERP Private Digital Transformation Roadmap

A successful SAP cloud migration doesn’t have to be overwhelming. With the right preparation and a solid digital transformation roadmap, IT leaders can anticipate challenges and design a smooth journey.

Partnering with Syntax gives you access to deep SAP expertise and proven cloud experience. Together, we build a multi‑step roadmap tailored to your environment and business goals.

To support a detailed digital transformation roadmap, Syntax offers several cloud migration assessments. In some instances, assessments are offered free of charge.

Syntax Power of Next Services

Syntax Power of Next Services uses a proven methodology to guide business transformation on SAP Cloud ERP Private (RISE with SAP), from the initial assessment and planning to developing a tailored migration strategy.

Here’s what the process looks like:

Step 1: Gaining clarity and insight: Syntax helps you understand the major changes ahead and what to expect from SAP Cloud ERP Private (RISE with SAP).

Step 2: Developing a clear migration strategy: Syntax works closely with your teams to create a customized digital transformation roadmap based on your unique needs.

Step 3: Building a robust business case: Syntax helps assess costs, potential savings, and projected benefits.

Step 4: Planning a seamless transition: Syntax ensures a smooth, cost-effective migration without disruption by identifying gaps in the existing SAP landscape.

When supported by a solid digital transformation roadmap and the right partner, migrating to SAP Cloud ERP Private becomes a strategic step toward a more agile, intelligent enterprise.

For more information about what Syntax Power of Next Services can offer and start your journey, contact us here.