Home Cloud

Of course, SAP is right with the cloud-first statement. The generic operating model of cloud computing has almost only advantages. The range of functions in hyperscalers is impressive. And yet this cloud euphoria has one drawback: it gets very expensive.

My regular sisters and brothers here in Düsseldorf have experimented extensively over the past few years and gained experience with HEC (Hana Enterprise Cloud) to BTP (Business Technology Platform).

Cloud computing at hyperscalers and SAP is not only very good, but also very expensive - this junket of performance and price is often overlooked in comparison to on-prem systems. Those who have been optimizing, orchestrating, harmonizing and virtualizing their own data center for many years probably have much more favorable cost rates than some cloud providers.

Another point that is often overlooked when outsourcing in the direction of hyperscalers and BTP is a significant obligation to contribute. Of course, not everything that is technically possible is included in the basic cloud fees. The situation can be compared with buying a car: the basic equipment may seem inexpensive, but at the end of the configurator there is very often an amount that is a good third higher than the original price.

So if you can't afford to cooperate, you'll have to dig deep into your own pockets at SAP and other providers. Almost anything is possible, but it costs accordingly. This makes going to the cloud a financial risk. A realistic and transparent calculation of cloud computing is almost impossible to achieve. The offers of hyperscalers and SAP are numerous and overlapping. There is a lack of a cloud charging roadmap for the CFO.

It's not just the generic cloud offerings that are causing SAP's existing customers a lot of grief, SAP has also failed to adapt organizational forms such as CCCs and CCoEs for an S/4 conversion. Some of my SAP regular sisters and brothers have been running a CCC for over 20 years. Currently, they are at a dead end with it. Even our DSAG doesn't know any advice. In mid-October, there was once again a discussion on the topic, but apart from concerned silence, not much was perceptible.

Due to the CCC dilemma and an interesting visit by Hewlett Packard to our house, I created the term Home Cloud. Simply explained: the functions and advantages of a cloud in my own data center or with an outsourcer I trust. SAP describes this concept as S/4 Hana Cloud Private Edition Customer Data Center. It is a well-kept secret. It is abbreviated as SAP-S/4-Hana-PE-CDC.

At first, I didn't understand the cloud idea of S/4 Private Edition of a Customer Data Center because the words "cloud" and "private" naturally reminded me of private cloud. But it needs to be read the other way around. In S/4 Hana Cloud Private Edition Customer Data Center, the word "cloud" means that the existing SAP customer gets cloud capabilities without being in the clutches of a hyperscaler. "Private Edition" is meant to convey that the existing SAP customer is solely responsible for his or her own good fortune, and "Customer Data Center" is the subtle hint that the company's own data center still has a right to exist as well. In summary: SAP S/4 Hana Cloud Private Edition Customer Data Center is cloud functionality as on-prem version - for me the perfect home cloud.

So SAP and Hewlett Packard have quietly developed an on-prem concept for S/4 that, according to research by our DSAG, more than half of the members would like to see. One of my younger employees often comes to work in the summer with a T-shirt that says: There is no place like 127.0.0.1 - in other words: There's no place like home!

Home Sweet Home - home sweet home, happiness alone. So now there is the Home Cloud as an on-prem offering for S/4 Hana. HP presented the concept with: the Cloud that comes to you. Now if I can just find a way to integrate my favorite IBM Power Servers for Hana into this on-prem cloud concept, I'll have my S/4 Private Edition Home Cloud!