More hosting than cloud

Lack of cloud knowledge

At SAP, cloud computing is understood as "lift and shift". Proven on-prem solutions and verified business processes are lifted into the cloud. But cloud computing is more. Without a dedicated operating model with transparent maintenance and continuous operation, even the best cloud business processes are worthless.

One example is the much praised SAP cloud solution IBP (Integrated Business Planning). It is a very comprehensive software for supply chain planning. The software itself is complex, but leaves little to be desired. The operating model is "cloud only", which is currently causing a lot of headaches for some existing SAP customers.

SAP has not mastered cloud computing. The offering is more hosting than cloud. While the vast majority of cloud providers get by without downtime and with transparent maintenance, SAP insists on predefined maintenance windows. A large car manufacturer from Munich commented: We cannot let SAP dictate when the cloud app goes into maintenance! Normally, SAP's existing customers themselves determine when a release upgrade is carried out. The maintenance cycles have been the responsibility of the users for 50 years. But now SAP wants to dictate when app maintenance takes place.

A cloud expert from the SAP community told E-3 magazine that there is a huge lack of knowledge here at SAP, because other providers manage to service their apps and still keep them available. Cloud computing has to be learned, and SAP has not yet done its homework here. Once again, the guiding principle applies: cobbler, stick to your last! SAP has excellent business processes and apps, and even CRM, which has been criticized for many years, is far superior to Salesforce in its latest incarnation. It is actually a pity that SAP has not mastered the technology of cloud computing.