The S/4 conversion is the biggest challenge for existing SAP customers since the changeover from R/3 Enterprise to SAP Business Suite 7. An S/4 architecture means the release change to the Hana database, the decision about private cloud or public cloud and the adaptation of the license model.

After SAP failed with its Data Hub and is now trying again with Datasphere, specialized IT companies are already much further ahead. Fivetran has built a universal data platform that aims to impress with its efficiency.