The long-standing IBM and SAP partnership was recently expanded to help provide SAP users with enhanced technology and consulting services. Combined efforts from the two tech giants aim to assist customers in implementing hybrid cloud strategies and moving mission-critical workloads from SAP solutions to the cloud.
In January 2021, the German software vendor introduced the Business Transformation as a Service (BTaaS) offering, RISE with SAP, to help clients make the transition to SAP S/4HANA before the 2027 deadline of the on-premises SAP ECC (SAP Enterprise Resource Planning Central Component). Included in the RISE with SAP subscription are the SAP Business Network starter pack, SAP Business Process Intelligence (SAP BPI) software, SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) cloud credits, SAP S/4HANA Cloud application suite, and a variety of other tools and services.
As previously stated by SAP CEO Christian Klein, RISE with SAP has significantly contributed to the company’s cloud revenue growth, which was double-digit in their latest quarterly report. During SAP’s Q4 2021 Earnings Conference Call, Klein maintained:
“Clearly, RISE is a blockbuster success in the market. And we are just getting started. Our massive on-premise installed base of more than 30,000 ERP customers presents a significant opportunity for our RISE with SAP offering as these customers begin their transformation to the cloud.”
Recognising that businesses of all sizes — large and small — are increasingly relying on cloud infrastructure and services for their next-generation digital transformations, SAP has expanded its partnership with IBM through the launch of a new offering that complements RISE with SAP.
Expanding the 50-Year IBM and SAP Partnership
IBM and SAP have been working together for many years, helping organisations across a wide range of industries to modernise their business operations through the use of hybrid cloud infrastructure. In August last year, the two IT leaders established a collaboration centered on onboarding two of SAP’s finance and data management solutions to IBM Cloud for Financial Services, with the goal of expediting the use of IBM cloud computing by the banking and finance sector.
Meanwhile, IBM’s latest program called BREAKTHROUGH with IBM for RISE with SAP, which brings together IBM services and SAP solutions, is a combination of existing consulting services that are designed to assist customers in amplifying their journeys to SAP S/4HANA Cloud, leveraging RISE with SAP as its core. Additionally, with the recent news that IBM has been named a premium supplier, it has now become the first cloud provider to offer infrastructure, business transformation, and application management services as part of the RISE with SAP initiative.
Expressing his delight at further expanding IBM and SAP’s long-standing alliance through the German tech giant’s RISE with SAP offering, John Granger, Senior Vice President at IBM Consulting, said in a statement:
“Our shared commitment is to meet our clients, especially those in highly regulated industries, where they are in their digital journey while giving them choices for migrating or modernising their mission-critical workloads with a hybrid cloud approach.”
In addition to helping companies that prefer to have their RISE with SAP bundle run on IBM Cloud, IBM’s premium supplier designation represents a continuation of SAP’s long-standing efforts to give customers more options and flexibility. IBM has also made a huge investment in RISE with SAP to assist with the transformation of its own infrastructure, further demonstrating its long-term commitment to SAP S/4HANA as both a customer and a business partner of SAP over the past 50 years.
Brian Duffy, President of Cloud at SAP, believes that BREAKTHROUGH with IBM complements RISE with SAP as it creates the groundwork for companies to begin or accelerate their business transformation journeys. He explained:
“Further, it reaffirms the value customers recognise from RISE with SAP and the impact and innovation opportunity RISE with SAP offers to organisations that move to the cloud.”
“I have every confidence that the combined expertise and experience SAP and IBM offer will accelerate cloud adoption and business growth for customers across the globe,” he stressed.
