The Enterprise Cloud Services (ECS) Partner Summit is an annual event that brings together industry leaders, partners, and SAP professionals to discuss the future of SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition and digital transformation. This year’s summit was no exception, providing valuable insights into the evolving landscape of technology and business. Here are the top 10 takeaways from the event:
1. Emphasis on Collaboration: One of the central themes of the summit was the importance of collaboration. The keynote speaker, Margaret Anderson, emphasized that partnerships are crucial for driving innovation and delivering value to customers. SAP Partners delivered around 90% of all implementations for our customers and 80% of net new customers. By working together, companies can combine their strengths and create solutions that are greater than the sum of their parts.
2. Advances in AI: Artificial intelligence continues to transform industries. SAP Business Data Cloud showcased how its latest innovations leverage AI to enhance decision-making processes, improve customer experiences, and automate routine tasks, allowing businesses to focus on strategic initiatives. There is a key benefit in enriching the partners.
3. Enablement at our fingertips: The Strategic Partner Management team walked through all of the enablement resources available for partners to be able to successfully operate in the private cloud. It is critical that when migrating and/or implementing in the private cloud that partners not only have resources on the ground that know how to do the general work but are very familiar with the intricacies that come with operating in SAP S4/HANA Cloud, private edition.
4. Successful Implementations using SAP Activate for RISE with SAP Methodology: The SAP Activate team shared how crucial Activate Methodology is for successful implementations, with guidance provided for new implementations, system conversions, and selective data transition. The roadmaps help to standardize the end-to-end process while encouraging continuous improvement and evolution while following a clean core strategy. The SAP Activate Team also shared a preview of the new ActivateBot powered search which is integrated with Activate Roadmap Viewer and provides a simpler way to find answers from the roadmaps.
5. Planning an Upgrade for S/4HANA Cloud, private edition Using SAP Activate
In December 2024, a new Activate Roadmap was introduced to guide and support customers when upgrading S/4HANA Cloud, private edition. This roadmap provides a step-by-step guide on how to successfully upgrade. In the session, the team emphasized the importance of using SAP Readiness Check, developing a comprehensive, long-term strategy, and encouraged customers to upgrade often.
6. Continuous Quality Checks (CQC) for Partners: CQCs boost success with foundational support included with cloud solutions for SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition. CQCs are remote services that help reduce implementation risks and outline optimization potential.
7. The Importance of Data Security: With the increase in cyber threats, data security is paramount. SAP emphasized the importance of robust security measures and compliance protocols to protect sensitive information. Partners were encouraged to prioritize security in their solutions and customer engagements, even with the new AI capabilities.
8. Engaging with the ECS Scalable Model: ECS supports customers through every stage of their cloud journey with Technical Managed Services. The Private Cloud Customer Center (PC3) team is a digital-first support model, offering easy access to resources for product adoption and usage. Expert Digital Customer Engagement Managers (dCEM) in dedicated Centers of Expertise support key phases like Migration, Implementation, and Operations. Customers can also tap into self-service tools like SAP for Me, access regular office hours, and reach out to [sap.ecs.private.cloud.customer.center@sap.com] for infrastructure support.
9. Roles and Responsibilities: The R&R is the single source of truth for all private cloud implementations, broken into five sections: Standard, Optional, Additional Services, CAS, and Excluded Tasks. It’s updated twice a year, with minor updates in March and full updates in July. Partners must always use the latest version. While ECS Services handles much of the infrastructure, customers remain responsible for key areas like application functionality, help desk support, network connectivity, business continuity planning, and user authorizations.
[Access the latest R&R document here.]
10. Overall Best Practices to be successful in Migrations: It’s important to understand key lessons when doing a migration. This session emphasized the importance of project planning and scope changes, general awareness of the SAP private cloud, being familiar with service requests and processing times, and any technical knowledge gaps need to be understood prior to getting into the throws of the project.
In conclusion, SAP’s ECS Partner Summit was a hub of inspiration, innovation, and collaboration. The insights gained from the event are invaluable for partners seeking to navigate the complex landscape of digital transformation and drive success in their organizations. As the industry continues to evolve, staying informed and engaged will be crucial for leveraging the full potential of SAP solutions.
Stay tuned for mini sessions to come based on the feedback given to the ECS team following the summit. If you would like a recap that can be viewed on the Guided Partner Support.
~ECS Strategic Partner Management Team
