Today’s businesses require easily adaptable technology that can save the time and cost spent maintaining outdated systems, let teams collaborate more effectively, and keep up with rapidly evolving markets. SAP BTP’s flexible and fast-updating solutions meet these requirements. SAP BTP has steadily expanded since its introduction as a result of growing business use. Compared to the same period previous year, SAP’s Cloud ERP Suite (which comprises SAP S/4HANA system, SAP BTP, and other key technologies) had a 33% increase in revenue in the third quarter of 2024. Engaging with SAP BTP boosted the clients’ creativity. They want to use this energy, but they are frequently unsure of how to start and guarantee sustainable growth.
However, transitioning to SAP BTP is not without its challenges. This blog includes the understanding of SAP BTP and explores the key challenges in transitioning to SAP BTP and provides actionable strategies to overcome them.
Understanding SAP BTP
SAP Business Technology Platform is a comprehensive solution that integrates analytics, application development, database and data management, and intelligent technologies. It keeps smooth interoperability with SAP and non-SAP applications while allowing enterprises to take advantage of cloud computing and AI-driven automation. The goals of businesses migrating to SAP BTP are to enhance customer experiences, streamline operations, and make better decisions.
Key Challenges in Transitioning to SAP BTP and How to Overcome Them
Complexity of System Integration
Many companies still use legacy systems, which could make it difficult for them to integrate with SAP BTP. When businesses use a combination of cloud-based and on-premise applications, interoperability becomes more difficult.
How to address it: To determine compatibility, perform a thorough system audit. Make use of the pre-built connections and integration tools provided by the SAP Integration Suite. Use a phased migration strategy, beginning with unnecessary applications. To guarantee seamless compatibility, collaborate with experts who are certified by SAP.
Data security and compliance risks
As companies migrate to SAP BTP, they must ensure that data is protected against cyber threats and that regulatory compliance is maintained. The risks associated with data breaches, unauthorized access, and mismanagement of sensitive information can be detrimental.
How to address it: Leverage SAP’s built-in security features, such as Identity and Access Management (IAM) and encryption. Multi-factor authentication (MFA) should be used for critical systems. Assess compliance, perform security audits regularly, and keep an eye on data access and integrity, setting in place a strong data governance system.
Lack of skilled workforce and training gaps
The use of SAP BTP requires that employees upskill to adjust to a cloud-based environment. However, many organizations struggle with a lack of internal expertise.
How to address it: Invest in SAP training programs and certifications for employees. Promote information exchange via SAP Centers of Excellence (CoE) inside the organization. To close skill gaps, collaborate with consultants and SAP implementation specialists and for ongoing education, make use of online training tools including the SAP Learning Hub.
High implementation costs and budget constraints
Although SAP BTP provides long-term cost benefits some companies may find the initial investment necessary for adoption, customization, and maintenance to be excessive.
How to address it: To support the investment, perform a cost-benefit analysis. Examine SAP’s pay-as-you-go choices and variable price structures. Set high-impact use cases as a top priority to show immediate benefits. Reduce manual labor and maximize resource use by utilizing automation techniques.
Performance optimization and scalability issues
Some businesses experience performance bottlenecks when transitioning to SAP BTP, especially when handling large datasets or high transaction volumes.
How to address it: To maximize performance, make use of SAP BTP’s auto-scaling capabilities. Use workload balancing techniques to efficiently allocate computer resources. Maintain a close eye on performance indicators and adjust setups in response to real-time information.
Ensuring business continuity during migration
Business continuity may be impacted by operational disruptions caused by a poorly planned move.
How to address it: Create a thorough migration roadmap with specific timelines and milestones. Before completing deployment, conduct testing in a sandbox environment. Create a rollback plan to deal with unforeseen problems. To proactively handle possible risks, keep the business and IT teams closely aligned.
Conclusion
Investing in the right strategies today will pave the way for a smarter, more agile, and future-ready enterprise. Having the assistance of a partner with knowledge of SAP BTP that the transitioning company might not have is advised in order to accomplish this and make sure that no errors or mistakes are made that could result in delays or even losses. That’s exactly what we do at Accely.