SAP Activate is SAP’s innovative, agile methodology designed to support the implementation of SAP solutions efficiently. As organizations increasingly adopt both on-premise and cloud SAP deployments, understanding how SAP Activate adapts to these deployment models is essential for project teams and consultants. Although the core principles of SAP Activate remain consistent, there are key differences in approach, tools, and best practices when applying it to on-premise versus cloud environments.
This article explores how SAP Activate is tailored for both deployment models and highlights important considerations.
Before comparing deployment types, it’s important to remember that SAP Activate consists of three pillars:
- SAP Best Practices: Pre-configured business processes and templates.
- Guided Configuration: Tools and accelerators for configuring the solution.
- Methodology: Agile project phases with iterative delivery.
These pillars are present in both on-premise and cloud implementations but are utilized differently based on the deployment.
- Standardized Best Practices: Cloud solutions like SAP S/4HANA Cloud offer a fixed set of pre-configured best practices, limiting heavy customization.
- Frequent Innovation Cycles: Cloud systems receive quarterly updates, requiring continuous adaptation and agile change management.
- Guided Configuration Tools: Cloud editions come with extensive guided configuration and self-service capabilities accessible via web interfaces.
- Faster Deployment: Implementation cycles are typically shorter, focusing on rapid adoption and continuous improvements.
- Simplified Infrastructure: SAP manages the infrastructure, reducing hardware and system management overhead.
- Heavier focus on the Discover and Explore phases to fit the standardized processes.
- Shorter Realize phase with rapid configuration sprints.
- Continuous post-go-live optimization aligned with quarterly releases.
- Greater emphasis on user adoption and change management.
- Greater Flexibility: On-premise deployments support extensive customization, extensions, and integrations.
- Longer Project Timelines: Implementation projects tend to be longer due to complex landscape and tailored development.
- Manual and Guided Configuration: While guided configuration tools are available, manual configuration and code enhancements are more common.
- Control Over Infrastructure: Organizations manage hardware, updates, and system availability.
- Periodic Upgrades: Typically annual or less frequent upgrades with significant testing requirements.
- Emphasis on detailed Prepare and Realize phases to address custom development and integration.
- Extensive testing cycles including unit, integration, and user acceptance tests.
- Focus on technical readiness, including landscape setup and security.
- Careful planning for upgrades and system maintenance post go-live.
¶ Key Differences Between On-Premise and Cloud in SAP Activate
| Aspect |
Cloud Deployment |
On-Premise Deployment |
| Customization |
Limited; follows standard processes |
Extensive; custom coding and extensions |
| Implementation Speed |
Faster, iterative sprints |
Longer, detailed project phases |
| Upgrades |
Quarterly, automatic |
Annual or as scheduled, manual |
| Infrastructure |
Managed by SAP |
Managed by customer |
| Configuration |
Guided configuration, self-service |
Mix of guided and manual configuration |
| Change Management |
Continuous due to regular updates |
Phased, with planned downtime |
- Engage Business Users Early: To align solution design with business needs.
- Leverage SAP Best Practices: Start with standard content to minimize customizations.
- Adopt Agile Principles: Use iterative sprints and continuous feedback loops.
- Plan for Testing: Ensure thorough testing tailored to deployment complexity.
- Invest in Training and Change Management: Especially critical in cloud environments with frequent updates.
SAP Activate provides a flexible, agile framework that supports both on-premise and cloud deployments effectively. While cloud projects emphasize speed, standardization, and continuous innovation, on-premise projects offer flexibility and deeper customization at the cost of longer timelines. Understanding these nuances enables project teams to optimize SAP Activate implementation strategies, ensuring smoother deployments and better business outcomes.