RISE with SAP Methodology has been crafted to work together with the Clean Core to help businesses upgrade to SAP's latest software, SAP S/4HANA, easily and efficiently. RISE with SAP Methodology that includes all the tools and support needed for a smooth transition, aiming to simplify the upgrade process while reducing costs. The Clean Core concept focuses on keeping the core system close to the standard version, avoiding heavy customizations that complicate updates and maintenance. This makes it easier and cheaper to stay current with new SAP features and technologies, ensuring the system remains adaptable to future changes.
The Clean Core approach is designed to optimize business processes and extensions, ensuring they are standardized and stable. This allows ERP systems to evolve flexibly over time without causing disruptions to the central system.
The Core of an ERP system comprises several key dimensions:
- Processes: These are sequences of actions arranged in an end-to-end flow.
- Extensions: Extra functionalities added beyond standard ERP features to meet specific needs.
- Data: This includes configuration settings, master data, and transactional data critical for operations.
- Integrations: Mechanisms that facilitate communication and data exchange between different solutions.
- Operations: Encompasses ongoing governance and monitoring to ensure smooth functioning.
A dimension is considered clean when best practices, methodologies, and tools are effectively applied during the implementation of an SAP software solution. The SAP Activate Methodology roadmap provides structured guidance, detailing tasks, deliverables, and resources (accelerators) essential for a successful implementation, ensuring each dimension remains clean.
The ideal state of a clean core system is an up-to-date software release featuring cloud-compliant extensions and integrations, high-quality master data, and well-designed processes. By default, a newly provisioned SAP S/4HANA Cloud system—whether Public or Private Edition—that uses standard processes from SAP Signavio Process Navigator is considered clean.
Maintaining system cleanliness involves building extensions on the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), thereby separating them from the core ERP software. SAP BTP supports both low/no-code development (for example, SAP Build Apps, Process Automation) and procode development (for example, Business Application Studio), along with integration services (for example, Integration Suite, Connectivity Service). These capabilities are detailed in the SAP Discovery Center.
For ongoing operations, organizations should establish a Customer Center of Expertise to oversee upgrades and ensure that the IT team liaises effectively with various business units. This center plays a crucial role in making strategic decisions, such as activating new functionalities as they become available. The SAP Cloud ALM Operations apps, part of the cloud editions' Enterprise Support package, are instrumental in maintaining the health of a comprehensive system landscape at no additional cost.
A system with a clean core possesses several distinguishing features:
- Minimalism: Promotes simplicity by removing redundant or obsolete functionalities, focusing on essential components only.
- Modularity: Facilitates dividing the ERP system into manageable modular components, which allows for easier maintenance and adaptability.
- Scalability: Supports the system's ability to grow and adapt to changing needs without compromising performance or stability.
- Maintainability: Simplifies the code base, making it more accessible for developers to understand, modify, and enhance.
- Stability and Reliability: Strengthens the system by reducing dependencies, thus decreasing susceptibility to bugs and inconsistencies, and improving overall reliability.
Embracing the clean core approach is instrumental in achieving operational efficiency, scalability, and reducing technical debt. It enables streamlined ERP systems, elevating performance, stability, and maintainability while aligning with business goals, thereby positioning organizations for competitive growth in dynamic markets.