SAP ERP Cloud: A Champion of Mobility

The cloud helps businesses enhance workforce mobility by providing solutions that are accessible from anywhere, at any time and from any type of device. It also enables organisations to delegate their IT infrastructure to specialists, allowing them to focus on their core business.

During the health crisis, companies had to transition rapidly to remote working. Organisations relying on on-premise infrastructure had to react quickly to enable employees to access the information system from home. Cloud-based IT solutions remove this constraint: they are accessible from any computer, regardless of location or network connection. Fully cloud-based strategies have emerged stronger from the crisis. While remote working may no longer be as systematic as in recent years, it remains a long-term structural trend.

The “anywhere/anytime” dimension benefits all categories of employees, whether working from home or in the field. Sales representatives can access a complete overview of customer accounts (invoices, payments, outstanding balances, etc.) during client meetings. Decision-makers can continue approving requests (purchases, leave, etc.) while travelling, ensuring that internal validation processes are not delayed. Many business activities benefit from remote ERP access.

SAP Cloud ERP, with its modernised Fiori-style user interface, also delivers an “any device” experience, as the solution can be accessed through a simple web browser. A tablet connected via 4G becomes an effective way to access the ERP from any area of an industrial site. SAP ERP Cloud is even accessible on smartphones, albeit with some limitations regarding the volume of data displayed.

Finally, as a cloud ERP is not constrained by corporate firewalls or local networks, it is easier to integrate with other cloud solutions such as SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP Ariba for supplier management, SAP Concur for expense management, and SAP Analytics Cloud for advanced analytics and planning.

An Information System Managed and Secured by Experts

For many organisations, the ERP system is considered a critical asset, storing highly confidential data. While large enterprises may have sufficient resources to manage their SAP environments effectively, smaller organisations often do not. Moreover, an increasing number of large corporations are questioning whether managing their own IT infrastructure and security challenges remains strategically relevant. The move to the cloud reflects a desire to focus on core business activities while benefiting from an IT solution that operates globally and is managed by professionals.

Choosing a SAP ERP in cloud mode means entrusting infrastructure management to a hyperscaler (such as Amazon, Google or Microsoft) and software environment management to SAP. These trusted providers hold the highest ISO security and quality certifications and deploy expert teams whose capabilities often exceed what organisations can achieve internally. Connections between SAP cloud solutions are handled within secure data centres to ensure optimal performance and security. External integrations rely on secure bridges implemented by the system integrator, typically using APIs.

Of course, certain limitations still exist in the cloud landscape. Although data can generally be hosted in the desired region, thanks to the extensive networks of hyperscalers, some countries (such as China and Russia) remain less cloud-friendly. Cloud solutions also require a reliable internet connection, although this is rarely an issue in Europe today.