The recent SAP Sapphire 2024 event highlighted the rapid evolution of the SAP ecosystem, with a strong focus on AI, cloud migration, and the “clean core” philosophy. At Gravity IT Resource, we’ve been closely monitoring these trends while also conducting our own research to understand the current state of SAP adoption and the challenges faced by organizations. Let’s dive into our findings and explore how Gravity can help you navigate this complex landscape.
The Great Divide in SAP Adoption
SAP Sapphire 2024 showcased a growing divide among SAP customers. On one side, we have the “All-In With SAP” group, fully embracing SAP’s cloud-first, AI-driven vision. On the other, we see a significant number of customers who are “Mostly Committed to SAP, But Also Playing the Field,” seeking more flexible, composable solutions.
This divide is clearly reflected in our recent poll results. A striking 76% of respondents indicated they’re not currently using SAP, while only 14% have migrated to SAP S/4HANA. This suggests that many organizations are still in the early stages of their SAP journey or are exploring alternative ERP solutions.
The S/4HANA Journey: A Long Road Ahead
For those on the SAP path, the journey to S/4HANA is proving to be a significant challenge. Our poll shows that 40% of respondents haven’t started their S/4HANA journey, 20% are in the planning phase, and 40% are currently in progress. Notably, none of the respondents have completed their migration.
These figures align with the observations from Sapphire 2024, where many customers expressed concerns about the complexity and cost of transitioning to S/4HANA Cloud and adopting the “clean core” approach.
Bridging the Skills Gap
One of the key challenges in SAP adoption is the skills gap. Our poll revealed that the biggest SAP skills gaps are in SAP Cloud Platform (47%) and ABAP programming (41%). This aligns with SAP’s push towards cloud solutions and the need to refactor custom ABAP code for the cloud environment. 
At Gravity IT Resource, we specialize in bridging these skills gaps. Our team of experts can help your organization navigate the complexities of SAP Cloud Platform and modernize your ABAP codebase, ensuring a smooth transition to S/4HANA.
Focus Areas for 2024 and Beyond
Looking ahead, our poll shows that organizations are prioritizing:
- Process optimization (36%)
- Cloud migration (27%)
- Business AI & analytics (18%)
- Sustainability & responsible AI (18%)
These priorities reflect the key themes from Sapphire 2024, particularly the emphasis on cloud migration and AI adoption. Gravity IT Resource is well-positioned to support your organization in these areas, offering expertise in process optimization, cloud migration strategies, and implementing AI-driven analytics solutions.
Gravity’s Approach: Flexibility and Innovation
At Gravity IT Resource, we understand that every organization’s SAP journey is unique. Whether you’re all-in with SAP or looking for a more composable approach, we offer tailored solutions to meet your needs:
- Composable ERP Strategy: We can help you integrate best-of-breed solutions with your existing SAP landscape, similar to the Microsoft Dynamics 365 Contact Center example mentioned in the Sapphire recap.
- Innovation at the Edges: Our expertise in cloud and low-code development platforms allows us to help you innovate around your existing SAP systems, filling functional gaps and modernizing user experiences.
- Data-Driven Insights: We can assist in harnessing the power of your data through modern cloud-based data platforms, enabling advanced analytics and AI/ML workloads.
- Skill Development: Our training programs and expert consultants can help close the skills gap in your organization, particularly in critical areas like SAP Cloud Platform and ABAP programming.
Conclusion
The SAP landscape is evolving rapidly, and organizations face complex decisions about their ERP strategies. At Gravity IT Resource, we’re committed to helping you navigate these challenges, whether you’re fully committed to SAP or exploring a more flexible approach. Our expertise, combined with a deep understanding of the latest SAP trends, positions us as your ideal partner in this journey.
About Gravity IT Resources
Gravity is a Human Capital Management company headquartered in Fort Lauderdale with offices across the country including Atlanta, Austin, Charlotte, Columbus, Cincinnati, Salt Lake City, San Diego and Tampa. Our company has been recognized by Inc. Magazine as an “Inc. 5000” award winner and one of the fastest growing privately held companies in the United States for the last 5 consecutive years (2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023).
Gravity helps prominent clients like Salesforce, Chewy, Carnival Cruise Lines, AutoNation and hundreds of other big and small companies to identify, recruit and hire IT professionals for their most critical projects and jobs. Our recruitment spans across various roles, including artificial intelligence (AI) specialists, software engineers, cloud engineers, project managers, data engineers, business analysts, security engineers and more.
To serve clients effectively, Gravity offers a range of delivery models and services, encompassing:
- Contract, Contract-to-Hire & Direct Hire of US-based Resources
- Nearshore Staff Augmentation
- Managed Team Services
To learn more about Gravity IT Resources practices, career opportunities and culture, visit https://www.gravityitresources.com/.
