RISE with SAP: A New Era of Collaboration for Basis Administrators
The world of SAP is undergoing a significant shift with the rise of RISE with SAP. This managed service offering streamlines the transition to the cloud, handling infrastructure, licensing, and ongoing maintenance under one roof. But for US-based IT leaders with existing SAP systems, a crucial question emerges: how will this impact your Basis team’s role in system maintenance?
The answer lies in a collaborative approach. While SAP assumes responsibility for the underlying infrastructure, your Basis administrators remain vital for maintaining the application layer – the core functionality of your SAP system. Here’s how collaboration between your internal team and SAP will become the cornerstone of effective system maintenance in a RISE with SAP environment:
Communication is Key
Clear and consistent communication between your Basis team and SAP’s managed services team is paramount. This ensures everyone is on the same page regarding system changes, updates, and potential issues.
Establishing a designated communication channel facilitates a smooth flow of information. This could involve regular meetings, a ticketing system, or a dedicated collaboration platform.
Defining Roles and Responsibilities
A clearly defined RACI (Responsible, Accountable, Consulted, Informed) matrix will outline ownership and accountability for different maintenance tasks.
- Your Basis team will be Responsible for application-layer configuration, user management, and security.
- SAP will be Accountable for infrastructure management, patching the operating system and database, and ensuring overall system availability.
- Both teams will need to Consult with each other for tasks with overlapping areas, like performance optimization or troubleshooting complex issues.
- Keeping all stakeholders Informed of changes, updates, and maintenance activities is crucial.
Proactive Collaboration
Joint planning and scheduling:
- Proactive collaboration between your Basis team and SAP on upcoming maintenance activities (e.g., system upgrades, security patches) helps minimize disruption and ensures a smooth transition.
- Your Basis team can provide insights into specific system configurations and potential user impact, allowing SAP to tailor the maintenance window accordingly.
Incident Management:
- A well-defined incident management process ensures a swift and effective response to system issues.
- Your Basis team will be the first line of defense, troubleshooting and diagnosing application-related problems.
- For infrastructure-related issues or complex problems, they will escalate to SAP’s support team, providing necessary context and collaborating on a resolution.
1st Basis Consulting: Your Trusted Partner for Collaborative RISE Success
At 1st Basis Consulting, we understand the intricacies of SAP Basis administration and the evolving landscape of RISE with SAP. Our team of experienced professionals can help you navigate this collaborative approach to system maintenance:
- We can assess your current SAP environment and identify areas for optimization in a RISE with SAP model.
- We can develop a communication and collaboration strategy to bridge the gap between your Basis team and SAP’s managed services.
- We can provide training and upskilling for your Basis team on the latest tools and best practices for collaborating with SAP in a cloud environment.
- We can act as an extension of your IT team, providing ongoing support and ensuring a smooth transition to a collaborative RISE with SAP maintenance model.
Check out the full benefits of RISE with SAP here.
By partnering with 1st Basis Consulting, you can empower your Basis team to thrive in the new era of RISE with SAP. We’ll help you establish a strong collaborative foundation with SAP, ensuring optimal system maintenance and maximizing the value of your SAP investment.
