What is RISE with SAP?

RISE with SAP helps your organisation modernise legacy ERP system landscapes to become an Autonomous Enterprise through its proven methodology for agent-led transformation and the fast path to agentic AI.

Overview of RISE with SAP

RISE with SAP overview image

What is the RISE with SAP journey?

The RISE with SAP journey offers an accelerated path to AI-enabled transformation, moving your business to SAP Cloud ERP Private while realising the full potential of agentic AI scenarios for an Autonomous Enterprise.

RISE with SAP Methodology overview image

What is RISE with SAP Methodology?

RISE with SAP Methodology combines a standardised framework, expert guidance and an agent-led toolchain. The Rise with SAP Methodology, enhanced with AI capabilities through Joule, is designed to support the transformation journey to the SAP Autonomous Suite.

How do customers benefit from the RISE with SAP Methodology?

The RISE with SAP Methodology brings together everything you need to drive successful transformation in one cohesive approach. Instead of working across disconnected tools and guidance, you get proven project road map templates based on decades of experience. These templates complemented with guidance by SAP experts help you to create a project-specific road map and manage change with clarity. Joule and the agent-led toolchain bring people, process, applications and data together in one approach, delivering intelligent, continuous support throughout your journey.

As a result, you can transition more smoothly and handle complex transformation processes with greater clarity, improving operational efficiency and achieving your business goals. You also gain the flexibility to adapt and innovate continuously, in line with SAP’s clean core principles.

How does RISE with SAP Methodology work?

The methodology offers a comprehensive framework to project teams throughout each phase of the transformation journey. It serves as a detailed step-by-step road map, enriched with tools, expert insights and recommendations using Joule and AI technologies.

Components of RISE with SAP Methodology:

1. Standardised framework

Provides step-by-step guidance, defined milestones and quality gates for a successful, tailored transformation

2. SAP expert guidance

Delivers recommendations and continuous innovation from discovery and onboarding through project set-up, supported by qualified SAP partners

3. Agent-led toolchain

Enables smooth collaboration between business and IT, eliminating silos and accelerating project execution

Clean core is a critical concept of the RISE with SAP Methodology. Clean core refers to a set of guiding principles designed to support ongoing business transformation by creating agile, innovative and efficient ERP systems. Particularly for existing SAP customers modernising their ERP landscape, RISE with SAP Methodology includes a success plan and quality gates within the transformation road map. This helps you to maintain clean core principles, quickly adopt AI capabilities and new functionality and continue to innovate over time.

Standardised framework

The framework is structured according to SAP Activate road maps. It’s organised into six distinct phases with a focus on confident transformation and continuous innovation.

The six phases are:

1. Discover

In this initial phase, the groundwork is laid by identifying business objectives and potential transformation opportunities. This involves assessing the current landscape and exploring solutions that align with strategic goals. The outcome is a well-defined value proposition and business case, providing a compelling justification for the investment.

2. Prepare

This phase focuses on project preparation, setting the stage for a successful transformation. Teams onboard, develop the project plan, establish the governance model and equip stakeholders with the necessary tools and resources.

3. Explore

During the exploration phase, users engage deeply with the solution's capabilities and refine their requirements. Workshops and demonstrations help validate assumptions and drive informed decision-making.

4. Realise

In the realisation phase, the actual configuration and development take place. Teams work on customising processes and functionalities, ensuring alignment with the defined business needs and objectives.

5. Deploy

This critical phase involves transitioning from the previous set-up to the new environment. It covers final testing, user training and the actual deployment of the solution to the live environment to prepare for a smooth launch.

6. Run

Once deployed, the focus shifts to user adoption, optimising operations and managing ongoing support. Continuous monitoring is performed to ensure peak performance and address any emerging issues.

Lastly, the framework is designed to embrace continuous improvements and innovations. It encourages teams to stay agile and open to new approaches, so the solution evolves in line with the latest technological trends and business demands.

SAP expert guidance

Achieve your goals through seamless collaboration between SAP, your project team and your partners at every stage. As part of your cloud subscription, SAP provides specialised services to help you to realise value faster.

Your cloud subscription includes services and expert guidance for SAP Cloud ERP Private and your move toward an Autonomous Enterprise at no extra cost. SAP helps you transition to SAP Cloud ERP Private with comprehensive guidance through onboarding, transformation preparation and quality gate processes. Throughout the project, SAP specialists provide targeted insights and recommendations, reinforced by the quality gate report and the RISE with SAP Methodology dashboard. This information gives you clear visibility into project status, prioritised tasks and an executive summary.

Beyond core enablement, project teams can access richer guidance and hands-on expertise through Joule and AI:

  • Joule for SAP Activate for methodology-driven execution.

  • SAP Joule for Consultants and SAP Joule for Developers for role-specific insights.

  • Joule Assistants and Joule Agents to accelerate migration and modernisation.

  • AI-enabled tools that enhance productivity across the agent‑led toolchain.

SAP service and support

Additional SAP services and support offerings like Max Success Plan help ensure your success with tailored offerings at any scale and speed.

SAP partners

Many existing SAP customers choose to use their established relationships with RISE with SAP Validated Partners. Others prefer to use the SAP Partner Finder to identify the most suitable partners for their projects.

Agent-led toolchain

The agent-led toolchain in the RISE with SAP Methodology helps modernise ERP landscapes by orchestrating change holistically across people, processes, applications and data.

To support this transformation, the toolchain combines recommended tools, AI assistants and agents to streamline the entire lifecycle for the Autonomous Enterprise—covering everything from discovery to execution and ongoing innovation.

By using solutions from SAP and our partners, it helps improve efficiency, enhance collaboration and drive better business outcomes. This integrated approach helps you to accelerate your ERP transformation journey.

At its core, the agent-led toolchain enables a value driven approach to business transformation through a set of connected tools that work together across every stage of the project.

Building on this foundation, dedicated AI assistants and agents help accelerate modernisation by enabling faster migrations, optimising operations, managing complexity and helping reduce costs.

Because every transformation journey is unique, the agent-led toolchain is designed to scale with your unique project roadmap and transformation goals. Whether you're pursuing a fast-track migration or a full end-to-end business transformation, it provides the guidance, automation and support you need every step of the way.

Explore RISE with SAP Methodology for your organisation

Maximise business value while saving time and effort. Utilise the comprehensive benefits of the thoughtfully designed components within the RISE with SAP Methodology.


This holistic approach delivers outcomes that surpass what individual components can achieve on their own. Customer outcomes include:

  • Up to 30% reduction in transformation costs.

  • Up to 35% faster realisation of benefits.

  • Up to 70% increase in business agility.

  • Up to 40% acceleration in innovation cycles.

SAP’s approach helps you to ensure long-term success, providing a future-ready solution that supports the business as it adapts and grows, extending benefits far beyond the initial go-live phase.

Get your organisation ready to modernise, reduce costs and innovate faster with RISE with SAP. Learn more about RISE with SAP Methodology.

Take the next step

Discover more about RISE with SAP

Take a closer look at the benefits RISE with SAP and the proven methodology provide to you.

RISE with SAP Methodology deep dive

Discover how to successfully transform your business while meeting project and financial goals.

Frequently asked questions

RISE with SAP is a complete journey that helps organisations move from a legacy ERP system to the SAP Autonomous Suite, a modern, cloud-based environment.

RISE with SAP Methodology is a unique combination of a standardised framework, expert guidance and the agent-led toolchain, designed for the transformation journey to SAP Cloud ERP and the SAP Autonomous Suite. It emphasises a clean core approach designed to enhance agility, drive innovation and secure long-term growth and business resilience by minimising unnecessary complexity.

Explore the transformation road map templates available in the SAP Activate viewer, which are enhanced with access to Joule for added insights. SAP customers can access the road map viewer in SAP for Me.

Partner resources complement a customer’s project team and participate in sessions where SAP provides expert guidance. SAP also offers dedicated training programmes that equip partners to support customer transformations and earn competencies such as RISE with SAP. For more information, go to the SAP Partner Finder.

Working with a qualified SAP partner can accelerate deployment, reduce risk and tailor the solution to your industry and business needs. SAP offers core services, while partners provide specialised expertise in areas like integration, change management and customised development. Refer to the SAP Partner Finder for more information.

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