Cloud Migration
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SAP cloud migration is the move from an on-premise SAP system to a cloud ERP that is operated for you. For complex estates that usually means RISE with SAP and SAP Cloud ERP Private; for growing midsize companies, GROW with SAP and SAP Cloud ERP; for SAP Business One users, a cloud deployment of the system they already know. Done well, it ends hardware refresh cycles and disruptive upgrade projects. Done badly, it simply moves old technical debt onto new infrastructure.
Why it's complex
Few migrations are a simple lift-and-shift. Years of custom code, interfaces to banks, warehouses and e-commerce platforms, and country-specific settings all have to be assessed against a target built around a clean core, where extensions sit beside the ERP rather than inside it. Then comes the path decision: a system conversion that keeps configuration and history, a new implementation based on SAP best practices, or a selective data transition somewhere in between. Pick the wrong path or edition and the project either stalls in analysis or goes live carrying the problems it was meant to remove.
How LinkedWorld addresses it
LinkedWorld treats a cloud migration as a business decision first and a technical one second. In the Diagnosis and Blueprint stages of The LinkedWorld Standard, the alliance reviews your custom code, integrations and data, then recommends the edition and path that suit your size and growth plans, whether that is SAP Business One, SAP Cloud ERP or SAP Cloud ERP Private. Implementation and Go-Live follow the same methodology in every country, and consultants who speak your language and know your local regulations stay with you for Support after the switch.
FAQ
What is the difference between RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP?▾
Both are SAP subscription offerings that bundle cloud ERP software, infrastructure, adoption tools and SAP guidance under one contract. RISE with SAP is aimed at companies transforming an existing, often complex SAP landscape, and it is commonly paired with SAP Cloud ERP Private. GROW with SAP targets midsize companies adopting SAP Cloud ERP with preconfigured best practices and a faster, more standardized start.
How long does an SAP cloud migration take?▾
It depends mostly on scope, not on the software. A single company moving onto a preconfigured public cloud ERP can go live within weeks or a few months, while a multi-entity landscape with heavy custom code usually needs a year or more. The biggest variable is how much custom code and data must be assessed, cleansed or rebuilt, which is why a proper diagnosis should come before any timeline commitment.
Can we keep our existing customizations after migrating to the cloud?▾
Some, not all. SAP's cloud products are built around a clean core, so each customization is checked against three options: replace it with what is now standard functionality, rebuild it as an extension on SAP BTP, or retire it. This review is usually the single biggest driver of migration timeline and cost, and it is also where most long-term savings come from.
Does moving to the cloud mean a full re-implementation?▾
Not necessarily. Existing SAP ERP customers can choose a system conversion (often called brownfield), which carries configuration and historical data across; a new implementation (greenfield), which rebuilds processes on SAP best practices; or a selective data transition, which keeps chosen data and settings while redesigning the rest. The right choice depends on system age, data quality and how much process change the business wants.
What happens to our data during the migration?▾
Data is profiled, cleansed and loaded in stages, usually master data first and then open items and whatever transactional history you decide to keep. Reconciliation checks after each load let finance and operations confirm completeness before cutover. A migration is also a good moment to archive records you must retain for legal reasons but no longer need in the live system.