Cloud solutions are on the rise, but hybrid scenarios dominate the landscape
Cloud solutions are becoming increasingly prevalent in SAP landscapes, but the standard remains hybrid for the time being: most companies combine on-premises systems with private and public cloud offerings.
SAP user groups in North America, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and Japan conducted a joint survey. A total of 274 participants from the DACH region registered for the survey. The main findings are as follows: More than two-thirds of SAP users surveyed worldwide already use cloud services for applications, workloads, or data storage. In the DACH region, the rate among DSAG members is 76 percent, driven by RISE and GROW offerings designed to accelerate the transition without replacing on-premises operations in the short term.
Hybrid landscapes dominate
According to survey results, 78 percent of DSAG companies combine on-premises and cloud systems, while pure public cloud scenarios remain rare. The reasons for this are highly customized S/4HANA systems, investment protection, complex licensing models, and uncertainties regarding return on investment.
The reluctance to embrace the public cloud is primarily cultural and regulatory in nature. Many companies in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland fear dependence on individual providers, data access by foreign hyperscalers, and the loss of established customizations and functions.
Around 43 percent of DSAG members are also calling for more flexibility in deployment models and insist on genuine freedom of choice between on-premises, private, and public clouds. They are demanding standardized, open operating models, transparent licensing and cost structures, and clear migration paths.
Business Suite and Business Data Cloud
Only around a third of respondents are truly familiar with SAP's new Business Suite; many feel that clear roadmaps and support timeframes are lacking. The knowledge gaps are even greater when it comes to the Business Data Cloud: companies are seeking guidance on integration capabilities, licensing and pricing models, and how it differs from existing SAP data solutions.
The survey conducted in July and August 2025 confirms that the cloud is gaining ground, but the hybrid approach remains dominant for the foreseeable future. Whether Business Suite and Business Data Cloud will further accelerate this trend depends heavily on better communication, transparency, and reliable framework conditions on the part of SAP. «The DACH region is characterized by mature on-premises landscapes, high data protection requirements, and a strong awareness of investment security. This explains the more cautious but sustainable approach of many companies to cloud transformation,» says Jens Hungershausen, DSAG CEO.
Source: DSAG
This article originally appeared on m-q.ch - https://www.m-q.ch/de/cloud-loesungen-nehmen-zu-doch-hybride-szenarien-bestimmen-das-bild/
