Das Wichtigste in Kürze:
- Many mid-market companies know their ERP system is outdated – but keep postponing the switch
- Rising compliance requirements, skills shortages, supply chain pressure, and the limitations of legacy systems make waiting increasingly risky
- SAP launched GROW Fast in early 2026, a new implementation initiative that makes getting started with SAP Cloud ERP more predictable and transparent
- The right time for a switch isn't someday – it's now
Many decision-makers in mid-market companies know their ERP system is no longer fit for purpose. Yet the topic regularly gets pushed back. Because day-to-day business pressure is high, because a switch sounds complex, and because the existing system somehow still works. But the drivers for change are getting stronger. And with SAP GROW Fast, the starting position for implementation has also concretely improved.
Four reasons why waiting is becoming riskier
Rising regulatory requirements. REACH, EU Cosmetics Regulation, IFS certifications, supply chain due diligence obligations – the list keeps growing. Organizations that meet these requirements with manual processes or legacy systems tie up resources and increase audit risk.
Skills shortage as an amplifier. In many operations, system knowledge resides in individual heads. When that person leaves, much remains undocumented. Modern ERP systems standardize processes and relieve employees of routine tasks – creating greater independence.
Supply chain pressure and real-time requirements. Organizations without reliable real-time data on inventory levels and production status lose trust internally and with customers. Particularly in industries like food manufacturing, where shelf life and batch traceability are business-critical, an information advantage of hours can be decisive.
Legacy systems reach their limits. Interfaces to modern platforms, automated document processing, integrated AI – these can only be retrofitted to legacy systems with significant effort, if at all.
What has just changed concretely: GROW Fast
Beyond these structural drivers, there's a current trigger: SAP launched GROW Fast in early 2026, a new implementation initiative for SAP Cloud ERP (officially: SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition) – with clearly defined scope, standardized methodology, and transparent pricing model.
"What has held back many companies so far was uncertainty about what they were getting into," says Simone Mayr, who leads the market introduction of SAP Cloud ERP at PART. "GROW Fast gives the project a clearer outline from the start – making it easier internally to justify and tackle the switch."
Important: GROW with SAP is the pathway and framework programme. The product is SAP Cloud ERP – a fully integrated, cloud-based ERP solution with integrated AI, automatic updates, and industry-specific functions for process industries.
Finding the right entry point with PART
PART has been an SAP partner since 1996 and specializes in mid-market process industry companies. We accompany the entire journey – from assessing whether SAP Cloud ERP fits your organization, through structured implementation to ongoing operations. A clear principle applies: we only sell what the system can actually deliver.
Want to know what a switch would mean specifically for your company? Get in touch.
Learn more about implementing SAP Cloud ERP and how PART supports you in our whitepaper: "Your roadmap to Cloud ERP with SAP S/4HANA"
Frequently asked questions about SAP Cloud ERP and the right timing for the switch
What is SAP Cloud ERP – and how does it relate to GROW with SAP?
SAP Cloud ERP is the product name for SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition. GROW with SAP is the framework programme that structures the entry for mid-market companies – so it's the pathway, not the product. SAP GROW Fast is the latest initiative within this programme: withclearly defined scope and transparent pricing model.
For which companies is SAP Cloud ERP suitable?
For mid-market companies from around 100 employees who want to map their processes on a modern, integrated platform. Particularly relevant for industries with high regulatory requirements – chemicals, food, cosmetics.
What distinguishes SAP Cloud ERP from an on-premise solution?
SAP Cloud ERP runs in the cloud, is automatically updated, and requires no dedicated server infrastructure. This means predictable costs, lower IT overhead, and always current functionality – including integrated AI. On-premise offers more customization but ties up significantly more resources.
How long does SAP Cloud ERP implementation take?
This depends on the starting situation and scope. We clarify both upfront in the Digital Discovery Assessment – only then can we give a reliable estimate. With GROW Fast and clearly bounded initial scope, a much faster go-live is possible than with traditional ERP projects.
What does SAP Cloud ERP cost?
SAP Cloud ERP is billed through a monthly subscription model – predictable and without high upfront investments. We discuss specific figures in the initial consultation, because scope always depends on individual requirements.
Why is now a good time for the switch?
Regulatory requirements are rising, legacy systems are hitting their limits. With SAP GROW Fast, there's now for the first time a clearly structured implementation methodology with transparent pricing model – making entry more predictable than ever before. Organizations that act now prevent the gap between current state and requirements from growing even larger.
Conclusion: The best time was yesterday, the second-best is today
ERP projects rarely improve by waiting. Requirements rise, workarounds multiply, and the gaps between what the system can do and what the business needs keep growing. With SAP GROW Fast, SAP launched an initiative in 2026 that makes getting started with SAP Cloud ERP more structured and transparent than ever before. This is a good opportunity – for companies that have hesitated so far, and for those that should have taken this step long ago.
