6. May 2026 By Ari Torpo and Sanna Keskioja
Beyond migration: Making the SAP S/4HANA Architecture decision with confidence
The Architecture Decision
The move to SAP S/4HANA is less of a system migration and more of an architectural choice that defines your business's agility for the next decade.
Ari Torpo, adesso Finland’s Country Manager, simplifies the core decision for customers moving to S/4HANA in the cloud:
1. Configurable (RISE with S/4HANA Cloud, Private Edition) Greater flexibility, continuity for existing landscapes
2. Standard (GROW with S/4HANA Cloud, Public Edition)): Standard-first, true SaaS with SAP driven innovation
"At adesso, we advocate for the power of the standard and the GROW strategy," Ari notes. "Adherence to standard processes is the key to minimizing complexity and maximizing future agility. This is where the long-term cost benefits are realized."
Beyond Migration: The Customization Dilemma
The core challenge of S/4HANA is resisting the urge to simply replicate old, complex, and customized processes. The experience of the consultant is key to facilitating this difficult, yet necessary, change.
Sanna Keskioja, Senior Project Manager, emphasizes the role of neutrality and clarity in this process:
"I am ultimately technology-agnostic—and so is adesso. Our priority is finding the most suitable solution for the client's current situation and their maturity level. Standardization is not a technical preference; it is a strategic constraint that enables scale."
adesso’s role is to ensure that clients make the strategic decisions that leverage the system's intended standard benefits, allowing the business to change their processes for the better, rather than sacrificing efficiency for comfort.
The Open Platform Advantage
The value of the S/4HANA journey extends well beyond the core ERP. The future of SAP is about leveraging the Business Technology Platform (BTP) to open the ecosystem to modern possibilities.
"BTP opens the door for developing the SAP environment using open, user-friendly technologies," Ari explains. This is where adesso’s unique capabilities—beyond traditional SAP consulting—become invaluable:
- Software Development and BTP: adesso is one of the largest software development houses in Europe. This means our SAP consultants are backed by experts who can build necessary, high-quality extensions (user interfaces, mobile apps) around the SAP core, ensuring the core remains standard and maintainable.
- Strategic partnerships: During 2025 SAP has announced strategic partnerships with Databricks and Snowflake and thus open the data processing with zero-copy technologies to allow native integration and AI and analytics capabilities.
- Data Integration & AI: adesso has strong Databricks and Snowflake consulting expertise. We ensure the S/4HANA foundation is fully integrated with modern data solutions, maximizing the business data for analytical insight and leveraging AI capabilities without compromising the integrity of the core system.
The Value of Perspective
When facing the critical S/4HANA architectural decision, you need a partner who can provide honest technological guidance and the comprehensive skill set to deliver the modern platform. You need a partner who understands both the rigid requirements of the SAP core and the flexible possibilities of the open platform.
At adesso, we are your local partner for Finnish business, backed by the strength of a European-scale powerhouse, including over 1550 SAP consultants globally. We are small enough to care deeply about the nuances of your specific challenge—and large enough to deliver the most complex projects with German quality and agile execution.
Choosing the right partner means choosing a team that enables your transformation, not just your upgrade.
Ready to Unlock Global Agility with SAP?
If your organization is preparing for international growth or facing complexity that slows decision-making, let’s discuss how SAP can become your strategic backbone—turning complexity into clarity and enabling sustainable, scalable advantage.
Contact Ari Torpo or Sanna Keskioja to start building your global agility foundation.
