Cloud solutions on the rise, but hybrid scenarios dominate the picture
Cloud solutions are gaining ground 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 UK and Japan conducted a joint survey. A total of 274 participants were registered from the DACH region. The main result was 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, which are intended to accelerate the transition without replacing on-premises operations in the short term.
Hybrid landscapes dominate
According to the survey results, 78% of DSAG companies combine on-premises and cloud systems, while pure public cloud scenarios remain rare. The reasons for this are highly individualized S/4HANA systems, investment protection, complex licensing models and uncertainties regarding return on investment.
The reluctance towards the public cloud is primarily due to cultural and regulatory factors. Many DACH companies fear dependencies on individual providers, data access by foreign hyperscalers and the loss of established customizations and functions.
Around 43% 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 calling for standardized, open operating models, transparent licensing and cost structures as well as clear migration paths.
Business Suite and Business Data Cloud
So far, only around a third of respondents are really familiar with SAP's new Business Suite; many lack clear roadmaps and support time horizons. The gaps in knowledge are even greater when it comes to the Business Data Cloud: companies require guidance on integration capability, licensing and pricing models as well as how to differentiate it from previous SAP data solutions.
The survey from July and August 2025 therefore confirms that the cloud is winning, but the hybrid approach will remain dominant in the long term. Whether Business Suite and Business Data Cloud continue to accelerate this course 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 Chairman of the Board.
Source: DSAG
