Will RISE with SAP, along with similar initiatives, change the entire field of IT for business — and consequently the lives of many IT professionals, who deliver IT services to business?
At Expert Links, we specialize in delivering top-tier SAP expertise to support your rollout, transformation, and maintenance projects. Whether you’re planning your next SAP journey or navigating a complex transition, our network of trusted professionals is here to ensure success — every step of the way.
That is one of the reasons why we recently had the pleasure of speaking with Waldemar Faliński, a seasoned SAP Cutover expert with whom we’ve been cooperating on various initiatives. In our conversation, we explored his insights on the impact of RISE with SAP on IT operations and its implications for business transformation.
Waldemar shared the following thoughts with us:
I know this might not sound very exciting at first glance, but the truth is, this concept is fundamentally transforming the global ERP landscape. Many voices — also on LinkedIn — may be downplaying it, but the numbers don’t lie. RISE with SAP is rapidly becoming the main segment of ERP implementations, generating significant value and opening the door for many SAP customers to adopt innovations like AI tools instantly.
What exactly is RISE with SAP?
RISE with SAP aims to turn business transformation, which has always been a major component of every SAP project, into a smooth and ongoing process of small, continuous changes. This certainly feels like a major shift—not only in how we deliver projects, but also in the daily lives of SAP consultants like myself.
I work as a Cutover Manager, and cutover has always been the culminating moment of every business transformation in an SAP project.
So, does this mean cutovers will disappear once the wave of SAP S/4HANA transitions is complete?
Not entirely…
Other major changes are on the horizon too. For example, SAP is pushing for greater standardization across projects. As part of that, certifications are becoming mandatory. The first stage starts this week, requiring certified consultants in RISE with SAP projects. By the end of 2025, 50% of SAP consultants on all SAP projects must hold at least one valid certification.
Coming back to RISE with SAP—will it eliminate the need for traditional transformation cutovers?
Not so fast. The wave of S/4HANA migrations is still ongoing. Many of these transitions are part of RISE, but not all. So, yes—lucky me, there’s still some work to deliver and joy to find in transformation projects.
Even organizations already on RISE with SAP will still need to manage continuous improvements—albeit in smaller, incremental “release-wise” steps. These still require cutover-like efforts, albeit smaller in scale.
Moreover, businesses are dynamic. Companies are constantly restructuring—selling off or acquiring units and operations. These events will always require transformation—and thus, cutovers. It will take time before we feel a real shift in what it means to be an SAP professional.
But one thing is already changing: certifications. This formal requirement is reshaping our professional lives now. Until recently, I had spent my entire career without any SAP certification. But in light of what’s happening, I’ve changed my mindset—from cold and skeptical to fully embracing them. I’ve already earned three certifications and plan to double that by the end of this year. And I challenge everyone to do the same!
These are the topics Waldemar discussed during his session at the SAP Inside Track (SIT) Wrocław 2025 conference and which he explores in his books on SAP certifications and the RISE with SAP process. Waldemar’s four special edition books, published on the occasion of the SIT Wrocław 2025 conference, are now available.
Below are the sources where you can find Waldemar’s publications:
