A complete breakdown of RISE with SAP's Base, Premium, and Premium Plus tiers — plus the mid-2025 rebrand to SAP Cloud ERP Private, the discontinuation of Premium Plus, pricing implications, and what CIOs must negotiate now.
RISE with SAP is SAP's all-in-one subscription service for digital transformation, bundling S/4HANA Cloud (ERP software), cloud infrastructure, and managed services under a single contract. The goal: simplify the transition from on-premise ECC to S/4HANA Cloud by incorporating technical migrations, process improvement tools, and cloud hosting in one package.
SAP initially introduced three packaging tiers — Base, Premium, and Premium Plus — enabling organisations to select the level of support and additional cloud services they desire. All tiers include core S/4HANA Cloud ERP and basic infrastructure; higher tiers add value-added components.
| Feature / Component | Base | Premium | Premium Plus † |
|---|---|---|---|
| S/4HANA Cloud (Private Edition core) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SAP Build Work Zone (enterprise sites) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Group Reporting (financial consolidation) | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| SAP Signavio (process analysis tools) | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| SAP BTP credits & extension tools (SAP Build) | — | ✔ | ✔ |
| Advanced finance add-ons (cash mgmt, receivables) | — | — | ✔ |
| SAP Analytics Cloud (planning) | — | — | ✔ |
| Supplier Portal (Business Network integration) | — | — | ✔ |
| Sustainability management ("Green Ledger") | — | — | ✔ |
| Generative AI assistant (SAP Joule) | — | — | ✔ |
| SAP Datasphere (data warehouse) | — | — | ✔ |
† Premium Plus discontinued July 2025. Advanced features now available as optional add-ons.
The Base edition is designed for organisations that want a straightforward move to S/4HANA Cloud with minimal frills — the essentials to run ERP in a private cloud, but little beyond that.
Core S/4HANA Cloud (Private Edition) covering finance, logistics, sales, etc., deployed on SAP's cloud infrastructure. Basic tools like SAP Build Work Zone for launchpads and Group Reporting for consolidation. Standard SLAs with hosting in SAP data centres.
Less complex organisations or those in regions where SAP's multi-tenant public cloud isn't available. A lean option for companies that mainly need the ERP and will handle process analysis or extensions separately. Example: a mid-market manufacturer with straightforward processes choosing Base to minimise cost.
SAP has started phasing out the Base package in countries where the public cloud edition (or GROW with SAP for SMBs) is mature. Existing Base customers have grandfathering protection through end of 2025, but new Base RISE deals are now rare. Read: Choosing RISE or Traditional SAP Licensing: Strategic Checklist for CIOs.
The Premium edition became the default choice for most large enterprises — building on Base by bundling tools and services that accelerate business transformation and cloud adoption.
SAP Signavio — Process Insights, Process Manager, Collaboration Hub. Map current processes, identify optimisation opportunities, critical for migrating to a "clean core" cloud system.
Consumption allowance (CPEA credits) for SAP BTP services. Build apps with SAP Build (low-code), automate workflows with SAP Build Process Automation — no separate purchase orders needed.
SAP Business Network Starter Pack, flexibility in hosting (choose preferred hyperscaler), support for larger system sizes, optional integration with other cloud services.
More hands-on guidance from SAP during setup. Additional "guardians" or experts in first phases, extra check-ins on process redesign beyond standard technical onboarding.
SAP initially indicated Premium carries a roughly 30% higher subscription fee than Base. Pricing is based on FUEs — a metric aggregating users by type (Professional = 1.0 FUE, Casual = 0.1 FUE). Total cost = Total FUEs × unit price. Illustrative: 500 FUEs at ~€2,000/FUE/year ≈ €1M annually.
Premium delivers the original vision of RISE with SAP — not just moving ERP to the cloud but providing tools to continuously improve and innovate. CIOs should carefully model costs, as bundling can obscure individual component pricing. Read: RISE vs Traditional Licensing: Contractual Flexibility Comparison.
Premium Plus was the top-tier offering introduced in late 2023, layering on advanced capabilities for customers wanting the cutting edge. It included everything in Premium plus:
Advanced Cash Management, Receivables Management, enhanced group reporting data collection, SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) for planning. Sophisticated functionality for CFOs.
Supplier Portal from SAP's Business Network (formerly Ariba). Electronic RFQs, PO tracking, invoice collaboration — fully integrated with the ERP.
SAP Sustainability Footprint Management and Control Tower — track carbon emissions alongside financial data. Forward-looking ESG reporting capability.
SAP's generative AI assistant co-piloting across the ERP, plus AI consumption units for ML/AI services. Positioned for AI-driven insights without separate licences.
SAP Datasphere (cloud data warehouse) for advanced analytics and a unified data layer across the business. Enterprise data consolidation included.
SAP found that bundling AI, analytics, and sustainability into a single high-end package complicated the value proposition and slowed deals. Premium Plus is no longer sold to new customers. Advanced components are now available as optional à la carte add-ons. Existing contracts are honoured through their term.
July 2025 brought a significant shake-up in SAP's packaging strategy. Here's what changed:
The Premium package is now called SAP Cloud ERP Private — the main offering for single-tenant S/4HANA Cloud. RISE with SAP becomes a general term for the transformation journey, not a specific SKU.
No more three-tier structure. One primary package (with an optional "base" variant in niche cases). Advanced AI, sustainability, and analytics features moved to optional add-ons.
SAP LeanIX (enterprise architecture analysis) now included. SAP Business Network Supplier Portal and Taulia solutions (working capital) added. SAP doubled the number of included SKUs.
SAP Datasphere no longer included by default. Joule AI and sustainability apps unbundled. These were tied to the discontinued Premium Plus — now treated as optional extras requiring separate purchase.
SAP also slightly tweaked its FUE user model rules in 2025, reclassifying some user roles into higher categories. Some activities previously counted as "functional" (cheaper) may now require a "professional" user licence (more expensive). SAP says many authorisations were also downgraded — but enterprises must stay vigilant and verify their user mix under the new rules.
The decision framework is simpler (fewer tiers), but the need for scrutiny is higher. The rebranded package offers more components — some may not be needed. Cool new features (AI, analytics) are now unbundled, meaning an additional budget ask if you require them. If you assumed these were still bundled, you could be under budget.
All RISE deals remain subscription-based (typically 3–5 year contracts) calculated on FUE count and resource size. What changed is what's included. The new Cloud ERP Private may have a similar base price to old Premium, but since it lacks some formerly bundled items, expect additional line items. Always obtain a detailed bill of materials.
With AI, advanced planning, and sustainability now as add-ons, SAP has introduced new upsell opportunities mid-contract. This modular approach avoids paying for what you don't use — but if an add-on becomes mission-critical, SAP retains pricing power. Negotiate price protections for anticipated add-ons upfront.
Nearly twice as many components means a longer list of items to track. Each component (LeanIX, Signavio, Build, etc.) has its own usage terms. Signavio may have user limits; BTP credits may expire annually. Monitor these to derive value and stay compliant.
If you're an existing RISE customer on an older package (especially Premium Plus), the 2025 changes present an opportunity. SAP is eager to transition customers to the new model. Perhaps commit to the new Cloud ERP Private but request add-ons (AI credits, sustainability tools) at no additional cost. Use the fact that capabilities were removed as leverage.
RISE with SAP is one route to S/4HANA. Alternatives exist: licensing S/4HANA traditionally and hosting with a hyperscaler, or opting for the public cloud edition (SaaS). Always conduct a side-by-side TCO comparison. Read: Cost Comparison: RISE vs Own Infrastructure | Complete Licensing Guide for SAP ERP Private Cloud.
Critically assess requirements. Don't pay extra for unused features. For a pure technical migration, a lean option may suffice; for a major transformation, leverage the full package.
Request a clear cost breakdown by component. Understand what each element (ERP, database, BTP, analytics) contributes to the price. This aids negotiations and enables comparison with alternative licensing models.
SAP is keen to position Cloud ERP Private as added value. Negotiate introductory discounts or extras — request free AI usage hours or a sustainability module for the first year.
Lock in rights for anticipated needs. If you'll need Datasphere or more BTP capacity in a year, negotiate pricing and terms now. Avoid buying needed add-ons later at whatever price SAP dictates.
FUE model and user role definitions are subject to change. Regularly review SAP user assignments. If SAP shifts a function to a higher licence category, catch it, adjust counts, and push back if it unfairly raises costs.
Don't just accept SAP's TCO claims. Model subscription fees, implementation, partners, and support. Compare against on-prem or other cloud options. Use independent benchmarks.
RISE contracts lock you in for 3–5 years. Begin renewal discussions at least 12 months in advance. Evaluate whether to stay on RISE or switch models. Early negotiations pressure SAP to offer better terms.
SAP contracts and recent changes are complex. Third-party licensing advisors can identify hidden risks, optimisation opportunities, and known discount benchmarks. See: SAP RISE Advisory Services.
Tie your investment to specific business results (process efficiency, faster closes, new capabilities). This keeps SAP accountable and strengthens your case for concessions.
Our SAP licensing specialists help enterprises evaluate RISE tiers, negotiate optimal terms, benchmark pricing, and avoid costly packaging traps during cloud transformation.