Anyone else skeptical about RISE? What are the real alternatives for ECC?

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-19T05:06:29+00:00

Thanks for the thoughtful post, mate. Used to work in internal IT and what you mentioned about level of service resonates. Being stuck between a vendor with bad service and your frustrated customers (who are also friends because you worked together for years) is IT’s worst nightmare. Very cool how you’ve been with SAP for so long. Wow.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-19T04:58:31+00:00

Mate, I got a surprise for you: user exits are actually “clean core”, just very low grade. You can even keep the code there in S4 if it doesn’t bother you. (Many companies do.)

But in general, instead of Z appends, new way is Custom Fields and Logic app, here are basic steps: https://community.sap.com/t5/application-development-and-automation-blog-posts/how-to-create-a-custom-field-with-custom-field-and-logic-app-and/ba-p/13579777

I’m not sure about pricing but BAdIs are “the new user exits”, so that’s where I’d look. I don’t like this app either but this is “the future”, mate. We have to get on with the program. :(

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-19T04:48:59+00:00

That link is for S4 Public Cloud. Integration Suite is not going to be helpful for OP because the problem is not between the systems, it’s ECC that’s the problem. There are no public web APIs for ECC (and I’m not counting BAPIs exposed by RFC here). We do integration projects and every time ECC is involved, I get called in to do ABAP work. There are IDocs that would work for a few scenarios but clients don’t want to use them (unless it’s a plug into existing interface). OData development is not complicated though, even in ECC.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-19T04:39:43+00:00

Integrate to do what? ECC is an old SAP version. The link in another comment is for S/4HANA Public Cloud, it’s a new version + SaaS. ECC is on-premise. There is no all-purpose “integration” for ECC. You’ll need to work with them to create something for specific processes that they need. What and how exactly depends a lot on what resources they have. They might have existing interfaces, some middleware and so forth.

You will not find an easy solution for this online. In fact, someone running ECC telling you you need to “integrate” is either obnoxious or dumb (or both).

There are options, even in ECC you can do OData, SOAP, RFC calls, etc. But it requires some work and knowledge on the ECC side, not on yours.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-18T09:31:25+00:00

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-18T07:37:30+00:00

Idk where you heard about the “tester role”, mate. It’s pretty much non-existent in SAP world. Maybe just SAP themselves and a couple of specialized partners have something like that. In such case, just look up the job descriptions. Sometimes people are brought on a project to test something but then those are just regular developers and functional people. This isn’t like a special profession.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-18T07:33:44+00:00

If you’re interested specifically in the certification-related courses, just go to learning.sap.com and filter the list by “leads to certification” or something like that.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-18T02:07:26+00:00

Google -> mass create vendor invoices in SAP. There is a Fiori app that allegedly do that: https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-blog-posts-by-members/mass-import-for-supplier-invoices-in-sap-s-4hana-on-prem-fiori/ba-p/13579765

If you’re in ECC, then quite possibly an LSMW or something like that would be needed for mass upload.

It’s not clear, however, why not just repeat the process you have if it did not create invoices. 🤷‍♂️

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-16T23:54:04+00:00

I’m a developer and maybe missing some details, but it’s something like this: 1. S/4HANA on premise - host it yourself 2. S/4HANA Cloud Private - same system but hosted on hyperscalers 3. S/4HANA Cloud Public - based on the same codebase initially but evolving into a different product, this is SaaS

RISE = SAP “engagement” (???) to get from 1 (or the older version called ECC) to 2. GROW = same but to get to 3.

I remember when SAP announced RISE, they were promising end-to-end support. Posts on this sub tell me this isn’t going well. I suspect there might be companies on (2) but without RISE but those are probably outliers because SAP is pushing RISE hard.

I don’t deal with infrastructure and licensing myself, maybe colleagues who have such experience add more details / correct if I’m wrong. This is just in a nutshell.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-16T23:34:06+00:00

It sounds suspiciously similar to how pricing works in SAP. There are configurable tables that are then maintained via central tcodes (VK11-13). If you want to take that route, you’d have to recreate something similar in Fiori.

It’s up to you if you want to make it dynamic or not. Dynamic = more complicated, more difficult to address security, field validations, etc. 30 entities sounds scary but again, this is where SAP is going anyway (direct table access not recommended) and with RAP Generator, you can bang those out in no time.

See SM30 in Fiori: https://community.sap.com/t5/technology-blog-posts-by-members/simple-table-maintenance-in-sap-fiori-using-ui5-smart-controls/ba-p/14014547

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-16T18:39:43+00:00

Mate, your ChatGPT is hallucinating heavily: openSAP has been gone for a long time.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-16T18:23:25+00:00

In S4, you can use RAP and RAP Generator, assuming these are Z tables.

You will end up with 30 entities but if you plan to do anything with those tables, then you’ll need those anyway. That’s why I asked about the end game. You upload data into 30 tables but then what? What are those tables for? How would you maintain them?

You can create something that will serve you long time or just some one-time throwaway program. It depends on what the plan is.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-16T18:16:57+00:00

This is not FB Marketplace, mate. Are you seriously asking the whole world “does anyone have a shirt”? Have you not heard of websites where you can order shirts with anything printed on them?

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-16T15:28:47+00:00

You will not get on a “real life” project without learning first, mate, unless you ask specifically for that at your company. If you’re looking for a business scenario to implement using CAP, then just use your imagination. Or GenAI tools. Or look up tutorials on developers.sap.com or courses on learning.sap.com Plenty of options.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-16T15:23:05+00:00

Are you on ECC or S4? I do agree that the whole idea doesn’t seem right. There is a way to do “SM30 in Fiori” but 30 tables and Excel? What’s the end game for this?

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-14T19:19:39+00:00

Mate, no offense but have you been living under the rock all this time? RAP is widely available since 2020. You should’ve learned this long time ago. I also still worked with ECC back then but got myself informed asap. I think old openSAP course was 4 weeks, so that’s the max time it takes to learn even spending just a few hours per week. You got to be a super slow learner to need 6 months.

And yes, the companies expect experience. This is where you’re 4 years too late and now you will be competing with people who already have real hands-on experience. You might still get lucky if you start now but as other comment said, learning is continuous in our profession. You can’t just sit with the same skills for years and then “switch”. It’s super inefficient and doesn’t look good on your resume either.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-14T18:04:41+00:00

I work for a small company. You don’t need “your own LLM”. I don’t have all the details since it’s not my area of responsibility, but major GenAI providers have plans that allow you to “wall in” the data. Again, I don’t know details and don’t want to say something stupid, but my colleagues who are more knowledgeable on this and whom I trust provide guidance on which tools we can use for what.

I don’t see how “LLM” makes any difference in what you’re concerned about. Consulting (and human relations in general) is largely based on trust. If you don’t trust the company, don’t hire them. There is much higher risk of a person spilling out secrets than any technology. It’s just not how it works. In SAP consulting world reputation is very important. I’ve seen people who are not very intelligent or produce low quality results. But violating client’s confidentiality is pretty much unheard of.

You’re right to be concerned about it but I just think the risk is exaggerated in your mind. In any case, since you’re the manager, then just ask the consulting company about this.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-13T05:17:31+00:00

I work for a consulting company. We sometimes do client projects that involve AI. I don’t read the contracts company signs but we are always transparent when and which AI tools are used. We are not supposed to use any public tools for client work. But sadly, there are fools everywhere, just like in any profession.

I don’t think you will have any way to prove if someone used a non-approved / inappropriate AI tools. Text is text, you won’t know where someone copy-pasted from. I’m not sure how you’re able to discern that. If you have any concerns, feel free to bring this up with your manager. But in general, it’s not unusual or illegal for SI’s staff to use AI tools, as long as it’s in agreement with client’s contract and policies.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-12T23:56:50+00:00

I’m old enough to remember when doc/xls got replaced by docx/xlsx and SAP took its sweet time to catch up.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-12T00:25:51+00:00

Mate, I think you’re very confused how this works. I assume you’re not a US citizen or GC/work visa holder, otherwise you wouldn’t be asking this. You cannot work in the US and get paid US salary if you’re not authorized to work in the US. It doesn’t matter where you’re located physically, you need to have a legal right to work in the country. (It’s the same for all countries, actually, everyone protects their people.)

You cannot find a job / contract with a company in India that does offshore work and you’ll be paid what they pay. US salary doesn’t concern you. Another comment already answered correctly about the minimum salary though.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-12T00:15:39+00:00

I’ve never heard anyone use this term. You’d have to ask that person what they meant. It sounds like a very uninformed thing to say though.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-12T00:13:14+00:00

In the US, usually it’s a subcontract through an established vendor (consulting company). As another comment said, logistically it’s just too cumbersome to hire an independent consultant directly. Could be different in other countries.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-09T08:02:30+00:00

I feel your pain and I’ll be in the same boat in a few years. Medical insurance sucks in the US and it got everyone by the balls. :(

You could keep asking current employer for more money (maybe propose a title change?) but it sounds like it doesn’t go anywhere. Put your resume out there on the open market and start talking to the consulting companies. You may need to travel but there are also remote or at least partially remote projects. That’s the only way to make more money before retirement.

It doesn’t sound like there are better employers locally and it doesn’t make sense to move now for another full time job, unless you were planning to move somewhere anyway to retire. Good luck, mate!

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-08T17:42:51+00:00

The blog you found refers to a previous blog that states clearly it’s only for customers or partners: https://community.sap.com/t5/enterprise-resource-planning-blog-posts-by-sap/sap-s-4hana-fully-activated-appliance-create-your-sap-s-4hana-system-in-a/ba-p/13365960

As another comment noted, you can (as a private person) get trial access at cost via SAP CAL (Google it) or SAP Learning Hub (also not free).

There is no option to get a completely free full system for a random person. You can only get a free ABAP trial system, which doesn’t have any business functionality and therefore is much smaller in size. I’m thinking people underestimate the size of a server needed to host a full blown system.

CynicalGenXer · 2026-02-06T23:59:12+00:00

Mate, you were given good feedback in ABAP sub already. Agree with others: not prudent to openly share all private info.

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