Analyst(s): Keith Kirkpatrick
Publication Date: August 20, 2024
The News: Xerox Holdings Corp. has adopted the RISE with SAP solution to transform its enterprise architecture. This strategic decision is part of Xerox’s broader digital transformation journey, designed to streamline global operations, enhance business agility, and ensure long-term competitiveness in a rapidly evolving market. Adopting RISE with SAP displays Xerox’s commitment to modernizing its IT infrastructure and business processes, supporting its vision for a more resilient and innovative future.
Xerox Chooses RISE with SAP to Transform Enterprise Architecture
Analyst Take: Xerox’s decision to leverage the RISE with the SAP platform represents a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to modernize and optimize its business operations. Historically known for its leadership in printing and document solutions, Xerox has been pivoting towards digital and IT-centric offerings, recognizing the need to adapt to the rapidly changing technological landscape. Adopting RISE with SAP is not just about upgrading technology; it reflects a strategic shift towards embracing a more integrated, cloud-first approach to business operations.
The RISE with SAP solution is designed to offer companies such as Xerox a comprehensive suite of services that facilitate the transition to cloud-based operations. This solution goes beyond traditional ERP systems by providing a flexible and scalable framework that supports continuous innovation and operational efficiency. For Xerox, this move is crucial in enhancing its ability to respond to market changes, optimize its supply chain, and deliver better services to its global customer base.
Xerox aims to reduce operational complexity and improve decision-making processes across its global network by integrating various aspects of its operations under the RISE with the SAP platform. This integration is expected to yield significant benefits, including improved operational resilience, reduced costs, and enhanced scalability, which are critical for supporting Xerox’s future growth initiatives. Moreover, the cloud-based nature of RISE with SAP aligns with Xerox’s broader goal of creating a more agile and responsive business model capable of thriving in the digital age.
The Role of SAP in Xerox’s IT Modernization
The RISE with SAP offering represents the culmination of its efforts to support companies in their digital transformation journeys. For Xerox, partnering with SAP is a strategic move that leverages SAP’s deep expertise and extensive ecosystem of partners and solutions. The RISE with SAP solution is particularly well suited to meet the needs of large enterprises such as Xerox, which require reliable, scalable, and integrated solutions to manage their complex operations.
At the core of the RISE with SAP offering is SAP S/4HANA, an intelligent suite of applications that provides real-time analytics and data-driven insights. This technology is designed to help businesses such as Xerox gain a deeper understanding of their operations, identify areas for improvement, and make informed decisions that drive growth and innovation. In addition to SAP S/4HANA, the RISE with the SAP solution includes the SAP Business Technology Platform. It offers powerful integration and extension capabilities that allow Xerox to customize the solution to meet its specific needs.
Adopting RISE with SAP is expected to be central to Xerox’s IT modernization efforts. By transitioning to this cloud-based platform, Xerox will eliminate many inefficiencies associated with its legacy systems, streamline its business processes, and enhance its innovation ability. Furthermore, the partnership with SAP provides Xerox with access to a vast network of resources, including industry-specific solutions, best practices, and ongoing support, all of which are essential for ensuring the success of its digital transformation efforts.
Impact on Xerox’s Business Operations
Implementing RISE with SAP is anticipated to transform Xerox’s business operations. One key advantage of migrating to a cloud-based platform is greater operational efficiency. By reducing its reliance on outdated, siloed systems, Xerox can centralize its operations, improve data visibility, and enhance collaboration across its global network. This transition will result in significant cost savings and enhanced agility and responsiveness to market demands.
A critical component of the RISE with SAP solution is its ability to provide real-time insights into business operations. For Xerox, this means having access to up-to-date information that can inform strategic decision-making, optimize resource allocation, and drive continuous improvement. The advanced analytics capabilities of SAP S/4HANA will enable Xerox to gain a deeper understanding of its operations, identify trends, and proactively address potential challenges. This data-driven approach is expected to enhance Xerox’s ability to innovate and stay ahead of the competition.
In addition to improving internal operations, adopting RISE with SAP is also expected to enhance Xerox’s ability to deliver high-quality customer services. By streamlining its processes and improving its ability to manage and analyze data, Xerox will be better positioned to meet the needs of its customers, provide more personalized services, and enhance customer satisfaction. The platform’s scalability also ensures that Xerox can expand its digital offerings and adapt to changing customer demands without being constrained by its IT infrastructure.
The cloud-based architecture of RISE with SAP provides Xerox with the flexibility needed to support its long-term growth strategy. As the company continues to evolve, the platform’s modular design will allow Xerox to easily integrate new technologies, scale its operations, and enter new markets. This adaptability is crucial for ensuring Xerox remains competitive in an increasingly digital and globalized business environment.
The Future of Xerox’s Digital Transformation Journey
Xerox’s decision to adopt RISE with SAP indicates its commitment to digital transformation, but it is just one step in a much larger journey. The successful implementation of this platform will require careful planning, change management, and ongoing investment in technology and talent. However, if executed effectively, this initiative has the potential to significantly enhance Xerox’s operational capabilities, drive innovation, and position the company for long-term success.
Xerox will likely continue building on the foundation provided by RISE with SAP, exploring additional opportunities to leverage digital technologies across its business. This may include the adoption of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT), all of which have the potential to further enhance Xerox’s ability to innovate and compete in the digital age. As Xerox continues to navigate its digital transformation journey, the partnership with SAP will undoubtedly play a central role in shaping its future.
In the broader industry context, Xerox’s use of RISE with SAP is a case study for other companies looking to modernize their operations and embrace digital transformation. The lessons from Xerox’s experience can provide valuable insights for other organizations facing similar challenges and opportunities. As digital transformation becomes increasingly critical to business success, Xerox’s proactive approach to embracing new technologies and partnerships will likely serve as a model for others to follow.
SAP Seeing Continued Success with RISE with SAP
Xerox’s adoption of RISE with SAP is further evidence that organizations are realizing the benefits of a cloud-based, clean-core architecture, and are taking the necessary steps to migrate their businesses. While challenges still abound, SAP’s digital transformation programs have helped organizations address and manage these challenges, while also gaining critical visibility into the data and workflows required to service customers today and in the future. As SAP’s 2027 deadline for S/4HANA migration looms ever closer, we expect that SAP customers will accelerate their transformation plans to ensure they can maximize the benefits of both AI and a cloud-based, modular infrastructure.
You can read the full report on SAP’s website here.
Disclosure: The Futurum Group is a research and advisory firm that engages or has engaged in research, analysis, and advisory services with many technology companies, including those mentioned in this article. The author does not hold any equity positions with any company mentioned in this article.
Analysis and opinions expressed herein are specific to the analyst individually and data and other information that might have been provided for validation, not those of The Futurum Group as a whole.
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Author Information
Keith Kirkpatrick is Research Director, Enterprise Software & Digital Workflows for The Futurum Group. Keith has over 25 years of experience in research, marketing, and consulting-based fields.
He has authored in-depth reports and market forecast studies covering artificial intelligence, biometrics, data analytics, robotics, high performance computing, and quantum computing, with a specific focus on the use of these technologies within large enterprise organizations and SMBs. He has also established strong working relationships with the international technology vendor community and is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and events.
In his career as a financial and technology journalist he has written for national and trade publications, including BusinessWeek, CNBC.com, Investment Dealers’ Digest, The Red Herring, The Communications of the ACM, and Mobile Computing & Communications, among others.
He is a member of the Association of Independent Information Professionals (AIIP).
Keith holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Magazine Journalism and Sociology from Syracuse University.
