How CFOs in Asia can drive growth amid economic uncertainty with SAP S/4HANA Cloud?

Yet, in a survey by PwC, 74% of CFOs in Asia-Pacific identified digital transformation as a top priority for maintaining business resilience and supporting future growth. This is where cloud-based ERP solutions like SAP S/4HANA Cloud can be a game-changer.

Why Cloud ERP is a strategic imperative for CFOs in Asia

Asian enterprises are rapidly shifting to the cloud. According to IDC, 69% of large businesses in Asia-Pacific have accelerated their cloud adoption since 2020. Among finance leaders, 83% report that cloud platforms help them respond faster to market shifts, as per a recent Flexera study.

Key drivers for this shift include:

• Agility & Speed: Cloud ERP enables real-time financial insights, rapid deployment of new business models, and faster compliance with regulatory changes.
• Cost Optimisation: Moving to SAP S/4HANA Cloud can reduce IT costs by up to 40% over five years, according to SAP benchmarks.
• Talent Shortages: With skilled finance professionals in short supply, automation and AI-powered analytics embedded in SAP S/4HANA Cloud help teams do more with less.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud: public and private editions for every stage of growth

SAP S/4HANA Cloud is designed to help CFOs in Asia modernise finance operations, standardise processes across subsidiaries, and foster innovation. There are two key deployment options:

• Public Edition: Ideal for fast-growing businesses and subsidiaries, this cloud-native SaaS ERP delivers industry best practices and regular updates. With GROW with SAP, even mid-sized firms can go live in as little as four weeks [4].
• Private Edition: For established enterprises needing more customisation and control, the Private Edition offers tailored transformation and deeper integration, supported by RISE with SAP.

Across Asia-Pacific, more than 3,000 companies have moved to SAP S/4HANA Cloud, a number that is growing by over 25% annually.

RISE and GROW with SAP: Accelerating Cloud Transformation

RISE with SAP

For organisations migrating complex legacy environments to the cloud, RISE with SAP provides an all-in-one transformation package. It supports both greenfield (new) and brownfield (existing) deployments, ensuring a smooth, risk-mitigated journey to the cloud.

GROW with SAP

GROW with SAP targets smaller enterprises and rapidly scaling businesses. It bundles SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition with access to a global community of experts, accelerated adoption services, and free learning resources—enabling 75% faster deployment compared to traditional ERP projects.

Two-tier ERP: supporting growth, M&A, and localisation

A two-tier ERP strategy is increasingly popular among Asian multinationals. Here’s why:

• Agility for Growth: CFOs can roll out cloud ERP in new subsidiaries, joint ventures, or acquired companies while maintaining a stable on-premises core for headquarters.
• Faster M&A Integration: Asian M&A activity increased by 18% in 2023, according to Refinitiv [5]. Two-tier ERP allows CFOs to onboard acquisitions quickly, reducing integration times by up to 50% [4].
• Local Compliance: SAP S/4HANA Cloud supports regional tax, invoicing, and regulatory requirements—critical in diverse markets such as Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand.

Is SAP S/4HANA Cloud right for you? a CFO’s Roadmap

To support CFOs in evaluating and planning their SAP S/4HANA Cloud journey, VISEO recommends a four-step assessment:

1. Align on Transformation Ambitions: Engage C-level stakeholders to define the vision and scope, aligning with both business and IT strategy.
2. Process Discovery & Pain Point Mapping: Identify existing challenges, key capabilities, and owners to tailor your roadmap.
3. Deviation Analysis & Solution Design: Assess gaps with standard cloud processes and explore targeted solutions, from AI-driven reporting to automated compliance.
4. Technical Feasibility & Architecture: Evaluate integration, data migration, and platform design, leveraging SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) for connectivity and innovation.

The Asian CFO’s opportunity

A recent SAP Value Lifecycle Manager report found that organisations in Asia using SAP S/4HANA Cloud see a 22% improvement in financial process efficiency and a 30% reduction in manual finance work.

For CFOs in Asia, the path to resilient growth is clear: modernise, standardise, and innovate—and do it in the cloud.