SAP Public Cloud

In an era of rapid technological change, it is crucial to choose an ERP system that is free from so-called technical debt, while ensuring flexibility and a fast pace of implementing new functionalities. As the project manager for the SAP Public Cloud implementation at Duna Polska, I would like to share our experience and the key factors that led us to choose this particular version of SAP’s ERP system.

Current market trends, along with growing uncertainty around cybersecurity, require us to keep our systems continuously updated to the latest versions. This enables us to effectively leverage technological innovations and respond quickly to emerging threats. SAP Public Cloud, with its cloud architecture, provides regular updates, eliminating the need for costly and time-consuming system upgrades. For us, this means, among other things:

• Continuous access to new functionalities – the manufacturer periodically delivers enhancement packages that we can start using almost immediately after they are provided.
• Minimized risk of outdated software – the latest version is always available in the cloud, and the schedule for implementation of patches and updates is known in advance.
• Predictable maintenance costs – there is no need for major modernization investments, as updates in SAP Public Cloud are delivered automatically as part of the subscription.

Technology development is increasingly moving toward agile collaboration of multiple dedicated, specialized applications. Our organization focuses on leveraging solutions that work well in specific industry areas, such as systems for project management, billing, and automation of document flow processes.

By choosing SAP Public Cloud, we were able to take advantage of the extensive integration capabilities offered by the platform. This allows us to fully leverage the potential of three domain-specific systems to be synchronized with SAP as part of the project using a data bus (Enterprise Service Bus). This architecture enables us to:

• Retain specialized solutions in areas that are critical to our business – supporting processes that are specific to our industry.
• Standardize data and processes within SAP – with a central database and a common point of access to information, management becomes simpler and more transparent.
• Maintain flexibility and scalability – if there is a need to expand domain-specific systems or add a new one, SAP Public Cloud offers integration mechanisms that make it possible to quickly incorporate new solutions.

One of the key elements of our analysis was the provider’s experience in ERP system implementations. With its long-standing market presence and thousands of successful deployment projects, SAP has a rich library of best practices. The Public Cloud version includes, as a standard, a set of ready-to-use processes, preconfigured for optimal efficiency and compliance with legal and industry-specific requirements. For us, this means:

• Faster implementation – we start with pre-tested templates that can be freely adapted to our specific needs.
• Greater reliability – best practice solutions have been proven and refined over many years across various organizations.
• Predictable outcomes – by leveraging the knowledge and experience gained from numerous previous implementations, we minimize the risk of project errors.

The decision to select an SAP implementation partner was a strategic process for us. We were looking for a company with documented experience in implementing an SAP solution in Public Cloud edition – a key criterion in our selection process. As this is a relatively new technology, the number of partners with relevant competencies on the market is limited. That’s why our shortlist consisted of just three companies.

Ultimately, we chose to partner with All for One Poland, recognizing their extensive experience in the Polish market and positive references. An important part of the decision-making process was a reference meeting with one of All for One’s clients, who shared their firsthand experience with the implementation. Additionally, our previous SAP version, which supported part of our operations in Poland, was already being maintained locally by All for One. The positive experience from this cooperation confirmed that we had chosen the right partner for the project.

Our implementation timeline has been scheduled for 11 months in 2025. The project began in early February 2025, and we plan to go live with the system on January 2, 2026.

The decision to implement SAP Public Cloud is our response to the challenges of today’s market and rapidly evolving technology. Our organization needs a solution that enables:

• Ongoing use of innovative functionalities
• Full data and system security through regular updates
• Integration with key domain-specific systems
• Support from a global provider and a set of proven best practices as part of ready-made process scenarios

We believe that with this strategy we will prove that digital transformation can be fast, smooth, and deliver tangible business benefits. We’re looking forward to the official go-live of the system, scheduled for January 2, 2026 – another milestone in our company’s digital journey.

In 2024, the majority shareholder of Duna Polska changed. The transaction was concluded between the previous owner – the Mota-Engil Group – and the Hungarian company Duna Aszfalt Zrt. This process triggered the need to change existing IT systems, integrate digital tools, and introduce automation.

The company therefore needed a technology that was flexible, easy and relatively quick to adapt, tailored to local conditions, and designed with the digital transformation of primarily back-office departments in mind (including finance, controlling, purchasing, sales, as well as project and warehouse management).

The public cloud model was not the first choice due to concerns about the intensity of the change and whether it would offer enough flexibility to meet the organization’s highly specific needs. One of the concerns was how to map business processes onto a standard cloud model – the Duna Polska team feared that the cloud would limit business performance. At the same time, the company had previously been using SAP ERP solutions, however in an on-premise model. Therefore, a process was initiated to analyze the needs and identify the most suitable SAP solutions to help manage existing resources – but in the entirely new realities of the company.

Meanwhile, public cloud solutions are gaining importance thanks to their flexibility, scalability, and ability to rapidly implement innovation. Additionally, the SAP ERP Central Component (ECC) in its on-premise version will no longer be supported in the coming years. This placed the Duna Polska team at a crossroads: either choose a solution that would need to be replaced after 2027, or take a long-term approach and start preparing for cloud transformation now. What speaks in favor of SAP’s public cloud solutions is their unique operating model, which clearly stands out in the market.

“S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition is an ERP system delivered in the SaaS model. Companies using this solution receive updates twice a year, and its individual components operate based on a set of Best Practices. This is a portfolio of solution packages from which customers can select and implement ready-made, proven, and fully functional options. The implementation takes around 6–7 months and delivers significant cost savings – it requires a smaller budget, takes less time than adapting on-premise solutions, and does not require a large IT team on the client’s side. The added value comes from the ability to automate processes and the standardization of solutions, which ensures security and reduces infrastructure maintenance costs.  From a business perspective, the company therefore gains an effective tool that helps boost competitiveness in the face of rising costs,” emphasizes Alena Sysoi, Accelerated Sales Engagement Senior Specialist at SAP CEE.

SAP is consistently enriching its public cloud model with new applications of AI aimed at automating repetitive, time-consuming tasks and improving the application user experience on an ongoing basis. The goal is also to accelerate decision-making and incorporate a broader range of data that will help optimize internal processes, reduce costs, and strengthen security across all of these areas.

The idea behind implementing a public cloud is based on a clearly structured set of steps that can be followed by anyone with access to the prepared documentation. This model is therefore designed to eliminate the companies’ dependence on complex IT resources and specialists. The Duna Polska team had the opportunity to review comprehensive documentation, which included detailed descriptions of roles, key tasks, and project risk indicators. SAP methodology is intentionally designed to support change management within the organization and help end users prepare for a new way of working in a cloud environment. Clients can use ready-made templates and training materials, which significantly reduces the time required for implementation.

A very important factor influencing a decision to choose cloud solutions is the ability for companies to explore the tool in advance – to verify whether the resources, the usage model, and functions can meet their current needs. In SAP’s offering, this stage is unique on the market – any client considering transition to the public cloud can participate in a free Digital Discovery Assessment. This is a series of workshops that help analyze a company’s current business processes specifically in the context of the SAP public cloud model. Since DDA is an online resource, every team member can easily access it and compare their specific needs in detail with the standardized processes offered in the cloud.

The public cloud model eliminates the need to manage extensive IT infrastructure, significantly reducing the effort required from clients. As a result, companies no longer need to invest in hardware and build or expand IT teams. SAP also offers tools that allow users to create simple applications and custom workflows without requiring technical knowledge. This solution supports process automation, and when standard solutions do not fully meet a company’s needs, specific features can be extended.

“The public cloud model is not a closed system, but a platform that enables further development and adaptation to evolving business needs. The decision of Duna Polska to migrate to the cloud is a strategic step that will not only enable development, but also increase the company’s competitiveness in the market. The implementation process still lies ahead, but what proved crucial in this collaboration was the educational approach, which helped the Duna Polska team gain a deeper understanding not only of the public cloud model itself, but also of their own capacity for adaptation,” summarizes Wioleta Maciszewska, Senior Account Executive at SAP Poland.

Source: SAP Polska (news.sap.com/poland)

Duna Polska (formerly Mota-Engil CE) specializes in construction services that require the highest standards of quality and safety, including the construction of bridges, highways, public buildings, and residential complexes. The company has built over 530 kilometers of expressways and highways. It has been operating in the market for more than 25 years, employing around 800 people.