Why EY is Shifting to SAP S/4HANA Cloud on Microsoft Azure
Traditional on-premises systems, burdened with decades of customisation, have become bottlenecks for professional services firms under mounting pressure to integrate AI capabilities and improve operational responsiveness. As a result, EY has announced plans to modernise its internal business systems by transitioning to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition hosted on Microsoft Azure.
EY’s implementation represents more than a typical system upgrade – the firm intends to create what it describes as “the first autonomous ERP business system” through extensive integration of AI agents. This positions EY at the forefront of a wave of enterprise migrations to SAP’s computing platform, which has become the destination of choice for organisations looking to enable real-time analytics and process automation.
The three-way collaboration between EY, SAP and Microsoft aims to replace ageing systems with a cloud solution that not only incorporates automation capabilities but also serves as a blueprint for future client engagements.
EY and SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition infrastructure transformation
With this migration, EY will gain access to SAP’s latest innovations, including the recently-announced SAP Business Data Cloud solution and SAP Business Suite powered by S/4HANA Cloud. The move aims to not only strip out inefficiencies in current operations but provide the flexibility to pivot as market conditions shift – a capability that proved elusive with previous generations of enterprise software.
“At the EY organisation, we are all in on the power of AI to create value for our clients, integrating leading-edge capabilities with experience to rapidly provide new services and solutions,” says Raj Sharma, EY Global Managing Partner for Growth and Innovation. “These expanded alliances with SAP and Microsoft are another significant step to improving our internal efficiencies and being ready for future business models.”
The implementation will follow the RISE with SAP methodology, which provides a structured approach to cloud migration for SAP environments. By adopting this framework, EY aims to streamline the transition process and minimise disruption to its operations.
Microsoft Azure selected as cloud foundation for EY enterprise systems
According to the companies, Microsoft Azure will now underpin the firm’s core operations, creating opportunities to weave in Microsoft’s expanding portfolio of cloud services.
Anthony Caterino, EY Global Managing Partner for Business Enablement, says: “Our relationships with SAP and Microsoft are stronger than ever, and this new collaboration reaffirms that the EY organisation is preferred by both organisations to help clients leverage SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition powered by Microsoft Azure.”
He adds: “By aligning with RISE with SAP Methodology and leveraging Azure as our preferred cloud powerhouse, we aim to foster continuous innovation and deliver greater business value to our joint customers and the EY organisation internally.”
AI agents to automate ERP processes across EY operations
What sets this implementation apart from conventional ERP upgrades is its focus on AI agents – software entities designed to handle complex business processes with minimal human oversight. EY plans to deploy these agents throughout its financial and operational workflows, creating a system that not only stores and processes transactions but actively manages them.
Judson Althoff, Microsoft Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer, explains: “Our collaboration with the EY organisation is focused on transforming every aspect of their business with AI – from audit and tax to consulting services.
“Through our work together, we will continue to deliver rich insights and services that build confidence in capital markets and economies around the world. Running SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition on Microsoft Azure marks a critical step in the EY organisation’s AI Transformation journey and progresses our mutual goal to enable agentic AI across enterprises.”
The integration of AI capabilities within the ERP environment represents a notable advancement in enterprise systems automation. By incorporating AI agents into core business processes, EY aims to create a system that can operate with reduced human intervention.
Thomas Saueressig, Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, says: “The EY organisation's move to SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition on Microsoft Azure as part of their RISE with SAP journey underscores the power of cloud innovation and demonstrates how AI-driven automation can shape the future of enterprise operations. Our collaboration shows how we are committed to working together to accelerate business transformation, operational agility, and growth for our customers.”
Explore the latest edition of Technology Magazine and be part of the conversation at our global conference series, Tech & AI LIVE.
Discover all our upcoming events and secure your tickets today.
Technology Magazine is a BizClik brand
