SAP BTP: The Underestimated Cost Trap

28. May 2025/Peter Piechota

Are you like other companies? You invest in the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) without knowing exactly whether what you’re paying for is what you actually need? The consequence: unused services, lack of control over costs, and licensing risks.

This article explains what the SAP Business Technology Platform is, how it’s structured, and why licensing is more complex than many companies think.

What is SAP BTP?

The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is the technological backbone of many modern SAP landscapes. It combines data, analytics, artificial intelligence, application development, automation, and integration solutions in a central cloud platform. Technically speaking, it’s a so-called Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS). It forms the infrastructure on which companies develop, operate, and scale their digital applications. You no longer need to worry about hardware or middleware.

Previously known as SAP Cloud Platform (SCP), SAP BTP was introduced in early 2021 as a revised and significantly expanded platform. SCP was completely integrated into BTP. The range of functions has been continuously expanded since then. Today, the platform counts over 100 different services. These include analytics functions, data warehousing, machine learning, workflow automation, and API management. The platform is deliberately built modularly. Customers can license exactly the components they need – in theory.

SAP BTP

Source: SAP

Building Blocks Instead of Monolith: The Architecture of SAP BTP

SAP BTP is based on a so-called modular multi-cloud architecture. This means that it not only consists of various technical building blocks but can also be provided through different infrastructure providers. Companies can choose between SAP data centers and hyperscalers like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, Google Cloud, or Alibaba Cloud. This flexibility is intended to give companies maximum freedom in designing their cloud strategy.

Within the platform, there are four central areas:

Database and Data Management:
This includes SAP HANA Cloud, SAP Datasphere, and other tools for data integration and processing. This year, SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) was published as SAP’s central database product within BTP.
Application Development and Integration:
SAP offers classic development environments here, as well as low-code and no-code solutions to create applications or extend existing SAP systems. Also integrated are the SAP Integration Suite and SAP Extension Suite.
Analytics and Artificial Intelligence:
SAP Analytics Cloud, SAP AI Core, and other tools enable data-driven decisions and the use of AI in business processes. This area is also supported by SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC).
Automation and Process Optimization:
Workflow management, robotic process automation, and business rules services allow comprehensive process automation.

This structure is deliberately kept open. Companies can integrate both SAP and third-party solutions. The basic idea: The company retains control over its digital infrastructure while SAP provides the technological foundation.

Great Potential – with Great Uncertainty

SAP BTP is designed as an innovation platform. Companies should be able to set up new processes, interfaces, and applications without changing the ERP core system (keyword: Clean Core).

BTP licenses are often delivered as part of comprehensive packages, such as with RISE with SAP. Companies then pay for SAP BTP but don’t actively use it. The reasons: lack of knowledge, unclear responsibilities, or the sheer complexity of the platform.

From a technical perspective, the platform is also challenging. The so-called BTP Cockpit, which SAP offers for overviewing used services, shows only a fraction of the actually relevant information. Developers and IT architects often work in silos. A holistic view that makes costs transparent and enables control falls by the wayside.

With the new FinOps tool for BTP, forecasts can be created and alerts set up, but even this solution helps only to a limited extent.

SAP BTP Licensing: A Science in Itself

SAP BTP will represent a high cost component in SAP invoices in the future. The licensing of SAP BTP is thus becoming increasingly important – and simultaneously one of the biggest challenges. There are several models:

Pay-as-you-go: Customers pay only for actually used services. This model is suitable for companies that want to remain flexible and control their usage well.
Cloud Credits: This is a kind of prepaid model. Companies buy credit and use it for various services. Often this model is used in more extensive usage scenarios within the framework of a BTP Enterprise Agreement.
Subscription Model: Monthly or annually paid licenses for defined services with fixed quotas. The low flexibility enables higher discounts in this model.

Which model is used depends on the contract and planned usage. One challenge is that not every service works the same way or is billed the same way. Some licenses are based on the number of users. Other services are based on consumed resources, API calls, or storage space.

What many companies don’t know: There are over 100 different BTP services, and each can follow different billing logics. A central license overview that really shows all used services with consumption and costs can only be created with great effort.

Hidden Risks: When Developers Drive Costs

A frequently underestimated risk is the decentralized use of the platform. In many companies, individual departments or developer teams set up their own projects on BTP. This happens without consultation with central license management.

New applications, integrations, or AI projects are started. Usage increases and the platform along with costs grows unnoticed. At the end of the month comes the rude awakening: The cloud bill is significantly higher than expected. Without active license management, companies risk falling into this cost trap.

Developers could previously carelessly use SAP’s paid infrastructure in their programs. In BTP, the use of services must generally be paid for based on volume. This is a paradigm shift for development. In BTP, it’s no longer just about creating particularly stable, fast, and flexible solutions. In the future, the costs of consumed services of an app must also be considered.

Additionally: The actual usage is often intransparent. Without central control and automated reporting, it’s difficult to detect compliance violations early. In the worst case, back payments or critical findings by auditors threaten.

Five Typical Mistakes in Using SAP BTP

Underestimating Complexity:
Many companies underestimate the scope of the platform. They start too quickly without fully understanding the architecture.
Lack of Governance:
Without clear responsibilities and processes for usage and billing, the platform grows uncontrollably.
Intransparent License Models:
Different billing logics lead to misunderstandings – and unnecessary costs.
Unused Licenses:
Many companies pay for services they don’t use. Often because they were acquired as part of an overall package.
Lack of Monitoring:
Without tools for automated usage evaluation, risks remain undetected.

Why is Software Asset Management Important Now?

To regain control over SAP BTP, companies need a solid strategy. Software Asset Management (SAM) becomes the decisive factor. It’s about understanding license models, capturing usage data, and uncovering cost reduction potential.

Professional SAM helps identify unused licenses, avoid overuse, and reduce compliance risks. At the same time, it supports exploiting the full potential of the platform – without exceeding budgets.

How Does SAMtoa GmbH Support You with SAP BTP?

SAMtoa GmbH specializes in Software Asset Management – with a particular focus on SAP licenses. We can provide neutral advice because we are independent. We analyze your current BTP license situation, identify risks, and show optimization potential.

Our services at a glance:

Audit-proof license balances
Transparent analysis of your SAP BTP usage
Cost optimization through targeted license deployment
Implementation and operation of SAM tools
Support during audits and license negotiations

We understand the dynamics of the cloud world. And we know how companies can use their SAP BTP so that innovation and control are not contradictory.

Conclusion: Towards Successful SAP BTP Usage with Clarity and Strategy

The SAP Business Technology Platform is a powerful tool. It opens new possibilities for innovation, data integration, and process automation. But without a clear strategy, transparency, and solid license management, it threatens to become a cost trap.

Companies that deal with the licensing and usage of SAP BTP today not only secure competitive advantages. They also prevent financial surprises and set the course for a sustainable, future-oriented IT strategy.

Are you wondering how your SAP BTP is currently licensed? Do you want to know which services you really use and what you can save?

Then talk to us.

SAMtoa GmbH – Your Partner for SAP License Management and Software Asset Management

The Author

Peter Piechota
License Analyst at SAMtoa

Get in touch with the author

Schlagworte

Business Technology Platform, Licence, SAP, SAP BTP