Clean core

SAP clean core is a modernization approach that emphasizes keeping the digital core of ERP systems, such as SAP S/4HANA, free of custom ABAP code, hard-coded logic and tightly coupled integrations. The goal is to simplify upgrades, reduce maintenance costs and accelerate the adoption of new SAP innovations.

Instead of modifying the ERP directly, SAP customers build enhancements outside the core using SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), SAP Integration Suite and certified APIs. This side-by-side extensibility model reduces risk, supports agile development cycles and protects system stability.

A clean core is especially important for RISE with SAP customers and those engaging in ERP cloud transformation. It promotes a future-ready ERP foundation that is modular, upgrade-friendly and aligned with cloud-first operating models. For enterprises embracing hybrid and multi-cloud environments, a clean core ensures long-term sustainability and scalability.

Why a clean core approach is critical for SAP Cloud ERP

Clean core is more than a preference; it’s SAP’s operating model for cloud longevity. By minimizing custom code inside the ERP and externalizing logic to BTP, customers reduce technical debt, accelerate upgrades and stay aligned with SAP’s release cadence.

Cost and complexity

• Lowers total cost of ownership (TCO) by eliminating custom ABAP
• Simplifies the application landscape, so it requires less maintenance

Innovation readiness

• Allows faster access to new SAP features, AI services and BTP capabilities
• Reduces blockers that delay adoption of cloud ERP capabilities, such as custom code

Operational consistency

• Standardizes extensibility that ECS can support in RISE with SAP
• Uses predictable deployment/integration models vs. custom exceptions

Workload automation requirements for clean core and RISE

Automation shouldn’t reintroduce customization that the clean core approach aims to remove.

• Avoid intrusive customizations: Workload automation (WLA) vendors should enable orchestration without requiring intrusive ERP core changes and local installation of custom scripts. Customers moving to RISE with SAP and SAP Cloud ERP expect automation that supports clean core practices. 
• Deliver upgrade-resilient automations: Automation must be tested for S/4HANA upgrade compatibility, use SAP-recommended APIs (not brittle file/OS hacks, if avoidable) and provide tooling to migrate legacy jobs or custom scripts into clean core-friendly flows.
• Prove security, performance and roadmap alignment: Higher-assurance validations, such as SAP Endorsed App Premium certified, provide partner alignment and reassure customers that automation will remain compatible with SAP’s roadmap and operational model. 
• Support side-by-side and BTP integration: Use certified connectors and templates for BTP, Integration Suite, Datasphere, Analytics Cloud and S/4HANA APIs, so automation lives outside the core and can orchestrate cloud services and SAP Application Jobs. 
• Use approved deployment models for RISE with SAP: Because RISE with SAP-managed environments restrict installing arbitrary agents on SAP application hosts, WLA solutions should support agentless or SAP-approved embedded agents or secure gateway connections and be operable via ECS/RISE managed services. Inclusion in the RISE with SAP reference architecture dramatically lowers adoption friction.

Modern SAP automation with RunMyJobs

A clean core depends on keeping customizations and integrations outside the core SAP system, and that’s where RunMyJobs by Redwood excels. It orchestrates end-to-end business processes across SAP and non-SAP systems without modifying the SAP Cloud ERP system.

• Trusted as an SAP partner for 20+ years: RunMyJobs has been SAP’s preferred job scheduling partner for over two decades and is the only WLA solution that is an SAP Endorsed App. It also has the most SAP certifications, including SAP Cloud ERP and RISE with SAP, among others.
• Validated for clean core: With pre-built connectors for SAP Cloud ERP, BTP and other SAP technologies and as part of the RISE with SAP reference architecture, RunMyJobs maintains a clean core — no need for customization.
• Built for hybrid and RISE with SAP models: As a cloud-native SaaS automation platform, RunMyJobs offers guaranteed 99.95% uptime, one-click updates, easy upgrades and limitless connectivity across any tech stack.
• Scales SAP workloads with enterprise growth: RunMyJobs gives your enterprise the ability to handle evolving process complexity without re-architecting automation. It maintains performance, governance and SAP connectivity even as you layer more solutions and multi-cloud environments.
• Delivers real-time visibility and speed: With centralized dashboards, SLA tracking and audit trails across SAP and non-SAP systems, RunMyJobs provides operational oversight that traditional scheduling tools can’t. SAP customers, on average, accelerate complex end-to-end process execution by 1.5–6x.
• Aligned with SAP strategy: RunMyJobs follows clean core architectural direction and roadmap, offering support for SAP Cloud ERP, BTP services and RISE with SAP without embedding code inside SAP systems. Customers can adopt SAP updates faster, reduce technical debt and maintain upgrade-safe automation.

How does RunMyJobs support clean core?

RunMyJobs doesn’t require any custom code to orchestrate fully automated processes.

• Deep SAP integration: RunMyJobs offers 1,000+ pre-built SAP templates, connectors and wizards that eliminate the need for ERP customization. Its out-of-the-box, purpose-built connectors include:
  • Datasphere
  • Data Services
  • Integration Suite
  • SAP Analytics Cloud
• Lightweight architecture: The Secure Gateway provides a single agentless connection for all workloads at the application level, while offering a lightweight platform agent where OS-level access, such as file transfer, is required for a workflow. The Secure Gateway is compatible with the latest SAP solutions and versions.