---
title: "FUE: Cutting Costs Not Corners"
description: Discover insights from Trillion’s expert-led webinar on SAP FUE licensing, role design, and cost optimisation. Download the full key takeaways PDF.
image: https://trillionconsulting.io/hubfs/shawn-day-oEUZFczEV-E-unsplash.jpg
---

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# FUE: Cutting Costs Not Corners

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Earlier this month, I had the pleasure of hosting a roundtable webinar on a topic that’s sparking more client conversations than almost anything else right now: **Full User Equivalent (FUE) licensing in SAP**.

## FUE: Cutting Costs, Not Corners

<https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXXNIw209PA>

 FUE: Cutting Costs, Not Corners

 58:39

As someone who works closely with clients across Europe and the Middle East in the SAP GRC freelance space, I’ve seen firsthand how confusing - and costly -this licensing shift can be. That’s why I brought together some of the smartest minds I know in the SAP risk, compliance, and authorisations world to help break it all down.

Together, we explored what FUE really means, where companies are going wrong, and - importantly - how they can flip this challenge into a cost-saving opportunity.

## **Meet the Panel**

I was joined by an exceptional group of experts:

**Cavan Arrowsmith** and **Simon Persin** from **Turnkey Consulting**, both with deep experience in SAP access, risk, and licensing strategy. **Marcelo Monsores**, SAP Authorisations Manager at **Perfetti Van Melle**, currently navigating a complex global S/4HANA migration. Independent consultants **Ivan Zentrich** and **Branko Caic**, who bring decades of practical, hands-on SAP access design experience.

Each brought unique insights, war stories, and actionable advice - from both the consulting side and real-world enterprise delivery.

### **So, what exactly is FUE – and why now?**

If you’re just getting up to speed: **FUE licensing changes the game.** You’re no longer just charged for what a user does - you’re charged for what they *could* do.

This sounds minor, but it has far-reaching implications. Broad technical roles, “just in case” access, and poorly designed permissions structures can all inflate your licence count - and your costs.

We talked through how organisations often find themselves **over-licensed without realising**, especially after moving to RISE or consolidating into centralised S/4HANA systems. One panellist shared a client example where **£500,000 in unnecessary FUE spend** was uncovered and corrected - just by getting intentional about role design and usage analysis.

### **From Compliance Goal to Cost Strategy**

A key theme that emerged was the growing power of **Least Privileged Access (LPA)**. For years, it’s been considered best practice for compliance. Now, it’s also a **clear commercial lever**.

We discussed how this shift is helping teams finally win internal support - from CFOs, audit leads, and transformation sponsors - because they can make a compelling business case, not just a technical one.

From a recruitment and resourcing perspective, I’m also seeing increasing demand for professionals who understand FUE deeply. It’s no longer a niche skill - it’s a **must-have for project-critical teams**.

### **Tactical Fixes & Lessons Learned**

Our panel shared practical ways to start fixing inflated FUE counts:

- Audit underused roles and remove “just in case” permissions  
- Use task-based role design to modularise and simplify access  
- Leverage tools like the STAR Report and GRC Access Control to identify cost drivers  
- Centralise expensive licence types where possible

Branko made a great point about usage tracking: many users don’t use **90% of the roles assigned to them**. That’s a huge opportunity to clean up and save.

### **Want the full breakdown?**

This blog is just the headline summary. We’ve pulled together all of the webinar insights, panellist quotes, and tactical advice into a downloadable takeaway doc.

 

### Download the full webinar PDF here

**Let’s connect at SAP Sapphire**

Trillion will be attending **SAP Sapphire**, and I’ll be there too. If you’d like to chat more about licensing strategy, GRC, or access optimisation - or just connect - I’d love to meet you.

**Book time with us at Sapphire →** [HERE](https://outlook.office.com/bookwithme/user/ac5d2ea05d5645cc971c6d8ff36f547b%40montash.de/meetingtype/B31LOknsgEK4N4lQKCS1qg2?bookingcode=870b2910-5f8b-43e5-991e-36b7ac2f8719&anonymous)

Thanks again to our brilliant panel, and to everyone who joined us live. Let’s keep the conversation going - and keep access strategy where it belongs: at the heart of transformation.

###### [Craig Brown](https://trillionconsulting.io/articles/author/craig-brown)

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