Upcoming End-of-Support Dates – Time Is Running Out

Support for SAP systems follows a defined timeline. Here are the most important dates to keep in mind:

SAP ERP 6.0:

December 31, 2025: End of mainstream maintenance for SAP ERP 6.0 without enhancement packages and with enhancement packages 1 to 5 (EHP 1–5).

December 31, 2027: End of mainstream maintenance for SAP ERP 6.0 with enhancement packages 6 to 8 (EHP 6–8).

Until December 31, 2030: Extended Maintenance available for an additional fee. After this date, only customer-specific maintenance will be available, covering previously identified issues.

SAP Business Suite 7 (including SAP ERP 6.0, SAP CRM 7.0, SAP SCM 7.0, etc.):

December 31, 2027: End of mainstream maintenance.

Until December 31, 2030: Extended Maintenance available for an additional fee (2%). No support will be available after 2030.

End of SAP Support – What Else to Consider

Lack of support and security: After mainstream maintenance ends, SAP will no longer provide bug fixes, security patches, or new features. Using unsupported systems poses significant risks, including vulnerability to cyberattacks, performance issues, integration challenges, rising costs, and non-compliance with new regulations.

Need to decide on migration: For most companies, the only strategic and long-term option is migrating to newer SAP solutions, primarily SAP S/4HANA.

Benefits of Migrating to SAP S/4HANA

Innovation: S/4HANA leverages cutting-edge technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning, robotic process automation (RPA), and advanced analytics, leading to streamlined business processes and new opportunities.

Performance: Thanks to the in-memory SAP HANA database, S/4HANA offers significantly faster data processing and reporting.

Simplified architecture: Reduced system and IT infrastructure complexity, potentially lowering maintenance costs.

Better decision-making: Enables real-time data analysis and identification of areas for improvement.

Flexibility and scalability: Supports technical operations including backups, disaster recovery, and data protection.

Longer support period: SAP has committed to supporting S/4HANA until the end of 2040.

Migration Strategies to SAP S/4HANA

When considering the transformation of your current ERP environment, several scenarios and practices are available:

Greenfield (new implementation): Building a new S/4HANA system from scratch. Ideal for companies looking to modernize business processes, eliminate legacy data, and reduce complexity. Allows full use of SAP best practices.

Brownfield (system conversion): Migrating the existing ECC system to S/4HANA while retaining current configuration and data. Typically faster but may carry over legacy issues and limit process optimization.

Selective Data Transition: A hybrid approach that allows selective migration of data and configuration while enabling process optimization.

How to start preparing for the transformation to S/4HANA?

Choosing the right transformation model depends on various factors such as IT strategy, risk level, available resources, and business priorities. Here are some key steps to take now:

System inventory: Identify which systems are affected by the upcoming end of support and determine their exact version (especially EHP).

Support conditions verification: Check in SAP PAM which components qualify for extended support and under what conditions.

Risk and cost assessment: Analyze potential technological and business risks associated with maintaining outdated systems.

Start transformation planning: Regardless of the chosen model (greenfield, brownfield, selective data transition), the transformation project requires time, resources, and a well-thought-out strategy.

Use available SAP tools: Utilize tools such as SAP Readiness Check and SAP Transformation Navigator to assist with analysis and planning.