The development of a company also includes activities that follow the recommendations of the producers of modern technologies. In the case of SAP ERP, special attention should be paid to updates and support for individual software versions. For some time now, the German giant has been stating that it will soon stop supporting some older editions of the software. As a result, the next few years will be a busy time for both system users and their suppliers, producers, and developers. How can you avoid unnecessary haste and protect your business from delays in technology updates? Learn more about the details of support for different versions of SAP ECC in the text below!
How to ensure a secure transition to SAP S/4HANA for your organization?
For many SAP users, migrating to the latest version of the system is a challenge, but also a necessity. In the case of ECC, the German vendor is investing all the necessary resources and commitment in its development. This is why tools like SAP S/4HANA (whether on-premises or Private Cloud Edition) offer the most opportunities and the best integration with other solutions, including those from other vendors. When using SAP systems, it is important to remember that SAP S/4HANA will soon be the vendor’s only ERP software and the one most desired by Clients.
As a result, more and more companies will be faced with the task of finding a trustworthy system provider who will implement it under conditions conducive to the company’s development. SAP has officially announced changes in support for its product range. For 2027, the vendor announces significant changes in the delivery of the offered system development support.
However, it is not worth waiting until the date specified by SAP, as such delays can cause significant complications for the company. Consulting resources for SAP system implementation and support are already limited, and the closer the deadline, the more tense and complicated the situation will become.
The decision to implement or convert to SAP S/4HANA should not be postponed, and it is worth starting the process now. It can be long and complicated, but it does not have to be. Its proper course and shortened duration can be ensured with the help of experienced implementation partners. Our specialists at Hicron, among others, offer their assistance in this regard. We are an SAP Gold Partner, which means that during implementation we use the vendor’s methodology and each stage of the project is carried out in accordance with its recommendations. Over the years we have successfully implemented numerous SAP projects for both domestic and foreign companies. Our experience covers implementations and conversions for small, medium, and large companies. Our implementation teams include not only developers and designers of technological solutions, but also experienced business advisors, who perfectly understand the needs of companies and are able to adapt solutions to the individual requirements of our Clients.
SAP S/4HANA – a big step in your digital transformation
The transition to SAP S/4HANA is a critical element of a company’s broader business and technology strategy and a key step in the success of its digital transformation strategy. This is one of the reasons why more and more companies are taking steps to move to SAP S/4HANA. Sometimes, consultants encounter a situation where prospective users of this cloud software significantly underestimate the complexity of this process. Unfortunately, this can lead to overly aggressive and unrealistic timelines for implementing the intended changes. Such unpreparedness can also result in significantly exceeding the budget allocated for implementing these changes on the path to digital transformation. This is why it is important to act quickly and decisively to ensure the future stability of company systems. Investing in the implementation of SAP S/4HANA right now makes sense because SAP will soon end support for certain versions of ECC systems, which will result in increased demand for trusted implementation consulting. This, in turn, can lead to an insufficient number of specialists in relation to the demand for the services they provide and, as a result – downtime in the implementation and conversion processes to SAP S/4HANA.
Deciding to take advantage of SAP’s cloud-based system now will allow your company to develop its unique capabilities at the right pace and in a way that fits the needs of your organization. Doing so before the end of support for previous versions of the software will also help introduce specific innovations, increase the company’s efficiency, improve its financial results, and thus lead to a high position on the market.
Want to know more details about SAP S/4HANA and its implementation? Reach out for our free cloud implementation guide from SAP!
How will support for SAP ERP 6.0 change over time?
By 2027, SAP plans to make significant changes in the delivery of support for different versions of SAP ERP 6.0.
Below are the SAP support timeframes for specific software versions.
SAP ERP 6.0 EHP 0-5:
- until 2025 – standard support (provided by the vendor under the Mainstream Maintenance agreement),
- from 2025 – support for individually agreed rates, which are usually significantly higher than the standard rates (Customer Specific Maintenance).
SAP ERP 6.0. EHP 6-8:
- until 2027 – standard support (provided by the vendor under the Mainstream Maintenance agreement),
- from 2027 to 2030 – support for individually agreed rates, which are usually significantly higher than the standard rates (Customer Specific Maintenance), or support for an additional 2% of the cost of the entire implementation (usually a high amount determined based on the price of the entire implementation – Extended Maintenance),
- from 2030 – support only for individually agreed rates, which are usually significantly higher than the standard rates (Customer Specific Maintenance).
As can be seen from the above list, the decision to maintain an older version of SAP ERP software involves increasingly higher costs. This is an action aimed at accelerating the conversion and implementation of the cloud version of the SAP system.
Over time, the cost of maintaining older versions of the software will become unprofitable. The sooner the implementation or conversion to SAP S/4HANA is carried out, the more the costs of this project will be reduced.
It is also worth noting that, according to the materials available on SAP’s website, the Extended Maintenance program will soon no longer include updates for tax and legal changes in the system. The same applies to security notes – after 2027 they will be provided to a much limited extent.
Good news for those who are determined to implement or convert immediately!
The decision to implement or convert to SAP S/4HANA today is the right one for many reasons, primarily those mentioned earlier. However, the vendor is additionally encouraging its Clients. Only until the end of this year, SAP is offering a special bonus – Migration and Modernization. It will allow you to migrate to SAP S/4HANA on preferential terms.
Hicron – your trusted partner for a smooth transition to SAP S/4HANA!
Migrating an ERP system to SAP S/4HANA may seem like a complicated and lengthy process. Fortunately, this is not inevitable. With the support of experienced implementation partners, the project can be carried out in a calm and orderly manner, without the need for an additional, variable budget. Our experts at Hicron offer such assistance in the works related to SAP S/4HANA. They can help your company upgrade to EHP 8 and migrate to SAP S/4HANA. We skillfully support companies in any type of upgrade: greenfield, brownfield, hybrid. We have in-depth knowledge of all SAP system modules. This means that converting to SAP S/4HANA does not have to be a challenging process. At the request of our Clients, in addition to an individual offer tailored to their needs, we often use intelligent solutions such as: LeanIX or Signavio. They also increase user comfort throughout the transformation process.
Looking for a trusted implementation partner who will manage the SAP S/4HANA implementation process on your terms? Contact us!
