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SAP is ending mainstream support for ERP Central Component (ECC) at the end of 2027. For most SAP ECC customers who have yet to migrate to S/4HANA, the window to decide is narrowing. In early 2025, SAP introduced a new offering, expanding the options available for customers who need to continue supporting ECC.
Option 1: Extended Maintenance Through 2030, Followed by Customer-Specific Maintenance
Customers on enhancement pack six or above can opt into extended maintenance from 2028 to 2030, at a 2% premium on the existing maintenance basis. In practice, this translates to a total cost increase of 9% to 12%, on top of SAP's annual index-linked increases of up to 5%.
From 2031, customer-specific maintenance applies automatically, but with significantly reduced coverage:
- No delivery of legal changes
- No guarantee for security and technological updates
- No service-level agreements
- Pricing beyond 2031 has not been disclosed by SAP
Option 2: SAP ERP Private Cloud Edition, with Transition Option from 2031 to 2033
Customers subscribe to SAP ERP, private cloud edition until end of 2030, then contract for the transition option from 2031 to 2033 if eligible. This includes transition assistance and maintenance coverage for security, legal, and reported software issues.
To be eligible, customers must:
- Be on enhancement pack eight
- Complete migration to SAP ERP, private cloud edition by 31 December 2030
- Pass an SAP-driven readiness check between 2028 and 2030
- Acknowledge that after 2033, only RISE with SAP or GROW with SAP remain as options
There are several risks worth considering carefully before going down this path:
- Subscribing to SAP ERP, private cloud edition means surrendering perpetual licenses. The decision is irreversible
- The readiness check is mandatory, but its full scope and associated costs have not been disclosed
- Failing the check leaves customers without licenses, support, or sufficient time to migrate
- Passing the check still means facing higher fees at a point where negotiating leverage is gone
Option 3: Third-Party Software Support
Customers can terminate their SAP support agreement and move to a third-party provider, potentially reducing support costs by up to 50%. Interest in this option has increased by approximately 25% year over year.
The key tradeoffs to understand:
- No access to new SAP bug fixes or support packs
- Workarounds handled at the application layer, not the core
- SAP Solution Manager is no longer accessible
- Returning to SAP support may trigger reinstatement fees and back maintenance, unless returning as a greenfield RISE with SAP customer with no migration of configuration or historical data
Making the Right Call
Navigating the right ECC support path requires clarity on strategy, risk, and commercial implications before any commitment is made. Crowe is an official SAP partner with a dedicated SAP practice that has governance, risk, and cybersecurity built in. Our Crowe Xcelerator for SAP is an industry-specific platform designed to accelerate innovation and lead business transformation in the right direction, backed by multidisciplinary expertise across 145+ countries and delivered on a personal scale.