If you use SAP’s ERP software but you’re not yet using SAP S/4HANA, you might already know that you’re on a deadline. Yes, the deadline was recently extended to 2025, but still the clock is ticking. Until the clock runs out, SAP will continue to offer support for its ERP software, but as of 2025 this support will stop and any businesses who want support from SAP will need to migrate to the flagship ERP software, S/4HANA.
Previously SAP’s software worked with a number of databases, including Oracle. But this new ERP suite will run exclusively on SAP’s own database, HANA – which means that businesses migrating to the new system will also need to migrate their entire database.
What Does This Really Mean for Businesses?
Even though 2025 seems a while away yet, much of the advice from SAP is to start preparing now. Small businesses may be able to wait a couple of years, but larger enterprises should think about acting now.
There are therefore a few choices available to businesses; if the current SAP set up isn’t excessively customised, then it makes sense to convert to S/4HANA. But if there is excessive customisation, then there will be need for new infrastructure and a full reimplementation might be necessary.
As we mentioned, S/4HANA requires HANA as a database, which in turn requires Linux – the only operating system that runs HANA. The business will the need to set up a proof of concept to map and prototype critical business processes that will then be migrated to the new business set up. They’ll then need to decide whether the infrastructure they use will remain on-site or move to the cloud – and whether that will public, hybrid or private.
The process of migration will require time, money and expertise as organisations will need to test the migration and train users on how to use the new software. That’s where we come in. At Boss ERP, we’re renowned within the ERP consulting space for our ability to source candidates across SAP and S/4HANA technologies.
Using our wide network and in-depth knowledge of the SAP space, we’re able to conduct conversations at a high technical level – which allows us to accurately match business requirements with candidates who meet both the technical and personal profile required.
The other alternative is to do nothing. But with support to customers on SAP legacy software ending on 31st December 2025, this means that businesses will no longer be able to access official support to resolve technical queries. They’d have to rely on third-party support vendors to provide both specialist support and virtual patching to protect SAP installations from attacks.
So really, if a business is choosing to stay with SAP, the best move would be to start taking the steps to migrate to S/4HANA and finding the best people to help with the job so that all runs as smoothly as is possible.
