09.06.2026

SAP ECC maintenance end 2027 and SAP S/4HANA migration: SAP maintenance deadlines and APICON roadmap

What comes after SAP ECC?

In addition to the commitment to innovate with SAP S/4HANA through 2040, SAP’s support strategy includes various options for SAP Business Suite 7 users:

• Until 2027: Mainstream Support: SAP will continue to provide regular maintenance for SAP Business Suite 7 core applications under Mainstream Support until the end of 2027. This ensures continued system operation through the regular delivery of support packages, security updates, and necessary adjustments to meet legal requirements.
• Until 2030: Extended Maintenance: Optional extended maintenance is available until the end of 2030 for the final three Enhancement Packages (EhP) to ensure system operation. This includes critical security patches, basic support, and – to some extent – legal updates. Importantly, this does not constitute a continuation of full maintenance; new innovative features, comprehensive adjustments for legal requirements, and further functional developments are excluded. Instead, Extended Maintenance focuses on maintaining the stability and security of a system nearing the end of its lifecycle. This entails a surcharge on the standard maintenance fee for all SAP Business Suite 7 support services.
• From 2030 onwards: The situation becomes increasingly critical. Companies that have not yet migrated to the cloud must switch to 'Customer-Specific Maintenance', which offers a significantly reduced scope of services. For large enterprises with complex systems, SAP offers the 'SAP ERP, private edition, transition option', allowing for a phased migration from SAP ECC to the private cloud via the RISE with SAP program between 2030 and 2033. However, this option is subject to various conditions.

The end of maintenance is approaching: Key decisions for your migration roadmap

• Is extended maintenance not available for your SAP ECC EhP version? You need to act quickly to safeguard critical business processes. The necessary step now is either upgrading to a supported SAP ECC EhP version or migrating to SAP S/4HANA.
• Does your technology foundation run on an SAP ECC EhP version eligible for extended maintenance? You face a choice: migrate to SAP S/4HANA now or opt for extended maintenance starting in 2028. Key considerations include weighing the additional costs and reduced service scope of extended maintenance against the risks of a rushed migration or an unsuitable migration strategy. The scope and complexity of your IT and SAP landscape are crucial factors, as is your current data quality. To benefit from future innovations, such as AI, new technologies, or agentic AI, the 'Clean Core' approach should certainly be considered. Good to know: This can also be achieved while continuing to use SAP ECC by leveraging applications on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP). A 'side-by-side' approach allows you to utilize modern BTP applications and AI innovations.

Benefit from APICON Data Master and an optimal SAP data foundation

Regardless of your migration strategy, a consistent data foundation is a crucial factor for the success of your SAP S/4HANA migration. Find out more in this article. Preparing your data foundation in good time prevents you from coming under pressure during the project or even risking delays.

• Are you planning your move to SAP S/4HANA between now and 2027? Start now with APICON Data Master and elevate your data quality before the transition. You still have plenty of time to enter the SAP S/4HANA world with cleansed, consistent data and clear governance structures. With SAP S/4HANA, you benefit from the latest features and innovations of APICON Data Master – making the creation, maintenance, and analysis of your SAP data effortless.
• Are you opting for Extended Maintenance? Even then, it makes sense to address the quality of your SAP data early on. With our Data Master Cockpits, you can quickly and easily optimize your processes and the quality of your purchasing, material master, or production data. Furthermore, Data Master supports numerous other data objects.
• Have you already switched to SAP S/4HANA or are you on the verge of migration? The quality of your SAP data forms the basis for the innovative capability and performance of your SAP systems. Data is becoming an indispensable factor, particularly regarding process automation, artificial intelligence, and much more. APICON Data Master is fully integrated into SAP and ensures top-tier data quality in SAP S/4HANA: for material masters, info records, bills of material, business partners, and numerous other SAP data objects. Process costs, manual effort, and lead times are reduced. It supports both centralized master data management and decentralized SAP master data maintenance within the specialist departments – exactly where the data expertise resides.

APICON Data Master Roadmap: Reliability and Innovation Hand in Hand
The APICON Data Master remains fully operational on SAP ECC, ensuring planning security and stability for our customers. Long-term basic support and critical patches will continue to be available for APICON Data Master on SAP ECC. Please contact us if you have any questions regarding the maintenance of your SAP ECC-based installation.

As an SAP partner, we are focusing on SAP S/4HANA for the ongoing development of our products. New features, innovations, and AI applications are being made available for APICON Data Master on SAP S/4HANA. You can continue using APICON Data Master without interruption during your SAP S/4HANA migration; thanks to our standardized approach, we migrate the solution with minimal effort.

Do you have questions or would you like to learn more about APICON Data Master? Feel free to contact us or book a free demo appointment.