The end of SAP Enterprise Support for ECC affects your company more than you might imagine

You might be years behind the competition without even knowing it. Learn more details about the end of SAP Enterprise Support for SAP ECC:

If we could list one reason for a business's success, it would probably be: Leveraging investments made (ROI) and transforming them into opportunities. Companies that don't adopt this mindset will struggle to remain competitive, increasing the likelihood of a potential crisis. With this in mind, the purpose of SAP Enterprise Support is to protect existing investments, streamline operations, and, through SAP's latest innovations, act as a true business partner.

But do you understand what SAP Enterprise Support is and what business opportunities are available to you right now?

What is SAP Enterprise Support?

SAP Enterprise Support is a technical and consulting support service provided by SAP for companies using SAP solutions. The service offers a wide range of features, including:

• Technical support: SAP Enterprise Support offers 24/7 technical support to help companies resolve issues and incidents.
  
• Consulting: SAP Enterprise Support provides expert consulting to help companies make the most of their SAP solutions.
  
• Updates and patches: SAP Enterprise Support provides updates and patches for SAP solutions, ensuring that companies always have the latest and most secure versions.

Why is SAP Enterprise Support ending?

SAP has decided to end support for SAP ECC 6.0 and earlier versions for several reasons. One is the need to meet the demands of customers seeking the latest technological innovations. ECC 6.0 and earlier versions do not offer the same level of features and functionalities as newer versions, such as SAP S/4HANA.

Another reason for ending support is the need to reduce operational costs. SAP estimates that the cost of providing support for ECC 6.0 and earlier versions is US$1 billion per year. By discontinuing support for these versions, SAP can reduce this cost.

Finally, SAP also decided to end support for SAP ECC 6.0 and earlier versions to simplify its IT infrastructure. The company believes it is more efficient to support a smaller number of platforms.

Continuous Improvements and Innovations delivered by SAP Enterprise Support:

• New software releases of licensed Enterprise Support Solutions, as well as tools and procedures for upgrades.
  
• Support packages - Correction packages to reduce the effort of single corrections. In addition to corrections, support packages may also contain corrections to adapt functionalities to legal and regulatory requirements.
  
• For versions of SAP Business Suite 7 core applications, SAP can provide enhanced functionality and/or innovations through enhancement packages. SAP's current practice is to provide one enhancement package or other update per year.
  
• Technology updates to support third-party operating systems and databases.
  
• ABAP source code available for SAP software applications and function modules that are released and additionally supported.
  
• The software change management, such as configurations or solution updates, is supported, for example, with content, tools, and informational material.
  
• SAP offers the Customer up to five days of remote support services per year from SAP solution architects to:
  
  →  Assist the Customer in the evaluation of innovation features of the latest SAP enhancement package and how it can be deployed for the Customer's business process requirements.
  
  →  Provide guidance to the Customer in the form of one-day knowledge transfer sessions for defined SAP software/applications or Global Support Backbone components. Currently, content and session schedules are declared in the SAP Enterprise Support Academy. The scheduling, availability, and delivery methodology is at SAP's discretion.
  
• SAP offers the Customer access to guided self-services as part of SAP Solution Manager Enterprise Edition, helping Customers optimize the technical solution management of enterprise support solutions.
  
• Support is much more than a help desk. Next-generation support is an enabler to help you achieve your company's goals

Challenges of migrating to SAP S/4HANA

The migration to SAP S/4HANA is a complex process that requires careful planning and execution. Companies still using SAP ECC 6.0 and earlier versions should start planning their migration as soon as possible.

One of the main challenges of migrating from SAP ECC to SAP S/4HANA is the shortage of skilled labor. The SAP job market is competitive, and companies are competing for qualified professionals.

Another challenge is the cost of migration. Migrating to SAP S/4HANA can be an expensive process, potentially requiring significant investments in hardware, software, and consulting services.

Recommendations

Companies still using ECC 6.0 and earlier versions should start planning their migration to SAP S/4HANA as soon as possible. Here are some recommendations to help companies prepare for the migration:

• Start evaluating your needs and requirements. What do you need from the new system? What are your business objectives?
• Assess your current infrastructure. Do you have the necessary hardware and software to run SAP S/4HANA?
• Start looking for consulting partners. A consulting partner can help you plan and execute your migration.

Migrating to SAP S/4HANA is a significant investment for companies using SAP's ECC ERP systems. By carefully planning and executing the migration, companies can ensure they are prepared for the future.

SAP Enterprise Support: +1450 services and tools available and coverage for any situation.

• Find business opportunities and improvements through the SAP Enterprise Support opportunity report.
  
• Tailored to your organization with industry benchmarks.
  
• Get advice, optimize and continuously improve through SAP Enterprise Support value maps.
  →  Example: Reduce unused transactions through custom code management.
  
• Approximately 7,400 customer transactions and reports in your systems cause adjustments and testing efforts for you every year.
  
• SAP estimates that 74% of your custom code objects are unused. The industry benchmark is 30% unused custom code.
  
• Effort savings of 1,625 hours per year can be achieved by eliminating 3,250 objects to reach the industry benchmark.

Now that we understand the importance of SAP Enterprise Support and the opportunities SAP offers through it, we need to explain that you might be using this tool completely wrong. Without the ability to constantly update, your business could become outdated, failing to leverage the significant investment your corporation is making.

Discover the fastest S/4HANA conversion case in history, built and delivered in partnership with RFM Developers. Read about the record-breaking conversion case completed in just 18 days!

See also: Brazil's 1st S/4HANA Market Survey

Want to know how to avoid the problem of lack of support and outdated systems before everyone else? Click the button below:

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