A Full Use Equivalent (FUE) is the user licensing unit SAP uses for RISE with SAP and S/4HANA Cloud. Instead of buying a fixed number of each named-user type, you buy a pool of FUEs, and each user consumes a fraction of an FUE according to the type of access they need.
How do FUEs convert to users?
| User type | Typical use | FUE weighting | Users per FUE |
|---|---|---|---|
| Advanced use | Full operational and configuration roles | 1 | 1 |
| Core use | Defined transactional tasks | 1/5 | 5 |
| Self-service use | Approvals, requests, time and expense | 1/30 | 30 |
Which category a user falls into depends on the authorisations they hold, as defined in SAP's own use rights documentation for your contract. Check the version referenced in your order form, as definitions are updated over time.
Why the FUE number matters
The FUE quantity on a RISE proposal is usually modelled, not measured. It is built from assumptions about how many of your users will need Advanced, Core and Self-service access. If those assumptions are generous, you pay for capacity you never use, for the full term of a subscription. If they are tight, you face additional purchases mid-term at whatever price the contract allows.
Five things to test on a RISE proposal
- The basis of the FUE count. Is it derived from a role analysis of your current users, or from a headline estimate?
- Classification by role. Do the roles you plan to give each user group actually require Advanced use?
- Timing. Does the FUE quantity ramp with your rollout plan, or bill in full from day one?
- Conversion credits. If you hold ECC licences, how is their value recognised in the new subscription, and on what conditions?
- Growth and renewal mechanics. What happens to price when you add FUEs, and what rights do you have to reduce at renewal?
Our SAP licence advisory tests each of these against your own role data and rollout plan before signature, with every quantity traced to a stated basis.
The short version
FUEs make SAP user licensing more flexible, but a RISE subscription locks the quantity in for years. Treat the FUE count as a modelled estimate to be tested, and tie it to your own role design and rollout timing.
Common questions
What is an FUE in SAP?
An FUE, or Full Use Equivalent, is the user licensing unit in RISE with SAP and S/4HANA Cloud. Each user consumes a fraction of an FUE based on their access type: one Advanced user uses one FUE, five Core users use one FUE, and thirty Self-service users use one FUE.
How is the FUE quantity on a RISE proposal calculated?
It is usually modelled from assumptions about how many users need each access type. It should be tested against a role analysis of your own users and your rollout plan before signature.
Can existing SAP ECC licences be credited towards RISE with SAP?
SAP commonly offers conversion credits for existing licence investment when customers move to RISE, but the value and conditions are set in each contract and should be reviewed line by line.