Mainstream maintenance for SAP Business Suite 7, including SAP ECC 6.0, is scheduled to end on 31 December 2027. SAP has offered optional extended maintenance to the end of 2030 at an additional fee, and has announced further transition options for some customers moving through RISE with SAP. After mainstream maintenance ends, the commercial terms you are on change, whether or not your systems do.
For South African enterprises still on ECC, the deadline is as much a contract question as a technical one.
What are the options?
| Path | What it means commercially | Key question |
|---|---|---|
| Move to RISE with SAP | Subscription contract, FUE-based users, existing licences converted to credits | Is the credit and FUE quantity right? |
| S/4HANA on-premise contract conversion | Perpetual licences converted to S/4HANA equivalents | Which existing rights carry across, and at what value? |
| Extended maintenance on ECC | Stay on ECC to 2030 for an additional maintenance premium | What does the extra time cost against the plan it buys? |
| Third-party support | Leave SAP maintenance and use an independent provider | What rights and upgrade paths are given up? |
Exact dates, fees and eligibility depend on SAP's current published terms and on your own contract. Confirm both before you plan around them.
What should you check now?
- Your current entitlement. The conversion value of what you own depends on knowing exactly what that is. See what an SAP licence position consists of.
- Shelfware. Licences you pay maintenance on but do not use may be converted at full value, or carried into a subscription you do not need.
- Indirect use. Integrations unlicensed today become a line on the new contract. Review your Digital Access position first.
- Your timeline. A realistic go-live date decides whether extended maintenance is insurance or a necessity, and how a RISE subscription should ramp.
Whichever path you choose, the new contract inherits your current position. Getting that position right before negotiation opens is where most of the value sits.
The short version
2027 forces a commercial decision on every ECC customer. Establish your entitlement, use and timeline first, then compare paths on evidence.
Common questions
When does SAP ECC maintenance end?
Mainstream maintenance for SAP Business Suite 7, including SAP ECC 6.0, is scheduled to end on 31 December 2027, with optional extended maintenance available to the end of 2030 at an additional fee.
Do we have to move to RISE with SAP by 2027?
No. RISE with SAP is one path. Others include an on-premise S/4HANA contract conversion, extended maintenance on ECC, or third-party support. Each has different commercial consequences.
What happens to our existing SAP licences when we move to S/4HANA?
They are usually converted, either into S/4HANA licences through a contract conversion or into credits against a RISE subscription. The value you receive depends on your current entitlement and the terms negotiated.