In this article, we provide a glimpse into an upcoming offering designed to support customers in their cloud transformation journey.

The Shift to Cloud and Business Agility
Many SAP customers have already embraced cloud solutions to modernize their operations, enhance flexibility, and drive efficiency. By adopting a cloud-based model, businesses are unlocking new innovations and optimizing their processes. For most, the question is no longer if they will move away from legacy systems but rather how soon they can make the transition while aligning with their broader IT and business strategy.

2030: A Critical Milestone for On-Premise ERP Users
With extended maintenance for on-premise SAP ERP systems coming to an end by 2030, organizations face growing challenges in maintaining these environments. Continuing beyond this date will introduce increasing risks, as outdated third-party components such as older Java versions will no longer receive vendor support.

At the same time, enterprises with extensive and complex IT landscapes including numerous SAP ERP instances require a structured and flexible approach to transition to the cloud at a pace that suits their evolving business needs.

Introducing SAP ERP Private Edition Transition Option
To assist organizations navigating this complexity, SAP will introduce SAP ERP, private edition, transition option a dedicated subscription offering tailored for large enterprises managing complex landscapes. This solution is designed to facilitate a structured move to SAP cloud ERP while ensuring business continuity.

This new offering will be a cloud-based SAP ERP subscription, centered around SAP ECC, supplemented by specialized transformation services. It will also provide essential security, legal, and software updates, ensuring uninterrupted operations. The subscription will be available for purchase starting in 2028, with an active usage period from 2031 to 2033. Given the scale and complexity of transitioning such systems, SAP is announcing this offering well in advance to allow sufficient time for strategic planning.

Who Will Benefit from This Offering?
This transition option is entirely optional and is not a maintenance extension for SAP ERP. Customers who complete their cloud transformation by 2030 will not require it. However, for organizations needing additional time and support, this offering provides a structured pathway with defined conditions.

Key details include:

• The scope of the offering will focus on SAP ECC and will not cover the full SAP Business Suite 7, which remains available for subscription only until 2030. More details on the eligible product scope will be shared later this year.
• Systems intending to utilize this transition option must be moved to SAP ERP, private edition before 2030.
• A set of technical prerequisites will apply: SAP HANA will be the only supported database, and adjustments will be required as outdated third-party technologies (such as older Java versions) are phased out.
• Further specifics will be revealed as the offering approaches its availability-to-purchase date in 2028.
• The natural progression following the use of this offering would be a full transition to SAP cloud ERP.

Pricing and Availability
From 2031 to 2033, this offering will be available at a higher cost compared to standard ERP cloud subscriptions before 2031. This reflects the complexity involved in delivering a specialized solution for large-scale, mission-critical systems. Further pricing and contractual details will be disclosed in Q2 2025 as SAP prepares for its broader market release.

Next Steps
Organizations looking to understand how this offering aligns with their long-term strategy should engage with their SAP account executive or talk to your favorite Sri Lankan SAP partner, Altria Consulting to explore options and begin planning.