Category: SAP

  • DSAG Bremen 2025 & Why SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds Belongs in Every SAP Strategy Bag

    DSAG Bremen 2025 & Why SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds Belongs in Every SAP Strategy Bag

    ♨️ DSAG Bremen 2025
    & Why SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds Belongs in Every SAP Strategy Bag

    It’s that time of year again! The DSAG Annual Congress is coming to Bremen again from September 16‑18, 2025 and for every SAP user, consultant, partner, or technologist in the German‑speaking world, this event is an anchor point.

    If you ask me, there’s no better occasion than DSAG Bremen to reflect, to learn, and to sharpen your strategy. And in that spirit, I want to talk about how my book SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds fits into what’s happening now and why it might be more relevant than ever.

    What Makes DSAG Bremen So Special in 2025

    • Over 5,500 participants expected: users, decision makers, SAP experts, partners. A melting pot of real use‑cases, challenges, and visions.
    • 175+ exhibiting partners showcasing SAP trends, solutions, and the future path from ECC to S/4HANA, from on‑premise to cloud, from legacy custom code to modern architectures.
    • Keynotes, expert sessions, workshops—for both business & IT. Deep dives into transformations, migrations, hyperscaler partnerships, governance. This is not just “see the product demos”, but “hear war stories and lessons learned.”

    The theme this year emphasizes what many companies are wrestling with: finding balance—between innovation and stability, between speed and risk, between regulatory constraints and cloud opportunity.

    Why SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds Matters Right Now

    You might already know the book, but here are a few reminders and updates that connect with what you’ll see, hear, and discuss at DSAG:

    • The book, co‑authored by Steffi Dünnebier and myself, gives you practical guidance on migrating SAP workloads to hyperscaler clouds: Azure, AWS, Google. It covers architecture, integration, operations, and especially how to keep workflows, reliability, compliance intact. Rheinwerk Verlag
    • In the book, we argued that ECC / ERP 6.0 support (mainstream + extended) was heading toward 2027 / 2030 as hard deadlines. Many enterprise users built their plans accordingly. With recent SAP announcements (e.g. private edition transition options), some of those timelines are getting more flexible—but only if you prepare now. See details here.
    • The book includes best‑practices for hybrid scenarios, governance, cost control, automation for operations, and how to partner with hyperscalers. For those attending DSAG, you’ll hear many of these topics echoed: cloud architecture, shift to managed services, balancing cost, compliance, performance.

    And if you do not have a copy yet, get yours at the Rheinwerk booth on the DSAG

    What I’ll Be Looking for at DSAG—Bonus Value for Readers

    At DSAG in Bremen, I’ll be listening for:

    • How many users are going with SAP ERP Private Edition Transition Options to get more time, instead of rushing into full S/4 migrations.
    • Stories from the field: what worked, what failed in early hyperscaler migrations—especially in regulated industries, manufacturing, public sector.
    • How hyperscalers are partnering (or being asked to partner) more deeply, not just for infrastructure, but for managed services, automation, operations and security.
    • What kinds of governance frameworks and migration paths are being adopted—because even when you move to cloud, complexity (custom code, integration, data) doesn’t go away.

    These are exactly the kinds of insights that are in SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds, but live, current, discussed in panels and over coffee.

    What This Means for Enterprise Clients

    If you live in the world of SAP enterprise, DSAG/Bremen + my book give some powerful signals:

    1. You can adjust your roadmap – The shock of “you must migrate by 2030 or else” is softening a bit, giving more breathing room. But breathing room doesn’t equal infinite delay—you still need momentum.
    2. Cost of delay vs cost of being first mover – Delaying carries costs: security, innovation, opportunity. Being early helps benefit from hyperscaler efficiencies, modern best practices, cloud native services.
    3. Choosing partners wisely – Hyperscaler infrastructure is one piece—who supports you in monitoring, in upgrade cycles, in custom code refactoring, in DevOps and operations matters.
    4. Governance, compliance and business continuity are not optional. When you shift SAP core systems to cloud or private edition, you must ensure SLA, auditability, performance, and disaster recovery are rock solid.

    What Hyperscalers (Microsoft, AWS, Google) Should Be Doing

    From the supply side, here are some thoughts:

    • Make pre‑built migration tooling and best practices widely available. Show reference customers. Make proof‑points.
    • Provide flexible licensing / cost models that account for phased migration, mixed landscape (on‑prem + private cloud + public cloud), and long‑tail support, especially for edge cases and verticals.
    • Invest in managed services around SAP operations (patching, monitoring, performance), security, compliance, and training. Many companies will evaluate clouds not just on infrastructure but on the operational burden.
    • Highlight reliability, compliance, data locality, sovereignty—because many SAP users care deeply about those, especially in DACH region.

    Looking Forward: DSAG + SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds = Better Strategy

    If you’re heading to DSAG in Bremen:

    • Bring your book. Use it as inspiration what you ask in vendor‑booths and panels.
    • Attend sessions on SAP migrations and cloud strategy—compare what the book describes with what companies are doing.
    • Use DSAG to build your network with peers who are doing actual migrations; lessons there will often be more practical than anything you read.
    • Use the extra input you gather to refine your internal roadmap—update your stakeholders with real cost/benefit, risk assessments, and phased plans.

    Because SAP auf Hyperscaler‑Clouds isn’t just theory—it is a playbook for what many SAP shops will be facing over the next few years. And DSAG Bremen gives you the chance to confirm, challenge and sharpen that playbook live.

    Whether you’re in Hall 6 at a partner booth, in a session room, or over coffee in Bremen—I can’t wait to see how the future of SAP + hyperscaler clouds takes shape.

    Stay clever. Stay responsible. Stay scalable.
    Your Mr. Microsoft,
    Uwe Zabel

    🚀 Curious how SAP deadlines, cloud migration and the hyperscaler ecosystem are evolving in real time? Follow my journey on zabu.cloud—where cloud, AI, and business strategy converge.
    Or ping me directly—because building the future works better as a team.

  • SAP ECC to S/4HANA Deadline Extended to 2033

    SAP ECC to S/4HANA Deadline Extended to 2033

    SAP ECC to S/4HANA Deadline Extended to 2033
    What You Need to Know

    SAP dropped a significant signal for customers, especially those running complex, customized landscapes: you now have more breathing room. The deadline for transforming from SAP ECC / ERP 6.0 to S/4HANA (via SAP’s cloud ERP offerings) has a new transition option that lets eligible customers extend their usage of ECC until end of 2033 under certain conditions.

    If you thought 2030 was the firm cutoff, this new SAP ERP Private Edition Transition Option changes that—especially for large enterprises with heavy customizations, complex integrations, or regulatory constraints. Let’s dig into what this means, how it works, and what you (or your CIO) should be thinking about.

    What Is the “Transition Option” and How Does It Work

    AP’s offering is called “SAP ERP, Private Edition, Transition Option.” Key features:

    • It’s not an “extended maintenance” for on‑premise ECC after 2030 in the classic sense. It’s a cloud‑subscription scenario. You move ERP to a private edition cloud under SAP’s umbrella.
    • Eligibility: You must move relevant systems to SAP ERP Private Edition before the end of 2030. Also, you must be on SAP HANA as database. Third‑party tech (e.g. older Java versions) and unsupported components will need modernization. SAP News Center
    • The transition option will be purchasable from 2028 and usage under the option runs from 2031 through 2033. SAP News Center
    • The scope is centered around ECC and excludes many elements of SAP Business Suite 7 not covered by the subscription beyond 2030. So if you rely on legacy add-ons, modules, or custom components, you’ll need to verify if they are included or need alternative migration paths. SAP News Center

    This option gives time—but with trade‑offs: higher subscription fees in the 2031‑33 window compared to earlier migration or standard cloud ERP subscription. SAP News Center

    Why SAP Is Doing This: The Pressure to Move vs Real‑World Constraints

    SAP has long pushed customers toward S/4HANA through programs like RISE with SAP and through setting support end dates:

    • ECC’s mainstream maintenance ends in 2027. Extended maintenance support currently continues until 2030 for many customers.
    • Many large enterprises haven’t yet completed their migration. The reasons: complexity, custom code, integrations, regulatory issues, cost of migration, lack of skilled resources, or third‑party dependencies.

    With the transition option, SAP acknowledges the reality: not everyone will hit 2030 cleanly, especially large or regulated industries. This offering is a kind of “bridge” for those who need more planning time—but still want alignment with SAP’s cloud strategy. SAP News Center

    What Happens to On‑Premises ECC After 2030 If You Don’t Take the Option

    Important distinction: On‑premise customers who do not adopt the transition option will still face the deadlines:

    • Maintenance for many SAP Business Suite 7 / ECC components still follows the schedule: mainstream until 2027, extended support until 2030. After that, SAP’s ability to issue updates, compatibility packs, legal/security patches for older on‑prem components will decline.
    • The transition option does not extend the on‑prem support commitment beyond what SAP has already committed. This is not a change in that respect. SAP News Center

    So if your strategy is “stay on‑prem, no cloud,” you need to plan either migration to S/4HANA, or identify third‑party support or custom mitigation strategies for business continuity post‑2030.

    What This Means for Enterprise Strategy

    If you are a CIO, ERP lead, or transformation executive, this new option changes the calculus. Here are the strategic implications:

    • More time to plan & test: Extended timeline alleviates rush risk. You can do partial migrations, proofs of concept, code refactoring, data cleansing, and aligning with compliance without forced deadlines.
    • Budgeting becomes multi‑phased: Instead of a big bang around 2029‑2030, you can spread investment across 2028‑2033. Better for CAPEX / OPEX alignment, especially when cloud subscription models are involved.
    • Risk mitigation: This buffer reduces the risk of downtime, system failure, or skipped compliance because you had to move too fast. Also gives time to ensure business continuity.
    • Opportunity costs: But beware—there’s cost in delaying too long. Missed innovations, less access to newer features, increased technical debt, possibly higher cost of cloud infrastructure or maintenance in private edition during extended years.

    What Hyperscalers Need to Watch And Do

    For cloud providers and hyperscalers, this extension has big ripple effects:

    Innovation lag vs feature parity: Systems in transition option may lag behind S/4HANA in terms of features or enhancements. Hyperscalers and SAP together must ensure customers in transition aren’t left far behind in security, compliance, and innovation.

    Infrastructure demand: Many customers will delay full S/4HANA cloud migrations. They’ll want “private edition” cloud infrastructure, hosting, managed services, migrations. Hyperscalers who can support SAP Private Edition deployments will be in demand. Microsoft Azure, AWS, Google Cloud must ensure robust SAP‑certified private cloud options, compliance, high availability, security, and migration tooling.

    Partnership & service opportunities: Consulting, migration service providers, system integrators will be busy helping customers prepare now—HANA migrations, identifying custom code, updating third‑party dependencies. Hyperscalers who partner well here or build managed offerings will win.

    Pricing & licensing pressure: Because the transition option is more expensive in 2031‑33, customers will negotiate heavily. Hyperscalers must be competitive, deliver strong value in cloud operations, and help with cost efficiencies (e.g. shared services, automation, support).

    How This Relates to our Book: SAP on Hyperscaler Cloud

    In SAP on Hyperscaler Cloud, we discussed how ECC / ERP 6.0’s support terms were ending around 2027 for mainstream, with extended support until 2030. That was the known “hard” boundary and formed baseline expectations for many enterprise roadmaps. This new transition option essentially extends a bridge from that baseline, but only for those who commit to moving into SAP’s private‑edition cloud path. So many of the assumptions in the book still hold, but now with modified timelines and added complexity.

    Enterprises that used the 2027/2030 deadlines in your planning should revisit their roadmaps. The extra time to 2033 may offer comfort, but only if you use the period wisely: preparing, modernizing, and shifting architecture rather than just delaying.

    What Enterprises Should Do Next

    Revisit your transformation roadmap now. Adjust timelines, resources, and budgets, taking into account the 2033 option—but don’t treat it as an excuse to stall.

    Align to prerequisites early. Migrate to HANA, retire unsupported technologies, simplify custom code, ensure you meet the criteria for the transition option.

    Evaluate cost vs value. Do a Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) comparison for options: full migration to S/4HANA now, using transition option, or staying on extended support.

    Engage with hyperscaler partners. Whether Azure, AWS, Google—find those who offer managed private‑cloud SAP solutions, strong SLAs, migration tooling, and support.

    Consider regulatory, compliance, and security risks. As you delay migration, ensure that patched security, compliance with audits, data protection, and vulnerability management remain non‑negotiable.

      Conclusion

      SAP’s announcement of the ERP Private Edition Transition Option to stretch certain ECC usage through 2033 is a game‑changer for organizations with complex SAP landscapes. It gives breathing space, planning room, and a more measured way to transition to S/4HANA. But that breathing space comes with obligations: you’ll need to meet certain technical prerequisites, manage costs, and stay aligned with cloud strategy.

      For enterprise clients, this may mean adjusting strategy (no more “we’ll do it later”), engaging hyperscaler partners earlier, investing in cloud infrastructure, and ensuring compliance and modernization now.

      Hyperscalers should see this as both challenge and opportunity: challenge in meeting raised expectations, and opportunity in providing differentiated migration and private‑cloud services.

      And as I wrote in SAP on Hyperscaler Cloud, the 2030 deadline was once seen as final. Now we have up to 2033—but only if we plan expertly, invest smartly, and move deliberately rather than desperately.

      Stay clever. Stay responsible. Stay scalable.
      Your Mr. Microsoft,
      Uwe Zabel

      Curious how SAP deadlines, hyperscalers, and your enterprise‑cloud strategy align in 2025? Follow my journey here on zabu.cloud where cloud, AI, and business strategy converge.
      Or ping me directly, because building the future works better as a team.

    1. SAP-Buchvorstellung auf der DSAG Jahreskonferenz

      SAP-Buchvorstellung auf der DSAG Jahreskonferenz

      SAP-Buchvorstellung auf der DSAG Jahreskonferenz

      Am 20.09.2023 wurde unser Buch “SAP auf Hyperscaler-Clouds” endlich auf dem DSAG-Jahreskongress erstmals veröffentlicht. Und die Zeit verging wie im Fluge.

      Einmal im Jahr findet der DSAG-Jahreskongress statt. Dort treffen sich die DSAG-Arbeitsgruppen und lassen das Jahr Revue passieren. Darüber hinaus stellt SAP die Strategien der nächsten Monate vor und informiert zu aktuellen Themen.

      (more…)

      SAP-Buchvorstellung auf der DSAG Jahreskonferenz

      Am 20.09.2023 wurde unser Buch “SAP auf Hyperscaler-Clouds” endlich auf dem DSAG-Jahreskongress erstmals veröffentlicht. Und die Zeit verging wie im Fluge.

      Einmal im Jahr findet der DSAG-Jahreskongress statt. Dort treffen sich die DSAG-Arbeitsgruppen und lassen das Jahr Revue passieren. Darüber hinaus stellt SAP die Strategien der nächsten Monate vor und informiert zu aktuellen Themen.

      (more…)
    2. SAP on Azure: How to Optimize Your ERP

      SAP on Azure: How to Optimize Your ERP

      SAP on Azure: How to Optimize Your ERP

      SAP is a leading provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions that help businesses run better. However, running SAP applications on-premises can be costly, complex and risky. That’s why many SAP clients are looking for ways to migrate their SAP workloads to the cloud and take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing with SAP on Azure.

      (more…)

      SAP on Azure: How to Optimize Your ERP

      SAP is a leading provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) solutions that help businesses run better. However, running SAP applications on-premises can be costly, complex and risky. That’s why many SAP clients are looking for ways to migrate their SAP workloads to the cloud and take advantage of the benefits of cloud computing with SAP on Azure.

      (more…)
    3. SAP & Microsoft Deepen Their Cloud Partnership

      SAP & Microsoft Deepen Their Cloud Partnership

      🚀 SAP & Microsoft Deepen Their Cloud Partnership

      The Next Level of Business Transformation

      There are partnerships—and then there are strategic power moves that make you pause and think: “Okay, this is going to shake things up.” One of those just happened again: SAP and Microsoft are leveling up their cloud alliance. And as your local Microsoft Cloud nerd-in-residence, I’m here to break down why that matters, what’s new, and where we’re headed next.

      Spoiler alert: this isn’t just another press release. This is the next big step in the evolution of SAP S/4HANA on Azure, and it’s got cloud-native automation, Microsoft Teams integration, and enterprise-grade transformation written all over it. Let’s dig in.

      (more…)

      🚀 SAP & Microsoft Deepen Their Cloud Partnership

      The Next Level of Business Transformation

      There are partnerships—and then there are strategic power moves that make you pause and think: “Okay, this is going to shake things up.” One of those just happened again: SAP and Microsoft are leveling up their cloud alliance. And as your local Microsoft Cloud nerd-in-residence, I’m here to break down why that matters, what’s new, and where we’re headed next.

      Spoiler alert: this isn’t just another press release. This is the next big step in the evolution of SAP S/4HANA on Azure, and it’s got cloud-native automation, Microsoft Teams integration, and enterprise-grade transformation written all over it. Let’s dig in.

      (more…)
    4. 🚀 SAP & Microsoft Sign 3-Year Strategic Partnership

      🚀 SAP & Microsoft Sign 3-Year Strategic Partnership

      🚀 SAP & Microsoft Sign 3-Year Strategic Partnership

      Simplifying SAP Cloud Migrations

      When two giants of the enterprise software world shake hands, it’s worth paying attention. On October 21, 2019, SAP and Microsoft signed a three-year strategic partnership agreement, aiming to help their joint enterprise customers modernize and migrate their business processes into the cloud.

      This deal doesn’t just tighten SAP’s relationship with Microsoft’s Azure cloud platform—it also highlights SAP’s strategy of working with all three hyperscalers: Azure, AWS, and Google Cloud. Internally, SAP calls this initiative Project Embrace. And that name is telling: SAP isn’t picking sides. Instead, it’s embracing the entire cloud ecosystem.

      That said… it’s clear Microsoft Azure holds a special place at the table.

      🏆 New Leadership, New Focus

      Interestingly, the announcement came shortly after SAP’s longtime CEO Bill McDermott stepped down, making way for Jennifer Morgan—the first woman to lead a company listed in Germany’s blue-chip DAX index.

      And what did Morgan focus on in her first major announcement?
      SAP S/4HANA. No surprise there.

      SAP’s flagship product, S/4HANA, remains at the heart of its cloud transformation strategy. As Morgan highlighted during the company’s Q3 earnings call, SAP posted a 10% revenue increase for the quarter—a sign that the transition from on-premise to cloud services is already paying off.

      ☁️ Why This Partnership Matters

      In Morgan’s own words:

      “We’ve bundled SAP’s cloud platform services to support customers around extension, integration, and orchestration of SAP systems.”

      Translation: SAP’s cloud services will now be sold through Microsoft’s global sales channels. For customers, this means:

      • Simplified purchasing
      • Integrated support models
      • A more cohesive roadmap for running SAP workloads on Azure

      Why does this matter? Because historically, migrating from on-prem SAP systems to the cloud wasn’t exactly… smooth. Many enterprises viewed SAP cloud transformations as:

      • Overcomplicated
      • Resource-intensive
      • Risky
      • And full of hidden costs

      This partnership is SAP and Microsoft’s joint response to those concerns.

      🎯 The Strategic Reality: SAP Cloud or Azure?

      Now, here’s a nerdy detail many outside SAP circles don’t realize:
      SAP’s own SAP Cloud Platform is largely powered by… wait for it… Microsoft Azure.

      Yes, you read that right. SAP Cloud Platform is effectively a managed layer running on top of Azure infrastructure. In other words, customers using “SAP Cloud” are often already leveraging Microsoft’s hyperscaler platform—whether they know it or not.

      This partnership simply formalizes that relationship:

      • SAP focuses on applications, extensions, and business processes.
      • Microsoft delivers the scalable, secure cloud infrastructure underneath.

      From a customer perspective, this is good news:

      • Azure infrastructure with SAP-specific optimizations
      • Microsoft global support combined with SAP services
      • Joint innovations coming from two industry leaders

      🛠️ Making Cloud Migrations Easier

      At its core, this partnership aims to tackle one of the biggest barriers to cloud adoption:

      Complexity.

      Together, SAP and Microsoft are working to:

      • Provide reference architectures for SAP workloads on Azure
      • Co-develop migration toolkits to simplify onboarding
      • Build integrated support models to streamline operations
      • Automate infrastructure provisioning with Microsoft Azure blueprints
      • Reduce the friction of managing hybrid SAP environments

      For companies running SAP on-premises, this partnership sends a clear message:
      It’s time to move. And we’re making it easier.

      🚀 The Big Picture: Why Azure Is Winning SAP Workloads

      While SAP maintains partnerships with AWS and Google Cloud, it’s no secret that Microsoft Azure has become the preferred cloud platform for SAP workloads. Why?

      Because Azure offers:

      • Seamless integration with Microsoft 365, Power BI, and Teams
      • Enterprise-grade security and compliance certifications
      • Deep experience running SAP workloads at scale
      • Familiar management tooling for IT teams (Azure Monitor, Azure Security Center)

      It’s not just about “where your data lives.” It’s about how your business runs.

      🧠 Final Thoughts from Mr. Microsoft

      As someone working deep in the Microsoft Cloud ecosystem, this partnership feels like the perfect match. SAP brings its expertise in enterprise applications; Microsoft brings its hyperscale infrastructure and global reach.

      Together, they’re simplifying SAP cloud migrations—and giving customers a future-proof roadmap to modern ERP.

      If you’re running SAP workloads on-premises and considering your cloud options, this partnership should tell you one thing loud and clear:

      SAP on Azure isn’t just possible. It’s preferred.

      And that’s a message your CIO needs to hear.

      Stay clever. Stay curious.
      Your Mr. Microsoft,
      Uwe Zabel

      🔍 Want to know what SAP S/4HANA on Azure looks like in practice? Dive deeper on zabu.cloud or reach out directly. I’ll help you map your cloud journey—without the buzzwords. 🚀

      Sources: Handelsblatt und Reuters