How to Prepare for SAP ECC’s Support End Date? The 2027 Deadline That Could Cost Your Business Everything
Posted on August 4, 2025 by Laeeq Siddique
What Is ECC?
ECC is short for ERP Central Component, the main ERP suite from business software company SAP, used to run businesses in various industries for decades. It has components covering finance, logistics, human capital, and more— all woven together to operate key corporate functions.
SAP ECC Underlies Digital Processes at Organizations with the Largest Footprints-But as Its End of Life Approaches, Transition Planning Is Key.
Introduction: SAP ECC’s Support Timeline and What It Means for You
The end of support of SAP ECC is not just a technical milestone but a strategic one. Mainstream support of the latest releases of SAP ECC is scheduled to end in 2027, with extended support running until 2030. Support ends for older enhancement packs by the end of 2025.
If your organization continues to operate ECC legacy software, it’s time to assess your risk, secure support, and position your business competitively in the marketplace.
| ECC Version | Mainstream Support Ends | Extended Support Ends | Notes |
| ECC 6.0 EHP 0–5 | December 31, 2025 | Not Offered by SAP | No official extended support from SAP beyond 2025 |
| ECC 6.0 EHP 6–8 | December 31, 2027 | December 31, 2030 | Eligible for extended support from SAP |
| SAP S/4HANA Private Cloud | Not Applicable | December 31, 2033 | Follows a different support model under RISE with SAP |
| Rimini Street Support | Not Covered by SAP | Through 2040 | Third-party support, independent of SAP’s official support timelines |
Why Businesses Must Act Now
Remaining on SAP ECC’s outdated system brings both operational and financial risks:
- No future upgrades or SAP innovation..
- Vulnerability to cybersecurity threats
- Regulatory compliance risks
- Increasing maintenance and staffing costs
- Declining resource pool for ECC knowledge
- Losses on modernization and scaling.
- Alternatives for Businesses Running on SAP ECC
Options for Businesses Using SAP ECC
Remain on ECC (Short-Term Plan)
If you’re not quite there yet:
- SAP offers extended maintenance for EHP 6–8 until 2030
- SAP ERP Private Cloud Edition, delivered via RISE with SAP, has been extended to 2033
- Third-party suppliers such as Rimini Street offer support through 2040
But these options are not new ideas, and they do not keep you from old technology.
Migrate to SAP S/4HANA
S/4HANA is a modern, cloud-native platform that is the next generation after SAP ECC and comes with:
- Real-time analytics
- Simplified architecture
- Lower total cost of ownership
- Better performance
- Built-in AI and automation
Migration approaches:
- Greenfield: Start fresh with S/4
- Brownfield: Upgrade existing ECC
- Selective Data Transition: It is a combination of the two strategies above.
Hybrid or Custom ERP Approaches
For any company requiring customized features or non-standard plug-ins:
- Move to Edition for SAP Business One or SAP Business ByDesign for SMEs
- Create your own ERP without code by building custom ERP systems that are tailored to suit your workflow.
- Substitute ECC modules with dedicated cloud offerings such as Salesforce, Oracle, and Workday
Cremencing’s Expertise in SAP Custom Development
When your SAP landscape is highly customized, the pre-packaged migration paths won’t make the cut. At Cremencing. com, we are experts in SAP Custom Development. What’s so special about us?
- Converts legacy code with complete business logic adherence
- ECC Module for S/4HANA Updates and Enhancements
- Builds scalable, future-ready custom apps
- Integrates third-party platforms with SAP
- Provides zero downtime deployment and full testing capability
Internal Link: Learn more about our SAP Custom Development Services
Your Step-by-Step Transition Plan
- Assess Your ECC System
- Record all improvements and all Z-coded programs.
- Review interfaces and third-party integrations
- Find out your edition and support status
- Define Your Transition Strategy
- Set business goals
- Opt for S/4HANA, third party, or hybrid
- Map cost, compliance, and scalability requirements
- Create a Migration Roadmap
- Allocate budget and staffing
- Set milestones for each stage
- Plan for user adoption and training.
Partner with Experts
- A custom software development agency like Cremencing. com can march into modern SAP platforms with no data or performance loss
What’s New for SAP ECC in 2025 and Beyond
- SAP ERP Private Edition (through RISE) with large ECC users, some extra time until 2033
- Rimini Street now supports SAP ECC till 2040
- Gartner predicts almost half of ECC usage won’t meet the 2027 cutoff
- Consultant shortages to drive up migration costs by 2026
Summary:
Get Ready for SAP ECC’s End of Life Now
The support timeline of SAP ECC is clear _ mainstream ends in 2027, and then a few limited lifelines in the form of premium or third party by 2030 or more in some cases.
This is more than a compliance issue it is about modernization, risk mitigation and building systems that are ready for digital transformation. With careful planning, the appropriate assistance and tailored custom development, your ECC-to-S/4HANA transformation is poised to deliver efficiency improvements, cost savings and ongoing agility.
Cremencing. Whatever way you choose to migrate, you can count on HostDime.
Call to Action
Do you have a customised/business-critical SAP ECC system? Need help planning the transition?
We specialize in SAP Custom Development and ECC migrations at Cremencing Solution. Whether you’re staying parked on ECC awhile, moving to S/4HANA, or considering a road in between, we make our approach work for your roadmap.
Begin your support conversion to ECC today – Talk to Cremencing. com for a custom consultation.
Explore SAP Custom Development
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Does SAP still support ECC after 2027?
Yes. Extended State of Support Until 2030 (with an additional fee) for ECC 6.0 EHP 6 – 8. The consolidated SAP ERP in Private Edition provides additional coverage up to 2033, and third-party support such as Rimini Street extends to 2040.
How long will SAP support ECC?
SAP supports:
- ECC EHP 0–5 until December 2025
- ECC EHP 6–8 until December 2027 (mainstream), and 2030 (extended)
- SAP ERP Private Edition until 2033
- Rimini Street’s third-party support until 2040
Is SAP ECC going to end?
Yes. SAP ECC will be end-of-life, beginning in 2025. While the machine won’t cease functioning right off the bat, it won’t be getting any patches, legal mercy or innovation.
What is SAP going to do after 2025?
SAP is planning to withdraw support for ECC versions below EHP 6 and is hoping to sell S/4HANA and cloud-first platforms through RISE with SAP. Clients will have to decide on re-platforming, third-party support, or custom-built ERP products.
Additional Resources