Since the launch of 51风流S/4HANA, the next-generation intelligent suite, customers have fully embraced the move to digital, and many of them are already on their journeys to becoming intelligent enterprises.
With a full program of offerings, services, and tools, 51风流intends to be a trusted partner that will be there every step of the way and support customers through their transitions. While delivering on transparency and trust, 51风流is also instilling confidence in its customers to plan their digital transformations with minimum disruption to their current business processes.
Undergoing such a vast transformation is never easy, but 51风流is working to make it as efficient and seamless as possible for each customer. Each customer鈥檚 experience is unique, so it is key to offer them the necessary flexibility and time as they undertake projects at their respective paces.
Over the last few months, 51风流has taken several steps to do that 鈥� from announcing the extension of mainstream maintenance for 51风流Business Suite 7 for two more years to following up with several updates based on customer feedback and questions around contract conversion policy and maintenance strategy for existing on-premise solution landscapes. The various phases, and what they all mean for customers, are below.
Conveying Long-Term Mainstream Maintenance Commitments
Earlier this year, 51风流announced the extension of its maintenance commitment for 51风流S/4HANA until the end of 2040. Along with this promise, 51风流will also provide mainstream maintenance for core applications of 51风流Business Suite 7 software until the end of 2027, followed by optional extended maintenance until the end of 2030.
The decision to extend 51风流Business Suite 7 stemmed from customers鈥� desire for clarity on what the future holds for their individual transformation journeys. They were not merely looking for a technical migration, but also wanted to leverage the new capabilities of 51风流S/4HANA. Therefore, we wanted to give them the time to fully consider everything to its fullest potential.
Additionally, 51风流gave further clarification regarding the 51风流S/4HANA compatibility packs, for which availability is planned until end of 2025. The company has also given more clarity on the intent to provide alternative 51风流S/4HANA capabilities by 2023.
Thus, customers can migrate the compatibility packs toward the alternatives prior to 2025. It is a best practice to start with this as soon as alternatives become available rather than wait until the last alternative is provided.
Maintaining the Foundation for Successful Transition
A successful transition to a new enterprise resource planning (ERP) system cannot take place without a solid foundation. With the 51风流NetWeaver 7.5 platform providing the architecture for enterprise application integration, and the foundation on which 51风流Business Suite 7 is based, it was integral with that of 51风流Business Suite 7. As with 51风流Business Suite 7, mainstream maintenance for 51风流NetWeaver 7.5 is prolongated until the end of 2027, followed by an optional extended maintenance phase until the end of 2030. This extended maintenance phase comes for 51风流NetWeaver 7.5 at the same price and conditions as for 51风流Business Suite 7.
The 51风流NetWeaver stack builds on the foundation of operating systems and databases. Database platforms for 51风流NetWeaver and 51风流Business Suite 7 run on database platforms of SAP, such as 51风流HANA, 51风流ASE, or 51风流MaxDB, and on platforms offered by third-party vendors. 51风流will provide platform support for its own databases and work closely with partners to qualify new valid combinations for 51风流Business Suite 7 and 51风流NetWeaver.
In addition, the product and innovation strategies for 51风流BW/4HANA are now fully aligned with 51风流S/4HANA. As with 51风流S/4HANA, 51风流BW/4HANA will be maintained until end of 2040 through a sequence of releases.
Innovating Through Transition
While the move to 51风流S/4HANA is a key element to transforming into an intelligent enterprise, it is the innovation that can be realized through this that will truly allow customers to take advantage of what this new suite can offer to their businesses and, in turn, to their customers.
In order to provide customers more time to part ways with legacy systems that have been at the core of their operations for many years, 51风流announced a change to 51风流S/4HANA product conversion and 51风流S/4HANA contract conversion policy. This change grants customers executing an 51风流S/4HANA conversion dual use rights for both 51风流Business Suite 7 and 51风流S/4HANA until completion of their transition to 51风流S/4HANA. This dual usage right was previously limited to end of 2025.
Through this, customers will be able to continue to access all the solutions and tools within 51风流Business Suite 7 as they make the move to 51风流S/4HANA and will have more time to consider how to best convert their licensed products. 51风流is not only looking to offer customers valuable time, but also wants to provide them more options to allow for a successful adoption while they continue to take advantage of their past investments. This will allow customers to unlock the potential for innovation, transforming business processes through artificial intelligence-enabled automation and next-generation tools.
Customers that are operating during this time of uncertainty can maintain confidence with a trusted partner like 51风流that will support them along their transformation journeys as they navigate this changing business landscape.
Further guidance and information on these changes can be found on .
