S/4HANA Compatibility Packs – What They Are, When They Expire, and How to Prepare
S/4HANA Compatibility Packs have been a useful crutch for SAP customers moving from the old ECC system into the new S/4HANA world.
They exist to bridge gaps, allowing you to temporarily run certain legacy SAP ERP functions inside S/4HANA that otherwise wouldn’t be available.
These packs were introduced to smooth the early migration process, but they come with a ticking clock. Most of these compatibility scope items have a h
Below, we explain what compatibility packs are, why SAP created them, when they expire, and how you can prepare your organization before these temporary usage rights expire.
Why This Topic Matters
Migrating to S/4HANA is a strategic priority for many enterprises, but ignoring the fine print on compatibility packs can lead to serious consequences.
Here’s why you should care about the upcoming sunset of these packs:
- Operational Disruption: The expiry of S/4HANA compatibility packs can cause a sudden loss of functionality. If critical processes still rely on these temporary bridges when they expire, operations could grind to a halt or suffer major issues.
- Unplanned Costs: Failure to act early might force you into rushed, last-minute fixes – often involving expensive licensing or emergency projects. For example, if a legacy module stops being supported, you may have to scramble to buy or implement a replacement, blowing your IT budget.
- Vendor Leverage: Delaying action gives SAP the upper hand in negotiations. After the official sunset date, SAP knows you have no choice – any extensions or solutions you seek will likely come on SAP’s terms (and price). Acting early keeps more leverage on your side.
- Higher Total Cost of Ownership: Rushed migrations and fire-fighting tend to be more costly and less efficient. Early planning to phase out compatibility pack usage avoids the premium costs of panic-driven projects and reduces the long-term TCO of your S/4HANA landscape.
In short, the expiration of compatibility packs isn’t just an IT issue – it’s a business risk. Proactively addressing it will save money, prevent disruptions, and ensure your S/4HANA transition stays on track.
Understanding S/4HANA Compatibility Packs
What exactly are S/4HANA Compatibility Packs?
In simple terms, they are temporary usage rights granted by SAP, allowing S/4HANA customers to continue using certain classic SAP ECC transactions and modules within an S/4HANA system.
SAP introduced this concept around 2015–2016 as part of the S/4HANA migration strategy.
The goal was to remove roadblocks to adoption. If S/4HANA didn’t yet have a particular feature or module that existed in ECC, a compatibility pack would let you run the old ECC version of that function inside S/4HANA for a limited time.
Key points about compatibility packs:
- Bridge, Not Enhancement: A compatibility pack does not add new features to S/4HANA. It’s essentially a technical bridge that allows access to legacy functionality. For example, classic ERP transactions that normally wouldn’t be available in S/4HANA can still be used temporarily via these packs. They exist solely to ease your transition; they aren’t meant as long-term solutions.
- License Requirements: Compatibility packs themselves usually do not cost extra license fees initially. However, you must already be licensed for the equivalent legacy module in your ECC contract and have the appropriate S/4HANA licenses. In other words, they assume you legally own the rights to use both the old and new software. They’re not a free shortcut to unlicensed functionality.
- Time-Limited by Design: SAP always intended these packs to be temporary. They bought customers some time to migrate custom code, processes, or find new solutions. The usage rights for each compatibility pack include an explicit end date, after which you are no longer permitted to use that legacy functionality in S/4HANA. Think of it as a grace period to transition fully to native S/4HANA capabilities.
- Why They Exist: Without compatibility packs, some customers would have been unable or unwilling to move to S/4HANA early on. For example, in the early years of S/4HANA, certain modules, such as Customer Service (CS) or classic Transportation (LE-TRA), didn’t have full replacements in the new system. Compatibility packs enabled those customers to proceed with S/4HANA and maintain critical processes in the interim. Essentially, SAP gave a safety net: “You can move to S/4HANA now, and bring your older processes with you for a while until you’re ready to replace them.” This significantly eased S/4HANA transition planning for many organizations.
In summary, compatibility packs are a clever interim solution in SAP’s migration toolbox. They allow you to run parts of the old ECC system within S/4HANA, but only temporarily. Next, we’ll examine when that “temporary” period expires and why it’s fast approaching.
Expiration Timelines & Risks
Every compatibility pack comes with an expiration date – and the most critical one is just around the corner. Most S/4HANA compatibility packs expire on December 31, 2025.
This is a global deadline that applies to all SAP S/4HANA versions, regardless of the release you’re on or the date of your last upgrade.
In practical terms, the end of 2025 is the sunset date for the vast majority of legacy ECC functions running under compatibility mode in S/4HANA.
Are there any exceptions or extensions? Yes, a few. SAP has extended usage rights for some compatibility packs to the end of 2030 – but these are limited cases.
Notably, the extensions to 2030 cover certain specialized or historically problematic areas, such as:
- Customer Service (CS): The classic SAP CS module (customer service management) was allowed in S/4HANA via a compatibility pack since S/4’s early versions lacked equivalent functionality. SAP extended CS usage rights to 2030, giving customers more time to adopt the new S/4HANA Service solutions.
- LE-TRA (Logistics Execution – Transportation): Many companies utilize the legacy ECC transportation management (LE-TRA) within S/4HANA while evaluating or implementing SAP’s newer Transportation Management (TM) module. LE-TRA compatibility rights extend to 2030, acknowledging the complexity of transitioning to a new transportation solution.
- PP-PI (Production Planning for Process Industries): Some process manufacturing features of PP-PI in ECC did not have exact equivalents in S/4HANA immediately. Its usage has been allowed until 2030 to ensure process industry customers can transition smoothly.
- Legacy Mobile Solutions (Work Manager, Inventory Manager): Older SAP mobile apps, such as Work Manager or Inventory Manager, which integrate with ECC, also received extensions. SAP now offers modern replacements (e.g., SAP Asset Manager), but customers using the old applications have until 2030 to migrate.
- RISE with SAP / SAP Private Cloud Edition: If your organization is on a RISE with SAP contract or the S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition, compatibility pack usage is generally allowed through 2030 as part of your subscription. (Essentially, SAP built that extension into cloud contracts to give cloud customers more runway.)
Aside from these cases, assume December 31, 2025, is the cutoff date.
Even the maintenance extensions for SAP Business Suite 7 (ECC) to 2027/2030 do not extend S/4HANA compatibility pack rights – SAP made it clear that those deadlines are separate.
So if you’re running S/4HANA on-premise with any compatibility packs, the clock is ticking regardless of broader support timelines.
What happens after the expiration date? This is where the risks become very real:
- Unlicensed Usage: SAP views use of compatibility pack functions past their expiration as unlicensed usage. In other words, on January 1, 2026 (for most packs), you would no longer have a legal right to use that functionality in your S/4 system. This could be treated similarly to using any SAP software without a license – triggering compliance audits and potential penalties. The phrase “commercially unlicensed” has been used to describe post-deadline usage. No company wants to be in that position.
- Loss of Support & Updates: Once the deadline passes, SAP’s support for those compatibility scope items ceases. If something breaks in a legacy component you’re still using, you’re on your own. Even critical security patches may not be provided for those old functions after 2025. This lack of support can quickly become a significant operational and security challenge for IT teams.
- Technical Deactivation: SAP has warned that future S/4HANA releases will remove or deactivate compatibility pack functionality. S/4HANA 2023 is the last release that still contains the compatibility pack code. That means if you plan to upgrade to any S/4HANA release beyond 2023 (such as the hypothetical 2024 or 2025 releases), those old ECC-based transactions and programs will likely be gone entirely. Even on S/4HANA 2023 or earlier, a new support package or patch after 2025 might disable them. Relying on them long-term will block your ability to take S/4HANA upgrades and improvements.
- Business Process Disruption: If you haven’t transitioned off a compatibility pack by its expiry, you risk a sudden disruption of the business process that depended on it. For example, imagine a manufacturer still using the old Customer Service (CS) module via compatibility pack. Come 2026, that service order processing could stop working or become unsupported just when customers need help – a devastating scenario. Similarly, if your finance team is using a legacy receivables management transaction under a compatibility pack, they may lose that ability, which could impact cash flow processes. The business impact of missing the deadline can be far-reaching.
- SAP’s Negotiation Position: After the deadline, if you approach SAP seeking a stopgap solution or extension, expect a tough response. At that point, SAP has little incentive to be generous – they set these deadlines years in advance. You might be offered a solution, but often it will involve purchasing new software (for example, a separate license for the replacement product or an expensive extended support agreement). In essence, missing the deadline gives the vendor all the leverage. SAP will know you’re in a bind, which is not a good place to be when discussing contracts or licensing fees.
Bottom line: Mark the date clearly (most likely December 31, 2025) and treat it as a non-negotiable deadline for your organization.
In the few cases where you have until 2030, use that time wisely – do not procrastinate because even 2030 will come fast. Next, let’s see how you can figure out if and where you’re using these compatibility pack functions.
Identifying Your Compatibility Scope Items
Before you can plan a migration away from compatibility packs, you need a clear inventory of which compatibility scope items your enterprise is using.
It’s surprising how many organizations aren’t fully aware of where these legacy functions lurk in their S/4HANA environment.
They can hide in plain sight, especially if you’ve done a technical conversion from ECC to S/4 or if you have custom code that quietly calls old transactions. Identifying them now is critical.
How to find compatibility pack usage in your systems:
- SAP Readiness Check: SAP offers a Readiness Check tool (accessible via SAP for Me) that analyzes your system for various transformation topics. One of its checks specifically flags the use of compatibility packs. Run this on your S/4HANA environment (or even on your ECC if you’re planning a move) – it will list any active functionality that falls under the compatibility scope. This can reveal, for instance, if users are still executing transactions that are considered “classic” and are only there via the compatibility allowance.
- Simplification Item Check: As part of S/4HANA conversion or upgrades, SAP provides a Simplification Item Check. This is essentially a scan against SAP’s library of simplification items (which include deprecated or replaced functions). Many compatibility pack elements are covered in those simplification items. Running this check will highlight if you have any configurations or master data tied to functions that are slated for removal. For example, it might flag that you’re using a table or transaction related to LE-TRA that will be obsolete.
- Custom Code Analysis (ABAP Worklist): A significant amount of risk is associated with custom ABAP code. Over the years, companies have often built Z-programs and enhancements that call old transactions or tables. If those tables are part of a compatibility pack (and will disappear), your custom code will break after the deadline. Use SAP’s Custom Code Migration Worklist or ABAP test cockpit with S/4HANA checks – these tools will analyze your custom code for references to compatibility pack objects. For instance, if your custom report selects data from a classic table that S/4HANA no longer uses natively (but was temporarily accessible due to compatibility), that will be identified so you can remediate it.
- Early Watch Alerts and System Reports: Keep an eye on your SAP EarlyWatch Alert reports or system upgrade preparation reports. Many customers have noted that EWA reports now flag compatibility pack usage, often highlighting the 2025 deadline in red. These automated alerts can serve as a safety net in case something was missed – they might point out, for example, that “Transaction XYZ is used and is part of the S/4HANA compatibility scope expiring in 2025.”
- Manual Inventory & Cross-Check: In addition to automated tools, do some manual due diligence. Consult with module owners and power users within your organization. Ask if they are using any “old” transactions or have processes that felt like a workaround in S/4HANA. Sometimes business users know they are, say, accessing an “SAP GUI screen from the old system” to do their work. Additionally, review your purchased licenses and SAP contracts for any relevant clues. Suppose you’re still paying for a component that is not technically part of S/4HANA. In that case, it may indicate the use of a compatibility pack (e.g., some customers still have a license line for “SAP CRM” or “SAP SRM” but are running it integrated with S/4HANA). This could hint that those components are running in compatibility mode or sidecar scenarios.
As you gather this information, it’s helpful to reference SAP’s official Compatibility Scope Matrix, which lists all the compatibility pack items and their expiration dates.
This matrix (found in SAP Note 2269324) indicates which SAP components are considered part of the “compatibility scope” in S/4HANA.
By comparing your inventory against that list, you can confirm which specific functionalities in your landscape are affected and when they expire.
Common high-risk compatibility items:
While every enterprise is different, several compatibility pack usages are especially widespread and critical:
- SAP Customer Service (CS): Many manufacturers and service organizations continue to utilize the classic CS module within S/4. It’s a prime example of an area that must be addressed, as its support in S/4HANA is only temporary.
- LE-TRA (Classic Transportation): If you haven’t moved to SAP Transportation Management or another logistics solution, check if your shipping or transport processes rely on the old LE-TRA transactions. This is common in industries like distribution and consumer goods.
- SAP ERP Human Resources / Payroll: Some S/4HANA customers kept their HCM (HR) component on the same instance via a compatibility pack (especially before SAP offered “HCM for S/4” as a product). Payroll and time management processes in that scenario are subject to the 2025 deadline, after which you’d need either SAP’s new H4S4 on-premise HR solution or a move to SuccessFactors. HR/Payroll is high-impact – you don’t want paychecks or employee data processing to be disrupted.
- Production Planning for Process Industries (PP-PI): If you’re in chemicals, pharma, or food production, ensure that your process industry planning functionality isn’t running on old ECC logic that might be set to expire. SAP has been expanding S/4HANA’s advanced PP and Manufacturing functionality, but some customers may still rely on an ECC-era transaction for recipe management or process instructions.
- Legacy Mobile or Industry Solutions: As mentioned, older mobile apps (such as Work Manager and Inventory Manager) and some industry solutions (perhaps an outdated CRM or SRM component integrated into S/4) are on borrowed time. Identify these because they often require significant effort to replace (in case of mobile apps, it might mean deploying a whole new mobile platform or app).
By thoroughly identifying your compatibility scope items now, you give yourself the gift of foresight. You’ll have a clear list of what needs to be addressed, which is the foundation for building a migration plan before the deadlines hit.
Migration Strategies Before Expiry
Once you know which parts of your SAP environment are running on borrowed time, the next step is planning how to replace or migrate each compatibility pack function to a native solution. In essence, you need a compatibility pack replacement strategy as part of your broader S/4HANA roadmap. Here’s how to approach it:
1. Map Each Compatibility Function to a Modern Equivalent:
For every compatibility pack item you’re using, determine the path forward. In many cases, SAP provides a native S/4HANA module or feature that replaces the old ECC one. Your job is to map the legacy to the new. For example, suppose you’re using classic Customer Service (CS).
In that case, the replacement might be implementing the S/4HANA Service module (which could involve new configuration or even the adoption of SAP’s C/4HANA Service cloud solutions, depending on scope). If you’re using LE-TRA, the target is likely the Transportation Management (TM) component (either the basic TM that can be embedded in S/4 or the advanced standalone version). List out each item and its corresponding modern solution.
2. Evaluate Process Changes and Gaps:
Migrating to a native S/4HANA solution may not be a one-for-one technical swap; it often necessitates changes to business processes. Take the time to analyze how the new S/4 functionality works and how your current process will adapt. In some cases, the S/4 solution is more advanced or has a different design, which can be beneficial (with new features) but requires user training and process adjustments.
Identify gaps where S/4’s replacement might not cover 100% of what the old solution did. For those gaps, you have decisions to make: can you adjust your process to live without that feature, or do you need a workaround or enhancement? Early gap analysis means fewer surprises later.
3. Address Custom Code and Integrations:
If you have custom programs tied to the old functionality, plan their remediation or retirement. For each compatibility pack area, your migration strategy should include an effort to refactor custom code. For instance, if custom reports read from a table that’s going away, rewrite them to use the new table or the new API that S/4HANA provides. If an interface was posting data to an old ECC transaction, update it to call the new S/4HANA API or service.
This step is where your ABAP team or integration team will spend a significant amount of time. SAP’s tools (such as the Custom Code Adaptation tool) can assist, but you’ll need testing to ensure everything still works once you remove the old components. Don’t underestimate the effort here – start on custom code adjustments early, because they often take time to test and perfect.
4. Consider Third-Party Solutions Where Needed:
What if S/4HANA doesn’t fully cover something your old system did? It’s possible that for some niche functionality, SAP chose not to build a like-for-like replacement in S/4HANA. In such cases, you might look to the ecosystem for help. Third-party software or certified SAP partner solutions could fill the gap.
For example, if you use an old SAP add-on via a compatibility pack and SAP’s guidance is “no direct S/4 equivalent,” a partner product may be available, or you might decide to custom-build a solution. Weigh the cost and risk – external solutions come with their considerations, but they might be quicker to deploy than waiting for missing functionality. The key is not to assume “there’s nothing we can do” – there usually is an option, even if it means buying a specialized tool.
5. Plan and Phase the Transitions:
You likely won’t replace every compatibility pack item in one big bang project (unless your usage is minimal). Prioritize and phase your migration efforts. Look at the list of items you compiled and rank them by criticality and complexity. High-impact areas (where business would suffer significantly if the functionality were to vanish) should be addressed first. Also, high-complexity ones (which might take the longest to implement) should start ASAP. Create a timeline that shows when each compatibility-dependent process will be shifted to S/4 native. Ideally, you want all this done well before the deadline so you have a buffer.
Some companies align these with existing projects – for example, if you already plan an S/4HANA upgrade or a new feature rollout in the next year, include the replacement of compatibility functions in that project scope. It can be more efficient to bundle it with a related project (like implementing Transportation Management, which might be part of a larger supply chain transformation initiative). Just be careful not to pack too much change into one go; ensure your phases are manageable and that business stakeholders can absorb the changes.
6. Utilize SAP’s Guidance:
SAP hasn’t left customers completely in the dark here. For many compatibility pack items, SAP has published “way forward” guides – essentially providing recommendations for the recommended replacement or approach. Leverage resources like the Compatibility Scope Matrix and associated notes or guides where SAP confirms “Thing X is only in compatibility mode until 2025, and its replacement is Y (available since S/4HANA version such-and-such).”
These guides often include not only the names of replacement modules but also technical steps and considerations for migration. For example, SAP might outline how to migrate data from a legacy component to the new one, or how to activate the new functionality. Include these official guidelines in your project plans to make sure you’re aligned with SAP’s best practices.
7. Test and Parallel Run (if feasible):
Where possible, implement the new solution and run it in parallel with the old one for a short period. This isn’t always feasible (or necessary), but in critical processes it can be a lifesaver. For instance, you might stand up the new S/4HANA-native process for transportation while still having the old LE-TRA process available for a few weeks, and process a few sample shipments through both to confirm the new one works as expected. A parallel run or extensive testing phase will build confidence that turning off the old compatibility function won’t introduce surprises.
By following these strategies, you’ll essentially be executing a mini-roadmap for each compatibility pack: identifying the replacement, planning the move, and executing it with ample testing. It’s a lot of work, yes, but think of it this way – you are future-proofing your S/4HANA environment.
You’ll eliminate obsolete components and fully embrace the modern S/4HANA stack, which in the long run simplifies your landscape and supportability. Next, we’ll distill some expert recommendations to ensure your organization handles this transition effectively.
Six Expert Recommendations (Insights & Tips)
To wrap up the preparation plan, here are six expert-recommended steps to mitigate risk and ensure a smooth transition off compatibility packs.
These tips synthesize best practices from SAP program advisors and real-world lessons from enterprises tackling this challenge:
- Run a Compatibility Scope Audit Now: Don’t assume you know all the legacy functions in use – verify it. Immediately perform a thorough audit of your S/4HANA systems (and ECC systems if you’re in the midst of a transition) to identify every compatibility pack item in use. Use the tools and methods discussed earlier (Readiness Check, code scan, etc.) and build a definitive list. Many companies discover surprises during this audit, such as an old module still being used by a small user group or a custom program calling a deprecated function. It’s better to discover those now than during a crisis in 2026.
- Prioritize High-Impact Items: Not all compatibility pack usages are equal. Tackle the biggest risks first. High-impact items are those that would cause the most significant disruption if they suddenly ceased to function – often core operational processes, such as sales, logistics, financial close, or payroll. They might also be items that take a long time to migrate (complex functionality or heavy customizations). By prioritizing these, you ensure that even if you have to stagger your remediation projects, the worst risks are addressed early. It can be helpful to create a risk matrix (comparing likelihood of impact and severity) for each item to guide your focus. Also consider usage frequency – something used daily by hundreds of users is a higher priority than something used monthly by one department.
- Negotiate Flexibility Early: If you anticipate not meeting the deadline for certain items, initiate conversations with SAP as soon as possible. It’s much better to negotiate any needed flexibility before you’re in breach of the license. In some cases, SAP may offer options such as extended maintenance for a specific component, a temporary license for an overlapping period, or a cloud subscription that covers the functionality until you are ready to migrate. You’ll be in a far stronger negotiating position when the clock still has time on it. After 2025, your only option may be to pay whatever SAP asks to regain compliance. Additionally, if you’re transitioning to RISE with SAP or a new S/4HANA licensing model, leverage the contract negotiation to clarify compatibility pack terms (for example, ensuring your RISE contract explicitly allows the necessary compatibility functions until 2030). Get everything in writing – verbal assurances won’t help in an audit.
- Align Migration with Your Wider S/4HANA Roadmap: Treat compatibility pack remediation as an integral part of your SAP S/4HANA transition planning, not as an isolated IT issue. This means coordinating it with other projects and goals. For instance, if your enterprise architecture roadmap includes an S/4HANA upgrade next year or a transition to SAP Fiori apps, consider timing your compatibility transitions to coincide with those efforts. Integration avoids redundant testing and downtime. It also prevents project fatigue – business users see one coordinated improvement initiative rather than many disjointed projects. However, be careful to strike a balance; if a compatibility pack item is too urgent to wait for a major upgrade project, don’t hesitate to address it separately. The key is to avoid conflicting timelines and to ensure everyone (basis team, functional teams, project managers) knows that removing compatibility packs is part of the journey to S/4HANA maturity.
- Document and Test Replacement Processes: When replacing a legacy function with a new S/4HANA process, thoroughly document the changes and conduct rigorous testing. This may seem obvious, but under time pressure, it’s tempting to do the bare minimum and move on. Resist that urge. Proper documentation will facilitate user training, ensure audit compliance, and facilitate future maintenance and support. Make sure all custom changes are recorded (what was changed, why, and how it maps to the new process). And test the end-to-end business processes that have been changed – ideally with real-world scenarios. If possible, involve the end users in UAT (User Acceptance Testing) to catch any usability or functionality issues in the new solution. The goal is to ensure that when you switch off the old compatibility pack, the business barely notices the transition because the new process has been proven effective. Additionally, document the decommissioning steps for the old functionality – for example, if you need to disable certain transactions or restrict access after a specific date, clearly outline and communicate these details. This avoids any accidental use of a now-unsupported function.
- Set Internal Deadlines Ahead of SAP’s Date: Create your own internal “drop-dead” dates well before the official 2025 deadline (or 2030 for extended cases). By padding in extra time, you build a safety buffer for unexpected delays. For example, if SAP’s sunset is Dec 31, 2025, you might set an internal target to retire each compatibility item by June 30, 2025. This way, if something slips, you still have a few months to course-correct. Internal deadlines also send a message of urgency to the teams involved – it avoids complacency that might arise if people think “oh, we have until the end of the year.” Treat SAP’s deadline as the absolute latest possible moment, and aim to be done well before then. Hitting your internal targets early has no downside; in fact, it gives you breathing room to resolve any issues that arise during final testing or user training. Reward teams that finish ahead of schedule and use any extra time to double-check that all compatibility components are truly out of your production landscape.
These six recommendations are designed to make your compatibility pack phase-out proactive and controlled, rather than reactive and chaotic.
By auditing early, focusing on what matters most, engaging SAP early, coordinating with your overall roadmap, thoroughly testing, and giving yourself time to spare, you greatly increase the odds of a smooth transition.
Essentially, you’re transforming a potential crisis (if ignored) into just another planned project milestone on your S/4HANA journey.
Governance & Continuous Monitoring
Successfully migrating off of compatibility packs is a big accomplishment – but the work doesn’t end the moment you deactivate the last legacy function.
It’s important to establish governance and ongoing monitoring to ensure your SAP landscape remains clean, compliant, and optimized going forward.
Here are some practices to put in place:
- Policy for New Implementations: Update your internal SAP governance policies to explicitly disallow introducing any solutions that rely on retired compatibility scope items. For example, if a team proposes a quick fix that involves re-enabling an old transaction via some workaround, governance should flag and stop that. Ensure all architects and project managers are aware that “compatibility packs are off-limits” going forward. This prevents well-intentioned but misguided decisions, such as attempting to activate an old function later because someone thought it might solve a problem.
- Track Compatibility Usage in Audits: Incorporate checks for compatibility pack usage into your regular IT audits or continuous control monitoring. Even after you think you’ve removed everything, it’s wise to periodically run the SAP tools (Readiness Check, EarlyWatch, etc.) to confirm nothing has crept back. For instance, after an upgrade or installing a new add-on, run the checks again – just to ensure SAP didn’t re-activate something or that a new feature isn’t secretly using a compatibility component. Regular monitoring will catch any regression.
- Align with Upgrade Cycles: SAP S/4HANA will continue to evolve with new releases (with support promised into 2040). As part of your upgrade planning cycle, always review the release notes for any changes related to areas previously covered by compatibility packs. Sometimes, SAP might introduce the final replacement for a compatibility function in a specific release or further deprecate existing features. Stay informed via SAP’s documentation and user communities. By aligning your governance with the upgrade cycle, you ensure you won’t be caught off guard. For example, if S/4HANA 2025 (hypothetically) removes some last compatibility APIs, you’ll be aware of it and can plan accordingly.
- Internal Ownership and Knowledge Retention: Assign clear ownership for each previously compatibility-reliant area to a team or individual. That owner is responsible not just for the migration project, but for the post-migration state. They should maintain documentation on how the process now runs natively and monitor its health. This way, accountability for those functions doesn’t disappear after the project – someone remains tasked with ensuring the new solution continues to meet business needs without fallback to old ways. Additionally, preserve the knowledge of what was done. People often move between roles and companies; ensure that there’s a record (in your solution manager or documentation repository) of the steps taken to remove the compatibility pack usage. This helps future teams understand the history and avoid inadvertently undoing something.
- Emergency Plans (Just in Case): Despite best efforts, if a scenario arises where a retired compatibility function is necessary (for example, an unforeseen legal requirement or a system failure in the new solution), have a contingency plan in place. This isn’t to encourage going backwards – but it’s part of risk management. For instance, ensure you have backups or an archived version of the old data available in read-only mode if needed. Alternatively, consider maintaining a relationship with a consultant or SAP contact who is familiar with the legacy component, in case you need advice in a crisis. This is not about keeping the old system running (don’t do that), but about having thought through “what if something critical was missed?” With governance, the goal is to never need this, but good governance includes having a safety net.
Continuous monitoring and governance might sound like overkill once the main work is done, but it’s essentially insurance for your ERP environment.
You invest a lot to move onto the new S/4HANA platform fully – governance is what keeps you from slipping back into bad habits or falling out of compliance in the future.
It also signals to SAP (and auditors) that you take compliance seriously, which can be beneficial in terms of trust and possibly even negotiating future terms (a customer who stays compliant is much easier to work with than one who is constantly in breach of agreements).
Related articles
- Migrating from S/4HANA Compatibility Packs to Native Functionality – A Step-by-Step Playbook
- S/4HANA Compatibility Pack Expiry Dates Explained
- S/4HANA Compatibility Scope Matrix – How to Identify and Map At-Risk Functions
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