SAP Digital Access Adoption Program (DAAP): Timing Your Entry for Maximum Savings

For enterprise IT leaders, procurement teams, and licensing managers, SAP’s Digital Access Adoption Program (DAAP) offers a unique opportunity to reduce costs. However, when you join DAAP, it can be just as critical as how you negotiate it.

In this guide, we explain what DAAP is, why it exists, and how to time your entry—early, mid, or late—to maximize savings while minimizing compliance risks.

Read our comprehensive guide to SAP Indirect Access.

What is the SAP Digital Access Adoption Program?

SAP’s Digital Access Adoption Program (DAAP) is a special initiative designed to help customers transition from the old “indirect access” licensing model to SAP’s newer document-based digital access model.

It was introduced in response to growing controversies and confusion surrounding indirect access – the scenario in which third-party or non-SAP systems access SAP data, potentially incurring license fees.

In the late 2010s, several high-profile disputes (and even lawsuits) highlighted how unpredictable and costly indirect access could be.

Enterprises were caught off guard by audit findings that integrations with SAP (such as e-commerce platforms or CRM systems) required additional SAP licenses, sometimes leading to multi-million dollar compliance penalties.

DAAP is SAP’s answer to this problem.

Under DAAP, customers can migrate from legacy indirect access licensing to the new digital access model with significant incentives and clarity. Instead of counting users or technical connections, the digital access model charges for specific documents (like sales orders, invoices, etc.) created in SAP by external systems.

This shift provides more predictable, transparent usage metrics.

SAP introduced DAAP to accelerate the adoption of this model by making the switch financially attractive and relatively hassle-free:

• Financial incentives: SAP offers steep discounts on digital access licenses for those who opt in (details of these discounts will be provided shortly). These one-time discounts significantly reduce the cost of compliance, mitigating the impact of any new license fees. In essence, SAP says: “Move to digital access now and we’ll make it worth your while – you won’t pay full price or pay twice for past usage.”
• Amnesty on past usage: A key draw of DAAP is that SAP has agreed not to back-charge customers for past indirect usage who voluntarily transition. This means if you join DAAP, SAP will waive potential penalties or fees for any unlicensed indirect use that happened before. It’s a fresh start – a way to proactively remediate indirect access compliance issues, rather than facing an uncertain audit down the line.
• Cost predictability: By switching to document-based licensing with SAP’s guidance, enterprises gain clarity on their future costs. You measure how many documents your systems create and license that volume in the future. This is far more predictable than the old guessing game of indirect user counts. For IT procurement, it’s easier to budget for digital access than to risk surprise audit bills under the old model.

In summary, DAAP was launched to transform a complex licensing gray area into a manageable and transparent model.

It gives customers the chance to address indirect access on their own terms, with generous incentives, rather than waiting for an audit hammer to fall.

Next, let’s look at those incentives in detail.

Also read – SAP Indirect Access Monitoring: Tools, Processes & Governance Best Practices.

Understanding the DAAP Discounts

One reason DAAP has captured the attention of CIOs and CFOs is the unprecedented discount levels that SAP is willing to offer. SAP typically doesn’t hand out 90% discounts on anything – yet that’s exactly the ballpark for DAAP deals.

Under the Digital Access Adoption Program, customers generally have two incentive options when purchasing the new document licenses:

• Option A – “15% Growth Buffer”: You agree to license 115% of your measured document usage, giving you a 15% buffer for future growth. The catch? SAP only charges you for that extra 15%. In practical terms, you pay for 15% more documents than you currently need, and SAP gives you 115% coverage. This works out to roughly an 85% discount on the total licenses (you’re paying 15% of the full price for 115% volume). The benefit is you’re preemptively covered if your document count rises, avoiding immediate true-up costs. The drawback is if your usage doesn’t grow as expected, you paid for 15% more capacity than necessary (though heavily discounted).
• Option B – “90% Discount Upfront”: You agree to purchase 100% of your current measured document volume with no extra buffer, and SAP gives a 90% discount on that purchase. In other words, you pay just 10% of the list price for the licenses you need right now. This is the absolute lowest upfront cost. The benefit is simplicity and minimal spend: you only pay for current needs (e.g., license exactly 100,000 documents if that’s your usage, at 10% cost). The downside is if your document counts grow later, any additional licenses will be at full price (or standard discount), since the 90% off is a one-time deal for the initial buy. There’s no built-in cushion for growth in this option.

Either way, the initial savings are enormous – far beyond normal SAP discounting. SAP basically created a limited-time “sale” on digital access licenses to entice customers: your first purchase of digital document licenses could be 85–90% off the price everyone else would normally pay.

This highlights SAP’s eagerness for customers to adopt the new model. Importantly, SAP has stated that these deep discounts apply only to the first purchase under DAAP.

After you’ve converted to digital access, any future expansions (such as buying more document capacity in later years) would revert to typical pricing negotiations. In short, DAAP is a one-time opportunity to buy at a low price.

Baseline measurement matters:

To determine how many document licenses you need (and thus how many to buy at a discount), SAP typically works with you to establish a baseline document count.

This baseline is typically derived by using SAP’s measurement tools or an audit (e.g., the Digital Access Estimation Tool or LAW reports) to count the number of relevant documents created by your indirect systems in a year. For example, you might find you had 250,000 qualifying documents last year.

That number (or an agreed figure close to it) becomes the basis for your DAAP licensing. Getting this baseline right is critical; it’s essentially the “size” of your new license.

If it’s overstated and you lock it in, you could overpay annually for maintenance on unused capacity. If it’s understated, you risk still being under-licensed.

Smart customers independently verify their usage before accepting SAP’s number. Negotiating the baseline is often part of the DAAP entry process (more on that in the risks and negotiation sections).

Why timing matters for discounts:

SAP initially marketed DAAP as a time-bound program, creating urgency by stating that the 90% discount offer wouldn’t last forever. Originally, DAAP was set to expire in 2021, then got extended to 2022, and due to customer demand, SAP has since extended it indefinitely.

Currently, there’s no fixed end date for these discount incentives. However, “indefinite” doesn’t mean “forever” – SAP reserves the right to end or change the program terms with notice.

Historically, discounts were largest early in the program’s life to encourage quick uptake. SAP’s sales teams still hint that “today’s DAAP deal might not be around tomorrow.” In practice, SAP has continued to be generous, but companies shouldn’t assume the 90% off will be on the table permanently.

If SAP were to announce a program cutoff (or if it quietly starts reducing the standard discounts), those who acted early reap the biggest savings. Those who wait risk the discount shrinking or vanishing after the official program period.

In short, the sooner you adopt (within the DAAP window), the higher the guaranteed discount will be.

If you join later or after an announced deadline, you may need to negotiate on a case-by-case basis and may only receive a 50% discount, or none at all, instead of the standard 90% discount.

The combination of huge upfront discounts, credit for existing licenses (SAP lets you trade in certain legacy licenses for credit toward the new model), and amnesty on past usage fees makes DAAP financially compelling.

However, not every company should jump in immediately—when you accept this offer, it can impact how beneficial it ultimately proves to be. Let’s explore the timing strategies.

Timing Your Entry — Early vs. Mid vs. Late

Joining the Digital Access Adoption Program is optional, and timing is everything.

Some enterprises rushed in early to lock in savings, while others are deliberately waiting.

Your approach can generally be categorized as early adoption, mid-cycle adoption, or late adoption, each with distinct pros and cons:

Early Entry:

This means embracing DAAP as soon as possible—well before the program ends (or even now, while the generous discounts are in full effect). The benefit of early entry is locking in the largest possible discount and peace of mind. You receive a 90% discount (and potentially full amnesty on past usage) before any audit can occur. It’s a proactive move; you’re effectively paying a small amount now to eliminate a big compliance risk and future cost uncertainty.

It also builds goodwill with SAP by demonstrating your early adoption of their preferred model. However, the trade-off is limited data and leverage. If you go in very early, you might not have a clear picture of your true document usage — you’re basing the deal on estimates or SAP’s figures.

That raises the risk of over-committing (buying more capacity than needed or choosing an option that isn’t optimal) because your baseline may be inaccurate. You may also have less negotiation leverage beyond the standard program terms.

SAP knows it’s offering a significant standard discount, so early adopters often simply accept the program framework (e.g., 90% off for X documents) without much custom negotiation.

Early entry is often favored by risk-averse enterprises — those who absolutely want to avoid any chance of an audit surprise and are willing to potentially overpay a little (still at a steep discount) to get certainty.

Mid-Cycle Entry:

A middle-of-the-road strategy is to wait for a bit, but not until the last minute. This might mean observing your indirect usage for a year or so, or timing DAAP to coincide with a mid-term event (like a contract renewal or an S/4HANA migration project) rather than doing it immediately or at the very end. The idea here is to strike a balance between savings and information.

By mid-cycle, you likely still enjoy substantial discounts (assuming the program is still running at 90% or, even if reduced, perhaps 70–80% off). You have had time to gather more data on document usage – maybe you ran SAP’s Digital Access Estimation Tool multiple times, conducted internal audits, or even started a small pilot of document licensing. With more insight, you can negotiate with more confidence and possibly challenge SAP’s baseline if your numbers differ.

You might also align the DAAP deal with other negotiations (we’ll discuss that in the strategies section), giving you some leverage. The risk of waiting until mid-cycle is that you lose a bit of the early-bird incentive (if SAP ever decided to dial down the discount, those who come later might not get as sweet a deal as those who signed up in year one).

Also, if an audit were to occur during this waiting period, you’d have less protection than if you had done DAAP immediately.

However, many view this as a balanced approach: you still get a big discount and amnesty, but you’re not flying blind on usage. Mid-cycle entry tends to suit companies that want savings but also want to double-check the math – a bit more cautious and analytical, but not dragging their feet indefinitely.

Late Entry: Some enterprises choose to delay DAAP adoption until the final stage – essentially, either when SAP announces the program is ending or when they have crystal-clear data (even via an audit) on their indirect usage. Late entry maximizes your knowledge and negotiation leverage.

By waiting, you might then know exactly how many documents you generate, perhaps over multiple years of data. You might have also advanced your IT plans (e.g., completed a transition to S/4HANA or decided against it, which can influence licensing needs).

With this clarity, you can approach SAP with hard facts and potentially negotiate a highly tailored deal. You can also see how SAP’s stance evolves: maybe SAP becomes even more eager to close remaining customers into DAAP and is willing to negotiate beyond standard terms for those last holdouts.

However, the risks are significant. If you wait too long, you may miss out on official discounts if SAP sunsets the program. You’ll then be relying on ad-hoc negotiation, which may not result in a 90% discount.

Additionally, delaying means living with the compliance risk longer – if SAP audits you in the interim and finds indirect usage gaps, you could be in a weaker position.

SAP might demand that you address it quickly (perhaps even effectively forcing you into a DAAP-like purchase, but with less favorable terms, because an audit finding, not voluntary, drives it).

Late adoption can yield the best “precision fit” outcome (you buy exactly what you need, nothing more) and gives strong enterprises a chance to leverage their full negotiating power.

It’s best suited for companies that are confident in their compliance management or have a high risk tolerance – for example, those who have tight controls on indirect use or those willing to gamble that SAP will continue to offer deals later when they’re ready.

To summarize these scenarios, consider the following comparison:

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer for when to join SAP’s Digital Access Adoption Program. The decision should factor in your organization’s risk appetite, the quality of your usage data, and the state of SAP’s offers at the time.

In the next sections, we’ll look at pitfalls to avoid (whichever timing you choose) and strategies to improve your negotiating position when you do decide to sign on.

Common DAAP Risks to Avoid

Regardless of when you adopt DAAP, several common pitfalls and risks can undermine its benefits.

Being aware of these can save you from turning a good opportunity into a costly mistake:

• Migrating without verifying actual document counts: One of the biggest risks is rushing into a DAAP agreement without a solid understanding of your true indirect usage. If you simply accept SAP’s estimation of your document count or use a one-time, unverified scan, you might lock in too high a baseline. This means paying for a lot of documents you don’t actually use. Always measure internally first. Run SAP’s tools yourself (or with an independent auditor) to double-check how many documents (orders, invoices, etc.) your interfaces really create. Only with accurate numbers can you accurately size your digital access licenses. Never commit blindly. Migrating without usage clarity could turn a cost-saving program into an over-licensing trap.
• Accepting SAP’s baseline calculation without challenge: Related to the above, SAP will often come with a baseline number of documents to license (based on their tools or an audit). While SAP’s data is a useful reference, it’s not infallible. There have been cases where SAP’s measurement counted duplicate documents, test system data, or included scenarios that should not have been counted. If the baseline seems high or you don’t understand how SAP arrived at it, push back and ask questions. You have every right to challenge the baseline and negotiate it. For example, you might negotiate to exclude certain document types that you know are internal, or agree on a lower number if you can show evidence that the initial count was overstated. Remember, once you sign, the baseline becomes your ongoing obligation (for support fees, etc.), so ensure it’s fair and accurate.
• Over-licensing due to shelfware conversion: DAAP allows conversion of existing licenses to digital access credits, which is great in principle (you’re not paying twice for the same need). However, be careful about what you convert. Many companies have “shelfware” in their SAP inventory – unused user licenses or engine metrics bought years ago just in case. If you blindly convert all that shelfware into digital document licenses, you might end up with far more document capacity than you’ll ever consume, effectively over-licensing yourself. Plus, SAP typically wants to maintain the same maintenance revenue, so converting a lot of shelfware could lock you into a hefty support bill on licenses you aren’t actually using. The risk is carrying excess capacity (and cost) forward. Avoid this by scrutinizing your legacy licenses: convert only those that genuinely correspond to indirect use needs. If you have 500 unused licenses sitting around that were bought “for safety,” maybe you don’t convert all of them – perhaps negotiate to convert a portion, or simply drop them if possible, rather than inflating your digital access count unnecessarily.
• Locking in an unfavorable baseline or terms: This is a broader risk around the contract details. Beyond just the number of documents, be cautious of locking in rigid terms. For instance, if your DAAP contract fixes you to a certain document count for the next several years of support, what if your business shrinks or divests a unit? You’d still pay for that fixed volume. Or, if you expect growth, does the contract allow any pricing protection for additional documents? An unfavorable DAAP deal would be one where you have no flexibility – you either overpay for too many doctors upfront or face steep costs for any future increases. Mitigate this by negotiating clauses such as flexible growth terms (caps on future prices, the ability to true-up at similar discounts, etc.) or even the right to adjust downward in extreme cases. Don’t just sign whatever is put forward; tailor it to your business forecast as much as you can.
• Missing program deadlines or updates: While SAP has currently extended DAAP indefinitely, they can announce changes at any time. A common risk is assuming “we have plenty of time,” only to have the offer change. If SAP were to announce that DAAP will end next year or the discount percentage will drop after a certain date, delaying too long could mean losing out on millions in savings. Additionally, missing a deadline could result in losing the amnesty – if you remain out of compliance and the program ends, SAP may enforce penalties. The key is to stay informed about SAP’s communications on DAAP. Treat any announced date seriously. It’s better to be prepared in advance than to scramble if SAP says “program ends in 3 months.” Mark your calendars and internal plans with any publicized DAAP end dates or review points, and avoid procrastination past those deadlines.

In short, avoid complacency and blind trust in the process. DAAP can indeed be a boon, but due diligence is essential. Measure twice, negotiate once, and keep your eyes open for gotchas.

Negotiation Strategies for DAAP Entry

Approaching DAAP as a strategic negotiation – rather than a simple formality – can significantly increase your savings and improve terms.

Here are some insider tactics to get the most out of your DAAP deal:

• Align DAAP with your SAP renewal or big purchases: Timing your DAAP entry to coincide with a major contract renewal or purchase can give you extra leverage. For example, if your SAP ECC maintenance renewal or an Enterprise Agreement true-up is coming in the next year, plan to discuss DAAP as part of that negotiation. SAP reps have sales targets, and bundling a DAAP deal into a larger renewal or a new purchase (like additional SAP modules or cloud services) can incentivize SAP to sweeten the pot. Essentially, you’re saying, “I’ll adopt Digital Access now if we can also settle our upcoming renewal on favorable terms (or vice versa).” This can lead to better pricing or concessions beyond the standard DAAP discount. Make DAAP part of a larger “package deal” so SAP has more reason to give on certain points.
• Bundle DAAP with future-oriented investments: Similarly, consider bundling DAAP with other strategic SAP initiatives you have planned. Are you evaluating a move to S/4HANA or considering RISE with SAP (cloud subscription)? Let SAP know that a smooth DAAP deal could be a stepping stone to those investments. For instance, “We’re more comfortable moving to S/4HANA once our licensing is cleaned up via DAAP.” SAP, eager to get customers onto S/4HANA or cloud, may provide additional incentives or flexibility on DAAP to secure your longer-term business. You could negotiate terms such as extended payment periods, additional training or services, or combined discounts. Bundling creates a win-win narrative: you solve your indirect use licensing now, and SAP gains confidence that you’re investing in their ecosystem for the future.
• Push for swap rights on unused licenses: If you have a large number of existing SAP licenses that are underutilized (such as engine metrics or extra user licenses purchased for indirect scenarios), negotiate for swap rights or credit beyond the standard conversion. SAP’s DAAP already allows some conversion, but you can further enhance this capability. For example, ensure the agreement explicitly lists the license types you can swap and their corresponding credit value. If you have shelfware that’s not directly covered by DAAP’s default conversion list, request that it be included. The goal is to maximize credit for past spend – every dollar of legacy license that can be converted to a digital access license is a dollar you don’t have to spend anew. Also, consider including future swap flexibility: if, after DAAP, you realize some licenses (perhaps some remaining old metrics) are still unused, can you later swap them for more document capacity or other products? It never hurts to ask for clauses that allow you to repurpose unused licenses down the road (even if SAP doesn’t always grant full swap rights, showing you’re thinking about it can lead to some concessions).
• Negotiate a cap on future digital access costs: One of the biggest concerns with Option B (90% now) is the potential cost later if you exceed your purchased documents. Astute customers try to mitigate this by negotiating price protections for growth. In your DAAP agreement, attempt to include a clause like: “If additional Digital Access licenses are required within X years, SAP will provide a Y% discount or cap the unit price at $Z per 1,000 documents.” SAP may not offer another 90%, but they might agree to a fixed rate or a right to true-up at a pre-negotiated discount (perhaps 70% off) if you need more volume. This kind of price lock or cap ensures that you won’t be gouged in two years when you need more licenses. It also removes the fear of unexpectedly high costs in the future, making it easier for you to commit now. If SAP is reluctant, you could offer a compromise, such as agreeing to true-up within a certain timeframe or volume, in exchange for the cap. Everything is negotiable, especially if you’re a significant customer – don’t be afraid to propose creative terms that protect you long-term.
• Document the amnesty and protections clearly: This isn’t a financial point, but a critical negotiation item: ensure your DAAP contract explicitly states the amnesty on past indirect use and any other promises. For instance, if SAP has verbally assured “we won’t charge for past 3 years usage,” get that in writing in the agreement. Also document any special conditions you negotiated (swap rights, price caps, etc.). Having it in the contract language prevents any “memory loss” later if personnel change or misunderstandings arise. During negotiation, use this as leverage too: “We need the agreement to clearly protect us from any back-charges; otherwise, we can’t justify this internally.” SAP is typically amenable to including such language since it’s core to the DAAP offer, but never assume – always verify that the final paperwork covers all promises.

In essence, treat DAAP entry like any other major software deal: go in with a plan, know what you want, and leverage your position. SAP has something to gain (your long-term commitment and a cleaner licensing landscape), and you have options (including doing nothing for now).

Use that dynamic to negotiate a DAAP outcome where you not only get the standard discounts, but also some custom perks or protections tailored to your business.

Example Scenario — Saving €6M via Smart DAAP Timing

To illustrate how timing and negotiation can dramatically impact the outcome, let’s walk through a simulated scenario:

Company XYZ’s DAAP Dilemma:

Company XYZ is a large manufacturing enterprise running SAP ERP. In 2020, after hearing about indirect access risks, they were approached by SAP with a DAAP offer. SAP’s analysis estimated that XYZ had about 1 million digital documents per year of indirect usage.

The offer on the table (early in the program) was to cover the $1 million/year with a 90% discount, costing roughly €1 million in new licenses (list price: €10 million, 90% off) plus annual maintenance of approximately €220,000. SAP framed it as a great deal and hinted that the program might not be around later.

Initial hesitation: However, XYZ’s IT and procurement leaders were uneasy. They lacked confidence in the 1 million document count – was it overestimated? They also noted that their business was in flux: they were rolling out a new B2B portal that could significantly impact document volumes, and they had a backlog of unused “indirect access” user licenses from previous purchases.

Jumping in early felt premature. So, despite the juicy discount, XYZ decided not to sign in 2020. Instead, they took a wait-and-see approach, using the time to prepare.

Data gathering (the 18-month pause):

Over the next 18 months, XYZ took several steps. They implemented SAP’s License Audit Workbench (LAW) and Digital Access estimation tools internally to track actual document creation by interfaces.

They identified exactly which documents were being generated by each external system. They also cleaned up their user license assignments and catalogued which legacy licenses could be scrapped or converted if needed.

By mid-2022, XYZ had a much clearer picture: to their surprise, the real average document count came out to ~700,000 per year, not 1,000,000. SAP’s initial estimate had been somewhat conservative (perhaps counting some non-license-relevant documents). Additionally, their unused license analysis revealed €500,000 worth of shelfware that could potentially be counted as a credit.

Mid-cycle negotiation:

Armed with facts, XYZ re-engaged SAP around late 2022, when DAAP was still ongoing. The program had been extended, so a 90% discount was technically still available, but SAP knew that XYZ had been hesitant. XYZ leveraged this moment: it was mid-cycle, with still good discounts on the table, but now XYZ had negotiation leverage. They presented SAP with their findings on 700,000 documents and challenged the 1 million baseline.

After discussions, SAP agreed to set the baseline at 750,000 documents/year (providing a small buffer above the measured 700k). XYZ opted for Option B (90% off) on those 750k, costing them a one-time fee of, say, €750k (vs the €1M+ it would have been for 1M docs).

They also negotiated swap rights: SAP agreed to let them convert €500,000 of old, unused licenses into credit, effectively reducing the net new license cost further (the credit covered approximately €300,000 of the €750,000 fee).

Finally, XYZ secured a clause that if their document count grew above 750k in the next 2 years, they could purchase additional blocks at a 70% discount – not as good as 90%, but far better than full price, giving them cost certainty.

The outcome:

By timing their entry mid-cycle and coming prepared, Company XYZ saved on multiple fronts. First, by avoiding early entry, they discovered that their actual usage was 25% lower, so they purchased 25% fewer licenses than they would have in 2020. Second, they used legacy credits to shave off part of the cost. Third, they still offered a high 90% discount for the initial purchase.

And lastly, the negotiated terms protected them against near-term growth costs. Over the course of three years, when you tally license fees and maintenance, XYZ will spend roughly (for example) €1 million in total.

Had they taken SAP’s initial offer at face value in 2020, they might have spent closer to €7 million over three years (licenses plus maintenance on 1 million documents, minus perhaps some small credit). That’s a €6 million savings attributable to smarter timing and negotiation.

Of course, every situation differs. In some cases, waiting could backfire if an audit hits or if the program ends.

However, XYZ’s story highlights that the maximum savings come not just from the SAP discount itself, but from ensuring the numbers and timing align with your reality.

The lesson: don’t be rushed by FOMO (fear of missing out) alone; be data-driven and strategic about when and how you say “yes” to DAAP.

DAAP Entry Checklist for Enterprises

Before you pull the trigger on joining the SAP Digital Access Adoption Program, run through this checklist to ensure you’re fully prepared and positioned for success:

☐ Verify actual document usage before negotiating. (Run internal measurements, use SAP’s tools carefully, and know your numbers.)

☐ Compare SAP’s baseline vs. your LAW analysis. (Don’t automatically accept SAP’s figures – cross-check with your own license audit data and question discrepancies.)

☐ Model cost scenarios: early vs. mid vs. late entry. (Evaluate the financial outcomes of adopting now, later, or at program end. Include best/worst-case assumptions for each.)

☐ Negotiate swap rights for legacy entitlements. (Identify unused licenses that could offset costs and ensure your agreement credits or allows exchange of those assets.)

☐ Align DAAP entry with renewals/migrations for leverage. (Plan the timing so it coincides with a contract renewal, S/4HANA project, or other major SAP negotiation where you can bundle for a better deal.)

By checking off these items, you’ll have a 360° view of the implications and be ready to engage with SAP on a solid footing. Preparation is key – a well-informed customer can turn DAAP from a generic offer into a highly optimized, enterprise-specific win.

FAQ — SAP DAAP Strategy

What is the main benefit of DAAP?
The main benefit of SAP’s Digital Access Adoption Program is that it allows you to legitimize and license your indirect SAP usage at a dramatically reduced cost and with clear terms. In short, it transforms a potential compliance liability (indirect access) into a known, manageable expense. You also gain predictability (by moving to document-based metrics) and avoid unexpected audit fees, all while often not paying significantly more than you already do (thanks to discounts and credits for past investments). It’s essentially a way to buy peace of mind and simplify SAP licensing for the future.

When do DAAP discounts expire?
SAP initially set an expiry for DAAP (like the end of 2021, then 2022), but as of now, the program has been extended indefinitely. There is no firm end date for the 90% discount incentive announced today; however, SAP reserves the right to terminate or modify the offer with prior notice. So while there isn’t a hard cutoff right now, customers should remain vigilant. SAP’s messaging often urges acting sooner rather than later, implying the discounts could expire or diminish with little warning. It’s wise to treat the current terms as time-sensitive; assume the 90% discount and amnesty is a “now or maybe never” opportunity, even though officially it’s open-ended. Always check for the latest updates from SAP, as they will communicate if they plan to phase out or reduce DAAP incentives.

Can enterprises refuse SAP’s baseline calculation?
Yes – and in fact you shouldn’t accept SAP’s baseline outright if you have reason to believe it’s not accurate. As an enterprise customer, you can challenge and negotiate the baseline document count. This is part of the DAAP negotiation process. You might perform your own measurements or even hire a third-party licensing expert to determine your usage. If SAP’s official measurement says “1 million documents” and you have data suggesting it’s only 600k, you can bring this up and negotiate a lower license quantity or request a re-evaluation. The baseline is not a fixed decree; it’s an input to be agreed upon. Enterprises have successfully addressed anomalies (for example, excluding documents created by internal processes or adjusting for an outlier spike that won’t recur). Just approach it with evidence and a collaborative tone. Also, remember you have options like Option A or B – you could use Option B to only pay for the 600k you’re confident in, and later add more if needed, rather than licensing extra upfront. In summary, you do not have to simply accept SAP’s first number – treat it as negotiable.

How do you decide the best timing for DAAP entry?
Deciding when to join DAAP depends on several key considerations: the urgency of the risk, the clarity of the data, and the business roadmap. First, assess how exposed you are – if an SAP audit tomorrow would likely find a big compliance gap, and that risk is intolerable, an earlier DAAP entry might be warranted to preempt it. On the other hand, if you believe your indirect use is modest or well-controlled, you have the luxury of time to gather info. Next, examine your data clarity – do you already have a good understanding of document counts? If not, you might delay until you do (mid-cycle), so you make an informed decision. Additionally, factor in your IT and contract calendars: Are you about to renew a major SAP agreement or initiate a migration project? That could be the ideal moment to incorporate DAAP (for leverage or because you’ll naturally measure usage during that project). Conversely, if you plan to transition to a cloud subscription, such as RISE, which would render digital access licensing moot, you might consider holding off on DAAP and addressing indirect use differently in the short term.

Is DAAP always cheaper than legacy indirect access?
In many cases, yes – SAP designed DAAP to be financially attractive for customers – but not always universally cheaper in every scenario. DAAP’s deep discounts and the elimination of back-charges mean that for a lot of companies, switching to digital access will cost significantly less over time than risking an audit or continuing to buy lots of named-user licenses to cover indirect use. However, “cheaper” depends on your specific situation. If your indirect usage is very small or already covered by existing licenses, doing nothing might actually cost you $0 extra, whereas DAAP would introduce a new spend (even if discounted). For some, the status quo is already efficient. Alternatively, if you have extremely large document volumes, even 10% of the list price could be a substantial amount – it might still be the right move to avoid potential audit penalties. Still, you might feel that the new model costs more than you used to pay yearly (especially after the initial discount, when maintenance and potential growth costs are factored in). The intent is that DAAP makes the cost roughly equivalent or better than what you’d pay to be compliant otherwise, while also capping risk. Most enterprises find that it saves money versus the worst-case audit scenario. However, it’s not entirely “free” – you are essentially prepaying for future usage. The key is to conduct a TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) analysis: compare 5-year or 10-year costs under your legacy model (plus hypothetical audit costs) with those under the digital access model, including DAAP discounts. Also account for intangibles like audit risk reduction. Ultimately, if managed effectively, DAAP should be cost-effective for the majority of customers, with notable indirect benefits. If it isn’t in your analysis, that’s a red flag that maybe your indirect usage is so low or your existing licenses so sufficient that you might not need to change anything. Always run the numbers for your case – SAP DAAP is a great opportunity, but only if it indeed translates to savings and value in your environment.

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