Leverage SAP MOVE for a Smarter, Faster Future

In 2020, SAP announced it will end mainstream maintenance for SAP ECC 6.0 EHP 0-5 at the end of 2025 and EHP 6-8 at the end of 2027. The time has come to embrace the new technology and capitalize on the advantages that come with SAP Cloud ERP. Unlike ECC’s purely transactional approach, SAP Cloud ERP empowers organizations to innovate on demand, streamline operations, and make real-time, data-driven decisions using both internal and external data.

While 2027 might feel far off, the reality is stark: Research shows only 57% of ECC customers are expected to complete their move to SAP Cloud ERP by the deadline. Delaying the transition, risks rushed implementations, resource shortages, and missed opportunities for innovation and growth.

Here are a few reasons why time is of the essence:

Operational and security risks: Staying on a legacy ERP isn’t just a matter of outdated technology, it’s an escalating operational risk. Additionally, once SAP ends support for ECC, critical patches, bug fixes, and security updates will cease. Without these safeguards, legacy SAP systems become high-value targets for cyberattacks. At the same time, maintaining compliance will grow increasingly difficult, potentially leading to costly fines, failed audits, and reputational damage.

Cost inflation: From a cost standpoint, delaying the move comes with a double hit. After 2027, organizations that remain on ECC will face an estimated 2% premium on top of standard maintenance fees. Simultaneously, the talent pool for ECC expertise will shrink, driving up rates and making skilled resources harder to secure – especially as the demand for SAP Cloud ERP conversion specialists spike and the available capacity gets stretched thin.

Beyond a maintenance upgrade: This isn’t a simple “check-the-box” migration to maintain support. It’s an opportunity to reinvent how the business operates. SAP Cloud ERP acts as a digital core, enabling a more intelligent, connected, and agile enterprise. With thousands of companies already live on SAP Cloud ERP, those who wait, risk losing competitive ground. 

It is also a catalyst for transformation: SAP Cloud ERP connects people, systems, and data seamlessly while integrating advanced technologies such as AI, machine learning, and advanced analytics. The benefits are tangible—real-time decision-making, streamlined processes, greater agility, and the ability to innovate at scale with intelligent, connected systems.

From automating repetitive tasks to gaining actionable insights and delivering exceptional customer experiences, SAP Cloud ERP lays the foundation for sustained growth and competitive differentiation. The move is both urgent and strategic, and starting now is your best path to a smooth, value-driven transition.

How to Accelerate Your Journey

One of the most effective ways to make the leap to SAP Cloud ERP is through the SAP MOVE program. We spoke with Nick Shah, Engagement Director, S4 Move Delivery at Navisite, Part of Accenture, to learn more about MOVE and explore how the program helps organizations transition quickly, cost-effectively, and with minimal risk. Here’s what he shared.

Q: Why is so much emphasis being placed on SAP’s 2027 ECC support deadline?

After 2027, SAP will shift innovation to SAP Cloud ERP – pouring resources into advancements such as AI, machine learning, advanced analytics, and industry cloud solutions. Organizations that remain on ECC may miss critical enhancements. The 2027 date is the end date for ECC maintenance, as well as  a strategic inflection point signaling the time for enterprises to modernize their digital core or risk falling behind.

Q: What is the SAP MOVE program, and why was it created?

The SAP MOVE program equips ECC customers with the tools, services, and expert guidance needed to simplify and accelerate their migration to SAP Cloud ERP.

Designed to help organizations modernize their legacy ERP systems, MOVE streamlines every step of the ECC-to-SAP Cloud ERP journey. For example, the Simplification Database pinpoints custom code that may require remediation during conversion—removing guesswork and reducing project risk.

Legacy systems like ECC can hold businesses back from adopting the intelligent technologies that drive competitiveness in today’s fast-moving markets. With digital transformation now a top priority for all stakeholders—from the C-suite to everyday users, MOVE provides a structured path to innovation, enabling organizations to reimagine how they work, make decisions, and deliver value.

Q: What are the key pillars of SAP MOVE? 

The key pillars of SAP Move include:

• Readiness Check: Analyzes system requirements, custom code, and migration needs to ensure a smooth conversion. 
• Maintenance Planner: Plans conversions and system checks to ensure a successful migration.
• Custom Code Remediation: Evaluates and adjusts custom code to align with SAP Cloud ERP’s data structures and ABAP syntax changes. 
• Security Role Remediation: Assesses and amends security roles to make them compatible with SAP Cloud ERP. 
• Customer Vendor Integration: Synchronizes Customer and Vendor Master Data with the SAP Business Partner model.

Q: What are the key benefits of going with the MOVE program? 

Modernizing an ERP can feel like a massive undertaking—but SAP MOVE turns complexity into a clear, manageable path. The program provides a standardized customer journey, complete with powerful tools, proven methodologies, and expert-led engagement models to guide every step.

MOVE accelerates transformation by leveraging pre-configured templates, partner frameworks, and deployment tools, all grounded in industry best practices to reduce risk and ensure quality.

In short, it transforms what could be a multi-year, high-risk project into a streamlined, well-orchestrated migration, helping organizations modernize faster, smarter, and with greater confidence.

Q: What options are available when considering a move to SAP Cloud ERP?

Through the SAP MOVE program, we recommend two primary paths to modernization:

• Greenfield Implementation: Best suited for organizations pursuing full-scale business transformation. For example, a repurpose of the organizational structure and chart of accounts. This approach involves starting fresh—reimagining processes, cleansing and restructuring data, redesigning operating models, and driving organizational change. Greenfield often includes multiple go-lives to roll out strategic functionality and serves as a powerful enabler for larger strategic transformation initiatives.

• Brownfield Implementation: Ideal for organizations looking to upgrade in place. This approach focuses on system conversion—remediating code, applying required simplifications, and migrating the database—while preserving existing processes. With a single go-live, Brownfield delivers a technology upgrade with minimal business disruption, allowing innovation to be introduced in subsequent phases.

Q: What role do SAP partners, such as Navisite, play within the MOVE program? 

MOVE supports expert-backed transformation by connecting customers with partners and SAP-supported assets. Navisite is one such partner. Our MOVE Practice guides customers through transformation by:

Q: Why is Navisite uniquely suited to help organizations transition to SAP Cloud ERP through MOVE?

Navisite brings together decades of SAP implementation experience, deep industry expertise, and a proven track record of delivering innovation on time, on budget, and with measurable business impact. We are an SAP-Qualified Partner-Packaged Solution for SAP Cloud ERP MOVE, a certified partner in the SAP 10Steps2S4 and 5Steps2Fiori programs, and a recognized leader in the SAP Cloud ERP Move Adoption Starter program.

Additionally, we combine SAP’s tools with our proprietary knowledge repositories, accelerators, and best practices. This added layer of expertise helps streamline conversions, reduce risk, and ensure every MOVE project delivers maximum value with minimal disruption.

The Time to Act is Now

2027 is both a support deadline and a defining moment for organizations to rethink their core business systems and embrace intelligent technologies shaping the future. 

The SAP MOVE program removes the complexity from the ECC-to-SAP Cloud ERP transformation, delivering a proven, structured path with the tools, best practices, and expert guidance to ensure success. And with a trusted partner like Navisite—backed by deep SAP expertise, purpose-built accelerators, and a track record of delivering SAP MOVE projects on time and on budget—you can modernize your ERP with confidence.

The message is clear: Start your SAP Cloud ERP journey now and turn the 2027 deadline into an opportunity for lasting competitive advantage. Contact us today to get started.