In 2027, SAP will no longer support the SAP Business Suite 7, which includes SAP ERP 6.0. We talked with Dzmitry Shupayeu, the LeverX SAP Activate Senior Project Manager, to understand what this means for business, whether it is necessary to migrate to SAP S/4HANA right now, and why those who have never worked with SAP should also think about switching to this ERP system.
In 2027, SAP will no longer support the SAP Business Suite 7, which includes SAP ERP 6.0. We talked with Dzmitry Shupayeu, the LeverX SAP Activate Senior Project Manager, to understand what this means for business, whether it is necessary to migrate to SAP S/4HANA right now, and why those who have never worked with SAP should also think about switching to this ERP system.
Photo: Dzmitry Shupayeu, the LeverX SAP Activate Senior Project Manager
SAP announced that the maintenance of SAP ERP would end in 2027. Companies currently using SAP ERP or SAP ECC, but not migrating to SAP S/4HANA, will have limited access to new SAP functionality beginning in 2027, and they will not receive further updates.
While there are two years left, it’s time to start thinking about migration now, and here’s why:
Therefore, if you don't want to work with an outdated system, now is the time to migrate to SAP S/4HANA. This will allow sufficient time to master this intelligent solution.
Those companies currently working with third-party ERPs should also think about switching to SAP S/4HANA, as this will help optimize and automate the management of all business areas of the company:
Integrating all these processes into a single platform empowers your company to work faster, more efficiently, and at lower costs. This frees your employees to focus on strategic planning and making more impactful decisions.
The SAP Business Suite that includes SAP ERP was launched in the early 2000s, and ever since it has successfully improved process automation, solution integration, and financial and material accounting. However, with advanced technology, its functions are becoming outdated, making it difficult to implement new business models.
SAP S/4HANA is a new generation ERP system that includes the most advanced technologies:
Let’s compare these two systems to more clearly understand their differences.
Feature/Characteristic |
SAP ERP |
SAP S/4HANA |
Solution Type | On-premise system hosted on enterprise servers | Flexible deployment: on-premise, public, or private cloud |
Deployment | Traditional, on physical servers | Flexible options via RISE with SAP, cloud, or on-premise |
AI Capabilities | Limited AI integration | Seamless AI integration for predictive analytics and process optimization |
Predictive Analytics | Limited predictive capabilities | Built-in predictive analytics for inventory, production, and maintenance planning |
Data Processing Speed | Relies on traditional databases | In-memory HANA database for real-time data processing |
Mobility | Limited mobile functionality | Intuitive Fiori UI for mobile access across all users |
Internet of Things (IoT) | Limited IoT support | Full IoT integration for real-time data from sensors and process optimization |
Security | Standard security methods | Advanced security, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and access control |
Industry Solutions | General-purpose solutions applicable across industries | Specialized industry solutions for faster implementation and process optimization in specific sectors (e.g., manufacturing, logistics, healthcare) |
Flexibility and Scalability | Limited scalability options | Highly flexible, scalable, and adaptable to business growth needs |
Cloud Integration | Limited cloud integration | Full integration with cloud solutions for enhanced flexibility and data accessibility |
“SAP S/4HANA is the digital core of your enterprise. With it, you can conduct transactions and receive analytics within one system. Its flexibility allows the system to integrate with cloud solutions and IoT sensors, and built-in modeling and predictive capabilities help make fast and intelligent decisions avoiding risks in the future.”
There is no specific timeline for the start of migration, but it is better to do this before the end of SAP ERP maintenance in 2027. Migration to SAP S/4HANA typically takes 9 to 12 months. However, according to Gartner, this period can be longer, especially during the implementation of key steps.
Start the migration process as early as possible to give yourself enough time to master the new system and its capabilities. This will help you save money, as implementation costs could rise before 2027.
When it comes to the main SAP S/4HANA migration approaches, there are two: Brownfield and Greenfield.
A Brownfield approach means a transformation of an existing SAP ERP system to SAP S/4HANA. Greenfield stands for installing SAP S/4HANA from scratch.
“Brownfield is a good option for enterprises that have already deployed the SAP ERP system. As for the Greenfield approach, it's not that simple. It’s possible to implement SAP S/4HANA from scratch both in businesses that have never used SAP solutions before and in enterprises that have already worked with SAP ERP. The second option is suitable for companies that have a complex SAP system with a lot of third-party system integrations. In this case, the enterprise also has the opportunity to revise, unify, and simplify business processes by using Best Practices in Greenfield implementation. Brownfield is also not suitable for companies that cannot afford network downtime, which is possible in this migration approach. Moreover, a large number of existing custom developments can become an obstacle in this migration approach."
Let’s take a closer look at each approach.
A Greenfield approach involves process restructuring and comprehensive simplification through the implementation of SAP best practices. The customer's systems are completely reinstalled and reconfigured under the project.
Greenfield migration is suitable for both new SAP customers and those who have already used its solutions in their business, especially companies with a complicated ERP system. SAP S/4HANA implementation from scratch eliminates unnecessary decisions and data, making business management processes more flexible and simple.
“A key benefit of this strategy is the opportunity to deploy the system immediately on the cloud using RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition, which greatly saves project implementation time and, in the long run, maintenance costs."
The customer understood that its enterprise management and accounting solutions did not meet the current business needs and did not solve many of its problems, among which were:
“LeverX chose SAP S/4HANA to address these challenges. Our experts have already completed the system implementation and localization at the customer's enterprise and are now preparing a template for its distribution for the company’s branches.”
Under the project, our experts implemented the SAP Financial Accounting module into the customer's system to keep accounting functions within the company, nationally and internationally, including tax accounting. The LeverX experts ensured localization of tax accounting based on SAP S/4HANA, according to the legislation of the country where the customer is headquartered, and helped to create a system of unified financial reporting for all the company’s branches.
LeverX also implemented SAP Plant Maintenance, which is a platform for maintenance management. This helped move from on-demand repairs to preventive equipment maintenance. Integration with the SAP Sales and Distribution and SAP Materials Management modules ensures the continuous flow of information on any material movements and on-time orders.
When Uzbekistan’s largest retail chain, Makro, embarked on a massive IT landscape transformation, it became clear that a standard approach wouldn’t suffice. The company required a complete overhaul of its processes to sustain rapid growth, comply with international standards, and maintain market leadership. The solution was the Greenfield approach — building a system from scratch with SAP S/4HANA.
Initially, Makro operated on SAP ERP, but years of system customization had created limitations that slowed the adoption of new technologies. Instead of undergoing a complex migration of legacy data, the company chose to completely redesign its processes, laying the groundwork for scalability, automation, and transparency.
Analysis and design. The LeverX team conducted a comprehensive audit of Makro’s business processes, identifying key areas for improvement, including:
System Relaunch. The Greenfield approach enabled the creation of a new management system that unified financial, logistics, and retail operations into a single platform. Key implementations included:
Integration and automation. The system was integrated with platforms like faktura.uz and the Uzbekistan Inspection Service. This streamlined invoice processing, reduced document handling time by 40%, and boosted warehouse efficiency by 20%.
The Brownfield approach converts an existing SAP ERP system to SAP S/4HANA, transferring all business processes, data, and personalized add-ons and programs to the new system.
This approach is the best solution for companies that have recently implemented an SAP system according to SAP standards. It’s also suitable for those looking to quickly migrate to SAP S/4HANA.
“This approach doesn’t allow migrating the system directly to the Hyperscale cloud since the system must be deployed on-premises before moving to the SAP S/4HANA Cloud.”
The LeverX team of specialists implemented two projects as part of the customer's Brownfield migration.
The first project includes the following tasks:
Cash Management Liquidity Planner helps track the organization’s cash flows. The system allows all calculations to be carried out in real time, which accelerates decision-making on the distribution of cash flows. They can now be tracked and analyzed, thanks to cash flow statements in SAP Fiori.
The LeverX team also contributed to the refinement of reporting related to procurement under the EU requirements.
The second project, which is currently being implemented by the company's experts, is the setup of the SAP Recipe Development module, a solution used for product, formula, recipe, and label development.
The task of the LeverX team was to create and ensure the functioning of an end-to-end chain of business processes, from the development, agreement, and approval of the recipe to its implementation (production).
When a company faced challenges in maintaining and optimizing its SAP S/4HANA system, it decided to enhance its performance to reduce update disruptions and streamline internal business processes.
Previously developed extensions and custom applications did not adhere to the "Clean Core" principle, leading to higher update costs and complicated system maintenance. This technical debt caused issues like poor code quality and difficulties transitioning to new S/4HANA versions.
We adopted the Brownfield approach, focusing on optimizing the existing system rather than replacing it entirely. The goal was to preserve customized elements while minimizing changes during migration.
The Bluefield approach blends elements of both Greenfield and Brownfield methodologies, enabling companies to completely overhaul processes while preserving specific data or infrastructure. This hybrid strategy provides greater flexibility, reducing risks and costs for businesses.
When Eurasia Group Kazakhstan, the national dealer for John Deere in Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan, faced limitations with their outdated SAP ECC system, they decided to transition to the modern SAP S/4HANA platform. The company sought a balance between preserving proven processes and adopting innovative capabilities, making the Bluefield approach the perfect solution.
This method combines advantages of both the Greenfield and Brownfield approaches, including:
LeverX experts migrated core business processes to the new platform within 8.5 months. The preparation phase included:
These steps helped to ensure a smooth transition with minimal impact on current operations.
“With the transition to SAP S/4HANA, Eurasia Group Kazakhstan will increase business process efficiency through SAP best practices and accumulated global experience. The company will reduce the financial costs of using the system and will be able to switch to modern and convenient Fiori interfaces, which will help corporate users to organize their work in a new way,”
— commented Evgeny Teremov, Managing Director of SAP Kazakhstan.
A leading automotive manufacturer aimed to streamline complex production processes, integrate fragmented IT systems, and shift from manual planning to automated solutions.
LeverX adopted the Bluefield approach, enabling the manufacturer to:
Instead of a complete overhaul or full migration, the Bluefield approach provided the flexibility to adapt: modernizing what’s necessary while preserving proven solutions.
Your migration strategy should align with your ERP system’s current state, business goals, and readiness for change.
Parameter | Greenfield | Brownfield | Bluefield |
Migration type | From scratch | System conversion | Hybrid approach |
Deployment speed | Slow | Fast | Medium |
Innovation access | Immediate | Gradual | Phased |
Deployment flexibility | On-premise/cloud | On-premise only | On-premise/cloud |
Process changes | Full redesign | Minimal changes | Partial redesign |
Risks and complexity | Lengthy process | Downtime during migration | Integration complexity |
Our expert Dzmitry Shupayeu gave some tips on how to successfully migrate to SAP S/4HANA, regardless of the chosen migration approach:
However, none of these tips will work without a reliable team to help you implement your migration project.
LeverX is a leading global SAP integrator that specializes in implementing and migrating SAP solutions, including SAP S/4HANA. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve successfully partnered with businesses worldwide, delivering SAP solutions tailored to organizations of all sizes and industries.
The LeverX team consists of 1,800 highly qualified experts whose experience and knowledge allow them to handle any tasks, from system analysis to its implementation and post-launch support.
What we offer:
If the time for the digital transformation of your business has come, contact LeverX experts to explore how we can help.