A deadline that favors the seller
Every ECC customer knows the 2027 date, and so does SAP. The closer a migration decision gets to the deadline, the less time there is to push back on the proposal.
How SAP prices an enterprise deal
SAP licenses on-premise software by named user type and by engine, with annual support on top. The cloud route most ECC customers are being steered toward, SAP Cloud ERP Private (formerly RISE with SAP Premium), is a multi-year subscription priced on Full Use Equivalents (FUE), a weighted blend of user types, plus infrastructure.
Enterprise Support runs at 22% of net license value and Standard Support at 19%, with annual indexation linked to inflation and typically capped at 5%.
SAP’s platform services run on credits, and its AI runs on AI Units, a prepaid consumption currency. Business AI Base is bundled into qualifying cloud subscriptions. Premium AI and agents draw AI Units.
SAP’s fiscal year matches the calendar year. Its sales organization works to quarterly and annual targets, and October to December is when SAP closes its year.
What has changed recently
- Jul 2025
RISE Premium becomes Cloud ERP Private
SAP retires Premium Plus, revises FUE volume tiers and moves items such as Datasphere, AI Units and premium Joule capabilities out of the standard bundle. Some volume bands now carry a higher list price per FUE.
- Jul 2025
AI moves to AI Units
Business AI Base is bundled into qualifying cloud subscriptions. Premium AI becomes a paid add-on that consumes AI Units.
- Dec 2025
Mainstream maintenance ends for ECC EHP 0 to 5
Older ECC enhancement packages move to customer-specific maintenance, with no new legal or regulatory updates.
- 2026
Usage-based AI pricing spreads
Usage-based AI pricing is becoming the default in SAP cloud renewals, with agents drawing AI Units far faster than interactive use.
- Dec 2027
Mainstream maintenance ends for ECC EHP 6 to 8
Extended maintenance runs from 2028 to 2030 for an additional two percentage points on the maintenance base. After 2030, standard ECC support ends.
Why SAP costs are climbing
An SAP renewal or migration can carry several increases at once, before the business adds a single user.
Up to 5%Annual indexation on support, compounding every year
Higher per FUERevised volume tiers at some Cloud ERP Private bands
UnbundledItems removed from the standard bundle, bought back as add-ons
AI UnitsConsumption beyond the bundled AI Base tier
The 2027 deadline raises the stakes on all of them, because a migration resets the metric, the bundle and the term at the same time.
Where an SAP renewal gets expensive
Bundles that moved
Items that used to sit inside RISE Premium now sit outside Cloud ERP Private. A like-for-like renewal can mean buying back what was previously included.
Meters that run on their own
Platform credits and AI Units are prepaid and consumed as the business runs. Agents draw far faster than interactive use, and overage is billed on top.
Indirect use and user classification
Documents created in SAP by third-party systems are licensed under SAP’s Digital Access model, and user types drive price. Both are common audit findings.
I put Deal IQ in the ‘no-brainer’ bucket of whether to recommend to others; everyone that I’ve introduced Deal IQ to welcomes their support, advice and the savings achieved.
A NEW NEGOTIATION, NOT A FORMALITY
A move to SAP’s cloud is a pricing event. Not a technical upgrade.
Moving from ECC to Cloud ERP Private changes the metric, the bundle and the term at the same time, which makes it one of the largest commercial moments in an SAP relationship. The first proposal reflects SAP’s timeline and SAP’s bundle. What the business signs should reflect its own, and the same goes for SAP’s best and final offer.
What well-prepared buyers do before an SAP renewal or migration
Start 12 to 18 months out
A migration decided close to the 2027 date is negotiated on SAP’s calendar.
Compare the old bundle with the new one
Line up what you have today against what Cloud ERP Private includes before pricing anything.
Model the meters
Size platform credits and AI Units against real workloads, including any agents on the roadmap.
Get indexation and renewal caps in writing
Support indexation and renewal uplifts compound. Caps agreed up front hold for the term.
Know where you fall in SAP’s year
SAP’s fiscal year ends December 31. October to December is when SAP closes its year.
DEAL IQ ON SAP
We know how SAP decides.
SAP’s commercial model is built from metrics, bundles and credits that change between contracts. Our network of 350+ former vendor sales, pricing and deal desk leaders includes people who sold SAP and know how those numbers are put together. We pair that with our own SAP pricing data and a 32-factor assessment on every deal, then negotiate directly with SAP or behind the scenes with your team.
Savings come from the price. Same products, same quantities, same scope.
DEAL IQ EXPERIENCE WITH SAP
75+SAP negotiations
$400M+in SAP contract value negotiated
350+former vendor sales, pricing and deal desk leaders in our expert network, including people who sold SAP
Frequently asked questions
When does SAP ECC support end?
Mainstream maintenance for SAP ECC 6.0 with enhancement packages 6 to 8 ends December 31, 2027. Packages 0 to 5 ended December 31, 2025. Extended maintenance is available from 2028 to 2030 for an additional two percentage points on the maintenance base.
What changed when RISE with SAP Premium became Cloud ERP Private?
In July 2025, SAP renamed the package, retired Premium Plus, revised the FUE volume tiers and moved items such as Datasphere, AI Units and premium Joule capabilities out of the standard bundle. Some volume bands now carry a higher list price per FUE.
How much does SAP support cost?
Enterprise Support is 22% of net license value and Standard Support 19%, with annual inflation-linked indexation typically capped at 5%.
What is an SAP FUE?
A Full Use Equivalent is SAP’s cloud user metric. Different user types are weighted and added together, and the total sets the subscription price across volume tiers.
How are SAP AI Units priced?
AI Units are a prepaid consumption currency. Business AI Base is bundled into qualifying cloud subscriptions, while Premium AI and agents draw AI Units. SAP does not publish a consolidated rate card, so the effective rate is set in each order form.
What is SAP Digital Access?
Digital Access is SAP’s model for licensing documents created in SAP by third-party systems, sometimes called indirect use. It is one of the most common findings in SAP audits.
When does SAP’s fiscal year end?
December 31. SAP’s fourth quarter runs from October through December.
Is SAP’s “best and final” offer really final?
Best and final is a sales position, not a floor. It reflects what the account team expects you to accept, not the lowest price SAP will approve.
Do we need to cut licenses to get a better SAP price?
No. We negotiate the price of what you use. Products, quantities and scope stay the same.
Has Deal IQ negotiated with SAP before?
Yes. More than 75 SAP negotiations covering $400M+ in SAP contract value, with a network that includes people who sold for SAP.
How does Deal IQ charge for an SAP negotiation?
No savings, no fee. We agree the starting price with you before we negotiate, and our fee is a share of the improvement against it.
DEAL IQ IN NUMBERS
$20B+contract value negotiated
3,000+negotiations
100Net Promoter Score
4.7/5client rating for delivering savings
$0fee if there are no savings
NPS and rating from independent client research by Plural Strategy Group, 2026.What our clients say →