Move now, optimize later: Fast-tracking ECC to SAP s/4HANA

The 2027 deadline is real, and so are the risks.

SAP’s mainstream maintenance for ECC 6.0 will end on December 31, 2027. This translates into a critical migration to S/4HANA for all on-premise users. After 2027, users can either opt for extended maintenance at a cost that will only be available until 2030 or switch to third-party vendors.

However, this comes with some risks—security vulnerabilities, high migration costs, and talent shortages. With SAP’s 2027 end-of-support deadline for ECC fast approaching, CIOs face a critical decision point.

Gartner estimates that nearly half of SAP’s 35,000 ECC customers will still be on legacy systems by 2027. Many are delaying due to cost, complexity, or competing priorities. But the longer you wait, the higher the risk, and the cost.

SAP’s extended maintenance through 2030 comes with a 2% annual maintenance fee increase, compounding to roughly 10% over a few years. More importantly, staying on ECC (as well as CRM, SCM and SRM) means missing out on innovation. SAP’s roadmap is firmly focused on S/4HANA and Cloud ERP. That’s where AI, automation, and real-time analytics are being delivered.

ECC is no longer evolving, it’s standing still.

Brownfield and Bluefield: The fastest paths forward

Facing tight timelines, most organizations are choosing Brownfield or Bluefield approaches to accelerate their S/4HANA journey. These methods allow you to reuse existing processes and data, minimizing disruption, and reducing time to value.

As the global head of the SAP practice at Atos, I have seen some clients opt for complete Brownfield conversions with minimal downtime—sometimes in under 24 hours. Global pharma leader Zentiva fast-tracked its S/4HANA migration on Azure. By leveraging automation and cloud scalability, they saw a double-digit reduction in operational IT costs and a far more agile ERP environment. These are not exceptions; they’re examples of what’s possible when you prioritize speed and leverage the right tools.

The post-migration value gap

Many organizations that migrate quickly to S/4HANA find themselves facing a conundrum a year or two later. They’ve met the deadline, but the business is still running essentially the same processes. Has the migration delivered value? When it’s time to invest in upgrades or new capabilities, leadership asks: “Why do we need to spend more?”

The answer lies in reframing the journey. Migration is only Phase 1. It’s about establishing a modern, supported platform. Phase 2 and beyond is where the real business value is unlocked—through process optimization, AI-driven automation, and continuous innovation.
Here are some key tips to help you bridge the value gap:

• Deliver quick wins during migration. Activate embedded analytics, improve performance, or automate key processes.
• Define a clear roadmap for post-migration improvements.
• Build business cases for each upgrade, linking features to tangible outcomes.
• Ensure every stakeholder understands that S/4HANA is a platform for continuous innovation, not a one-time project.

Accelerate and de-risk your journey with AI and automation

The biggest gamechanger in 2026? AI-driven automation.

Traditional migrations were slow, manual, and expensive. Today, tools like the Atos VITA Agentic AI Toolchain are transforming the landscape. With over 40 AI agents, VITA supports every phase of the SAP Activate methodology, from discovery to deployment. More importantly, it reduces implementation timelines by up to 40% and cuts costs by up to 30%.

These accelerators compress timelines, improve quality, and reduce efforts. They also make it easier to deliver value quickly. This is critical for securing ongoing investments.

Clean core and continuous innovation

A quick migration doesn’t mean sacrificing future agility. In fact, it’s an opportunity to adopt a “clean core” strategy. This focuses on minimizing customizations and moving innovation to the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP).

AI can help identify which custom code can be retired, refactored, or moved to side-by-side extensions. This makes future upgrades faster, cheaper, and less risky. It also aligns with SAP’s cloud-first strategy that highlights programs like RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP bundle S/4HANA Cloud with transformation tools and services, simplifying contracts and accelerating adoption.

Five tips for the CIO’s playbook

Here are a few key tips for tech leaders in organizations to lead a successful S/4HANA transformation:

1. Create urgency. Communicate the risks of delay and the benefits of moving now.
2. Choose the right path. Brownfield and Bluefield approaches offer speed and flexibility. Go with the one that suits your migration journey.
3. Leverage AI and automation. Demand modern, AI-augmented approaches from partners.
4. Plan beyond go-live. Define a roadmap for continuous improvement.
5. Engage the business. Make S/4HANA a business transformation, not just an IT project.

Final thought: Lead from the front

The S/4HANA journey is a marathon with a tight finish line. But with the right strategy, tools, and mindset, you can cross it faster and stronger than you thought possible.

At Atos, we see this transformation as more than a technical upgrade. It’s the foundation of a new kind of enterprise.

At SAP Sapphire 2026, we’re showcasing how we’re engineering the intelligent digital nervous system of modern ERP: with AI at its heart, data as its fuel, and sovereignty as its shield. This is the architecture that will power the next decade of business agility, resilience, and innovation.

Now is the time to hit the gas.

>> Connect with me to map your migration journey and harness the power of SAP S/4 HANA.
>> Engage with Atos experts at SAP Sapphire 2026 at Orlando and again at Madrid to learn more about how our transformations yield tangible results for our clients.