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SAP is retiring Business ByDesign – now is the time to act

Replace SAP Business ByDesign with SAP Cloud ERP

SAP is discontinuing the sale of Business ByDesign. For existing customers, this is the right moment to plan the next step strategically. SAP Cloud ERP, as part of the SAP Business Suite, provides a scalable, innovative, and future-proof successor. Walldorf Consulting supports your transition in a structured, standard-driven, and low-risk way.

Why Transitioning from SAP Business ByDesign to SAP Cloud ERP Is Easier Than You Think

Many small and mid-sized enterprises (SMEs) running SAP Business ByDesign are currently reassessing their ERP strategy. The need for greater scalability, richer functionality, and continuous innovation is driving increased interest in SAP Cloud ERP.
What was once seen as an optional upgrade is now becoming a strategic decision: how to secure long-term ERP viability without unnecessary risk.

Important Update: SAP to Retire Business ByDesign for New Customers

SAP has announced that SAP Business ByDesign will no longer be sold to new customers as of April 2026 and will be removed from SAP’s active product portfolio. Existing customers can continue to use the solution and will still receive security updates and legal compliance adjustments.

However, it is equally clear that Business ByDesign will no longer be part of SAP’s long-term innovation roadmap. SAP’s cloud ERP strategy is now fully centered on SAP Cloud ERP (S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition) as a core component of the SAP Business Suite.

For many ByDesign customers, this marks the right moment to proactively plan their next step.

E-Book

Transition from SAP ByDesign to S/4HANA Cloud

Ensure a smooth transition from SAP Business ByDesign to S/4HANA Public Cloud. Learn key differences, best practices, and a step-by-step plan.

Why the Transition Is Easier Than You Think

1. Shared Cloud Foundation

Both SAP Business ByDesign and SAP Cloud ERP are true cloud solutions. Organizations are already familiar with:

  • Automatic updates without disruptive upgrade projects
  • Anywhere access supporting modern work models
  • Subscription-based licensing that enables predictable cost planning

Reality: Moving to SAP Cloud ERP is an evolution, not a leap into the unknown.

2. Familiar Yet More Powerful User Experience

SAP Cloud ERP follows modern SAP design principles, including role-based SAP Fiori interfaces. While familiar to ByDesign users, the experience is significantly more powerful and deeply integrated across processes.

Result: Faster user adoption combined with higher automation and transparency.

3. Structured and Proven Data Migration

SAP provides standardized migration tools and templates designed for SAP Cloud ERP transitions.

Key success factors include:

  • Clean data preparation
  • Iterative test migrations
  • Clear separation of master, transactional, and historical data

With the right approach, data migration is predictable, secure, and auditable.

 

 

4. Standardized Processes as a Strength

Many ByDesign customers already operate with limited customization. This is a major advantage, as SAP Cloud ERP consistently follows a Fit-to-Standard approach.

Benefits include:

  • reduced complexity

  • long-term upgrade stability

  • sustainable process quality

5. Cloud Mindset Already in Place

ByDesign customers are accustomed to:

  • no on-premise infrastructure
  • cloud security and compliance standards
  • scalable system growth

The move to SAP Cloud ERP therefore represents continuity, not disruption.

6. Clear Frameworks and Expert Guidance

SAP positions SAP Cloud ERP as the strategic ERP core of the SAP Business Suite. Customers benefit from:

  • defined transition paths
  • SAP Activate methodology
  • experienced implementation partners

At Walldorf Consulting, we support this journey with:

  • tailored migration roadmaps
  • Fit-to-Standard workshops
  • proactive change and risk management

Why Moving Now Makes Sense

A Strategic Turning Point for Business ByDesign

SAP Business ByDesign has served SMEs well for many years. With SAP discontinuing new sales, the direction is clear:

  1. No long-term functional evolution
  2. Declining strategic relevance within SAP’s portfolio
  3. Growing gap to innovations in AI, analytics, and integration

SAP Cloud ERP fully assumes this role as SAP’s future-proof cloud ERP platform within the SAP Business Suite.

Conclusion

Transitioning from SAP Business ByDesign to SAP Cloud ERP is not an emergency reaction, but a strategic transformation that can be executed in a structured, low-risk, and predictable manner.

Organizations that act early gain:

  • planning certainty
  • access to innovation
  • a stable foundation for growth

SAP provides the strategic framework with SAP Cloud ERP. At Walldorf Consulting, we ensure it is applied efficiently, standard-aligned, and sustainably to your business.

Now is the right time to start planning your next step with confidence.

Get in touch!
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