SAP customers seek renewed control over their ERP fate
54% of SAP customers still run legacy ECC systems facing 2027 end-of-life. They're demanding on-premise parity with cloud — or they're leaving.
Why it matters
SAP's push toward cloud and AI agents is colliding with enterprise reality: large installed bases resisting costly S/4HANA migrations and refusing to be locked into cloud-only AI features. DSAG, representing thousands of German-speaking SAP customers, is using its annual congress to demand fair licensing, on-premise AI access, and realistic transformation timelines — a pressure point that could reshape SAP's go-to-market strategy.
The key facts
16 to know54% of DSAG surveyed companies still use SAP ECC or Business Suite despite end-of-maintenance at end of 2027
S/4HANA On-Premise and hybrid architectures remain the everyday reality for DSAG members, not cloud
43% of surveyed orgs had implemented AI use cases as of January 2026; vast majority were non-SAP solutions
DSAG demands: no tying of AI features to cloud contracts, clear licensing transparency, reduced system complexity
Jens Hungershausen (outgoing DSAG CEO) cited gap widening between SAP's 'Autonomous Enterprise' vision and productive customer use
SAP Sapphire announced selected AI scenarios for ECC and On-Premise S/4HANA customers via Rise with SAP — framed by DSAG as insufficient first step
DSAG congress drew over 6,000 participants; congress in its 27th year
On-Premise customers pay maintenance fees through 2040; DSAG demands 'economic fairness' in pricing and licensing models
54% of DSAG surveyed companies still use SAP ECC or Business Suite despite end-of-maintenance deadline Dec 2027
S/4HANA On-Premise and hybrid architectures remain the everyday reality for most DSAG members, not cloud
43% of surveyed organizations have implemented AI use cases; vast majority based on non-SAP solutions
DSAG demands: AI features must not be cloud-exclusive; no tying of AI to cloud contracts; clear licensing models
DSAG criticizes gap between SAP's 'Autonomous Enterprise' vision and practical, mature, economically viable implementations
SAP promised at 2023 DSAG congress not to leave customers behind; 2026 survey suggests that commitment is being tested
SAP has acquired/invested in Prior Labs, Dremio, Reltio for data quality; DSAG demands transparent roadmaps and implementation costs
DSAG CEO Hungershausen emphasized S/4HANA On-Premise customers pay maintenance through 2040 and deserve commensurate service
Go to the source
CIOcio.com
Publisher excerpt: “Claim your ground, lead your business” is the overarching motto of this year’s German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG) congress — a slogan the organizers say aims to bring SAP’s technological vision in line with the concrete challenges faced by its customers, complete with a striking Western motif.…