SAP Compatibility Packs Expire in 2025 – What You Need to Know

SAP’s Compatibility Pack (CPs), introduced in 2016, played a critical role in easing the transition to S/4HANA by allowing continued use of legacy ERP functionality. However, these temporary usage rights are set to expire—most by the end of 2025.  This blog outlines:

1. What that means
2. How to assess your exposure
3. What steps you need to take

Key Expiry Dates and Exceptions

For most customers, Compatibility Pack usage rights will automatically expire on 31 December 2025. This includes the functionality of legacy titles such as SAP Receivables Management and Payroll Processing, which will no longer be supported through the CP model within the S/4HANA environment.

However, there are exceptions:

• Extended usage rights until 2030 apply to a limited set of CPs (e.g. SAP Work Manager, Inventory Manager, CS, LE-TRA, and PP-PI).
  B. Details are outlined in the SAP Compatibility Scope Matrix.
• RISE with SAP / SAP Cloud ERP Private Edition customers retain CP usage rights through 2030 as part of their cloud subscription.

Note: ECC 6.0 EHP7/EHP8 customers with only the 2015 S/4HANA EM add-on are not entitled to CP usage rights.

⚠️ Important: CP usage rights expire on 31 December 2025 across all SAP S/4HANA versions, regardless of release date or maintenance status.

What CPs Do—and Do Not—Cover

• Compatibility Packs do not add new functionality.
• They allow temporary access to classic ERP transactions within S/4HANA.
• They do not require additional payment, but you must be licensed for both the classical solution and S/4HANA.

Risks of Inaction

Failing to act before the 2025 deadline can result in:

• Non-compliance risks from unlicensed usage
• Loss of support and security updates
• System instability due to technical deactivation of CPs in future S/4HANA releases
• Disruption of business processes reliant on CPs (including custom-built extensions)

SAP has signalled that technical deactivation of CP functionality may occur in future releases, and CP-related support will cease with the expiry of use rights.

How to Identify CP Usage

Proactively assessing CP usage is essential. Recommended tools include:

• SAP Readiness Check (via SAP for Me): Identifies active CP-related functionality and transactions.
• Custom Code Migration Worklist: Highlights custom ABAP code dependent on CPs and what needs to be adapted before migration.
• Simplification Item Check: Flags deprecated tables and configurations tied to CP functionality.

Transitioning to S/4HANA Native Solutions

Where CPs are in use, customers must identify and migrate to supported S/4HANA equivalents. Options include:

• SAP-provided native alternatives
• Third-party solutions if no suitable replacement exists or where capabilities are limited

SAP’s CompScope Wayforward guidance outlines:

• Specific CP IDs and expiry confirmation
• Proposed S/4HANA replacements
• Migration steps and gap handling instructions

Recommendations to Future-Proof Your SAP Landscape

• Do not rely on CPs for new projects or long-term planning.
• Use the SAP EarlyWatch Alert service to evaluate your exposure and risk.
• Start planning now to ensure a stable, supported SAP environment beyond 2025.

How JNC Can Help

At JNC, our S/4HANA transition consultants specialise in:

• CP usage assessments
• S/4HANA migration planning
• License reuse and commercial optimization

We help organizations future-proof their SAP strategy—ensuring compliance, minimising disruption, and unlocking long-term value from your investments.

Prepare Your Organization for the 2025 Deadline

Download our readiness checklist

SAP Compatibility Pack Expiry: Readiness Checklist

✅ Step 1: Identify Your Exposure

• SAP Readiness Check to detect active CP-related functionality
• Use Simplification Item Check for deprecated tables and configurations
• Review Custom Code Migration Worklist to identify CP-dependent custom ABAP

✅ Step 2: Confirm Expiry Details

• Check expiry date for each CP via the Compatibility Scope Matrix
• Determine if you qualify for a 2030 extension (e.g. RISE with SAP customers)
• Confirm that your S/4HANA version does not retain CP rights by default

✅ Step 3: Plan Transition Path

• o Map current CP functionality to S/4HANA native alternatives
• o Use SAP’s CompScope Wayforward guide for replacement recommendations
• o Evaluate third-party solutions if no SAP replacement exists or if functionality is lacking

✅ Step 4: Mitigate Risks

• Avoid launching new processes based on CP functionality
• Ensure projects in-flight are not reliant on deprecated functions
• Inform internal stakeholders of impending compliance and support risks

✅ Step 5: Take Action

• Engage technical teams to begin retesting and reconfiguration
• Review license entitlements to ensure coverage for new architecture
• Seek support from SAP consultants or external advisors to guide your transition

💡 Tip: Use the SAP EarlyWatch Alert service to monitor risk areas and performance issues as you plan.