Compatibility Packs: a Call to Action for SAP S/4HANA Customers

[Michael_Deller]

Are you live on SAP S/4HANA private cloud or on-premise – or planning to go live soon?

Or are you using classic standard functionality like LE-WM Basic Warehousing or FI-TV Travel and Expense in SAP S/4HANA?

Then you probably are aware of the compatibility packs in SAP S/4HANA. They are temporary use rights which were defined at the outset of S/4HANA in 2015, and will expire at the end of 2025.

This date is a real hard stop, because continued usage of these functionalities constitutes a breach of contract. For companies in Public Sector or regulated industries like Pharmaceuticals, the usage of unlicensed and unsupported software is a red flag in any IT audit. Do not take this lightly.  

While SAP will not technically disable all compatibility pack functionalities immediately in 2026, there is obviously no more support for them, and SAP does not guarantee their flawless functioning after expiration.

Bad news: December 2025 is not far away.

Good news #1: customers of SAP S/4HANA public cloud are not concerned.

Good news #2: with the upcoming release 2023 in October, SAP provides go-to solutions in S/4HANA or in cloud-based applications.

Good news #3: the Readiness Check and more tools are helping you to find out if you are concerned.

Get the details about compatibility packs and the way forward:

- in this blog from Jan Gilg -> link

- in our webinar from Sept 27, 2023 -> link to recording and slides 




 

[DominikTylczyn]

Basic LE-WM functionality is available under the code name of "stock room management", isn't it?

[Michael_Deller]

Almost correct, Dominik. There are six WM components which are not - TRM, LSR, Wave Mgmt, Yard Mgmt, Cross-Docking and Value Added Services.

We are already seeing customers hitting the 2026 wall with their rollout plans for these components... so a double thanks for asking!

[DominikTylczyn]

That's what I meant by "Basic LE-WM functionality". Thank you for clarifying.

BTW, do customers have any say in how compatibility packs are defined and what functionalities they include?

[Michael_Deller]

We did the CP definitions in 2015 and 2016, mostly based on our development roadmaps - question being, what is it that we want to completely redevelop in the S4 world, but which will need quite some time - and discussions with our ecosystem. The matrix (note 2269324) was frozen in 2016.

Sometimes it's really nitty-gritty, and deserves a closer look, like e.g. the LIS entries. The LIS foundational component will remain in the system - but the classic standard reports built on it are no longer fed by the S4 software and will most likely very quickly show skewed results.

We're already anticipating 20% of the webinar here 🙂

[DominikTylczyn]

Innovations and redevelopments are good, except that sometimes the baby gets thrown out with the bathwater.

In my opinion the biggest problem is killing MRP lists which are essential to validating MRP results - see:

• S/4HANA MRP – to Live or not to Live: MRP lists and the corresponding improvement request https://influence.sap.com/sap/ino/#/idea/249067 


• Integration issues in S/4HANA – Evaluation of MRP planning results and the corresponding improvement request https://influence.sap.com/sap/ino/#/idea/298863.

Notice that both requests received huge support of around 50 votes each. It shows that MRP lists are needed. MRP is crippled and toothless without them as MRP results cannot be properly evaluated.

Is there anything that can be done to get MRP lists of CP and keep them available at least in the classic MRP?

[Bernhard]

Thanks for (re-)sharing this important info.

[former_member384283]

Vital customer question for sure. I discussed that in several SAP S/4HANA Transitions already.

After several workshops the all agreed that the old MRP List are not needed anymore, due to several reasons:

1. There are several Fiori Apps (MRP-Cockpit) with different functionalities who cover part of the old MD* functionalities


2. For master data checks are several solutions (SAP and non SAP) available. One possibility is MDC Consulting Solution.


3. We all have to learn to trust the "system" due to the Digital Transformation and changing IT paradigm. You can see it in your private life best: How can you validate AI Answers/Proposals? Its difficult, isnt it? It was much easier with google and a quick check on the original source.

[arifwassem_khan]

Dear Michael,

In a recent SAP Note 2976262 "SAP Travel Management in SAP S/4HANA Compatibility Scope" there is a "Please Note" comment referring to SAP Travel Management being available for SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition as an option for those customers moving from SAP ERP ECC, that cannot move to SAP Concur right away.

This means SAP Travel Management can be used in S/4HANA Cloud, private edition using the SAP S/4HANA Compatibility pack until 2027?

[Michael_Deller]

Hello Arif,

customers in S/4HANA Cloud, private edition do not have the compatibility pack use right for FI-TV, but something better - they can license / subscribe to the functionality via a regular subscription license. Please refer to slides 24/25 of the presentation.

BR, Michael

[fog464]

Great bog but the you tube video does not work

[Michael_Deller]

Hi Alisdair, hm, strange, works fine when I try... here's the link as text, have a look, maybe copy + paste into your browser will do the trick.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=muPrV5J7ffM