SAP Migration · 7 min read · March 2026
The four paths off SAP ECC, and what each one demands of your data
By Thinklytics Partners, SAP S/4HANA Practice
Not every company is taking the same road off ECC. There are four, and they price, schedule, and carry risk very differently. The one thing they share is the data work underneath.
Topics covered
- S/4HANA
- RISE with SAP
- Selective Data Transition
- Migration Strategy
Frequently asked questions
What are the four paths off SAP ECC?
Move to S/4HANA Cloud through RISE with SAP, leave SAP for a rival ERP such as Microsoft Dynamics or Oracle, run a Selective Data Transition that moves only active data to a clean core, or hold on ECC with third-party maintenance past 2027. Each prices and schedules differently.
Which path is most common?
Most companies stay in the SAP ecosystem and move to S/4HANA, increasingly through RISE with SAP. A smaller but real share leave for a rival or hold on ECC with third-party support, and the late movers tend toward a Selective Data Transition because a full rebuild no longer fits the calendar.
Which path is fastest?
A Selective Data Transition is usually faster than a full greenfield rebuild because you move only the active data and leave the legacy archive behind. Speed depends far more on how clean the moving data is than on the path itself.
Do all four paths need data cleansing?
Yes. Whether you re-platform to S/4HANA, jump to Dynamics or Oracle, run a hybrid transition, or buy time on ECC, the legacy data still has to be extracted, cleaned, and mapped. The path changes the destination, not the condition of the data.
What about companies that miss the 2027 deadline?
Industry analysis suggests up to half of ECC customers may intentionally miss 2027, moving to third-party maintenance to keep legacy systems patched. That defers the migration, it does not retire the data debt, which keeps growing until the move happens.
How do we choose a path?
Start from how much of your current process and history is worth keeping, your regulatory needs, and your timeline. A readiness assessment measures the real condition of your data and code first, so the path is chosen on evidence rather than on a vendor pitch.