European regulators have closed an antitrust probe into SAP after the software giant agreed to modify its maintenance and support policies for on‑premises ERP customers.
EU commitments reshape SAP support model
The European Commission, which opened the investigation in September 2025 over concerns that SAP bundled support services with unnecessary license extensions, said the company’s concessions are now binding. SAP must allow customers to purchase support only for the components they actually use and to terminate contracts without facing penalties. An internal clearinghouse will also be set up so users can report any breach of these terms.
While SAP welcomed the decision, officials in Walldorf acknowledged that the firm had to give up some leverage. The move is expected to ease the financial strain on IT departments that have been paying for unused software, often referred to as “shelfware.”
User groups applaud new flexibility
Conor Riordan, chair of the UK & Ireland SAP User Group, said, “We welcome the proposed changes to SAP’s support and maintenance policies for on‑premise customers. Our members have long called for greater flexibility, transparency and predictability, and these changes appear to be a positive move.”
Michael Bloch, executive director for licensing, contracts and support at the German‑speaking SAP User Group (DSAG), told Computerwoche that many firms still run legacy ERP systems and will now have “significantly more freedom to decide how they want to organize support for their existing software.” He added that the decision could give third‑party maintenance providers, such as Rimini Street, a chance to grow in Europe.
The new framework does not force companies to abandon their current setups, but it does make the strategic choice between staying on‑premise or moving to the cloud more explicit. “Those who aren’t convinced that the cloud strategy is the right one for their own company can now more easily decide to stay on their existing ERP environment and, for example, use a different support provider,” he said.
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However, staying on legacy systems means forgoing SAP’s upcoming autonomous enterprise innovations, which could require costly in‑house development.
IT teams welcome the change.
Bloch emphasized that the real challenge for chief information officers now lies in mapping out a clear architecture for the next five to ten years, balancing legacy investments against the benefits of cloud‑based innovations. He warned that the expanded toolbox of options also raises complexity, requiring careful analysis of each component’s value.
From a negotiation standpoint, the decision does not guarantee better terms across the board. Companies that completely cancel SAP support may lose certain incentives, while cloud providers and hyperscalers continue to offer their own migration incentives.
Overall, the EU’s intervention provides a clearer regulatory environment, allowing firms to incorporate the new rules into their strategic planning without the uncertainty that previously clouded the horizon.
