Pricey SAP Assist,

I don’t assume we should always see one another anymore.

It’s not you; it’s me. No … wait … it’s principally you.

Our relationship began as anticipated, however we’ve grown aside. We now need various things.

You aren’t who you have been

You’ve modified. It was once that my annual upkeep charge bought me help, upkeep, and new performance. However then the brand new options have been fewer and fewer and got here much less ceaselessly. Then in no way. I used to be nonetheless paying the identical $1 million yearly however getting much less worth for it.

You do notice that you simply stopped accepting me for who I used to be. So many instances, you mentioned that our relationship couldn’t proceed in the identical means until I upgraded. The software program I paid $5 million for was instantly not new sufficient so that you can deal with anymore. I poured my coronary heart and soul into that software program. It’s paid for, absolutely amortized, steady, closely custom-made, and doing precisely what I would like it to do.

However you need me to pay additional for ongoing help as a result of the model I’ve is now too previous for you.

How do you assume that made me really feel? (BTW, others share my emotions.)

A few instances, I acquiesced and upgraded—at nice expense to me—as a result of my software program was working, and I wished to maintain it supported and maintained. The upgrades have been laborious and disruptive, however I did it for us. I simply couldn’t preserve doing it—couldn’t preserve upgrading for no different cause than that you’d nonetheless like me and take care of me. I’m pleased with who I’m, so one other improve would simply be a charade.

An ultimatum? Actually?

Then there was the 2027 ultimatum. You informed the entire world that after December 31, 2027, you’d cost a further 2 proportion factors for sustaining help. That’s a ten% price improve for me. You already know my finances is tight; I can’t afford that.

Then so as to add insult to harm, you mentioned that after 2030, we’re by. Kaput. It’s over. Finish of the highway.

And what do I get for staying with you? You’re elevating my annual charges, first by 3.3% and now by one other 5%.

Ever heard of dedication and constancy?

You clearly need me to desert my ECC software program for this shiny new object you name S/4HANA. It’s clear to me now that that is who you may have been spending time with. In spite of everything, we had performed collectively, I didn’t need to consider it. I naïvely ignored all of the indicators, considering it couldn’t probably be true. That’s on me.

I most likely ought to have paid extra consideration if you began investing your time and power in that proprietary database referred to as HANA. It’s apparent that you simply and HANA have one thing unique occurring.

I would like my house

I’m actually feeling pressured. Not solely would you like me emigrate to HANA and S/4HANA, however you additionally need me to surrender my perpetual licenses and change them with subscriptions. That’s like surrendering the deed to my house so I can hire a special one from you. And talking of house, you need me to go away my premises and transfer to a cloud. You name it your “RISE with SAP” program. That may sound intriguing on the floor, however I’ve regarded into it and it’s not a very good match for me. It limits my choices and locks me right into a multifaceted contract with you. I desire a business-driven roadmap, not a vendor-dictated one.

In spite of everything the nice instances we’ve had, can we now want a sophisticated prenup? I don’t assume so.

Tossed apart

You already know that I’ve been fortunately operating our ECC software program on-premises. Fact be informed, I’ve even thought-about shifting to S/4HANA, however it will be on-premises too. That’s the place I’m comfy. However now you’re saying that future improvements corresponding to AI, generative AI, and sustainability would solely be accessible to your prospects operating S/4HANA Cloud, public or non-public editions within the RISE or GROW applications. Oh, and these options would have a 30% potential uplift in the price of this system. I’m sorry, however this simply seems like it’s all about you.

So, I’m shifting on. (And I wished to place that in writing earlier than the annual September 30 deadline for notifying you.)

Seeing another person

I’ve to be trustworthy. I’ve met another person. It’s Rimini Road. They mentioned they’d take me as I’m and help my current ECC software program for 15 years or extra from the time I change to them. They don’t have a 2027 or 2030 or 2040 deadline; these dates are irrelevant. They simply need what’s greatest for me. And they’ll assist me the place I’m and get me to the place I need to go. I don’t must improve until I need to. They’ll optimize my present atmosphere and assist me evolve by innovating across the edges of my ECC. They actually have a crew that can assist me remodel my IT the place and when it makes essentially the most sense for my enterprise.

Right here’s the kicker: they’ll present nice help for 50% lower than what you have been charging yearly. Their purchasers price them a median of 4.9 out of 5.0 for seven completely different help standards. And so they’ll help my customizations, ship tax, authorized, and regulatory updates, present interoperability options so I can proceed to replace my environments with out upgrading my software program, and provide safety options to assist preserve me secure! They’ll even present managed providers for our SAP cloud merchandise, together with Ariba, Concur, SuccessFactors, and others.

They love me; they actually, actually love me.

I want you the very best

Know this: I nonetheless like your software program. So, preserve writing it. Perhaps sometime we will see one another once more. However for now, and a number of other years down the highway, that is the way in which it have to be.

Goodbye and greatest needs.

Sincerely,

Me

To study extra, go to us right here.

Concerning the writer

Scott Hays
Senior Director, Portfolio Advertising and marketing

Rimini Road

Scott Hays is a seasoned veteran in enterprise software program expertise for ERP and buyer expertise. At Rimini Road, Hays is accountable for the go-to-market technique, messaging, and content material for end-to-end software program help, merchandise, and providers.
Previous to Rimini Road, Hays served as senior vice chairman of product advertising and marketing for Epicor, a mid-market ERP supplier, and vice chairman of options advertising and marketing for Verint, a world chief in buyer engagement options.
Earlier in his profession, Hays was with Clarus Company as a improvement supervisor and product supervisor for financials, procurement, and enterprise intelligence options, and was a retail purchaser and techniques supervisor with Macy’s Division Shops.
Hays holds a level in Economics and Sociology from Stanford College.
https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-hays