SAP Digital Access Adoption Program (DAAP): What It Really Means for Enterprises

SAP Digital Access Adoption Program

SAP’s Digital Access Adoption Program (DAAP) is an initiative aimed at addressing the complex issue of indirect access licensing.

In 2025, it offers enterprises dramatic incentives – up to 90% discounts on new licenses, credits for existing investments, and even amnesty for past unlicensed usage – to switch to SAP’s document-based Digital Access model.

This article explains what DAAP means for IT asset management (ITAM) and sourcing teams at large organizations, highlighting how to use these incentives wisely while they last.

Why SAP Introduced DAAP

Indirect access – when third-party systems or external users interact with SAP – has long been a licensing headache.

Under the old model, any indirect use was supposed to be covered by named-user licenses or obscure “interface” licenses, which led to confusion and surprise audit penalties (as seen in high-profile cases).

In 2018, SAP introduced the Digital Access license model, which charges for specific business documents (e.g., sales orders, invoices) generated through non-SAP applications.

This shift from user-based to document-based licensing aimed to be more transparent, but it also meant that some customers could face higher costs if, for example, an e-commerce site generated thousands of SAP orders.

To encourage adoption, SAP launched the Digital Access Adoption Program (DAAP) in 2019. The goal was straightforward: to make switching financially attractive and alleviate the fear of audits.

For customers, it was an opportunity to resolve indirect usage compliance at a significant discount. For SAP, it expedited the transition to a licensing approach they prefer and helped avoid contentious audit battles.

Read about SAP Digital Access Pricing.

DAAP’s Incentive Options: A or B

The cornerstone of DAAP is a heavily discounted one-time purchase of Digital Access licenses. Enterprises choosing DAAP have two options:

Both options drastically reduce upfront costs. Option A is useful if you expect your document count to grow (it provides a built-in 15% buffer for future transactions).

Option B offers the lowest initial spend if your current usage is stable.

In either case, SAP is essentially making the first round of Digital Access licenses almost free. Note: This is a one-time offer.

Once you adopt DAAP, any additional digital access later will incur standard (higher) prices – so forecast your needs and maximize your first purchase.

Beyond Discounts: Credits and Amnesty

DAAP isn’t just about discounts. SAP also provides two key sweeteners to ease the transition:

• License Conversion Credits: You can trade in certain existing SAP licenses (especially those originally bought to cover indirect use) for credit towards your new digital access licenses. This ensures you’re not “paying twice” for the same functionality. Some companies have handed back shelfware licenses to offset a significant portion of the DAAP cost. Just remember, SAP will require your maintenance payments to stay the same or increase – they allow you to repurpose past spend, but won’t reduce their support revenue.
• Amnesty for Past Usage: SAP also promises not to penalize past indirect use if you legitimize it going forward through DAAP. By signing a DAAP agreement, you wipe the slate clean for any unlicensed indirect activity in prior years – SAP waives potential claims for those historical uses. This amnesty removes the fear that coming forward will trigger retroactive fees, which is a strong incentive to address the issue proactively. If you skip DAAP and a later audit finds non-compliance, SAP can back-charge those past years – a stark contrast to the amnesty option.

DAAP in 2025: Act Now, Audits Are Rising

Fast-forward to 2025: the Digital Access Adoption Program remains available with no hard end date. SAP continues to offer these incentives but hints these deals won’t last forever.

More importantly, SAP’s compliance teams have stepped up audits focused on indirect usage. Many enterprises are now receiving audit queries specifically about interfaces and document counts.

SAP is using a carrot-and-stick approach:

• The carrot is DAAP’s huge discounts and forgiveness – a chance to solve the problem on friendly terms.
• The stick is the threat of full-price compliance action if an audit finds unlicensed use (with no special deals later).

For ITAM and sourcing professionals, DAAP is both an opportunity and a defensive play. Take control rather than wait. Think of DAAP as insurance: paying maybe 10–15% now to avoid a 100% cost later.

Also, if you’re negotiating new SAP deals (e.g., an S/4HANA migration or a RISE cloud contract), use DAAP as leverage.

Ensure any new contract accounts for indirect usage, either via these discounts or with built-in coverage. Tackling digital access licensing now puts you in a stronger position.

Key Considerations for Enterprises

Before jumping in, weigh these factors to make the most of DAAP:

• Current vs. Future Needs: Analyze your indirect usage volume today and projected growth. Right-size your DAAP license quantity – too low and you’ll pay more later; too high and you’ll carry unnecessary maintenance costs.
• Cost of Status Quo: Consider DAAP’s cost versus doing nothing. If an audit is likely, the program’s small one-time fee far outweighs a potential large compliance payout. If your indirect use is minimal and well-controlled, you might decide to wait (just be sure to revisit that decision periodically).
• Impact on Maintenance: Deep discounts result in lower license fees, which in turn lead to correspondingly lower annual support fees for those licenses. However, if you convert existing licenses, your support spend will remain essentially unchanged. Budget the ongoing maintenance on any new licenses into your ROI calculation.
• Contract Clarity: Ensure that all DAAP terms (discounts, number of documents licensed, conversion credits, and the no-back-charges amnesty) are clearly outlined in your SAP agreement. The contract should explicitly state that adopting Digital Access under DAAP covers the agreed scope and forgives past usage.
• Long-Term Strategy: Align DAAP with your plans. If a move to the cloud is on the horizon, determine how long you need on-premise coverage. You can use DAAP now to bridge the gap and potentially negotiate that investment into your cloud deal later.

Recommendations

1. Measure Before You Commit: Internally assess all third-party systems that create SAP documents. Run SAP’s Digital Access estimation tool (or use an independent advisor) to get an accurate count. Know your exposure before officially engaging SAP.
2. Seize the DAAP Window: If you find a substantial indirect usage gap, don’t wait for an audit. Proactively use DAAP to settle it on favorable terms. It’s better to address it voluntarily with a 90% discount than to face it later at full price under duress.
3. Maximize Your Credits: Identify any unused or underused SAP licenses (especially those bought for indirect scenarios). Bring these to the DAAP negotiation to offset the cost. Ensure that SAP applies all eligible conversion credits to preserve your prior investments.
4. Negotiate Holistically: When discussing SAP, frame DAAP as part of the broader context. For example, if you’re also purchasing S/4HANA or other products, consider leveraging your overall spend to secure the best deal. Ensure that indirect access is addressed in the overall contract to avoid any surprises later.
5. Plan for Growth: Don’t just buy for today. If your business is expanding digitally (through new integrations or increased transaction volume), consider Option A or at least discuss how future expansion will be managed. It’s easier to negotiate future needs now than after you’ve lost leverage.
6. Document the Agreement: After negotiations, ensure the final order form or contract amendment explicitly includes the DAAP discounts, any additional capacity, the list of converted licenses, and a statement confirming no retroactive charges. Having it in writing protects you if personnel change or memories fade.

Read 9 Document Types in SAP Digital Access.

Checklist: 5 Actions to Take

1. Inventory Interfaces: Create a list of all systems (websites, applications, and partners) that interface with SAP. Identify which interactions create SAP documents (such as orders, invoices, etc.) – these drive your digital access requirements.
2. Estimate Usage: Using SAP’s tools or a third-party script, estimate how many documents each interface generates in a year. Do this privately so you have the data before involving SAP.
3. Evaluate Options: Calculate your cost under DAAP Option A, Option B, and doing nothing. Include potential conversion credits in those calculations. This provides a clear picture of which path makes the most financial sense.
4. Consult Stakeholders: Discuss the plan with IT, finance, and legal teams. Ensure everyone understands the implications (e.g., maintenance costs, audit risks, contract changes). Get internal buy-in on the recommended approach.
5. Engage with SAP: Reach out to your SAP account executive or licensing team with your findings. Indicate that you’re interested in DAAP and outline what you need (volume, any credits). This proactive stance often leads to a smoother negotiation, as SAP sees you’ve done your homework.

FAQ

Q1: Is SAP’s Digital Access Adoption Program (DAAP) still available in 2025?
A: Yes. SAP has extended DAAP beyond its initial deadlines, and as of 2025, it remains available indefinitely (until SAP announces otherwise). The generous terms are still on the table for now.

Q2: What if we ignore DAAP and stick with traditional licensing?
A: You can continue with named-user licenses for indirect access, but you run a risk. SAP audits for indirect usage are on the rise. If an audit finds you should have been using Digital Access and you haven’t, you could be required to pay full price (and possibly back-maintenance). DAAP essentially offers a “safe harbor” to avoid that scenario.

Q3: How do we know which existing licenses can be converted into credits?
A: Typically, licenses that were meant for indirect scenarios (like extra “platform” or partner user licenses, or certain order-processing engines) are eligible. Work with SAP or a licensing expert to identify which of your entitlements can be surrendered. SAP will assign a credit value (often based on the license’s current maintenance value) to reduce the cost of your Digital Access purchase.

Q4: Does adopting Digital Access via DAAP increase our annual support fees?
A: It can, but not drastically. If you’re buying new licenses at 10% of list price, the standard support fee will apply on that net amount – so your support costs may go up modestly. However, if you converted existing licenses, you’re essentially redirecting support fees you were already paying. (It’s wise to factor any change in maintenance into your cost analysis.)

Q5: We plan to move to SAP’s cloud (RISE) in a couple of years – should we still bother with DAAP now?
A: It depends on your risk tolerance in the interim. RISE subscriptions often bundle indirect usage, meaning you might not need separate Digital Access licenses once on RISE. However, until that migration, you will still be subject to the old rules. If the move is not immediate, DAAP can protect you now, and you can even factor it into your RISE negotiations. Often, it’s safer to close the compliance gap now rather than carry the risk until the switch.

Read more about our SAP Digital Access Advisory Service.

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