SAP's 22% annual maintenance fee is one of the most consistently overpaid costs in enterprise IT. This playbook maps every reduction strategy — from third-party alternatives to SAP retention concessions — and delivers the framework to reduce costs whether you switch or not.
How SAP structures the annual maintenance fee, what it includes, what it doesn't — and the growing gap between what you pay and what you consume.
Head-to-head comparison of Rimini Street, Spinnaker Support, and SAP Enterprise Support — coverage, pricing, service models, and the strategic trade-offs.
Every available approach mapped — from licence base rationalisation and hybrid support models through SAP retention programmes and RISE migration leverage.
Detailed assessment of third-party migration risks — enhancement pack access, S/4HANA implications, regulatory patching, security coverage — with specific mitigation strategies.
A structured approach from maintenance base audit through third-party evaluation, SAP retention activation, and final terms execution.
The 5 tactics SAP deploys to prevent support cost reduction — innovation lock-in, ECC deadline pressure, audit threats, value acceleration, and conditional RISE offers — with counter-strategies for each.
"You don't need to leave SAP support to reduce your SAP support costs. You need SAP to believe you're seriously considering it."Redress Compliance — SAP Practice