SAP is discontinuing the sale of its mid-market software, Business By Design, a move signaling a strategic shift away from a product once heralded as a key driver of growth. According to a report in the Handelsblatt, the software will be removed from SAP’s price list on April 20, 2026 and will no longer be offered to new customers. The decision, communicated via an email to clients and IT service providers, marks a definitive end to a product line initially launched with considerable fanfare in 2007.
Existing customers, however, will be permitted to continue using Business By Design, with SAP confirming that existing contracts will not be terminated and will continue to receive security updates and compliance changes. As of 2022, approximately 2,700 businesses were utilizing the software, though current figures remain undisclosed.
The initial rollout of Business By Design was fraught with technical challenges, which significantly hampered its market penetration and fell short of the ambitious goals set by the then-executive board, led by Henning Kagermann, who anticipated acquiring tens of thousands of new mid-market clients. Critics at the time pointed to the complicated implementation process and perceived limitations in functionality as major obstacles.
This discontinuation underscores SAP’s increasing focus on Cloud ERP solutions, representing a course correction within the company’s portfolio. The decision raises questions about the long-term viability of older, less strategically aligned product lines within SAP’s vast ecosystem and potentially reveals vulnerabilities in its ability to consistently deliver on ambitious product launches. While existing customers receive a reprieve, the move underscores a broader trend towards consolidation and prioritization within the software giant’s offerings, leaving observers to ponder the implications for businesses relying on legacy solutions.
