For many years, SAP has proven to be an established market leader and has won over many companies with its e-commerce solutions. Now the tech giant has made a groundbreaking announcement: the future of SAP Commerce lies exclusively in the cloud, in the form of the SAP Commerce Cloud.
This strategic decision naturally raises questions, especially for marketers and shop operators who rely on SAP Commerce. What does this step mean for them in concrete terms? And what alternatives are available? You can find out all of this here in our comprehensive analysis and assessment of the current situation.
From SAP Hybris to SAP Commerce Cloud
But before we delve deeper into the effects, let's first take a look at the developments surrounding SAP Commerce (formerly SAP Hybris).
It all started with the acquisition of Hybris in 2013, a cloud-based e-commerce platform solution designed for both B2B and B2C companies. SAP recognised Hybris' potential to give the e-commerce market a decisive boost and bought the platform. As a result, Hybris became SAP Hybris Commerce, which in turn was later renamed SAP Commerce.
The most recent development is the introduction of SAP Commerce Cloud as a successor product. This cloud-based solution offers omnichannel e-commerce capabilities that are tightly integrated with the SAP cloud partner network. This provides sellers with enhanced data and tools to optimise margins and increase customer loyalty.
As part of this, SAP has announced that it will discontinue the last final version of SAP Commerce (on-premise). By 31 July 2026, the on-premise version will reach End of Mainstream Maintenance (EoMM) and then switch to Customer-Specific Maintenance mode. There will be no further versions of Commerce On-Premise after 31 July 2026 and the full focus will be on SAP Commerce Cloud.
SAP Commerce On-Premise no longer receives support
This also means that new SAP Commerce functions and innovations will in future be provided exclusively in the SAP Public Cloud and the SAP Private Cloud using RISE with SAP as the enabler.
For SAP Commerce Cloud users, the innovations will be made available quickly, flexibly and efficiently. However, this does not apply to on-premise customers. At the end of mainstream maintenance, these users will not receive any new releases of SAP Commerce. For these companies, the decision of the SAP shop system has far-reaching consequences, especially with regard to further development, support and security.
Many SAP users are therefore dissatisfied with the Group's plans for the future. The German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG) therefore also emphasises that a ‘cloud-only’ strategy is not an option and calls for clear development paths for the transition to the cloud as well as investment protection for expenditure already made. As a result, DSAG and SAP began talks last year to identify solutions for on-premise customers while at the same time protecting investments. The talks are beginning to bear fruit. In the ERP area, for example, SAP now wants to accommodate its customers: With the help of a special migration programme, SAP wants to make it easier for on-premises customers of the SAP ERP Central Component (SAP ECC) or SAP S/4Hana solutions to migrate to the cloud - with financial incentives and practical support, among other things. However, the tech company has not yet commented on SAP Commerce.
You should therefore already be asking yourself whether you can bear the enormous opportunity costs or whether you should make the equally immense effort and follow SAP into the cloud.
Pros and cons of migrating to the cloud
From the above points, you will no doubt already be aware of some of the disadvantages of SAP's decision. In the following, we would like to give you an overview of the basic advantages and disadvantages of switching to the cloud before we go into more detail about why SAP Commerce Cloud may not be the ideal shop system for you if you decide in favour of a cloud migration.
| Advantage | Disadvantage |
|---|---|
| Predictable spend: Cloud-based solutions usually offer predictable expenses. This means that you don't have sudden, large capital expenditures that could put a strain on the budget. Costs are stable and predictable, which makes budget planning easier. | Additional costs depending on usage: Companies that have already invested in on-premise and are using a solution that works well should carefully weigh up the costs and benefits of switching. Although cloud-based solutions are often seen as cost-effective, the actual costs can vary depending on usage. Therefore, you should carefully consider the total cost of licences, maintenance, hosting and support and plan for any additional costs that may arise over time. |
| Outsourcing of security risks: By using cloud services, security risks are outsourced to the provider. This can be a huge relief for you, especially in industries where data protection and security are particularly important. The provider takes responsibility for security measures and protocols, which takes the burden off companies and gives them an extra layer of security. | Data protection and compliance: Another important aspect is data protection and compliance requirements. Strict regulations apply in many industries, which are often difficult to fulfil, especially with regard to cloud solutions. Without specialised cloud experts, there is a risk that these requirements will not be sufficiently taken into account. You need to ensure that your cloud platforms comply with all specific data protection and regulatory requirements in order to minimise legal risks and avoid data breaches. |
| Good out-of-the-box functionalities: Cloud-based shop systems generally offer excellent out-of-the-box functionalities. Companies can use the platforms immediately after implementation, without long rollout times or complex customisations. Continuous updates ensure that the software is always up to date and compatible with the latest technologies and requirements. | Possible limitations in flexibility: Although cloud-based shop systems offer good out-of-the-box functionalities, companies may experience limitations in the flexibility and adaptability of the platform. This can be particularly problematic for companies with specific requirements or customisations, as they may not be able to fully meet all their business needs. |
| No restrictions: As no physical installation is required, there are no limitations in terms of hardware, agility and scalability. | Complexity of cloud migration: Migrating to a cloud-based solution can often be complex. It requires careful planning and implementation with a professional service provider to ensure that the infrastructure is set up correctly and that all existing functions and customisations are successfully transferred to the cloud. |
| Azure as a hosting provider: With Azure as your hosting provider, you get a reliable and scalable partner that is known for its high availability and security. Using Microsoft Azure guarantees a high-performance infrastructure that meets the requirements of a growing e-commerce business. You also benefit from seamless integration into the extensive Microsoft ecosystem. | Committed hosting provider: When you opt for the SAP Commerce Cloud, you are automatically forced to use Azure as your hosting provider. This limits your flexibility when choosing other service providers. In addition, the Azure Cloud is considered more expensive than other providers, which can increase operating costs for companies in the long term. Another critical point is data security: as Microsoft is a US company, strict data protection concerns could arise when storing and processing data in the Azure Cloud. |
Why the SAP Commerce Cloud is not the best choice
Companies that use SAP Commerce as a shop system and are hesitant to switch to the cloud are at a crossroads. In principle, using SAP e-commerce without moving to the cloud is not an option - a lack of further development and support is one thing, but security problems are an unacceptable risk.
In the dynamic world of digital commerce, it is almost mandatory for companies to choose a high-performance system that enables flexible adaptations to constantly changing requirements. This is the only way to orientate your own e-commerce towards the future. So if you are now faced with the mandatory step of leaving SAP Commerce On-Premise behind, you should consider carefully whether SAP Commerce Cloud is the right choice or whether a complete change of shop system is not the better long-term option in terms of flexibility and innovation.
There are indeed some points that speak against the SAP shop system: on the one hand, SAP's out-of-the-box functionality is acceptable, but there are other systems on the market that offer a significantly better range of functions. Secondly, it is often criticised that SAP's software architecture is outdated and monolithic. This could make the cloud-based system less suitable for future requirements and lead to problems with scalability and flexibility.
Another sticking point for SAP in general: the tech group is planning to increase maintenance fees. This affects both on-premise and cloud customers. This raises the question of which alternatives may be more suitable for certain target groups.
Individual requirements and needs play a decisive role here:
- For small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), it could be advantageous to switch to other e-commerce platforms that are less complex and enable faster implementation, especially if no extensive customisation is required.
- For corporations with a complex transaction structure, e-commerce platforms with a modern architecture and range of functions that can handle the existing complexity and enable flexible and fast responsiveness are a good option.
- Companies with a limited budget should consider alternative platforms if the cost of SAP Commerce Cloud is too high. There are more cost-effective options that fit better within their budget.
- Industry-specific requirements also play an important role. Some industries require specialised solutions that can be better met by other platforms. For example, companies in the B2B sector could benefit from specialised B2B e-commerce platforms that are better tailored to their individual needs.
- For agile companies that need to innovate and adapt quickly, platforms that offer a high degree of flexibility and can respond quickly to changing requirements can be beneficial. This allows them to remain agile and continuously evolve to meet the demands of the market.
How to find your SAP Commerce alternative
So if you come to the conclusion that the SAP Commerce Cloud is not the right solution for you, then you should think about another, alternative platform.
You know SAP Commerce from the FF, you know the functionalities and the range of functions - and perhaps the most important aspect: you know your own requirements. Use this knowledge to find out about alternatives.
You should therefore answer these questions individually for your company:
- What do you expect from an e-commerce system today?
- What are your requirements?
- Have your requirements possibly changed compared to the past?
- Do you need a different range of functions today than when SAP Commerce was introduced?
- Are price and performance still in the right proportion?
- What do your employees expect?
- How has your industry and your customers' buying behaviour changed - do you need to react to innovations differently than before?
Other important aspects:
- Which channels are important to your business?
- What does your IT infrastructure look like?
- What does your data compliance strategy look like?
- What workflows and processes do you need?
Three alternatives to the SAP Commerce Cloud
These three alternatives are particularly suitable for B2B companies: HCL Commerce, Shopware and OXID eSales. The elio team of experts will be happy to help you switch to a powerful alternative to SAP Commerce Cloud. Find out why these three systems in particular are so suitable below.
The HCL SAP comparison
HCL Commerce offers an alternative for companies with a particularly large and complex commerce and transaction structure. A migration to HCL Commerce initially offers both options: the option of on-premise hosting AND the option of cloud hosting. Apart from the underlying problem, switching the shop system from SAP to HCL Commerce offers several other advantages.
Modern software architecture - API-First
A major advantage of HCL Commerce compared to SAP Commerce is the underlying modern software architecture. HCL recognised the signs of the times early on through large-scale reengineering with high investments in the system and implemented a completely new technology stack. While SAP pursues a monolithic approach, HCL relies on a microservice-based approach with fully disclosed REST APIs.
The system is completely open to interfaces and therefore enables transparent and limitless networking with all other systems. With the API-first approach, HCL Commerce offers the possibility of simplified integration and access to all functions. In addition to API-First, headless, Kubernetes and containerisation are the keywords for being able to bring innovations into the product quickly and efficiently. Here, HCL offers a decisive advantage in terms of performance and scalability in order to be able to take on the dynamics of e-commerce.
Wide range of functions
Another major advantage is the enormous range of functions that HCL Commerce already offers as standard. The implementation of third-party functions is rarely necessary. This means that a great deal is possible out-of-the-box, saving a great deal of time in expanding functions or integrating third-party solutions.
An excellent example of the enormous function set of HCL Commerce compared to SAP Commerce can be seen in the area of online marketplaces. While SAP simply does not offer any services here, HCL provides a smart solution with which extreme margins and gains in reach can be achieved with comparatively low investment and capital. The integration of nearshore product functions such as hyper-personalisation is also no problem for HCL Commerce.
True composable commerce
HCL also impresses with its true composable commerce approach. The desired components can be easily removed from nearby HCL Software products such as the Marketing Cloud, Aftermarket Cloud or DX and flexibly docked onto HCL Commerce - an absolute added value for your investment.
When it comes to flexibility, HCL also scores points by avoiding a vendor lock-in when choosing a cloud provider. This means that it is always possible to choose a desired hyperscaler and also to change it.
Cost efficiency and customer focus
Of course, costs also play a decisive role in major projects such as the implementation or migration of an e-commerce system. Thanks to the more flexible deployment and significantly shorter development cycles with HCL Commerce, project durations are comparatively easier to plan and therefore the TCO (total cost of ownership) is also lower. The transparent pricing and licensing model and the associated scalability also speak in favour of the HCL Commerce solution.
HCL continues to proactively involve its customers in its own roadmap. Around 50% of HCL's products are the result of customer-driven requests and suggestions, which emphasises the company's extreme proximity to its customers.
SAP Commerce vs HCL Commerce
Ultimately, HCL Commerce Cloud also scores highly against SAP Commerce Cloud in a direct comparison of the two platforms in the Gartner Peer Insights Ranking. With 4.4/5 to 3.9/5 stars in the overall rating, customer testimonials in practice also speak clearly in favour of HCL.
HCL Commerce defines the standard for a modern, effective e-commerce solution. The advanced technology makes it possible to react flexibly to increasing and new requirements and to fully utilise the advantages of a modern architecture. This results in an agile and efficient shop system that adapts perfectly to individual needs. HCL also offers a fully comprehensive e-commerce landscape, meaning that additional plugins and tools are rarely required.
All in all, HCL Commerce is exactly the right tool for those who have complex requirements and want to implement sophisticated processes.
The Shopware SAP comparison
As a second alternative, we recommend the German e-commerce system Shopware. The e-commerce platform, which is particularly popular in the DACH region, is offered both as an on-premise and cloud solution. Companies have the flexibility to choose between the two deployment models depending on their requirements and preferences. However, the shop system can also score points with other aspects.
Modern software architecture - PHP and API-First
Shopware was founded more than 20 years ago and has continued to develop ever since. With the introduction of Shopware 6, the company has reached an important milestone. This version is characterised by an innovative approach that focuses on API-first and full composability. Based on the PHP Symfony framework, the shop system provides a solid foundation for the development and scaling of e-commerce platforms. These modern technologies enable companies to adapt dynamically to changing market conditions and create innovative customer experiences.
out-of-the-box functionalities
What makes the shop system even more attractive are the many basic functionalities that are already included in the basic version. Many things can already be realised out-of-the-box. This makes Shopware attractive not only for large companies, but also for smaller ones.
Another major advantage is the ability to easily extend these functions with plugins. This allows companies to customise and further develop their Shopware instance according to their individual requirements without having to develop completely new functions from scratch. This high degree of flexibility and customisability makes Shopware an attractive option for companies of all sizes and in all industries.
Special B2B functionalities
Shopware is particularly popular with B2B companies. For this target group, the e-commerce platform offers special functionalities that meet the individual needs of companies: the B2B Suite and B2B Components.
With the option of individual pricing and the gross/net price view, companies can define customised price structures for different customer groups. Shopware also considerably simplifies the ordering process for B2B customers. Customers have the option of uploading products either via a CSV or XLS file or adding them directly to the shopping basket via order fields. These efficient functions and many others such as budget planning and order approvals help to make the purchasing process seamless and user-friendly for B2B customers.
SAP Commerce Cloud vs Shopware
Shopware is also convincing in a direct comparison with SAP Commerce Cloud. In the Gartner Peer Insights Ranking, users rate Shopware better than SAP Commerce with 4.1/5 to 3.9/5.
Overall, Shopware is a promising alternative to SAP Commerce Cloud. With a modern and flexible architecture, Shopware offers a wide range of functions that are specifically tailored to the needs of e-commerce companies. Shopware can be the ideal choice, especially for medium-sized companies and corporations looking for more customisation options and a future-proof solution.
The OXID SAP comparison
Another recommended option is the German shop system OXID eSales. Known for its presence in the DACH region, OXID eSales is characterised by both on-premise and cloud solutions. This duality offers companies the opportunity to choose the right deployment model depending on their specific requirements and preferences. However, OXID eSales offers even more compelling features that could make the case for switching from SAP Commerce.
Modern software architecture - PHP and modularity
OXID eSales, founded over 15 years ago, has undergone constant development and established itself as a robust e-commerce system. With a strong focus on modularity and extensive API support, OXID enables flexible customisation and expansion of e-commerce functions. Based on PHP, the system provides a stable platform for the development and scaling of online shops, allowing companies to react agilely to market changes and offer innovative customer experiences.
Wide range of functions
Another advantage of OXID eSales is the numerous basic functions that are available immediately after installation without any additional effort. These extensive out-of-the-box functionalities make the e-commerce platform interesting for large companies as well as SMEs and small businesses.
Thanks to the option of expanding the system with modules, companies can customise and further develop their OXID eSales installation without having to start from scratch. This flexibility and customisability makes the provider an attractive solution for companies of all sizes and industries.
Special B2B functionalities
OXID eSales is particularly popular in the B2B segment. The platform offers special functions for this target group in order to fulfil the specific requirements of business customers. These include extended options for pricing and displaying prices as net or gross figures.
OXID significantly simplifies the ordering process for B2B customers. Customers can import their orders via CSV or XLS files or add the products directly to the shopping basket using special order fields. These functions help to make the purchasing process efficient and user-friendly for B2B customers.
SAP Commerce Cloud vs OXID eSales
OXID eSales can also hold its own in a direct comparison with SAP Commerce. In OMR Reviews, the system from the DACH region received 4/5 stars from users. OXID stands for a robust, flexible and future-proof e-commerce solution that may be particularly suitable for medium-sized companies and those looking for extensive customisation options.
To summarise, OXID eSales is a promising alternative to SAP Commerce Cloud, with a modern architecture and a wide range of functions tailored to the needs of e-commerce companies.
Start your journey to digital excellence
Switching from SAP Commerce is a major step - and we know how challenging this process can be.
That's why we not only help you migrate to a new solution such as HCL Commerce, Shopware or OXID eSales, but also support you and your SAP on-premise solution during the migration process. We ensure that your SAP platform continues to run reliably so that you don't have to worry about downtime. At the same time, we guide you through the migration process to ensure a smooth transition and a future-proof solution.
Contact us to learn more about our proven migration process and see how we can take your e-commerce business to the next level.