SAP Commerce Cloud, previously Hybris, has been a staple of eCommerce as a leading enterprise digital commerce platform. 2023 marks the ninth year in a row in which SAP was recognised as a Leader in the 2023 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce. 

But for their clients, 2024 may be an even more important year. SAP Commerce version 2105 reached End of Mainstream Maintenance (EOMM) on August 19, 2023, while the only supported on-premise version is 2205, which will also enter EOMM on July 31, 2026 (when running on-premise). Until then, it will only receive critical security patches and limited bug fixes. On the cloud, version 2205 will reach EOMM on May 31, 2024, after which the only supported version will be 2211. In this context, migration to the cloud and upgrading to the latest release becomes less of a choice and more of a necessity. 

Based on our experience, we highly recommend organisations migrate to the newest cloud solution, with the caveat that migrating to SAP Commerce Cloud (CCv2), even with direct support from SAP, can be a challenging process, and enterprises need a strong tech team and a comprehensive migration plan to minimise disruptions to business as usual and leverage the full potential of your new environment. In conclusion, a trustworthy migration partner with the knowledge to offer consultancy and support with implementation is the best way to avoid any potential pitfalls. 

The Accesa team has successfully performed this service for two customers. One of these initiatives may well be one of the most complex projects built on SAP Commerce Cloud, involving a global B2C retailer with two separate Cloud instances — one in Europe and one in North America. During these collaborations, we came upon a wide range of challenges and offered viable solutions both for code adaptations and platform integrations. 

Our specialists prepared an advice list that can help companies navigate the complex migration process: 

How to ensure a successful SAP CCv2 migration 

1. Begin planning early 

The more time you have to plan your migration, the smoother it will be. Starting early gives you time to better assess the current on-premises infrastructure, identify potential challenges, and align strategically with your migration partner. 

2. Start with a clean platform and database 

Remove all unnecessary code and data before migration. A clean slate ensures that unnecessary legacy configurations and customisations are phased out, allowing for the adoption of cloud-native best practices. Without the need to carry over outdated configurations, the migration process becomes more streamlined and easier to manage. 

3. Save performance data before the migration 

So that the development team can use consistent comparison groups throughout the migration and especially after deployment. This way, they can properly benchmark performance and optimise the software as they go. 

4. Test thoroughly 

Be sure to test your migrated system exhaustively before deploying it to production. This way, you ensure that your customers don’t experience downturns in load time, responsiveness, or overall experience while the platform is being optimised. 

5. Work with an experienced implementation partner 

An experienced partner can help you assess your needs, develop a migration plan, and migrate all your data and customisations to the new platform, as well as warn you of the less well-known challenges of performing an effective SAP Commerce Cloud migration. 

6. Get support 

Don't be afraid to ask for support from your implementation partner or SAP. They are there to help you make your migration a success. 

Don't let the migration complexities overwhelm you — partner with us for a seamless transition. Our SAP Commerce Cloud specialists are ready to help you, so book a free-of-charge 90-minute consultancy call.