SAP Business ByDesign

Updated July 2026.

SAP Business ByDesign is a multi-tenant, cloud-based (SaaS) ERP from SAP built for small and medium-sized enterprises, spanning finance, supply chain, projects, CRM and HR. In September 2025 SAP announced it will be delisted for new customers from April 20, 2026, though maintenance for existing customers continues.

SAP is delisting Business ByDesign from the SAP price list for new customers, effective April 20, 2026 (announced September 2025). This is a new-sales delisting, not a hard end-of-life cutoff — SAP has stated there is no planned end date for ByDesign maintenance and existing customers see no change to support, compliance or maintenance. For UK organisations currently running ByDesign, this page provides independent guidance on what the change means, migration options, estimated costs in GBP and UK partners that can support your transition.

Existing UK contracts are honoured and support continues, but because SAP is steering new investment toward S/4HANA, many organisations will still choose to evaluate their options. Source: Navigator Business Solutions press release relaying SAP's statement (September 2025).

Running SAP Business ByDesign in the UK? Our advisors can help you evaluate migration options and connect you with UK partners experienced in ByDesign transitions.

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ByDesign Delisting Timeline for UK Customers

What UK ByDesign Customers Should Do Now

1. Audit your current contract — check your renewal date and terms with SAP. Understand when your ByDesign agreement expires.
2. Begin vendor evaluation — start exploring alternatives at least 12-18 months before your contract ends
3. Document customisations — catalogue all extensions, integrations and custom workflows that need replicating
4. Plan data migration — identify the data you need to move and any transformation requirements
5. Budget for transition — implementation of a replacement ERP typically costs 1-3x your annual ByDesign subscription

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SAP Business ByDesign at a Glance

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Migration Paths for UK ByDesign Customers

Option 1: SAP S/4HANA Cloud, Public Edition

The most natural migration path within the SAP ecosystem. S/4HANA Public Cloud is also a multi-tenant SaaS offering with quarterly updates, but with significantly deeper functionality and SAP's full strategic investment.

Key advantage for UK organisations: S/4HANA Public Cloud inherits SAP's deep UK localisation including MTD compliance, UK GAAP (FRS 102), HMRC reporting and UK bank payment formats.

Option 2: Oracle NetSuite

NetSuite is a leading multi-tenant cloud ERP that competes directly in the same mid-market space as ByDesign. It offers broader module depth and a larger global partner ecosystem.

Option 3: Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central

Dynamics 365 Business Central is Microsoft's cloud ERP for small to mid-market companies. Deep integration with Microsoft 365 makes it attractive for UK organisations already in the Microsoft ecosystem.

Option 4: SAP Business One

For UK organisations that used ByDesign primarily for its simplicity and found many features unnecessary, SAP Business One may be a cost-effective alternative. However, B1 offers less out-of-the-box functionality than ByDesign.

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Migration Cost Estimates for UK Organisations (GBP)

Costs include implementation, data migration and training. Software licensing is additional.

Important cost factors for UK organisations:

• UK system integrator day rates range from £800-£2,000/day depending on partner tier and ERP product
• Data migration from ByDesign can be complex — budget for thorough data cleansing and validation
• Re-implementation of UK-specific configurations (MTD, UK VAT rules, UK bank formats) adds cost
• Change management and user training should not be underestimated — budget 10-15% of total project cost

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UK Partners Offering ByDesign Migration Services

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ByDesign Features and Modules (Reference)

For UK organisations documenting their current ByDesign usage as part of migration planning, the following modules were included in ByDesign:

Financial Management

General ledger, accounts payable and receivable, multi-entity consolidation, multi-currency, VAT management, financial reporting. ByDesign's finance module supported UK GAAP requirements and basic MTD compliance.

Project Management and Accounting

Project planning, resource allocation, time recording, milestone billing, project profitability tracking. This was one of ByDesign's strongest areas, particularly for UK professional services firms.

Supply Chain Management

Demand and supply planning, warehouse management, manufacturing (discrete), quality management. UK manufacturers used these capabilities for production control and inventory management.

Supplier Relationship Management

Procurement, supplier management, purchase order processing, invoice matching.

Human Resources

Time recording, expenses management, leave and absence management, employee database. ByDesign's HR capabilities were basic compared to dedicated HCM platforms.

Customer Relationship Management

Lead management, opportunity management, sales order processing, marketing campaign management.

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ByDesign Pros and Cons (Historical Reference)

Strengths

• Wide and deep functionality across many business areas in one platform
• Strong multi-entity and multi-currency support for international UK organisations
• True SaaS with quarterly updates — no infrastructure management
• Transparent, predictable pricing model
• Good professional services and project management capabilities

Weaknesses

• Configuration-not-customisation approach limited flexibility
• ByDesign consultants were always in short supply in the UK market
• SAP's strategic focus on S/4HANA meant ByDesign received less investment and marketing
• UK partner ecosystem was smaller than for competing products
• Delisted for new customers from April 20, 2026 — uncertain long-term roadmap investment, even though existing-customer support continues

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is SAP Business ByDesign end of life?

Not in the traditional sense. SAP is delisting ByDesign for new customers effective April 20, 2026 (announced September 2025), but this is not a hard end-of-life or sunset. SAP has stated there is no planned end date for ByDesign maintenance, and existing customers see no change to support, compliance or maintenance. The product is being withdrawn from new sales, not switched off for current users.

Is SAP Business ByDesign being discontinued?

Only for new sales. SAP is removing ByDesign from the price list for new customers effective April 20, 2026, so it will no longer sell new licences after that date. Existing UK customers are not being discontinued — SAP has stated there is no planned end date for maintenance and no change to support or compliance. Because SAP's roadmap focus is on S/4HANA, many customers still plan a migration proactively.

When does UK support for SAP Business ByDesign end?

SAP has not announced an end date for ByDesign support. Per SAP's on-record statement, there is no planned end date for maintenance, and existing customers continue to receive security, compliance and legal updates. The only firm date is April 20, 2026, when the product is delisted for new customers. Even so, most ERP migrations take 3-8 months, so UK organisations planning a move should start early to evaluate alternatives thoroughly.

What is the best replacement for SAP Business ByDesign for UK organisations?

The best replacement depends on your priorities:

• Stay with SAP: SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud is the natural path
• Broadest cloud ERP: Oracle NetSuite offers comprehensive mid-market cloud ERP
• Microsoft ecosystem: Dynamics 365 Business Central if you are deeply invested in Microsoft tools
• Cost-conscious: SAP Business One or Acumatica for smaller organisations seeking lower cost

How much will it cost to migrate from ByDesign in the UK?

For a typical UK organisation with 50 users, migration costs (excluding new software licensing) range from £50,000 to £320,000 depending on the target platform, complexity of data migration and integration requirements.

Can I renew my ByDesign contract?

Contact SAP directly to understand your renewal options. Some UK customers have been able to negotiate short-term extensions, but SAP's strategic direction is clearly away from ByDesign.

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Need help planning your ByDesign migration? Our advisors provide independent guidance — we are not affiliated with any SAP partner and our recommendations are based solely on your requirements.

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Related pages:

• SAP S/4HANA Cloud
• SAP Business One UK
• SAP Partners UK
• Oracle NetSuite Costs
• Dynamics 365 Costs
• Compare ERP Systems