Preparing for the End of SAP GTS 11: A Strategic Transition to SAP GTS e4H

The end of mainstream maintenance for SAP Global Trade Services (GTS) 11 is rapidly approaching. As of December 31, 2025, SAP will discontinue all support for this solution—including bug fixes, legal and regulatory updates, and critical security patches. For companies that depend on SAP GTS to manage cross-border trade compliance, this milestone is not simply an IT deadline, it represents a significant business risk that requires proactive strategy and planning. 

The recommended path forward is a transition to SAP GTS, edition for SAP HANA (GTS e4H). This next-generation platform is purpose-built to meet the growing demands of international trade in a digital-first world. However, the move to GTS e4H is not a standard upgrade—it is a transformation that affects systems, processes, and compliance frameworks. 

Why Immediate Action is Critical 

Migrating to GTS e4H typically takes up to nine months, depending on system complexity, trade volumes, and organizational readiness. With less than a year remaining until the end-of-support date, timing is essential. Companies that delay may face project bottlenecks, rising costs due to limited consultant availability, and potential gaps in trade compliance coverage. 

More critically, remaining on SAP GTS 11 past 2025 introduces avoidable business risk. Unsupported software may fail to keep pace with evolving customs regulations, trade agreements, and sanctions regimes—potentially exposing organizations to legal liability and operational disruption. 

What GTS e4H Delivers 

SAP GTS e4H is a modern, HANA-native solution designed to streamline and enhance global trade operations. Key innovations include: 

• High-performance architecture with embedded analytics for real-time compliance insight. 

• Renewed Trade Preference Management, improving accuracy and efficiency in origin determination and supplier declarations. 

• Modernized user interface with SAP Fiori apps and simplified workflows. 

• Enhanced integration with S/4HANA Order-to-Cash processes and improved data transparency. 

• Flexible deployment options, including co-deployment with S/4HANA. 

• Enterprise Search and automated proposals to accelerate decision-making and increase productivity. 

How cbs Helps Enable a Successful Transition 

Engaging a trusted SAP partner such as cbs Corporate Business Solutions can significantly reduce the complexity and risk of a GTS e4H migration. As a certified SAP Global Trade Services specialist, cbs offers end-to-end support across every phase of the transition—from business case development to post-go-live optimization. 

Key advantages of working with cbs include: 

• Deep GTS expertise: With decades of experience implementing and optimizing SAP GTS, cbs understands the nuances of global trade operations across industries. 

• Proven migration methodology: cbs offers a structured and accelerated transition framework tailored to minimize business disruption while ensuring compliance continuity. 

• Process and compliance consulting: Beyond technical migration, cbs helps clients reimagine and streamline global trade processes, improving efficiency and governance. 

• Global delivery capabilities: With international project teams and multilingual support, cbs can meet the needs of globally distributed organizations. 

The transition to SAP GTS e4H is more than a compliance requirement—it is a chance to modernize global trade operations, embed agility into your supply chain, and prepare your business for the future of digital commerce. 

What This Means for SAPinsiders 

GTS e4H is a business-critical investment—not an optional IT project. Global trade compliance is under greater scrutiny than ever. According to the World Trade Organization, global merchandise trade volumes are expected to grow by 3.3% in 2025, driven by increasing cross-border transactions and shifting supply chains. Operating on unsupported trade compliance software risks financial penalties, supply chain delays, and reputational damage. Transitioning to GTS e4H ensures continuous compliance with international regulations and positions your company for scalable, secure growth. 

Treat the transition as a strategic transformation, not a technical upgrade. GTS e4H introduces a fundamentally different architecture and operating model. It enables real-time analytics, improved user experiences, and tighter integration with SAP S/4HANA core processes. This is an opportunity to revisit global trade operations holistically, eliminating inefficiencies, standardizing processes, and introducing intelligent automation. You should develop a transformation roadmap with cross-functional input from IT, supply chain, compliance, and finance, and consider engaging a specialized partner like cbs to lead the discovery and scoping phases. 

Consultant and resource availability will tighten as the 2025 deadline nears. Plan accordingly.  With over 2,500 SAP GTS customers globally, competition for migration expertise will intensify. Industry analysts project a 30% increase in demand for SAP GTS consultants in 2025 as companies race to meet the cutoff. Early adopters will have their pick of experienced resources, smoother project timelines, and lower implementation costs. Be sure that you have a trusted implementation partner and internal project team. Schedule pre-assessments and proof-of-concept workshops to de-risk the migration and identify business value opportunities.