SAP customer unrest: How did we get here?

When I worked for JD Edwards, then SAP, back in the late 90’s, I firmly believed that it was always good practice for customers to stay current with their ERP software. Like all good employees, I could instantly rattle off the reasons for this when required – you’d have access to the latest features, ensure continued support, reduce the risk of disruptive upgrades later, and benefit from all of the strategic thinking that underpins the product roadmap.

Some customers accepted this logic and were quick to migrate following a new software release. Others would skip a couple of versions then catch up when it made sense for them. Then there were those who constantly seemed to dig their heels in and resist moving forward until they absolutely had to – at least that’s what it looked like from the vendor’s perspective.

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