Why it’s time to migrate to the optimized design experience in SAP Analytics Cloud

The future of SAP Analytics Cloud starts now

SAP has officially entered the next phase of deprecating the Classic Experience in SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC) — including Classic Stories and Analytic Applications.
In their blog “The Next Phase in the Deprecation of the Classic Experience in SAP Analytics Cloud” (SAP Community), SAP confirms that all new innovations are focused on the Optimized Design Experience (ODE).

That means:

• Classic Stories will no longer receive new features or improvements.
• Creation of New Classic Stories and Applications is now DISABLED.
• Existing Classic Assets (Stories and Analytic Application) are at the moment still EDITABLE and MAINTAINABLE.
• By Mid 2026, Classic assets will become inaccessible — any content not migrated to ODE will effectively be lost.

For organisations relying on SAC for critical reporting and planning, this marks a turning point.
Migrating to ODE is no longer optional — it’s essential to stay supported and future-ready.

Why migrating now is worth it

Moving to ODE is not just about compliance with SAP’s roadmap — it’s also an opportunity to upgrade the user experience and performance of your analytics environment.

Here’s what ODE brings to the table:

⚡ Improved Performance & Faster Load Times

• Optimized data handling and rendering significantly reduces story load times
• Better responsiveness when interacting with large datasets

Better Design & Usability Features

• Flexible containers for easier alignment of visual elements
• A unified toolbar and cleaner interface
• Enhanced undo/redo support to speed up design work

⚙️ Advanced Data & Scripting Capabilities

• Data actions can now be triggered directly in stories
• A modernised scripting environment for interactivity
• Better handling of blended and acquired data sources

Enhanced Planning Features

• Improved copy/paste for planning tables
• Smoother scenario modelling in SAP Analytics Cloud Planning
• Better write-back and data input usability

Consistent Experience Across SAP Products

• Follows SAP Fiori design principles
• Consistent look & feel with other SAP cloud applications

In short: migrating improves both performance and usability — while securing your analytics landscape for the future.

The risks of waiting

The upcoming SAP deadlines create a very real risk for organisations that postpone migration:

• From Q3 2025 (Now), you won’t be able to create new classic content at all.
• From Q2 2026, classic content will no longer be accessible.

If you delay migration until the deadline is close, you risk:

• Project bottlenecks and rushed testing cycles
• Frustrated business users and disrupted reporting
• Increased costs from last-minute resource allocation
• Potential loss of historical stories that weren’t migrated in time

Migrating now means you can move at your own pace, with proper validation and user adoption, instead of being forced into a rushed cutover.

How we make migration simple

Migrating hundreds of stories may seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be.
We’ve developed a proven 4-phase migration approach that combines technical conversion expertise with strong business adoption support:

Phase 1 – Preparation & Assessment

• Identify all stories and classify them into categories:
  • Ready to Convert
  • Feature Limitations (will be added later or won’t be available)
  • Blocked Stories
• Analyse how often stories are used — clean up what’s no longer needed
• Align with business users on actions for feature-limited or blocked stories

Deliverables:

• Categorised story list
• Business sign-off on feature limitations
• Clear migration approach, budget and timeline

Phase 2 – Pilot Migration & Testing

• Migrate a representative pilot batch (±20 stories)
• Use SAP’s ODE Migration Tool and apply any manual pre-steps if needed
• Validate layout, filters, responsiveness and performance
• Gather business user feedback and adjust the approach

Deliverables:

• Pilot stories successfully migrated and validated
• Refined methodology based on real feedback

Phase 3 – Full-Scale Migration

• Migrate stories in structured waves
• Weekly validation and user acceptance testing (UAT)
• Business users validate both data accuracy and design after each wave
• Perform regression testing to ensure everything still works as intended

Deliverables:

• All stories migrated to ODE
• Known feature gaps documented and addressed

Phase 4 – Go-Live & Support

• Deploy migrated stories to production folders
• Run classic and ODE stories in parallel for 1–2 weeks
• Provide hypercare support and real-time issue resolution
• Gradually decommission the classic stories after business validation

Deliverables:

• Smooth adoption with minimal disruption
• Controlled retirement of classic stories
• Confident, future-proof reporting landscape

Ready to future-proof your SAP Analytics Cloud environment?

SAP’s message is clear: Classic Stories are on borrowed time.
Migrating to ODE is the only way to access new features, maintain support, and ensure your analytics environment continues to perform.

Contact our team today to schedule your SAC migration assessment.
Let’s move your stories into the future — before the deadlines catch up.

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