Abstract

It has been a year since SAP departed from conventional versioning practices, embracing a versionless paradigm with version 2211. This shift has been accompanied by a Monthly Update release cycle that promises continuous improvement and adaptability. In this blog post, I’ll revisit SAP Commerce Cloud’s versionless model, highlighting the benefits, features, and crucial considerations for businesses navigating this transformative journey.

Versionless Structure

Since November 2022, SAP Commerce Cloud has adopted a versionless paradigm. What does it mean? The version number remains static at 2211, indicating the base release. However, the system employs a Monthly update release cycle, marked by incremental changes denoted as 2211.x, where ‘x’ signifies incremental improvements and is not tied to a specific month.

As examples, the table below provides details on productive update releases and their respective timelines.

You might be wondering why 2211.14 or 2211.11 are skipped?

They are actually the preview releases, adhere to the same versioning scheme as productive update releases. However, they are intentionally excluded from the table above as they are designed for non-productive use and only have a very brief validity period as shown below:

Monthly Update Release Cycle

Every monthly update brings a blend of crucial elements aimed at refining and fortifying the SAP Commerce Cloud ecosystem. These updates are designed to address various aspects, ensuring the system’s resilience, security, and competitiveness. The key components of each monthly update include:

1. Bug Fixes and Security/Compliance Updates
   • Resolving bugs and glitches is the primary focus of each monthly update, contributing to a more stable and reliable system.
   • Security and compliance updates are seamlessly integrated to enhance the system’s resilience against evolving cyber threats and ensure adherence to regulatory standards.
2. New Features and Innovations
   • Shipped once per quarter, new features and innovations inject vitality into the system.
   • To facilitate a smooth transition for customers, these features are initially in a disabled state, making updates as straightforward as adopting patches.
   • Enabling these features is as easy as following instructions provided in the Upgrade Guide of SAP Commerce Cloud, fostering a user-friendly experience.
   • A complete list of all features for each update can be found in: What’s New in SAP Commerce Cloud in the Public Cloud
3. Cumulative, Backward Compatible Updates
   • Monthly updates are cumulative, meaning that each release incorporates all previous changes, bug fixes, and new features.
   • Backward compatibility is prioritized, ensuring that existing functionalities remain unaffected by updates.

Support and Adoption Guidelines

To maintain optimal system performance and stay current with the latest improvements, customers are encouraged to adhere to the following guidelines:

When a version of SAP Commerce Cloud enters End of Mainstream Maintenance (EOMM), SAP discontinues the release of updates, including patches and security updates, for that particular version, cf. the below briefings about SAP Support Coverage:

If a version is approaching EOMM status, you can monitor notifications on the environment page:

Additionally, a warning icon will appear next to the specific builds on the builds workspace page:

In brief summary, software in the EOMM phase is considered unsupported, and running such software can lead to the following build errors, security issues, breach of contract, upgrade and renewal issues. More details about EOMM can be found in the End of Mainstream Maintenance FAQ.

Summary

SAP Commerce Cloud’s transition to a versionless model and a Monthly update release cycle reflects a commitment to innovation, stability, and customer satisfaction. Embracing this transformative approach empowers businesses to harness the latest advancements in e-commerce technology while ensuring a seamless and secure digital commerce experience. The versionless journey not only ensures ongoing innovation but also positions businesses to thrive in the ever-changing realm of digital commerce.