CM21/CM25 cancellation: Set up future-proof production planning now
The end of classic CM21 transactions
From 31 December 2025, CM21, CM25 & Co. may no longer be used in S/4HANA compatibility mode. This means that the familiar graphical planning board – often a central control instrument for sequences, overload corrections and short-term interventions – will no longer be available. Companies are faced with the challenge of reorganising their planning processes at an early stage in order to ensure operational stability and avoid planning risks.
Note: Customers with RISE with SAP can currently extend their use until 2030 – the specific conditions should be agreed with SAP Sales at an early stage.
Assessment & roadmap for your production planning
cbs supports you in the secure changeover – with a structured procedure for evaluating your existing processes and a well-founded decision-making basis for the way forward:
- Analysis of your current use of CM21/CM25
- Comparison of Fiori app and embedded production planning and detailed scheduling (PP/DS)
- Clear implementation plan incl. training and functional validation
Your options under S/4HANA
Modern interface for simple bottleneck planning - quick to use, licence-free, but with reduced functionality (e.g. no drag & drop, no set-up time optimisation).
Powerful detailed planning for complex scenarios - with automatic optimisation, simulation and extended sequencing logic, but subject to licensing.
Focus on customer benefits
A clear basis for decision-making instead of uncertainty
Sound evaluation of your planning scenarios
As part of the assessment, you receive a structured analysis of your current CM21/CM25 utilisation and a transparent comparison of the available successor options. This allows you to make an informed decision as to which solution suits your requirements – without any gaps in functionality and with full planning security.
Specific recommendations for action
Clarity for your next steps
At the end of the workshop, you will know exactly whether the switch to the Fiori app is sufficient for your business – or where you should plan additional measures or investments (such as PP/DS). This will enable you to make informed decisions and create a reliable basis for your future production planning.
Smooth transition without operational risks
Early identification of critical functions and potential gaps
By jointly analysing your processes, we identify at an early stage which functions must be retained in the new system. This allows us to recognise potential gaps or adaptation requirements before the go-live and rectify them in a targeted manner – for a secure and stable changeover.
The end of the classic planning board is not a superficial issue - it's about central planning functions. Our assessment shows how your production can continue to run smoothly under S/4HANA.
Quick Check
Is your company ready for the end of the capacity planning table?
Use the following questions to check whether your planning is affected. If several points apply to your company, we recommend a fit-gap workshop to analyse together how you can future-proof your capacity planning.
1. Are you currently using graphical capacity planning with CM21 or CM25 in SAP?
Many companies still control their production using traditional planning tables. However, these will be replaced in S/4HANA. It is worth checking at an early stage whether the new solutions offer all the required functions – especially as the Fiori app has a different focus in the standard version in some cases.
2. Do you have complex manufacturing processes with parallel operations, alternative machines or multiple capacities per workstation?
In practice, production processes are often multi-layered: several work steps run in parallel, workstations have several capacities or alternatives. Such complexity can only be mapped to a limited extent in the standard Fiori app.
3. Do you regularly plan manually using drag & drop?
The ability to move orders flexibly in the planning boardusing drag & drop is indispensable for many planners on a daily basis. Please note:Although this function is available in the Fiori app with the latest release , it is limited to certain processes and constellations.
4. Is setup time optimisation an important part of your production planning?
The optimisation of setup times – for example through the use of setup matrices – can be crucial in complex scenarios. Compared to the classic CM21/CM25 transaction, the range of functions for this in the Fiori app is very limited. However,SAP Embedded Production Planning and Detailed Scheduling (ePPDS) provides an alternative that offers extensive functions for setup time-optimised planning.
5. Do you use customer-specific extensions (e.g. custom fields, special sorting options or additional functions) in your planning board?
Many companies have customised their planning board – for example with their own fields, special filters or sorting logic. It is important tocheck whether these customisations are still possible in the new standard: The Fiori app often only allows customised extensions to a limited extent.
Talk to us
Let us analyse together how we can make your production planning future-proof.
Process model & project approach
Analysing your planning scenarios and defining the functions that must be retained after the changeover.
Comparison of your requirements with the Fiori app and PP/DS - comprehensible, practical and focussed on your day-to-day business.
Concrete implementation plan with time frame, resource requirements and training for your planners.
Accompanied by the cbs Fast Value methodology: quickly measurable results, best practices, holistic expertise.
End of the classic SAP planning board
In this blog post, you can find out what impact the end of the classic SAP planning board (CM21/CM25) will have on your production planning – and what options SAP offers under S/4HANA. Using a structured assessment, we will show you how to make the right decision at an early stage and ensure your planning is stable for the future.
Why cbs?
Methodology M-cbs
Our M-cbs method is designed for the complex challenges of company-wide change projects. M-cbs is our DNA.
From strategy to implementation
With cbs, you have a partner at your side who combines strategic thinking with operational excellence. We provide you with holistic support – from the initial definition of objectives to the sustainable anchoring in your systems and processes.
Design-to-Operate
Thanks to our end-to-end expertise along the entire value chain – from design to operate – we put your data in the right context, create process clarity and enable well-founded decisions at all levels. In doing so, we combine in-depth process understanding with state-of-the-art technology – for real impact instead of mere concepts.
More info & downloads
Our in-depth content offers you practical insights into the upcoming discontinuation of the SAP planning board (CM21/CM25) and shows you how to future-proof your capacity planning with Fiori or Embedded PP/DS. You will also find in-depth material on resilient production processes, sustainable supply chains and the strategic use of modern SAP technologies along the entire value chain.
