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SAP GTS - US Reexport Controls

Introduction: The U.S Department of Commerce regulates exports and re-exports of "dual-use" items through EAR (Export Administrative Regulations). If any controlled product is of U.S origin or in anyway connected with U.S then even if it's shipped anywhere from outside the U.S to any other countries, it should be compliant with EAR and require a license from the U.S BIS (Bureau of Industry and Security). When a foreign-based company imports products or components from the U.S and uses them in its production, and then exports the produced materials to another country, the process is known as U.S. Re-export and is subject to U.S. regulations.  Firstly, we need to determine if any foreign-produced materials that contains the U.S origin components are subject to EAR or exempted based on the de-minimis exception. Here the ultimate destination countries are classified as "Non-Critical / Friendly Countries" and...
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SAP GTS 11.0 to GTS E4H Upgrade

 

SAP GTS 11.0 to GTS E4H

  • SAP GTS E4H is the latest version by SAP for SAP GTS.
  • SAP GTS 11.0 to GTS E4H is a very important strategic migration step to be performed by all the companies who are already in SAP GTS 11.0, where the support for 11.0 was ended on Dec 2025.
  • SAP GTS E4H is not the successor of SAP GTS 11.0. While SAP GTS E4H is designed as the next-generation platform to replace SAP GTS 11.0, it is not a direct, simple upgrade but a strategic, complex system transformation. It requires new license conversions and offers new functionalities (Fiori apps) that fundamentally differ from the previous GTS 11.0 platform.
  • SAP GTS E4H 2025 is the successor of SAP GTS E4H 2023.
  • SAP GTS E4H 2025 SP00 was released in Nov 2025. 
  • The upgrade process requires uninstalling older components, upgrading to new E4H, and implementing the below new software components. 
  • Two main software components in SAP GTS E4H 2023 is GTSCORE (which is changed from SLL-LEG) & UIGRCGTS (SAP Fiori for SAP GTS E4H)

GTS Roadmap


Upgrade tools:
  • SUM - Software Update Manager: The SAP Software Update Manager (SUM) is a multi-purpose modern technical tool used for upgrading SAP systems, applying Support Package Stacks (SPS), installing enhancement packages, and performing system conversions (e.g., to GTS E4H). SUM 1.0 is used for SAP NetWeaver 7.5 and lower, while SUM 2.0 is utilized for NetWeaver 7.5 and higher, including S/4HANA. SUM is more advanced than SPAM/SAINT, often resulting in lower downtime.
  • Maintenance Planner (MP): Utilize the SAP Maintenance Planner to generate the stack.xml for removing old components and installing new SAP GTS E4H components. A cloud-based tool used to plan updates, generate stack XML files (stack.xml), and download necessary files before using SUM or SPAM.
  • SPAM (Support Package Manager) and SAINT (SAP Add-On Installation Tool) are traditional SAP transactions used to manage software updates and new installations in ABAP-based SAP systems. 
  • SPAM (Transaction SPAM): Used specifically for importing SAP Support Packages to patch existing components.
  • SAINT (Transaction SAINT): Used to install new software components or add-ons that are not currently in the system.
  • SPDD/SPAU: Transactions used during an upgrade or SPAM/SAINT process to handle adjustments to SAP standard objects (data dictionary and repository objects).

Important points to note before upgrade:
  • System Approach (Brown field / Green field)
  • Assess the current system
  • Review the existing developments
  • Customs/Compliance mapping
  • Review system interfaces /integrations
  • Master data cleansing (if required)
  • Lift & Shift wont be helpful as the tables could be different/obsolete in E4H.
  • Code remediation would be required.
  • Change Management team to be actively involved.
  • Testing Strategy to cover all the existing processes.

Steps followed in the upgrade process: (For Basis team)
Steps during generation of stack.xml in maintenance planner.  All the below steps must be carried out as one single transaction in maintenance planner
1) Uninstall of old SAP GTS 10.0/ 10.1 / 11.0
2) Update of Base server release (product version SAP S/4HANA FOUNDATION 2022.)
3) Installation of new SAP GTS E4H (GTSCORE, 


Steps followed in the upgrade process: (For functional team)

1) Check master sap note- 3607370 (Support guide for converting / upgrading from GTS 11 to GTS E4H 2023 or from SAP GTS E4H 2020 to SAP GTS E4H 2023)

Report /SAPSLL/READINESS_CHK_V8000 is provided in SAP Note 2964245 and performs the Readiness Check. This report checks whether the system meets the prerequisites for a conversion to SAP Global Trade Services, edition for SAP HANA.

Run this report in production/production equivalent source system (GTS 11.0) well in advance to identify any potential obstacles in the upgrade. Need assistance from Basis consultant for implementing any necessary SAP notes.

This report validates prerequisites, identifies unsupported application areas, and checks for inconsistent database table data before upgrading to GTS E4H.

2) We must ensure to execute report /SAPSLL/READINESS_CHK_V8000 in sufficient time before the planned upgrade from GTS 11.0 to GTS E4H. There is no requirement to run this report if you are upgrading from GTS Edition for SAP HANA 2020.

3) SAP Note 2964245 is continuously being updated, so please ensure to have the most recent version of the readiness check installed. The latest version of SAP SAP Note 2964245 as of 01.10.2025 is version 37.

4) In case an error is returned by the readiness check report, the following note should be checked for a corresponding solution to the error encountered (check the corresponding Check ID & Error text and follow the steps provided):

5) 2973223 - SAP Global Trade Services, edition for SAP HANA: Conversion readiness check - conflict clarification

This note is also frequently updated. The latest version of SAP SAP Note 2973223 as of 01.10.2025 is version 57.

6) SAP has provided Conversion guide, Simplification list, Upgrade guide, Configuration guide for all the SAP GTS E4H release packs in their help page - SAP Help





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