Digital transformation

My ERP Software is no longer supported… Now what?

Sooner or later, every company receives the same message: the ERP or accounting software it has relied on for years will no longer be supported. At first glance, this feels like a problem that simply needs to be fixed. In reality, it is primarily a decision point. And when that decision is properly guided, it often creates far more value than it costs.

01 July 2026

What does “no longer supported” mean?

The tricky part is that your system will usually continue to work. Nothing crashes, so the sense of urgency remains low.
However, once support ends, you no longer receive security updates, bug fixes or, just as importantly, updates to comply with new legal and regulatory requirements. Gradually, your system falls behind while the world around it continues to evolve.

Security

Without security patches, newly discovered vulnerabilities remain exposed. Insurers and auditors are paying increasing attention to this, and in the event of an incident, “we were running unsupported software” is not an explanation anyone wants to give.
Compliance - the most critical issue in Belgium

Since January 1, 2026, structured electronic B2B invoicing via Peppol has become mandatory in Belgium. Software that no longer receives updates will not be adapted to this format or to future VAT regulations. Sooner or later, you will run into a wall that you cannot overcome on your own.
Expertise and Integrations

The number of people capable of maintaining outdated systems continues to decline. At the same time, updates to connected applications, such as your webshop, CRM or inventory management system, can suddenly break integrations that have worked for years.

Why this is actually an opportunity

A system that has been in place for ten or fifteen years is almost never the same system that was originally implemented. Over time, layers of customizations have been added, and business processes have evolved around the limitations of the old software.
The end of support forces you to take a fresh look at all of this. Rather than being a burden, it is an opportunity to rethink the way your business operates instead of simply replicating the status quo.

The greatest benefits rarely come from the software itself. They come from reassessing your own processes.

Modern solutions also offer capabilities that were once difficult to imagine: continuous updates instead of major upgrades every few years, seamless integration with other business applications, cloud-based infrastructure with reduced server management, intelligent automation, and built-in support for e-invoicing and local compliance requirements.

An approach that works

Start with your processes, not with the software.

Map out what your system actually does today and identify which customizations are still actively used. You may be surprised to discover how much of that functionality has become unnecessary.

Next, define your real requirements. Focus not on “what did the old system do?” but on “what does the business need for the years ahead?”.

Plan well in advance. A migration is a project that typically takes months, not a weekend.
And do not overlook data integrity. Validate your historical data and open transactions, and run both systems in parallel before going live.

The mistakes we see most often? Waiting until the last day of support. Trying to migrate everything exactly as it is, including custom developments no one uses anymore. Choosing a solution based solely on price rather than process fit. And failing to appoint an internal owner, leaving the project without clear leadership.

Conclusion

The end of software support is not a minor technical issue that can be quietly resolved in the background. It is an opportunity to decide how your business wants to operate in the years ahead—with efficient processes, future-proof systems and confidence in compliance.

At horsum, we guide organizations through that journey from start to finish.