When you hear “end of life” (EOL) for brewery software, it can feel like a death knell for your operations. But here’s the truth: it’s not the end of the road — it’s the start of a better one. Whether you’re running on legacy brewery production software or a patched-together production tool, the writing’s on the wall: outdated software can’t keep up with the pace of modern brewing.
So, what does EOL mean for your brewery operations, and how can you plan a smooth transition to a better solution?
When Your Brewery Software is on Borrowed Time
Not all software lasts forever. Sometimes, even well-known systems reach a point where vendors stop maintaining or supporting them. If your brewery management system is being discontinued, you’re losing the safety net of updates, patches and technical support. And that’s risky business.
Hundreds of craft breweries are at a pivotal moment operationally as SAP Business One has announced the end of managed maintenance for customers. After December 31, 2026, SAP will no longer support or maintain its legacy ERP. That means no patches, no updates and no new functionality ever again.
For affected breweries, now is the crucial time to develop a transition strategy to maintain uninterrupted operations, adhere to regulatory requirements, and leverage modern technology. The lack of extended maintenance for SAP One further emphasizes the urgency of planning a seamless transition now.
To plan effectively, it’s critical to grasp the differences between software lifecycle milestones:
- End of maintenance: The vendor stops releasing patches and updates, leaving you vulnerable to security risks and system inefficiencies.
- End of support: Say goodbye to tech support. Any issues you encounter are now your problem.
- End of life: The software is officially retired and becomes obsolete. Using it at this stage can lead to costly downtime and compliance risks.
Think of “end of maintenance” as a fork in the road. You can either stick with outdated software that struggles to keep up or embrace a cloud-native brewery ERP solution that scales with your ambitions.
Think about it: What happens when your system crashes right before a big production run? Or when regulatory compliance rules change, and your outdated system can’t keep up? These aren’t “if” scenarios — they’re “when.”
Without regular updates, your brewery’s ERP becomes a ticking time bomb. Security vulnerabilities creep in. Downtime becomes a regular headache. Operational inefficiencies start piling up. It’s like trying to keep a beloved old brewpub afloat when all the pipes are rusted and the kegs won’t seal. It’s not sustainable.
Turning Brewery Software End of Life into an Opportunity
Here’s the good news: EOL is your chance to level up. Instead of patching up an aging system, you can pivot to a modern, brewery-specific ERP that sets your operations on the fast track to growth. But don’t just jump into the next shiny software. Transitioning successfully requires a clear plan — and time is your ally.
Start Planning Today, Not Tomorrow
Procrastination might be ok when deciding what to brew next season, but it’s a recipe for disaster when replacing your brewery production software. A solid transition takes time — ideally 12 to 18 months. That might sound like a long haul, but rushing an ERP migration is like rushing fermentation: you’ll get a subpar result and probably a headache too.
Here’s what a realistic timeline looks like:
- Take stock of your current system: Ask, “What’s broken?” and “What do we need to grow?” Maybe your production tracking is a nightmare, or you’re struggling with TTB compliance. Identifying your pain points and setting goals for a new system makes the software evaluation process easier.
- Explore your options: Once you know what you need, it’s time to shop around. But don’t settle for a generic ERP. Look for a solution designed for breweries. Crafted ERP, for instance, is built directly within NetSuite and tailored to industry-specific challenges like recipe management, multi-category production and TTB compliance. It’s like having a brewmaster who is also a logistics wizard.
- Build buy-in across your team: Everyone, from production leads to your CFO, needs to be on the same page. A system upgrade is a team sport; their input will help you select a solution that works for every department.
Why a Cloud-Native Brewery ERP Changes the Game
If you’re still running an on-premise system, it’s time to say goodbye to clunky servers and hello to the cloud. Here’s why breweries are moving to cloud-native platforms like NetSuite (and, by extension, Crafted):
- Anywhere access: Whether on the brewery floor or checking numbers from home, cloud ERP gives you real-time access from anywhere.
- Flexibility, agility and scalability: Introduce new products, expand into new markets and grow operations without disrupting workflows or incurring costly infrastructure upgrades
- Consolidated, unified real-time view: Get a single dashboard of your entire operation, empowering data-driven decisions.
- Seamless updates: You won’t have to worry about patching or upgrading your system. It happens automatically in the background.
- Lower costs: Forget maintaining expensive hardware. With the cloud, your IT costs drop significantly.
- Rock-solid security: Cloud platforms have built-in, state-of-the-art security to protect your data and operations.
Finding the Right Brewery Production Software
Not all brewery ERPs are created equal. Your brewery needs more than a generic solution — it needs software that understands your industry. This is where solutions like Crafted ERP shine. Crafted is explicitly built for brewers and doesn’t just slap brewery-friendly features onto a generic platform. It’s fully integrated into NetSuite, working seamlessly across production, inventory, compliance and sales.
Here are just a few brewery-specific features that make a difference:
- Recipe management: Track your brews from grain to glass, no matter how many SKUs you juggle.
- Real-time inventory: Never run out of raw materials or over-order them again.
- TTB reporting: Compliance headaches? Solved. Out-of-the-box reports are available specific to beer production and distribution.
- Scalability: Whether you’re producing 1,000 barrels or 100,000, Crafted grows with you.
Picking a modern, cloud-based system isn’t just a tech upgrade; it can change how you do business for the better.
From EOL to Future-Proofing
The end of life for your current brewery software can be a springboard to something better. Planning and embracing a modern brewery ERP can set your business up for years of success. Crafted, built in NetSuite, is an upgrade that puts your brewery on the cutting edge.
Ready to see what Crafted can do for you? Let’s get brewing. The future of your craft is waiting.
