Understanding the End of Life for Crystal Reports and Why Modernization Matters

SAP Crystal Reports has been a core reporting tool for businesses for decades, but all software has a lifecycle. As newer technologies and cloud-based reporting solutions emerge, organizations must plan for the end-of-life (EOL) of Crystal Reports to ensure security, compliance, and business continuity.

For IFS customers relying on Crystal Reports, this context is especially important. While our previous blog article focused on the immediate reporting changes in IFS Cloud 24R2 and 25R2, this article provides background on the broader SAP Crystal Reports lifecycle and what it means for organizations still using legacy versions.

What End of Life Means for Crystal Reports

The “end of life” for a software version signals the cessation of mainstream updates, security patches, and official vendor support. For Crystal Reports:

• Crystal Reports 2016: End of mainstream maintenance - December 2022; End of support - December 31, 2024
• Crystal Reports 2020: End of mainstream maintenance - December 2026
• Crystal Reports 2025: End of mainstream maintenance - December 31, 2027
• Crystal Reports for Enterprise (CR4E): Phasing out with mainstream support ending in 2027

After these dates, continued use carries risks, including security vulnerabilities, compatibility issues, lack of new features, and increased internal maintenance costs.

Risks of Using Outdated Versions

1. Security vulnerabilities: No further security patches leave your reports exposed to potential exploits.
2. Compatibility issues: Older Crystal Reports versions may not work with newer operating systems or modern infrastructure.
3. Lack of new features: Without updates, users miss out on performance improvements and modern reporting functionality.
4. Increased costs: Handling bug fixes and maintenance internally becomes costly and time-consuming.

Organizations that plan proactively can avoid these risks while ensuring reporting remains consistent and reliable.

Your Options After the End of Life

Businesses have several paths to maintain operational reporting continuity:

Upgrade Within the SAP Ecosystem

• Update to Crystal Reports 2025: If you are on an older version, upgrading may provide a temporary extension of support, though this version still reaches EOL in 2027.
• Move to SAP Analytics Cloud or SAP BusinessObjects BI: These modern platforms offer improved features, cloud compatibility, and long-term support aligned with SAP’s strategic direction.

Adopt Other Modern Reporting Platforms

Solutions such as Power BI, Bold Reports, Jaspersoft, or CxReports can replace Crystal Reports entirely, providing flexible and scalable reporting capabilities.

Update .NET Applications

For applications using the 32-bit Crystal Reports .NET runtime, migrating to the 64-bit version is required before the December 2025 discontinuation to ensure continued compatibility.

Planning Your Modernization

1. Assess current usage: Identify which Crystal Reports versions are in use across your organization.
2. Plan migration: Determine the timeline and tools required for a smooth transition to modern reporting solutions.
3. Explore alternatives: Evaluate options such as SAP Analytics Cloud, other BI platforms, or IFS-native reporting solutions.

For IFS customers, this planning closely aligns with the broader modernization required for IFS Cloud 24R2, 25R1, and 25R2, where unsupported reporting formats such as Crystal Reports and SSRS need to be transitioned to IFS-supported alternatives. Tools like the Report Converter for IFS Cloud can simplify this process by automating much of the migration work.

Why Acting Now Matters

Waiting until support ends can create operational risk, security vulnerabilities, and unplanned costs. A strategic, proactive approach ensures:

• Business continuity and reporting reliability
• Compliance with internal and external requirements
• Smooth integration with current and future systems
• Reduced manual effort during upgrades

Modernizing your reporting today is the most effective way to avoid disruption tomorrow.

Next Steps

Start by assessing your current Crystal Reports usage and planning your transition. Explore modern reporting solutions, including the Report Converter for IFS Cloud, to simplify migration and maintain reporting continuity in alignment with your IFS Cloud strategy.

Further Reading

Life After Crystal Reports

SAP Crystal Reports End of Life: Why It’s Time to Modernize with Power BI

SAP Crystal Solutions