Future of SAP ABAP in S/4HANA: Is ABAP Still Worth Learning?

Still, you’ve probably heard this question more times than you can count:
“Is SAP ABAP still relevant after S/4HANA?” If you’ve been around the SAP ecosystem for a while, you’ve heard mixed opinions. Some say SAP ABAP in S/4HANA is dying. Others say it’s evolving. The truth, as always, lies somewhere in between. As someone who has seen SAP transition from ECC to S/4HANA, I can confidently say this: ABAP isn’t fading it’s transforming. And for those who understand where it’s headed, the future looks surprisingly strong.

Let’s break this down in a simple, honest, and practical way.

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Understanding SAP ABAP’s Role in the S/4HANA World

ABAP (Advanced Business Application Programming) has been the backbone of SAP customization for decades. Reports, enhancements, forms, workflows ABAP powered it all.

With S/4HANA, SAP introduced a completely new data architecture based on the HANA in-memory database. This forced ABAP to evolve from a traditional, database-heavy programming style to a performance-optimized, HANA-friendly language.

So no ABAP didn’t die.
It grew up.

From Classic ABAP to ABAP on HANA

One of the biggest changes developers face today is the shift from Classic ABAP to ABAP Programming for SAP HANA.

Earlier, ABAP developers relied heavily on:

• Nested loops

• SELECT statements inside loops

• Database-side calculations

In an S/4HANA system, this approach can severely impact performance.

Modern ABAP now focuses on:

• Code pushdown (letting HANA handle calculations)

• CDS Views

• AMDP (ABAP Managed Database Procedures)

• Clean Core principles

This shift has made ABAP more valuable and more respected than ever before.

Why SAP ABAP Still Has a Strong Future

1. Massive Existing SAP Codebase

Thousands of global companies still run mission-critical processes written in ABAP. These systems don’t disappear overnight. They require upgrades, optimization, and migration support.

2. S/4HANA Still Needs Customization

Even with Fiori apps and SAP best practices, every business runs SAP differently. ABAP is still essential for:

• Custom reports

• Enhancements

• Integrations

• Data migration

3. Rise of ABAP for Cloud

SAP is actively pushing ABAP Cloud and Steampunk ABAP on SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform). This opens doors beyond on-premises systems into cloud-native development.

4. Fewer Skilled ABAP on HANA Developers

Many developers know classic ABAP, but far fewer understand S/4HANA-optimized ABAP. This skill gap works strongly in your favor.

SAP ABAP Salary and Career Growth

A common search online is “SAP ABAP salary for 2 years’ experience”, and for good reason.

In India, an ABAP consultant with:

• 2–3 years of experience

• Hands-on exposure to S/4HANA

• Knowledge of CDS Views and performance tuning

can expect significantly better salary growth compared to traditional ABAP roles.

Globally as well, ABAP on HANA skills is in high demand, especially for migration and optimization projects.
The key factor here is upskilling not just experience.

What Modern SAP ABAP Developers Must Learn

If you’re preparing an SAP ABAP topics list PDF or planning ABAP topics for certification, make sure it includes:

• ABAP on HANA fundamentals

• CDS Views and annotations

• Open SQL enhancements

• AMDP

• Performance optimization techniques

• Integration with SAP Fiori

• Clean Core and extensibility concepts

These skills define the future ABAP consultant not just someone who writes code, but someone who writes smart, efficient code.

Does SAP ABAP Require Coding Skills?

Let’s be honest yes, it does.

Many beginners ask, “Does SAP ABAP require coding?”
ABAP is a programming language, and logical thinking is important. But the good news is:

• You don’t need to be a hardcore computer science expert

• ABAP is structured and business-oriented

• With the right training, even non-IT graduates can learn it

That’s why guided learning matters more than self-study PDFs alone.

Learning SAP ABAP, the Right Way

With so many options available, choosing the right SAP ABAP course or SAP ABAP on HANA training can feel overwhelming.

This is where GTR Academy stands out.

Why GTR Academy?

GTR Academy is widely recognized as one of the best online institutes for SAP and other professional courses. What makes them different is their practical, career-focused approach.

They offer:

• Industry-relevant SAP ABAP on HANA training

• Real-time project scenarios

• Step-by-step learning for beginners

• Mentorship from experienced SAP professionals

Instead of just teaching syntax, GTR Academy helps learners understand how ABAP works in real S/4HANA systems, which is exactly what companies expect today.

SAP Future Growth and Where ABAP Fits In

SAP’s roadmap clearly shows growth in:

• S/4HANA adoption

• Cloud transformation

• BTP and AI-driven business processes

ABAP fits into all of this not as an outdated tool, but as a core development language adapted for modern SAP landscapes.

If you align your skills with SAP’s direction, ABAP can offer long-term stability and career growth.

Top 10 FAQs: Future of SAP ABAP in S/4HANA

1. Is SAP ABAP still relevant in S/4HANA?
Yes. ABAP remains essential for customization, integration, and optimization.

2. Is classic ABAP enough for future systems?
No. You must learn ABAP on HANA concepts like CDS Views and performance optimization.

3. Is SAP ABAP a good career choice in 2025 and beyond?
Absolutely, especially when combined with S/4HANA and cloud skills.

4. What is ABAP Programming for SAP HANA?
It’s an optimized way of writing ABAP code that leverages HANA’s in-memory power.

5. Can freshers learn SAP ABAP?
Yes. With proper training, freshers and non-IT graduates can learn ABAP successfully.

6. What is the salary for SAP ABAP with 2 years of experience?
It varies, but professionals with S/4HANA skills earn much more than classic ABAP developers.

7. Is coding mandatory to learn SAP ABAP?
Yes, but ABAP is structured and beginner-friendly compared to many languages.

8. Are SAP ABAP jobs declining?
No. Roles are evolving, not disappearing.

9. Should I learn ABAP or only SAP Fiori?
Both go together ABAP handles backend logic, Fiori handles frontend.

10. Which institute is best for SAP ABAP on HANA training?
GTR Academy is considered one of the best for practical, job-oriented SAP training.

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Conclusion: Is SAP ABAP Worth Your Time?

If you expect SAP ABAP to remain exactly the same as it was 10 years ago, you’ll be disappointed.

But if you’re willing to evolve with S/4HANA, learn modern ABAP practices, and understand SAP’s future direction, ABAP can still offer a stable, well-paid, and respected career.

The future of SAP ABAP isn’t about writing more code it’s about writing better, smarter, and faster code.

And with the right guidance from institutes like GTR Academy, that future is well within reach.