SAP is providing tools to help with enhancement pack projects, including a business process change analyzer, he said.

It's wise to consider placing any discretionary SAP system work on hold while the enhancement pack is implemented, he said.

Hill gave his talk in a large conference room with few empty seats, suggesting that many SAP customers are both interested in applying packs but aren't certain of the best way to go about it.

Overall, SAP users are adopting the enhancement pack strategy, but "slowly," said analyst Ray Wang, CEO of Constellation Research.

While the packs have "helped ease the pain" of upgrades, "the promises of plug and play and upgrade when you want is not entirely true," he added.