SAPPHIRE provides a valuable opportunity to explore the latest SAP product announcements and future direction. In today’s keynote speech, Business AI was the central theme of discussion. For AI to function effectively, high-quality data and strong governance are essential. By combining both, organizations can harness AI to enhance and integrate capabilities across various applications.

The Day 1 keynote speech highlighted several key products, including Joule, SAP’s digital assistant. Joule enables users to ask questions and gain insights into their organization to support better decision-making. Additionally, Joule Developer helps developers accelerate code deployment. The overarching goal of Joule is to boost user productivity by 30%.

To ensure high-quality data and proper governance for effective AI utilization, SAP Business Data Cloud will serve as a central hub for both SAP and non-SAP data. It’s encouraging to see that SAP acknowledges customers’ need to integrate multiple data sources seamlessly. SAP Business Data Cloud is best understood as a suite of cloud services, incorporating solutions such as SAP Analytics Cloud (SAC), Datasphere, and a new partnership with Databricks.

Another notable announcement was SAP’s recent acquisition of WalkMe, a platform with various features and functions. One particularly emphasized capability is WalkMe’s ability to integrate Joule with non-SAP applications, such as ServiceNow.

The keynote speech highlighted several major partnerships, showcasing SAP’s expanding AI ecosystem. Perplexity joins forces with SAP, enabling Joule to harness both structured and unstructured data to deliver real-time insights within SAP workflows. Meanwhile, NEURA Robotics and NVIDIAcollaborate to integrate Joule Agents with Humanoid Robotics, an exciting advancement—though the cost implications could be significant. Additionally, SAP and Palantir are working together to merge Palantir Foundry with SAP Business Data Cloud, creating a harmonized data foundation for enhanced AI-driven decision-making.

SAPPHIRE is known for introducing fresh buzzwords, such as the Flywheel Effect, which emphasizes building momentum through incremental wins. Another key concept is Best of Breed as a Suite or Suite as a Service, highlighting the shift toward integrated, flexible solutions that combine specialized tools within a unified ecosystem.

I’d love to hear insights from those attending SAPPHIRE—whether in-person or virtually—on their takeaways from Day 1. While AI is expected to be a major focus, how is SAP addressing customer decision-making and the journey to S/4HANA? A significant number of customers are still operating on ECC and have yet to transition to S/4HANA or the cloud. Perhaps by clearly showcasing SAP’s vision for AI, data, and application strategy, those hesitant customers may feel more confident in making the move to S/4HANA sooner.

If you're exploring your S/4HANA journey and have questions, feel free to reach out at info@contax.com. We would be happy to offer guidance!