Future Developments in SAP Technology
SAP, the German software giant, is making significant strides in its AI-driven transformation, integrating acquired technologies like LeanIX and Signavio to strengthen its capabilities. This evolution is in response to shifting business models, rising expectations for a superior user experience, an accelerated push toward AI-driven innovation, and a need to keep up with an increasingly complex and digital landscape.
One of the largest drivers for moving to S/4HANA and the Cloud is the upcoming support cliff, when SAP Business Suite 7.0 mainstream maintenance ends in 2027. To facilitate this transition, SAP is offering the SAP Private Cloud ERP Package (RISE offering) and GROW, which are becoming the primary path to the cloud and S/4HANA for those still maintaining on-premise ECC solutions.
SAP Business AI is transforming how companies access and act on data by delivering real-time insights in a more consumable manner. In 2024, SAP started pushing a shift toward a clean core, whether it's Public (GROW with SAP) or Private Cloud (RISE with SAP). This approach aims to simplify IT landscapes and reduce customizations, making it easier for businesses to adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape.
In 2025, SAP is taking a more practical approach to SAP Business AI, delivering tangible value across business functions by embedding intelligence directly into the tools and workflows that customers already use. The emphasis is on domain-specific AI that supports real business tasks and distinct business needs instead of general-purpose models.
Agentic AI has the potential to revolutionize business process automation in finance, supply chain, lead-to-cash, and more. Joule, SAP's AI assistant integrated across SAP applications, enables natural language interaction, allowing users to ask questions and pull insights from data without switching tools. SAP Business Data Cloud provides Joule with a consistent, trusted data foundation across both SAP and non-SAP systems.
The GROW path allows a clean start for companies that can move to a complete SaaS ERP solution with a "Clean Core" option that significantly reduces customizations and code maintenance. This shift toward more autonomous, "agentic AI" to enable more intelligent workflows is another trend to watch in 2025.
Clarkston Consulting, a team of SAP experts, has highlighted the top SAP trends for businesses in 2025. These trends often include the adoption of SAP S/4HANA Cloud for business transformation and agility, integration of intelligent technologies (AI, machine learning) into SAP landscapes, business process optimization with SAP digital core, enhanced data analytics and real-time reporting capabilities, and support for industry-specific cloud solutions and modular architectures.
For the precise five SAP trends for 2025 from Clarkston Consulting, it's recommended to consult their official insights or blog posts directly from their website or contact their consultants for the most up-to-date expert assessment. The provided search results mostly contain individual case studies and project summaries without a consolidated trend list.
- SAP is integrating acquired technologies like LeanIX and Signavio to bolster its AI-driven transformation, a response to evolving business models, user expectations, and the digital landscape.
- The upcoming end of SAP Business Suite 7.0 mainstream maintenance in 2027 is driving businesses towards the SAP Private Cloud ERP Package (RISE offering) and GROW for the transition to S/4HANA and the Cloud.
- SAP Business AI is focusing on delivering real-time insights in a manageable format and, in 2024, initiated a move toward a clean core approach in both Public (GROW with SAP) and Private Cloud (RISE with SAP).
- SAP is progressing in 2025 by delivering practical value across business functions with embedded AI, emphasizing domain-specific AI for real-world tasks.
- Agentic AI is set to revolutionize business process automation in finance, supply chain, lead-to-cash, and other areas with SAP's AI assistant Joule integrated across SAP applications.
- The GROW path offers a clean start for companies transitioning to a complete SaaS ERP solution, with a "Clean Core" option that minimizes customizations and reduces code maintenance.
- Clarkston Consulting, a team of SAP experts, foresees the trend of SAP S/4HANA Cloud adoption for business transformation, intelligent technology integration in SAP landscapes, data analytics enhancement, industry-specific support, and modular architecture in 2025.
- To obtain the exact five SAP trends for 2025 from Clarkston Consulting, it is advised to consult their official insights or blog posts directly from their website or contact their consultants for the most recent expert assessment.
