At its inaugural SAP Connect event, SAP unveiled groundbreaking AI research and a suite of innovative, role-based assistants designed to transform its Business Suite offerings. The announcement marks a significant leap forward in enterprise resource planning (ERP) capabilities.
A core highlight was the introduction of an advanced network of role-based assistants within Joule, SAP’s intelligent AI copilot. These assistants are engineered to work in tandem with human professionals, drastically boosting productivity and fostering seamless internal collaboration. Coupled with an expanded data ecosystem and intelligent supply chain software capable of predicting disruptions, SAP is setting a new standard for business intelligence.
“Today’s announcements powerfully demonstrate how SAP Business Suite integrates AI, data, and applications to create an immersive experience that drives smarter decisions, faster execution, and scalable transformation,” stated Muhammad Alam, a member of the SAP SE Executive Board for Product & Engineering. He emphasized that just as mobile phones revolutionized disparate technologies into one integrated device, the realm of business applications is undergoing a similar profound transformation.
Traditionally, the full potential of AI-driven transformation has been hindered by data scattered across isolated systems. To address this, SAP introduced the Business Data Cloud (BDC) Connect, a solution designed to securely bridge and enable a seamless, bidirectional flow of business-ready data products across diverse organizational and technological landscapes.
This innovative approach ensures that critical business data remains securely within SAP systems while being instantly accessible from customers’ existing data platforms. This preserves vital business context without the need for cumbersome and often risky data duplication. Thomas Pfiester, SAP’s head of Global Customer Engagement and Services, clarified: “We adhere to all necessary global data standards. The days of copying data out, which raised significant security concerns, are behind us. With BDC Connect, our partnerships with companies like Databricks and Google Query allow direct access to data in non-SAP environments without copying, thereby significantly enhancing security.”
The event also saw the formal launch of several other key products. These include SAP Supply Chain Orchestration, an AI-native solution featuring a live knowledge graph to detect real-time supplier risks and coordinate rapid responses. Additionally, SAP Engagement Cloud leverages business-critical context to deliver personalized interactions across customers, suppliers, and other stakeholders. The next-generation SAP Ariba procurement suite was highlighted as an AI-native solution designed to streamline comprehensive spend management, from initial sourcing to ongoing supplier engagement.