Getting Started with AI: A Practical Guide to Leveraging Artificial Intelligence in SAP

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the way businesses operate. From automating routine tasks to providing predictive insights, AI is no longer a futuristic concept—it's here and accessible for organizations of all sizes.

How Far is AI Today?

AI has made significant strides in recent years. The proliferation of large language models, mushrooming of AI startups, multi-billion dollar investments, and fast growth in adoption are notable. Natural language processing, machine learning, and predictive analytics are now widely available, enabling companies to gain insights from data faster and more accurately. AI is being used in areas such as customer service, finance, supply chain management, and human resources, making processes smarter and more efficient. It is also a discussion topic on philosophical, political, governmental, and international levels.

How Far is SAP with AI? 

SAP has been embedding AI directly into its cloud solutions. For SAP cloud customers, whether using S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition or Private Edition, AI is readily available through tools like Joule and embedded AI scenarios. These features allow users to automate processes, uncover insights, and enhance decision-making directly within their SAP environment.

On-premise customers, using either SAP ECC or S/4HANA, do not have access to Joule or embedded scenarios. However, all SAP customers—including on-prem—can leverage the SAP AI Foundation, which provides the underlying infrastructure and tools to develop AI-driven applications and services.

Security & Governance

SAP places a strong emphasis on security and governance in all its AI offerings. Enterprise-grade security controls protect sensitive business data, ensuring that AI workloads comply with regulatory standards. Access controls, data protection mechanisms, and monitoring capabilities provide customers with full oversight, while the SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) and Sovereign Cloud environments enable data residency control and enforce governance policies throughout the AI lifecycle. This approach helps companies deploy AI responsibly and align with global and regional compliance requirements.

Building AI for Europe – A Sovereign Solution

SAP is investing in European digital sovereignty through AI solutions hosted in local infrastructure. Its Sovereign Cloud portfolio provides AI capabilities that adhere to European data protection regulations, giving organizations the ability to use AI safely and securely. Partnerships with companies like Mistral AI and OpenAI support the integration of advanced AI models into SAP’s AI Foundation while maintaining sovereign control. Special initiatives such as OpenAI for Germany, hosted on SAP’s Delos Cloud, illustrate SAP’s commitment to enabling European enterprises and public institutions to leverage AI without compromising on data control, regulatory compliance, or security.

What is Already Available?

For cloud customers, AI features are integrated into various business processes:

• Joule: Joule is SAP's intelligent AI assistant that helps users automate routine tasks, access actionable insights, and make data-driven decisions directly within SAP applications. It simplifies interactions with SAP systems, providing personalized recommendations and predictive insights to accelerate business processes.
• Embedded Scenarios: Embedded AI scenarios are prebuilt, industry-specific use cases integrated into SAP Cloud solutions. They enable companies to leverage AI capabilities such as invoice automation, predictive maintenance, demand forecasting, and customer service enhancements without building models from scratch.
• SAP AI Foundation: The AI Foundation provides all customers, including on-prem, with the tools and infrastructure to develop custom AI applications. It includes advanced machine learning models, APIs, and integration capabilities that allow businesses to extend SAP systems with tailored AI solutions, ensuring flexibility, scalability, and secure deployment.

How to Find the Best Use Cases?

Identifying the right AI use cases is crucial. SAP offers the AI Explore Workshop, designed to help organizations discover opportunities for AI within their processes. This workshop provides a structured approach to identify high-impact scenarios and evaluate their feasibility, helping organizations prioritize where to start.

Business AI Explore Workshop

The Business AI Explore Workshop is a proven methodology created based on best practices from SAP AppHaus and provides inspiration and guidance for brainstorming, supported by SOA People.

Concrete outcomes:

• Identification of use cases where AI adds concrete value to the business, prioritized by business impact and realization effort
• Better understanding of SAP’s AI strategy
• Inspiration within Business and IT to use innovative technologies

Big Think, Start Small

When starting with AI, it's important to think big but start small. Focus on areas where AI can quickly add value, demonstrate success, and build confidence within your organization. Small wins can lead to larger AI initiatives and more ambitious digital transformation projects.

Next Steps

1. If you use SAP S/4HANA Cloud: Explore Joule and embedded scenarios.
2. For any customer: Attend our AI Explore Workshop to identify high-value use cases and get guidance on implementation.
3. Pilot Small Projects: Implement AI in a controlled environment, measure results, and iterate.
4. Scale: Once initial projects succeed, expand AI use across processes for broader impact.

Getting started with AI in SAP is now more achievable than ever. By understanding your environment, leveraging available tools, and starting with focused use cases, your organization can harness AI to drive efficiency, innovation, and growth.