Cover story April 2024
SAP Basis with Cloud ALM,
on-prem
and licenses.
Salzburg 2024: Hana and S/4 also need a robust SAP basis. The Customer Competence Center of SAP R/3 and Business Suite 7 is transforming itself with ALM, process mining and enterprise architects. The SAP Competence Center Summit in Salzburg is dedicated to this transformation process.
Cover Story, November 2026
The Cloud: Technical Innovation, Pressure for Business Transformation, and Digital Sovereignty
Cloud computing is one of the fundamental paradigms of the new ERP era. What is often overlooked is that the cloud is not just a technical infrastructure, but also a new process model. Cloud computing involves business, organizational, technical, and licensing components.
Mainstream maintenance for SAP Solution Manager 7.2 ends on December 31, 2027. Many SAP organizations are nevertheless postponing the transition to SAP Cloud ALM because they expect it to be a major project. The actual effort involved is less than that.
ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules separated its global axle assembly business from ZF’s SAP landscape in just 20 months and simultaneously migrated to SAP S/4 Rise. Despite just-in-sequence production, the global big-bang go-live was successfully completed with only one hour of downtime.
AI Agents as Employees: An HR Model for the Digital Workforce
October 19, 2026
The next top performer doesn't have a desk, doesn't take vacations, and works 24/7: AI agents are taking over offices and factory floors. Their deployment is far more than just an IT project. NTT Data recommends that companies build their AI workforce according to the traditional HR model.
The Last Mile of HR Digitalization
October 16, 2026
How aemplic complements SAP SuccessFactors in key areas—and why this new direction opens up new opportunities not only for users but also for SAP partners
Our Self-Improvement
October 16, 2026
The idea is very appealing: We’re optimizing ourselves and our ERP system with the help of AI. Do we still need SAP for that—and afterward, too? We’re becoming an Autonomous Enterprise.
When the robot arrives, but nobody wants it
October 15, 2026
When robots are introduced into factory floors, the transition rarely fails because of technical issues, but often because of the workforce’s unease. Approaches that rely solely on software changes fall short here.
The Autonomous Enterprise represents an attempt to redefine ERP architecture. It is suggested that graph architecture, semantic grounding, and autonomous orchestration will give rise to a new dimension of efficiency and automated compliance.
ERP Algorithms vs. LLMs and AI Agents
October 15, 2026
From a computer scientist’s perspective, the specific ERP risk that AI agents in the SAP Autonomous Enterprise might trigger erroneous actions or corrupt master data stems from several systemic causes. Is the SAP Knowledge Graph a way out of this dilemma?
Quantitative AI Chaos at SAP
October 8, 2026
The opening speech by an SAP manager at the 2026 annual conference of the German-speaking user association DSAG highlighted the frenzy and turmoil surrounding the current AI offerings. The activist moves by SAP CEO Christian Klein are leading to chaos.
Comments
Mainstream maintenance for SAP Solution Manager 7.2 ends on December 31, 2027. Many SAP organizations are nevertheless postponing the transition to SAP Cloud ALM because they expect it to be a major project. The actual effort involved is less than that.
October 16, 2026
Our Self-Improvement
The idea is very appealing: We’re optimizing ourselves and our ERP system with the help of AI. Do we still need SAP for that—and afterward, too? We’re becoming an Autonomous Enterprise.
October 15, 2026
When the robot arrives, but nobody wants it
When robots are introduced into factory floors, the transition rarely fails because of technical issues, but often because of the workforce’s unease. Approaches that rely solely on software changes fall short here.
October 12, 2026
Salzburg Festival – Carmen
Two weeks after the premiere of *Carmen* (Georges Bizet, 1838–1875) with Teodor Currentzis and Asmik Grigorian, I was on stage at the Festspielhaus against the backdrop of *Carmen*. The technical director and the set designer explained the set design together—it somehow reminded me of Christian Klein.
SAP News
September 23, 2026
Recommendation for a Hybrid Platform Strategy
Boomi's vendor-neutral positioning is proving to be a disruptive alternative to the proprietary standardization doctrine of the global ERP market leader in today's SAP market.
September 18, 2026
When AI Becomes a Cyber Capability
In June 2026, U.S. export controls on powerful Frontier models such as „Fable“ and „Mythos“ made clear what many companies had previously underestimated: Leading AI capabilities for cyberattacks and cyberdefense are no longer a freely available resource.
A roundtable discussion hosted by E3 Magazine—streamed on YouTube—featuring licensing experts Myrja Schumacher of DLC, Andreas Knab of Soterion, and Lorenz Müller of HiSolutions reveals many pitfalls and areas in need of improvement in the SAP ERP universe.
August 21, 2026
Preparing for the EU Packaging Directive
To provide targeted support to companies in implementing the requirements of the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR), NTT Data is expanding its BTP-based solution, Sustainability Data Simplified.
Business Management
ZF Foxconn Chassis Modules separated its global axle assembly business from ZF’s SAP landscape in just 20 months and simultaneously migrated to SAP S/4 Rise. Despite just-in-sequence production, the global big-bang go-live was successfully completed with only one hour of downtime.
October 14, 2026
SAP Printing Infrastructure: A Global Standard from Germany
Output management has been a well-established ERP discipline since SAP R/3, and this functionality remains in high demand and is widely used even in ECC 6.0. Global ERP architectures—including on-premises and hybrid installations—continue to make output management highly attractive to existing SAP customers.
October 13, 2026
Expand the SAP "Purity Law" to Include Precise Work Planning
An S/4 migration is complex and poses challenges for both medium-sized companies and large corporations. Krones, a global machinery manufacturer that produces equipment for the beverage industry, has expanded its standard SAP system in many areas since its implementation and has, for example, optimized work scheduling.
October 2, 2026
What Modern Data Architectures Require Today
Today, SAP data integration must do more than simply provide data: What is needed is up-to-date, traceable data, open architectures, and the integration of data and processes across system boundaries as the foundation for a flexible and robust data and process architecture.
IT Management
October 14, 2026
Why Logistics Transformations Fail
SAP EWM, TM, and SAP Logistics Management are setting new technological standards. Why this transformation is necessary now, and how to set the right course.
October 7, 2026
Thinking from Sales to Operations
Expectations for customer service are high—and are often not met. This hurts business. A clear starting point helps: understand the current level of maturity, identify opportunities, and prioritize relevant use cases. This is how to take a pragmatic first step toward a better customer experience.
September 29, 2026
Green ABAP for the SAP World
Software consumes electricity. Especially in large SAP systems, inefficient lines of code add up to massive energy wasters. The „Green ABAP“ concept outlines concrete steps toward a system landscape that is both sustainable and high-performing.
September 25, 2026
S/4 in the global Mercedes-Benz logistics network
In 2016, Mercedes-Benz faced a challenge that was both strategically and technically complex. The existing GSSclassic—a central SAP system used to map international trading processes—was becoming outdated. Going forward, the company’s IT department will rely on S/4.
Economy
October 9, 2026
AI: Economic benefits cannot be substantiated
One in two German respondents to the McKinsey report „The State of AI in 2026: On the Road to ROI“ reports that their organization is already scaling up AI; at the same time, 43 percent of respondents from organizations using AI are unable to quantify AI’s contribution to operating profit.
October 1, 2026
Waiting for EU Inc.
The new legal structure known as „EU Inc.“ enjoys broad support among founders. Six out of ten (62 percent) would establish their next startup as an EU Inc. This is the result of a survey conducted by Bitkom Research among 102 tech startups in Germany.
September 21, 2026
Europe Is Catching Up in the AI Race
Accenture AI Progress Barometer: European companies have improved their AI readiness over the past six months, yet North American firms remain ahead. Smaller companies could fall behind.
September 16, 2026
Overestimated Cybersecurity Capabilities: A False Sense of Security Among German Small and Medium-Sized Businesses
Artificial intelligence and digital technologies will be at the top of the agenda for German companies in 2026. As technology evolves, the importance of cybersecurity is also growing. At the same time, issues such as performance and competitiveness are coming into sharper focus.
E3 Book Recommendations
Schrödinger Programs ABAP
A Reference Book with a Difference
Schrödinger already knows a little bit about programming, but ABAP—as he notes—is a world of its own. That’s why Roland Schwaiger is now teaching him everything: from the basics to ABAP Objects to modern cloud development.
Sometimes Schrödinger's head is spinning from all the data types, classes, and function modules. But thanks to plenty of exercises and tips, he soon gets the hang of it.
I bet you do, too?
Order hereSometimes Schrödinger's head is spinning from all the data types, classes, and function modules. But thanks to plenty of exercises and tips, he soon gets the hang of it.
I bet you do, too?
RETHINKING MARKETING - A Call for a New Mindset and Bold Action
With *Rethinking Marketing*, editors Oliver Klein and Wolfgang Merkle present an anthology that consistently views marketing as a strategic value driver. The contributions from renowned practitioners and experts demonstrate how companies can respond to changing customer expectations, digitalization, and the use of AI. The message is particularly relevant for SAP users: modern technologies only realize their full potential when accompanied by a clear marketing strategy and a consistent focus on the customer. The book combines insightful ideas with practical examples and encourages readers to critically examine established processes. Rather than offering simple, one-size-fits-all solutions, it provides diverse perspectives on the future of marketing. A highly recommended read for executives and decision-makers who want to more closely integrate marketing, data, and technology and position their companies for the future.
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