Author: Peter M. Färbinger, E3-Magazin

Under the strict dictates of the SAP Clean Core strategy, the future of Abap is defined by cloud compliance, AI, strict governance and absolute upgrade stability. Users are forced to rethink their historically grown and individualized ERP architectures.

The year 2026 marks a historic and critical turning point for the SAP community, where the glossy visions of the Walldorf-based software group SAP meet the pragmatic reality of existing customers with full force. The deadline for the end of maintenance of the old ERP system in 2027 is approaching, increasing the pressure on S/4 migrations and having a noticeable and lasting impact on the service provider market.

The Business Technology Platform, SAP BTP, is already causing real problems for many existing customers when it comes to licensing. According to a presentation by Michael Bloch, Head of Licenses, Contracts and Support at the German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG), there now appear to be even more problems with the SAP Business Data Cloud.

Clean Core and Agentic AI are interrelated: SAP Clean Core and clean data are the prerequisite for AI agents to work in a scalable manner, while AI agents are the tool to efficiently create the Clean Core.

In times of radical transformation, a narrative is essential for IT companies like SAP. Storytelling condenses the complex reality of cloud, AI and quantum computing, reduces the unmanageable technical complexity and creates the confidence to invest millions.

Cloud computing is no longer a megatrend. The SAP share price has fallen by up to 40 percent from its all-time high. In an interview with Manager Magazin, SAP CEO Christian Klein promises to restore the old glory, this time with AI.

The SAP share price has plummeted - relatively speaking. Last year, the share price was almost 280 euros, and financial analysts were even predicting values in excess of 300 euros. Now the share price is leaden at 170 euros. Where is SAP's crisis communication?

SAP has fallen out of time: It's not that S/4 is a bad ERP, but rather that SAP CEO Christian Klein overslept the social and technical change.

The new SAP Chief Quantum Officer will need a quantum consolation, see Daniel Craig in James Bond 2008, when he soon has ERP processes calculated using qubits, the smallest unit of information in quantum computing.

Data twilight in the ERP universe: The current geopolitical situation, the rocky road to S/4 transformation and the possible rescue through intelligent data management are making digital sovereignty increasingly explosive and relevant. Data sovereignty is key: only those who determine where data is stored and processed at all times can avoid vendor and legal lock-in.

The global ERP company hardly plays a role on the international IT stage anymore. SAP was absent from Viva Tech 2025 in Paris and CES 2026 in Las Vegas. What about Davos?

The belief that by signing a Rise-with-SAP contract, responsibility for SAP S/4 Hana operations is handed over to the Walldorf ERP group is one of the most dangerous errors in the current transformation and S/4 conversion.