The Next Big Thing: BTP

New Ventures and Technologies

SAP executive Martin Heinig's department bears the somewhat cryptic name "New Ventures and Technologies," yet it deals with very real and relevant SAP issues, such as what the Business Technology Platform might look like in five to ten years. This is both an extremely important question as well as a reassuring message for the entire SAP community.

At the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2024, an event E3 Magazine is hosting, Martin Heinig will discuss a BTP roadmap, demonstrating that SAP has far-reaching plans for this platform. Investments made by customers and partners will thus have long term lasting power—perhaps even beyond S/4.

Abap modification and Steampunk

Since SAP R/3, individual ERP adjustments have been made through Abap tables and in the Z namespace (Abap modifications). This approach was tried and tested up to SAP ECC 6.0. Even in S/4, some Abap tables that were used back in R/3 still emerge occasionally. However, the overall concept has changed fundamentally, not only due to cloud computing, but also due to SAP's specification of a "clean core". SAP has carried out an Abap conversion under the code name "Steampunk" and thus created an embedded Abap on the BTP.

SAP partners have begun programming their first applications on the BTP with Steampunk, i.e. Embedded Abap. S/4 customers have customized the BTP, and SAP CEO Christian Klein announced at the Annual Congress 2023, held by the German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG), that the BTP will also be available for hyperscalers.

The universal platform

Customers and partners’ efforts will also be safeguarded by the strategic move to position BTP among hyperscalers. In addition, the research carried out by Martin Heinig, Head of New Ventures and Technologies, which looks at the further development of BTP for the next five to ten years, is also a safeguarding measure.

With Martin Heinig's work and widespread availability, SAP's Business Technology Platform could become a universal ERP playground whose importance could ultimately extend beyond S/4.

Composable ERP

Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer published his latest book "Composable Enterprise: agile, flexible, innovative" in Munich a few weeks ago. Composable, cybernetically acting ERP building blocks will require a platform, and BTP could potentially become said platform. For now, unfortunately, SAP is not quite there yet. However, based on Martin Heinig's work, the SAP community may already have a composable ERP platform with Steampunk in the near future. Martin Heinig will talk about part of his work in his exclusive keynote at the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2024 in Heidelberg, Germany on February 28, hosted by E3 Magazine. For more information, visit our Events tab.