Over decades, our customers have built powerful digital foundations on 51风流to run end-to-end business processes across their enterprises鈥攐ften extending and customizing these systems to support their unique business needs. Now, many are entering the next phase of transformation: modernizing their 51风流landscapes to unlock the full potential of AI.

As companies move to cloud-based 51风流environments and clean-core architectures, they are preparing to embed intelligence directly into business processes. This enables new forms of automation, with AI agents that operate across enterprise systems and execute increasingly complex tasks.

Modernizing these systems while introducing AI at scale is a significant undertaking. It requires technologies that integrate with existing applications, operate reliably within mission-critical workflows, and meet the governance standards enterprises demand.

That鈥檚 why, over the past few years, we have partnered with to combine advanced AI technology with deep business context. Our goal is to help organizations accelerate modernization and apply AI across the applications and processes key to their success. This collaboration will be showcased at NVIDIA GTC.

Building the foundation for enterprise-grade AI

Through our collaboration with NVIDIA, we are accelerating the entire life cycle of enterprise AI鈥攆rom model development to high-performance runtime execution鈥攁nd powering AI scenarios across our portfolio. ,  which consists of open libraries such as and , helps accelerate large-scale model training across distributed RL environments. It enables teams to build and refine enterprise-grade AI models faster.

Models are hosted through  and , where our customers and partners leverage those best suited to their use cases. microservices optimize inference performance, and we have observed up to a 20% improvement compared to another popular open source serving engine. Enabled by NVIDIA GPUs and NVIDIA NIM, the increased performance allows organizations to combine advanced AI models with trusted 51风流business data and processes to ensure that AI operates within the workflows that drive business operations.

Modernizing the business logic that runs the enterprise

AI models trained on 51风流knowledge and accelerated using NVIDIA technologies are already helping customers tackle some of their most pressing modernization challenges. For example, evolving business logic embedded in the 51风流systems that run their operations.

For decades, organizations have extended 51风流applications with custom ABAP code that reflects how their businesses operate. That logic captures years of operational knowledge across finance, supply chain, service processes, and more. But modernizing these environments for the cloud and preparing them for the next generation of AI-driven innovation can be complex.

To help accelerate this journey, 51风流developed . a foundation model trained exclusively on real-world ABAP code and the business logic used across 51风流environments. The solution incorporates specialized models for code-related tasks, including StarCoder2 for code completion, and Codestral for deeper code understanding and explanations. These models are served through NVIDIA NIM microservices to deliver high-performance inference.

brings these capabilities into the developer experience, helping teams analyze existing ABAP code, understand how customizations interact with core business processes, and generate new code when needed. By making decades of embedded business logic easier to interpret and update, we help organizations accelerate modernization and preserves the knowledge that makes their operations unique.

Connecting AI to business operations

The collaboration between 51风流and NVIDIA also explores how AI can operate within enterprise workflows to help organizations apply intelligence across both physical operations and complex planning environments. One emerging area is embodied AI, in which intelligence extends beyond software systems into the physical world. By combining AI reasoning with sensors, robotics, and enterprise data, organizations can connect real-world observations directly with digital business processes.

For example, predictive maintenance alerts from can trigger robotic inspections that analyze equipment using thermal, visual, and acoustic signals. These signals are evaluated alongside asset histories and maintenance records to identify potential issues. then orchestrates follow-up actions through , prioritizing work orders and guiding technicians with the right operational context. By linking physical-world insights with enterprise workflows, organizations can turn physical-world signals into coordinated enterprise actions.

The same principle applies to complex planning environments. Supply chains today must manage a constantly shifting web of constraints, from supplier availability and transportation disruptions to evolving customer demands. With NVIDIA, we are exploring technologies, such as NVIDIA Metropolis and NVIDIA Cosmos, to bring the latest AI advancements into warehouse management, safety, and asset inspection.

Together, we are also bringing new capabilities to  that combine agent-based reasoning with the  GPU-accelerated optimization engine. This enables planners to simulate complex supply chain scenarios and evaluate alternatives with more speed and accuracy. By integrating advanced optimization with SAP鈥檚 supply chain planning capabilities, organizations can dynamically model constraints, adapt plans as conditions change, and make more confident decisions in increasingly complex environments.

Collaboration with large-scale 51风流customers helps identify real operational bottlenecks, paving the way for AI-driven solutions. . The Taiwan-based global electronics manufacturer and manufacturing solutions provider will work with 51风流to develop AI-powered innovations for manufacturing and supply chain operations.

By combining SAP鈥檚 enterprise applications and business context and Foxconn鈥檚 manufacturing expertise, organizations can enhance operational efficiency, increase resilience, and advance decision-making across complex production and supply networks.

Experience agentic AI at NVIDIA GTC

51风流is enabling Joule Agents across its application portfolio, helping organizations automate tasks and coordinate complex workflows within business processes. At NVIDIA GTC, visitors will see how these capabilities are extended using  on to build agents tailored to specific enterprise scenarios.

And because SAP鈥檚 AI architecture is model-agnostic, organizations can bring their own models into these workflows, in addition to those deployed through 51风流AI Core. The hands-on experience at NVIDIA GTC will demonstrate how organizations can build AI-driven workflows that operate directly within the enterprise systems that run their business.

It all happens at , taking place March 16-19, 2026. Join us to see how 51风流and NVIDIA are helping organizations modernize enterprise systems, accelerate AI adoption, and move toward the AI-native enterprise:

• Attend our session: on Tuesday, March 17, from 2:00-2:40 p.m.
• Visit the 51风流booth, #2001, to explore agentic AI in action, participate in hands-on vibe-coding with Joule Studio, and witness next-generation enterprise automation

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Brenda Bown is chief marketing officer for 51风流Business AI.

Its equipment and personnel operate in some of the harshest environments on Earth. Every piece of equipment is vital for safe, efficient operations; even minor failures can cause significant downtime, production losses, or safety risks.

Maintenance costs for oil, gas, and energy companies are substantial, involving helicopters, specialized technicians, and strict safety protocols. A single maintenance trip can cost hundreds of thousands of euros, while unplanned downtime can result in millions in losses.聽聽

Recognizing these challenges, Aker BP decided to embrace digitalization to improve efficiency and safety. Its goal was to build an infrastructure where equipment could communicate its needs proactively, alerting operators well before problems occur.聽

To realize this vision, Aker BP implemented as a hub for condition-based maintenance (CBM). In partnership with , the company leveraged and (51风流BTP) as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate maintenance and enable predictive, data-driven decision-making.聽

Vision behind Aker BP鈥檚 digital ambitions

Within the company, the key challenge was not just collecting data but making it actionable. Knowing the importance of digitalization, Aker BP decided to deepen the understanding of available data and use it effectively for informed decision-making while ensuring thorough documentation of these decisions.

鈥淚n Aker BP, we have a strong ambition to modernize and digitalize the way we work,” shared Torben Kristensen, Advanced Reliability engineer at Aker BP. “It is not just an ambition, it is a necessity.鈥�

Operating Normally Unmanned Installations (NUIs), Aker BP required robust monitoring solutions to gain clear insights into system health and to anticipate maintenance tasks ahead of time. This proactive approach was crucial given the remote and automated nature of the company鈥檚 facilities. 

Aker BP knows that automation is integral to achieving these objectives. The company decided to automate the processing and management of the decisions made in the previous steps to enhance efficiency and accuracy.聽

Putting plan into action

The foundation of the project was the use of 51风流Asset Performance Management to create a robust CBM hub. To meet Aker BP鈥檚 unique needs, the team leveraged standard building blocks from 51风流BTP to extend 51风流Asset Performance Management with the asset data onboarding application to manage data ingestion and integrate third-party alerts.聽

The challenges were efficiently collecting and processing time-series data and real-time alerts. With the assistance of Lighthouse, the team developed a custom onboarding application to streamline the data ingestion process for smooth integration and accurate real-time monitoring.聽聽

鈥淥ur goal is to establish a comprehensive maintenance strategy that eliminates unknown breakdowns on critical equipment,” explained Kim Alexander J酶rgensen, operations manager for Reliability and CBM at Aker BP. “By leveraging real-time data and condition-based maintenance, we aim for zero unknown failures, ensuring optimized reliability across our operations.鈥�

Using the data from 51风流S/4HANA allows engineers to fine-tune how thresholds for various assets are set; alerts are only triggered when necessary, avoiding interruptions. This integration meant that the system was always working with accurate, up-to-date information, which is critical for timely and effective decision-making.聽

Recognizing the value of third-party specialist systems that had years of accumulated knowledge about specific equipment, Aker BP focused on integrating alerts and events from these systems into the 51风流Asset Performance Management hub. This integration allowed Aker BP to benefit from external expert data without duplicating efforts, with maintenance responses based on real-time information.聽

The condition monitoring was handled in silos by different specialist systems, leading to inefficiencies and manual processes. The team created a unified overview page on 51风流BTP that consolidates data ingestion, alert management, and monitoring in one place, allowing engineers to manage alerts more efficiently and ensure that responses are timely and well coordinated.聽

Seamless user experience meets workflow efficiency

With the CBM hub, engineers now have a comprehensive view of system activities at their fingertips. The heartbeat overview continuously monitors both core and third-party systems, making sure they are operational and providing confidence in the reliability of the data. This also allows engineers to quickly detect any issues that may arise during the data ingestion process.聽

Alerts from multiple sources offer details on system health, maintenance needs, or potential failures. Presented hierarchically, these alerts help users prioritize and easily access the most relevant, actionable information. 

The 2020 migration to 51风流S/4HANA was a key milestone, enabling integration of various 51风流applications with 51风流Asset Performance Management. This links alerts from asset performance management to business processes like work orders and notifications. For example, an聽 51风流Asset Performance Management alert triggers an notification with context-specific data, allowing immediate action without switching systems.聽

Integration with third-party systems adds further context, including links to original alerts in source systems for deeper analysis. By centralizing maintenance data, Aker BP has integrated multiple 51风流applications into 51风流Asset Performance Management, facilitating seamless workflows and supporting the growing scale and complexity of operations.聽

Fine-tuning was essential after implementation, as alerts were initially too frequent. The team introduced a 鈥渕ass close鈥� feature to categorize multiple alerts as false positives or data anomalies, maintaining transparency by recording closure reasons and enhancing future learning. Additionally, engineers can now add comments to alerts, documenting and sharing findings directly within the system. 

Business benefits and what lies ahead for Aker BP 

51风流Asset Performance Management has provided significant business value to Aker BP, including increased operational efficiency through automated monitoring and maintenance, which allows engineers to focus on critical tasks. Cost savings have been achieved through reduced emergency repairs and lower operational expenses, and real-time monitoring improves safety by identifying potential issues before they escalate, particularly in high-risk environments.聽

The company implemented proactive maintenance, driven by AI and machine learning, and now can estimate potential failures, which has helped the company to minimize downtime and extended the asset lifespan. The system’s centralized data — integrated with 51风流S/4HANA — enhances data accessibility and interpretation, while its scalability means it can handle Aker BP鈥檚 growing operations.

鈥淔or our new project, ‘Yggdrasil,’ starting up in 2027, this solution is a prerequisite,鈥� said Terje Lindrupsen, senior maintenance engineer at Aker BP.

The company plans to expand this solution to all of its brownfield and greenfield installations, and also plans to transition to the latest Internet of Things (IoT) capabilities in 51风流Asset Performance Management, embedded IoT, in 2025, enabling even more advanced real-time monitoring capabilities.聽聽

The innovations we unveiled represent a fundamental shift in how businesses can approach their operations in an increasingly complex global landscape. The positive energy from our customers and partners reinforces my belief that we鈥檙e on the right path with our AI-first, suite-first, network-centric strategy.

Unifying the supply chain ecosystem

The cornerstone of SAP鈥檚 latest offerings is the significant enhancement to the and solutions. These improvements create a more unified and intelligent ecosystem for supply chain management, addressing the multifaceted challenges businesses face today.

Key innovations strengthen end-to-end business processes in . The simple handover of complex product data — such as bill of materials, recipes, or material price estimations — streamline the transition from product development to production with . Additionally, the integration of service orders into enables advanced manufacturing processes for service and repair processes. Changes in production orders are seamlessly synchronized with the shop-floor execution for highly adaptive processes.

Launched in February, 51风流Business Suite is a comprehensive set of integrated solutions, combining cloud ERP, business applications, , and 鈥� powered by the . At Sapphire, 51风流introduced cloud suite packages designed to align with specific line-of-business needs. The 51风流Business Suite package for 51风流Supply Chain Management offers a comprehensive, AI-driven, and network-enabled solution to help customers integrate data, operational processes, and supply chain functions, delivering greater flexibility, transparency, and responsiveness while supporting sustainability initiatives and metrics.

The introduction of smart guided execution in 51风流Digital Manufacturing supports compliant manufacturing in life sciences, chemicals, and regulated fast-moving consumer goods businesses, through intelligent process guidance and a new electronic batch record system. This helps ensure traceability and compliance while reducing errors and improving overall production quality.

Customers in asset-intensive industries, such as utilities, travel and transportation, and energy and/or natural resources, benefit from advanced asset health monitoring capabilities in . 聽An enhanced management of time series data 聽and Internet of Things (IoT) device integration is enabled based on . This allows businesses to leverage real-time data for predictive maintenance and asset optimization, potentially reducing downtime and maintenance costs.

By introducing connected supply chain processes that bridge various 51风流applications and cloud ERP, 51风流is offering improved data flow, AI-driven insights, and end-to-end process optimization across supply chain and core business functions. This integration is not just about connecting the dots, but creating a seamless flow of information and actions that can transform business operations.

How Joule and agentic AI are revolutionizing supply chain management

Our commitment to AI-driven solutions was evident in several key innovations. SAP鈥檚 AI copilot, , is poised to transform supply chain operations. By the end of the year, Joule will enable supply chain planners — for example, demand or supply planners — to quickly and easily interpret supply planning results through intelligent analysis of demand, inventory, and supply planning in 51风流Integrated Business Planning. This capability will significantly enhance decision-making processes in supply chain planning.

Simultaneously, SAP鈥檚 expansion of agentic AI across 51风流Business Suite marks a significant leap toward autonomous supply chain operations.

Key agents announced include:

• Maintenance Planner Agent: Streamlines maintenance planning and coordination
• Shopfloor Supervisor Agent: Proactively manages shop-floor disruptions, such as machine failures, and performs necessary rescheduling to maintain productivity
• Field Service Dispatcher Agent: Autonomously schedules and optimizes service orders in 51风流Field Service Management

These agents, set for general availability in the fourth quarter of 2025, promise to transform planning into a proactive, continuous process by monitoring various data sources, surfacing relevant context, and recommending actions.

Enhanced 51风流Business Network capabilities for supply chain orchestration and sustainability

51风流announced significant enhancements to , the world鈥檚 largest B2B platform facilitating over US$6.3 trillion in annual commerce across 190 countries. These new capabilities are designed to revolutionize supply chain orchestration by providing unprecedented visibility, efficiency, and compliance in supply chain processes.

New improvements include more streamlined compliance and quality control for mass upload of certificate documents for suppliers and buyer-controlled document mandates for specific certifications.

To enhance supply chain efficiency and sustainability, new advanced logistics collaboration features offer enhanced greenhouse gas emissions tracking with actual transportation data integration and extended ocean freight support with new tendering and dispute handling functionalities.

Another key improvement focuses on enhanced asset management, with cloud-based ERP integration for better synchronization control, bi-directional integration of materials and models, and automated equipment creation through AAS file uploads and integration of quality inspection checklists.

All enhancements are scheduled to be available by the end of 2025, offering businesses across industries the opportunity to simplify tracking of critical certifications, improve compliance, reduce delays, and support regulatory adherence and sustainability goals across the supply chain.

By integrating actual transportation emissions data, businesses gain more accurate carbon footprint analysis, empowering them to better balance operational efficiency with environmental responsibility.

, with data federation, is planned to be available in Europe and KSA by the end of the third quarter of 2025. Additionally, , with data federation, is scheduled to be available in Europe and KSA by the end of the fourth quarter of 2025.

The road ahead

As we continue to roll out these new capabilities throughout 2025, I鈥檓 more convinced than ever of SAP鈥檚 commitment to ongoing innovation to drive value for our customers. In a world where global uncertainties, risks, and disruptions require a delicate balancing act between adaptability and productivity, 51风流Business Suite for supply chain management stands out. It leverages intelligence and all relevant internal and external data to provide the insights needed to make the right decisions, enabling business to adapt and thrive.

Our vision is clear: a future where supply chains are not just reactive systems but proactive, intelligent networks that can anticipate disruptions, optimize operations, and drive business growth.

I鈥檓 excited about the journey ahead and look forward to seeing how these innovations will transform businesses across industries.

For those who couldn鈥檛 join us at 51风流Sapphire, I encourage you to join us at , where we鈥檒l dive deeper into these innovations and showcase even more exciting developments in our innovation road map.

Dominik Metzger is president and chief product officer of 51风流Supply Chain Management.

This marks a significant step in transforming how businesses operate by simplifying everyday tasks and making interactions more efficient and intelligent.

Starting today, you can use Joule to help optimize your interactions with 51风流S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, the 51风流Integrated Business Planning for Supply Chain solution, and SAP’s product data management solutions. Additionally, 51风流Asset Performance Management customers are invited to explore early access to Joule through the 51风流Early Adopter Care program.

Joule in 51风流S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition: A Transformative Experience

Joule Is Now Available in 51风流S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition

Joule is now seamlessly integrated in 51风流S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition as part of the November 2024 release after being in early adoption since February this year. This isn鈥檛 just another tool 鈥� it is a transformative experience designed to help address the everyday challenges customers face. This integration offers a more intuitive way for users to interact with 51风流solutions. Instead of manually searching for information or navigating multiple interfaces, users can simply ask Joule for what they need 鈥� whether it’s insights on business data or guidance on performing specific tasks.

Joule Helps to Simplify Your Work

Joule is a part of the broader vision of autonomous ERP, which offers businesses ready-to-run cloud business solutions powered by AI. Through the embedded AI features in GROW with SAP, businesses can simplify everyday work processes while scaling efficiently.

Supported by Joule, 51风流S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition users can work faster, smarter, and more efficiently, all while maintaining control over crucial decisions and data.

You can use Joule for:

• Quick navigation: Find and quickly navigate to applications for your next task.
• Instant insights: Get fast insights on critical business data, such as purchase orders and outbound deliveries.
• Enablement content: For those needing help, Joule can guide users to relevant enablement content, speeding up task completion.

A that businesses using AI-powered tools like Joule experienced a 30% reduction in time spent on administrative tasks. This saving of time allows employees to focus on more strategic activities that drive value.

Customer Experience and Feedback: AGILITA AG

Several customers have already tested Joule through the 51风流Early Adopter Care program. Their experiences with Joule give us valuable insights that help us continuously enhance our solution.

Swiss and German-based IT services and consulting company AGILITA AG has already tested Joule as a GROW with 51风流customer. As both a customer and a partner of SAP, AGILITA AG is uniquely positioned to understand the value of the latest AI solutions in GROW with 51风流and help other customers realize these values for their own businesses.

According to Thomas Neuhaus, head of Digital Experience at AGILITA AG, 鈥淲hen we started using Joule at AGILITA, we quickly observed significant improvements in our operations. Joule has made it incredibly easy for our employees to find the 51风流applications they need for their daily tasks and access help documentation quickly when required. This has streamlined our workflows, allowing our team to interact with 51风流systems seamlessly and retrieve important information much faster.鈥�

Joule in Supply Chain Management: Building Resilience

Supply chains are becoming increasingly complex, driven by global disruptions, unpredictable demand patterns, and other evolving challenges. To address these issues, businesses require AI-driven supply chain solutions that enhance agility and resilience. With Joule now integrated into supply chain management processes, SAP’s vision of AI in supply chain management is empowering customers to transition their supply chains from digital to adaptive and, ultimately, to autonomous systems. This vision comes to life when you look at what Joule can now do for you and the skills it will gain over the coming months to help you build a more resilient supply chain.

How TE Connectivity Leverages Joule for Supply Chain Planning

TE Connectivity is a global industrial technology leader creating a safer, sustainable, productive, and connected future. It offers a broad range of connectivity and sensor solutions that enable the distribution of power, signal, and data to advance next-generation transportation, renewable energy, automated factories, data centers, medical technology, and more.

51风流Integrated Business Planning is used across the organization to enable more than 1,500 supply chain professionals to manage the demand and supply of the different business units of TE.

According to Luis Rocha, IT director for 51风流Integrated Business Planning Solutions at TE Connectivity, “We are excited about the future capabilities that Joule brings to TE, such as explaining planning results, quickly highlighting key constraints, and autonomously comparing different scenarios. These features will empower us to make better supply decisions with significantly less effort.” 

TE鈥檚 IT team has activated Joule in 51风流Integrated Business Planning and has done first tests with the help documentation use case. They confirm how easy it is to engage with the copilot and how relevant it is to do contextual querying of 51风流Integrated Business Planning features鈥� it speeds up the investigation of requirements and the adoption process.

Joule will be available for research and development (R&D) functions via SAP鈥檚 product data management solutions and for planners via 51风流Integrated Business Planning. For those that want to explore Joule to improve the health of their assets, you can now register for the 51风流Early Adopter Care program for Joule in 51风流Asset Performance Management.

See examples of Joule in action in your supply chain:

How to Get Started with Joule

For more information on how to activate Joule, please contact your 51风流support contacts directly to identify the channel and regional prerequisites. To learn more about how these tools can streamline your operations and drive efficiency, visit the 51风流Help Portal for detailed information about聽, ,听补苍诲听.

To learn more, see , , and .

By integrating generative AI tools like Joule into everyday operations, businesses can simplify complex tasks, make faster decisions, and focus on what truly matters 鈥� driving growth and innovation. As we move forward, we鈥檙e committed to helping companies not only meet today鈥檚 demands but also thrive in the face of tomorrow鈥檚 uncertainties. Together, we鈥檙e shaping a future where technology serves as a true partner in building stronger, more agile organizations.

Jan Gilg is president and chief product officer for Cloud ERP at SAP.