SAP Sapphire, the premier annual conference hosted by SAP, is a major destination for business executives, IT professionals and partners to discover upcoming product roadmaps, experience hands-on demos and discuss digital transformation strategies.
The event is always a good indicator of direction, and the most recent conferences in Orlando and Madrid certainly felt different. Not because of any single product announcement, but because SAP has clearly moved the conversation on. The focus is no longer cloud, or even S/4HANA, it’s about how businesses run in an AI-led environment.
I've put together the reality behind the headlines, so you can get an idea of what it means for your role as SAP professionals/hiring managers and the market right now.
Selling Outcomes Over Software
The central message from Sapphire 2026 was the move towards the Autonomous Enterprise. In simple terms, SAP wants systems that execute work on behalf of the business.
SAP positioned AI as the operating layer across finance, supply chain, HR, and customer functions, which changes how organisations think about ERP entirely.
In practice, businesses will expect more from their SAP investment and internal teams will need to deliver process outcomes rather than system changes alone. The gap between traditional SAP skills and what’s needed going forward will widen.
AI Agents are the Real Story
We've moved past copilots.
In 2025, SAP unveiled Joule Everywhere, transforming its AI assistant from a simple copilot into an intelligent, autonomous network of AI agents. This year, SAP made it clear that they are transforming it into the primary interface for enterprise operations.They announced 50+ role-based assistants as well as over 200 specialised AI agents embedded across business processes.
Where assistants support tasks, agents run processes end-to-end, which is where things really start to impact delivery.
We're already seeing early demand for people who understand automation across SAP processes and growing interest in BTP, AI integration and workflow orchestration. Businesses are evaluating what they can automate and remove en masse.
The Biggest Constraint isn't AI
A consistent message throughout Sapphire was that AI is only as good as the databehind it.
SAP is doubling down on Business Data Cloud, Knowledge Graph and unified data models across SAP and non-SAP systems. While this isn’t necessarily new information, it’s now critical as clean data is a prerequisite for AI adoption
Data capability is becoming a core part of SAP programmes, but roles around Datasphere, data architecture, and governance are becoming harder to fill. Where SAP landscapes are fragmented, AI won't fix them.
AI & S/4HANA Transformation
One of the more practical topics this year was how SAP is linking AI directly to S/4HANA programmes. Businesses should not wait until after migration to start using AI, they should use AI as part of the transformation journey itself.
SAP is even suggesting that AI can help reduce migration effort significantly.
There's increased pressure on organisations still on ECC, and even more urgency in enterprise transformation programmes. This is creating greater demand for leaders who understand both S/4 and AI capability.
We’re already seeing clients revisit stalled programmes because AI has strengthened the business case.
The SAP Skillset is Widening
The whole ecosystem is becoming more open and more complex at the same time. Sapphire reinforced deeper partnerships with hyperscalers and AI providers, greater crossover with Microsoft, Google, and AI ecosystems and the growing importance of data sovereignty and compliance, particularly in Europe.
Pure SAP skillsets are becoming less common. Hybrid capability is becoming more valuable, with the most in-demand profiles sitting across SAP, Data, Cloud and AI. This is also where the biggest talent gaps are forming.
The Gap Between Vision & Delivery
It’s important to stay grounded. SAP’s direction is clear, but adoption will still take time. Many organisations are still early in their S/4 journey, working through data challenges or trying to translate AI into business value.
Industry commentary already highlights that AI adoption is uneven and still developing in practice.
Core SAP skills aren’t going anywhere, but expectations are rising. The best professionals are already building capability around AI and data.
Where This Leaves the SAP Market
From a hiring perspective, a few things are clear. Demand will remain strongest in S/4HANA transformation, SAP BTP and extensions, data and analytics and AI/process automation within SAP environments. Businesses need professionals who can connect business process with technology, understand data and work across SAP and non-SAP ecosystems.
I anticipate the hardest roles to fill to be:
Transformation leaders who understand both ERP and AI
Architects with a full platform view
Functional experts who can design automated processes
For businesses and hiring managers, it's important to recognise that the profile you needed 3 years ago is not the profile you need now. Waiting until programmes start to think about AI skills will put you behind, as the best people are already being selective about where they go next.
For SAP professionals, remember that your core expertise still matters, but it won't be enough on its own. Upskilling and exposure to data, automation, and AI will define the future of your career.
SAP is moving towards a world where systems carry out work rather than support it. It won’t happen overnight, but the direction is set, and it’s already impacting hiring decisions behind the scenes. The gap between those who adapt early and those who don’t will widen quickly.
How we can help:
If you’re building an SAP team, planning a transformation or thinking about your next move, have a conversation with us about what this looks like in your market.
We’re already seeing how these changes are playing out across different clients and regions. If you want a clear view of what skills are in demand, how the market is moving or how to position yourself properly, let's talk.