For decades, BSH Hausgeräte GmbH has been a quiet force in kitchens worldwide, with brands like Bosch, Siemens, and Gaggenau in its portfolio. Now, the company is rewriting its own recipe—not for food, but for finance. In partnership with SAP, BSH is transforming its IT landscape to a cloud-first foundation, aiming to free employees from manual tasks and put insights at the center of decision-making.

In an interview, BSH Head of Governance, Methods, and Systems Heiko Schletz explained how the company is reshaping finance and why its move to the cloud is a critical ingredient to a successful AI-enhanced future.

Technology follows vision

Represented in more than 50 countries, BSH manufactures home appliances in 39 factories worldwide. Schletz’s team oversees group controlling and is responsible for ensuring that financial data flows smoothly from its core systems, such as ERP, all the way up to the consolidated group level. His team manages how financial data is structured and integrated across all global entities, ensuring it can be used effectively for company-wide reporting and decision-making.

BSH is working to bring accounting and controlling together into one integrated process, supported by real-time data and analytics. One principle is guiding this transformation: technology follows vision, not the other way round. As part of its transformation journey, BSH is embracing change by testing new technologies to support its vision.

To simplify reporting efforts, for example, BSH is currently piloting SAP Datasphere, SAP’s next-generation data management platform that can unify and govern all SAP data and seamlessly connect with third-party data.

A recent use case automatically connected accounting balances, controlling P&L data and market metrics in SAP Datasphere and delivering consolidated reports without spreadsheets and manual effort. “This shows where the journey is going—joining sources, bringing them together,” Schletz says.

Breaking down silos to empower AI

BSH’s long-term goal in the financial area is to get rid of silos between accounting, controlling, and treasury. Schletz envisions a parallel ledger architecture that supports both—legal entity and consolidated group views—enabling advanced analytics such as value-driver trees. By moving to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, integrated with SAP Datasphere and SAP Analytics Cloud, BSH aims to create a single source of truth for finance spanning from subsidiary ledgers to group-level consolidation.

Schletz is convinced that with a cloud-based, synchronized toolset, his finance team can deliver the latest figures for decision-making faster and with less manual consolidation. “SAP’s AI evolution is running in the direction we also want to go,” Schletz explains. “The technology meets our vision and that’s why it’s a perfect fit.”

The company has relied on SAP solutions for decades, starting with SAP R/3 and now running SAP S/4HANA, SAP Business Warehouse, and SAP Analytics Cloud. The next milestone is cloud migration: RISE with SAP. “In the next two years, we go into the cloud,” Schletz says. “We want a synchronized toolset that gives us a holistic view.”

To get the most out of analytics and AI functionalities, BSH is currently consolidating and simplifying its comprehensive business application landscape. The company’s target is to move from six separate ERP solutions to one global SAP S/4HANA environment that covers all subsidiaries and geographies.

How to prepare an SAP S/4HANA transformation

Schletz’s advice for other organizations exploring the RISE with SAP journey is to start with a clear vision. “If you don’t begin with a concept that combines accounting and controlling, don’t start with SAP S/4HANA,” he says, noting that a finance transformation is not an isolated IT project—it requires alignment across logistics, sales, and customer service. “The SAP S/4HANA conversion is a cross-functional adventure,” he adds.

BSH’s journey is ongoing, but the direction is set. Cloud migration via RISE with SAP, integrated data, and a finance function designed for insight rather than manual effort. “We want the machine to do what it does best, so people can focus on creating value,” Schletz concludes.

Most organizations see the potential of AI but struggle to turn that ambition into measurable, enterprise-scale results. Fragmented processes, limited AI expertise, and inconsistent data readiness often make it difficult to move beyond isolated experiments.

This is where SAP and the SAP partner ecosystem make a decisive difference.

Together, we help customers translate AI strategies into meaningful outcomes by pairing partner industry expertise with SAP Business AI, which brings hundreds of purpose-built, domain-rich capabilities embedded across SAP applications. These capabilities help automate processes, elevate decision-making, and enhance employee productivity across the enterprise.

SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) amplifies this foundation by giving customers the ability to integrate, extend, and build AI-powered solutions in a scalable and secure environment.

Across industries, SAP and our partners are helping customers unlock real value from AI. The examples below show how organizations are already achieving tangible impact today.

Driving efficiency with AI-powered process automation

Manual, repetitive processes remain one of the biggest barriers to operational excellence. The SAP partner ecosystem plays a critical role in helping customers uncover these inefficiencies and redesign them with AI-driven automation.

For frozen-food manufacturer FRoSTA, SAP partners sovanta AG, and Amista identified invoice processing as a major bottleneck. By orchestrating the workflow using SAP Build Process Automation and extracting, interpreting, and validating data through SAP Document AI, the partners were able to automate the process end to end. Invoices that once required several minutes of manual effort now flow through the system in under a minute, with roughly 60 percent fully automated. Employees can redirect their attention to higher-value work, such as resolving exceptions and collaborating with suppliers.

This is the power of pairing partner expertise with SAP Business AI and SAP BTP solutions: Organizations quickly shift from isolated task automation to connected, intelligent workflows that scale across departments and regions. What begins as a single use case becomes the foundation for a broader automation strategy—accelerating processes, reducing manual effort, and tightening the connection between data, people, and decisions.

Accelerating innovation by making AI accessible to every team

As demand for AI grows, many organizations face a familiar hurdle: the scarcity of specialized AI talent. Partners in the SAP ecosystem help close this gap by combining their industry knowledge with tools in SAP Business AI and SAP BTP that make it easier for teams across the business to experiment, prototype, and deploy AI solutions at speed.

A strong example comes from Aspen Pumps, which partnered with NTT DATA to modernize routine operational tasks. Using low-code capabilities from SAP Build to design and orchestrate workflows and SAP AI Core to power AI models, the team rapidly developed a series of automation bots—12 in total. These now streamline activities such as invoice validation, order routing, and even interpreting CAD drawings to accelerate quote creation. Many proof-of-concept initiatives were completed in under a week, demonstrating how accessible innovation becomes when intelligent capabilities are built directly into the tools teams already use.

By lowering the barriers to experimentation, SAP and partners help organizations innovate faster and more confidently. Teams can explore new ideas, test them safely, and scale what works—without waiting for scarce technical resources or lengthy development cycles. Innovation becomes a daily practice, not a specialized activity reserved for a few.

Building a future-ready foundation with scalable, extensible architecture

As AI becomes more deeply integrated into business operations, leaders are prioritizing platforms that will scale with them, not constrain them. This is where SAP partners help customers design architectures that can evolve with changing market needs while preserving the stability of their core systems.

Steel manufacturer Al Ghurair Iron and Steel (AGIS) offers a powerful example. Working with Deloitte, the company reimagined its production planning process using SAP Business AI embedded in SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition, combined with the integration and extension capabilities of SAP BTP. A planning cycle that once required 15 minutes of manual coordination now takes less than five. The solution has been replicated across multiple locations, and more than 400 calculations are now automated, giving teams more time to analyze results and optimize operations rather than manage spreadsheets.

When SAP Business AI and SAP BTP come together with partner expertise, companies gain a foundation they can rely on as their AI ambitions grow. They can scale new capabilities across plants, regions, or business units; extend processes without disrupting mission-critical systems; and seamlessly connect SAP and non-SAP environments into a cohesive, intelligent landscape.

Turning AI potential into business transformation

These stories demonstrate what becomes possible when customers, SAP, and our partners work together: faster processing, smarter decisions, empowered employees, and architectures built for long-term agility and growth.

With the combined strength of the SAP partner ecosystem, the domain-rich intelligence of SAP Business AI, and the extensibility of SAP BTP, organizations can move beyond pilots and embed AI where it matters most: in the daily processes and decisions that run their businesses.

Learn more about what’s possible for your business with SAP Business AI at sap.com/ai.

SAP and a group of European and global partners launched the Industrial AI Cloud project today, marking a major milestone on the path to implementing the vision of “Industrial AI Made in Europe.” 

At the heart of this effort, SAP is working in concert with Deutsche Telekom, NVIDIA, Siemens, Deutsche Bank, Perplexity, PhysicsX, and Agile Robots. 

Together, the AI Cloud project partners plan to help shape Europe’s digital future and facilitate the application of advanced AI technologies in European industry, beginning with a partnership between Deutsche Telekom and NVIDIA totaling around €1 billion. 

The initiative which is backed by the German Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and State Modernization, is designed to transform Germany into Europe’s AI hotspot and enable European companies to access secure and sovereign computing resources and help them accelerate innovation and unlock the full potential of industrial AI – responsibly, collaboratively, and on Europe’s terms –drawing on Europe’s vast corporate data reserves. 

Sovereignty. Not isolation.  

Digital sovereignty has been a hot topic in Europe and elsewhere over the past nine months, reflecting growing concerns about geopolitical events including tariffs and cross-border data access. Some, including the European Union, have argued that Europe needs its own infrastructure to support digital sovereignty, while others have taken a broader view of the issue. 

The Industrial AI Cloud project aims to bridge these perspectives and strengthen digital sovereignty and innovation in Germany and across Europe by leveraging the best available technologies through trusted partnerships, while ensuring that control over proprietary data remains firmly in European hands. 

During a joint press conference in Berlin, the partners unveiled their plans for the Industrial AI Cloud, which promises to simplify the integration of AI solutions into business operations, addressing the fragmentation that has long limited Europe’s AI landscape. 

Phase one 

In its first phase, Deutsche Telekom’s existing data center in Munich will be expanded by adding AI infrastructure with NVIDIA GPUs by the first quarter of 2026. This will enable the provision of high-performance AI services to companies of all sizes throughout Germany and Europe.  

While Deutsche Telekom supplies physical infrastructure, SAP delivers the technology layer by providing its SAP Business Technology Platform and a comprehensive suite of applications, accelerated by advanced AI and Simulation technologies including those from NVIDIA. Together, the partners are establishing a secure and high-performance digital platform for enterprises, public sector organizations and regulated industries, such as defense and critical infrastructure,  

The state-of-the-art AI computing facility with the Industrial AI Cloud is also one of the first flagship projects of the ‘Made 4 Germany’ initiative, which includes over 100 German companies, aiming to strengthen Germany as a business location and accelerate digitalization in business and public administration. 

Collaboration as the Key to Success 

As SAP CEO Christian Klein emphasized, the demand for digital sovereignty is growing rapidly in an increasingly regulated and complex environment where tech companies are competing for leadership in the emerging market for generative and agentic AI leadership. 

According to SAP estimates, the AI market in Europe will exceed €20 billion by 2030 and require more than 22 gigawatts of data center capacity. Meeting this demand, Klein argued, is only possible through close collaboration and partnerships. “We will not achieve digital sovereignty by isolating ourselves, but by bringing the best technologies to Europe together with strong partners, while retaining control over our data,” Klein said. In the global AI race, it is crucial for Europe to set its own agenda and become a leader in industrial AI. 

Laying the foundation 

Projects like the Industrial AI Cloud, Klein noted, lay the foundation for this ambition. Building infrastructure and data centers is only one step; the real economic value will be generated when AI is productively deployed and deeply integrated into business and administrative processes.  

“Only when AI is seen not as an isolated technology, but as an integral part of operational workflows, will it unlock its potential to rethink business models, substantially boost productivity, and accelerate innovation,” he said. 

Prerequisites for Success 

Germany and Europe possess a strong industrial base, extensive expertise, and a wealth of industrial data. To turn this opportunity into tangible progress, policymakers and business leaders must coordinate their efforts, establish clear frameworks, and invest strategically in education, research, and secure, interoperable infrastructure. 

The Industrial AI Cloud enables seamless integration of AI solutions into businesses, closing the gap in Europe’s previously fragmented AI landscape. It combines choice and scalability, addressing the growing demand for secure, European AI solutions. 

The vision extends beyond the project itself. A digitally sovereign Europe, offering modern, user-centric services for citizens, government, and industry, will make Europe more efficient and innovative than ever, thanks to AI. 

Fueled by a combination of geopolitical tension, economic instability, and significant supply chain shifts, procurement has taken on increasing importance. Procurement has evolved from a function focused primarily on cost-cutting to one that drives value creation and manages global risk. As a result, today’s organizations are forced to reevaluate how they operate, transforming procurement from a back-office function into a vital strategic partner.

In a broad study sponsored by SAP, Economist Impact highlights this continuing shift in perception and performance, revealing a rising confidence in procurement’s ability to make business impact. This is the fourth consecutive year that SAP and Economist Impact have partnered on a study, and the survey includes responses from more than 2,000 C-suite leaders globally.

The report, titled “The Resilient Edge: Procurement in an Era of Polycrisis,” also underscores procurement’s growing influence in advancing AI adoption and sustainability performance. However, the field still faces obstacles in assuming this larger role, including readiness for technology and building a future-proof workforce.

Still, the overall trend is clear: procurement’s fundamental transformation is putting it in a position to play an important role in business strategy.

Growing confidence in procurement to drive strategic value

Businesses today face a convergence of crises—a “polycrisis”—which includes environmental shocks, shipping delays, and growing regulatory restrictions. Tariffs are the latest disruption, prompting businesses across sectors to seek quick solutions to avoid price hikes.  

Weathering this storm requires procurement leaders to take on higher risk as they navigate this uncertainty. The Economist Impact report finds that geopolitical risk has emerged as the top concern for procurement leaders, with 64% listing it as their top focus over the next 12 to 18 months, up from just 30% in 2024. This surge reflects both the growing complexity of global operations and procurement’s expanding influence.

As risk becomes more multifaceted and severe, procurement professionals have a role beyond sourcing supplies at the lowest cost. Instead, they are developing robust strategies to identify, assess, and mitigate risk. This strategic pivot is also reflected in growing cross-departmental trust. In fact, 78% of respondents expressed confidence in procurement’s ability to manage external risk—a 37% increase from last year—signaling procurement’s growing value as a strategic partner.

AI has a central role in procurement

From detecting demand signals and enabling scenario planning to automating routine workflows, AI is dramatically expanding procurement’s capabilities.

The Economist Impact report notes that organizations are prioritizing AI proficiency more than any other skill over the next 12 to 18 months, including predictive analytics, demand forecasting, and managing data bias and privacy concerns. These skills are essential for procurement teams that need to pivot quickly in response to unexpected disruptions.

Most importantly, AI will be at the center of procurement’s continued transformation. An overwhelming 89% of respondents in the study said they are confident in their ability to adopt and apply AI to improve efficiency and productivity. This confidence is grounded in tangible benefits that AI can provide, including identifying early demand signals, optimizing supplier performance, and simulating risk scenarios to support better decision-making

Simply put, AI is no longer optional—it is essential to procurement success and relevance.

Improved environmental results

Sustainability has climbed to the top of corporate agendas, and procurement is now on the front lines of this effort, managing supplier emissions and ensuring ethical labor practices. Over half (53%) of survey respondents named sustainability as their top strategic priority for the next 12 to 18 months.

Cross-departmental collaboration is central to these efforts and has enabled procurement to align with key financial and environmental goals. Tools like ESG scorecards and supplier decarbonization plans are now standard practice for measuring environmental impact. These innovations are helping companies meet rising expectations from customers, regulators, and shareholders alike, while also reducing long-term operational risks.

These developments show that procurement isn’t just supporting sustainability—it’s driving it.

Procurement’s inflection point between strategy and cost-cutting

While cost control remains a key part of procurement’s mandate, the balance for today’s procurement teams is shifting—from tactical cost-saving measures to strategic contributions that enhance agility, foster innovation, and safeguard reputation.

To manage these dual demands, companies are turning to procurement technology, like SAP Ariba Procurement solutions, to address key priorities and reduce siloes across the organization.

On June 26, Etosha Thurman, SAP’s Chief Marketing Officer for Finance and Spend, will join Economist Impact’s webinar “Measuring up: Balancing risks and goals for strategic procurement” to explore how organizations can build procurement strategies that drive measurable outcomes. This event will explore how procurement can balance immediate pressures with long-term objectives—a topic that is more relevant now than ever. If interested, register here.

Gordon Donovan is global vice president of Research, Procurement, and External Workforce at SAP.