NEWTOWN SQUARE —  SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced the appointment of David Robinson as president of SAP North America. In this role, Robinson will oversee the company’s North America market units and lead sales operations across the broader Americas region. He will focus on driving customer success, accelerating business transformation, and helping organizations realize the full value of their SAP solutions.

“David’s deep understanding of our North American markets and strategic vision will accelerate SAP’s momentum in this geography as we continue to empower businesses with AI embedded in mission critical applications and powered by unified data to drive real business outcomes,” said Jan Gilg, Global President of Customer Success & Americas and member of the Extended Board of SAP SE. “With his appointment, we are bringing special focus and extra leadership capacity to SAP’s most important growth market.”

Robinson has 22 years of SAP experience and proven leadership across multiple business functions. Most recently serving as president and chief revenue officer for Cloud ERP and acting managing director for SAP U.S. Public Services, he has been instrumental in driving SAP’s and customers’ cloud transformation strategies. His SAP career includes leadership roles as senior vice president for RISE with SAP, global vice president and managing director, COO for Customer Success, and regional vice president for business finance in North America. Earlier in his career, he served as chief innovation officer for public services and led industry advisory, value advisory, and product engineering teams at SAP Labs.

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Media Contact:
Victoria Dixon, +1 (703) 288-6020, victoria.dixon@sap.com, ET
SAP Press Room; press@sap.com

This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ.  Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F.
© 2026 SAP SE. All rights reserved.
SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

Gartner has named SAP a Leader in the Gartner® 2025 Magic Quadrant™ for Digital Commerce. Now named for the 11th time in a row, SAP remains the only vendor to be consistently positioned as a Leader since 2014.

The SAP Commerce Cloud solution helps businesses worldwide stay ahead of changing customer expectations with a powerful, future-ready platform that delivers unified commerce through connected data, intelligence, and AI innovation.

Organizations across industries use SAP Commerce Cloud to unlock sustainable growth through personalized commerce at scale.

SAP Commerce Cloud is embedding AI innovations into the tools that employees and customers rely on every day. With AI built into key moments in commerce, the solution and its AI agents help create real business outcomes through faster response times and streamlined touchpoints. Agents like the Shopping Agent and Catalog Optimization Agent bring the vision for a connected, intelligent business suite where applications, data, and AI work together in a continuous, virtuous cycle to anticipate needs, act in real time, and elevate experiences.

Another new innovation also helps support profitable growth: SAP recently launched the SAP B2B Self-Service Portal. Natively integrated with the SAP ERP application, it makes ordering, invoicing, and promotions more intuitive while giving business buyers a positive digital experience.

ARAUCO, a global leader in wood products and furniture, relies on SAP Commerce Cloud as an integral part of managing a complex supply chain. The Chilean forestry company connects customers with on-demand insight into their orders through a self-service portal.

“SAP Commerce Cloud provided us with the tools to create a portal that has exceeded our customers’ expectations again and again,” said Diego Tuleski, director of IT at ARAUCO North America Inc.

Other global leaders are realizing measurable impact as well. Cintas uses SAP Commerce Cloud to streamline complex service orders and improve customer account management. For Nokia, SAP Commerce Cloud helps digitalize and manage complex order processes, making them intuitive experiences through integration with existing ERP applications. Universal Destinations & Experiences delivers favorable guest experiences across theme parks, hotels, and retail with SAP Commerce Cloud, enabling millions of transactions on a single commerce platform integrated with SAP Cloud ERP solutions.

To learn more about SAP’s position as a Leader and see an in-depth analysis of the digital commerce landscape, read the 2025 Gartner Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce.

Kollen Glynn is global head of SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP Customer Experience.

_{Gartner, Magic Quadrant for Digital Commerce, Aditya Vasudevan, Ant Duffin, Mike Lowndes, Sandy Shen, Jason Daigler, Penny Gillespie, 3 November, 2025.
Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications, and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally, and MAGIC QUADRANT is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.}

_{SAP was recognized as SAP Hybris in 2014, 2016 and 2017.}

WALLDORF — SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today announced that Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group, the global leader in live entertainment, has implemented an AI-enabled invoice assistant to help streamline its accounts payable operations.

Enabled by SAP Business AI and built on SAP Business Technology Platform, the assistant is already delivering faster response times, enhanced supplier experiences and smooth multilingual automation.

With 38 shows across global cities and a workforce of almost 4,000 artists and staff from 80 countries, Cirque du Soleil’s operations are as dynamic as its performances. Managing more than 70,000 supplier invoices annually—especially from tour-supporting vendors at residency shows—has placed increasing pressure on the accounts payable team. Nearly 40 percent of inquiries are from vendors seeking invoice status updates, and these inquiries were often delayed due to limited visibility and manual processing.

To address this, Cirque du Soleil turned to SAP Business AI. The company’s new AI-enabled invoice assistant automates the triage-and-response process for invoice-related emails. It analyzes incoming messages in all languages, identifies the request type, extracts invoice details, determines the status of each invoice and even captures the sentiment of the email, prioritizing those that need attention more urgently. The assistant then generates a proposed response in English and French, significantly reducing the average handling time from 30 minutes to just two minutes per inquiry.

“The time-consuming research required to identify the payment status of an invoice and its reason was overwhelming,” said Philippe Lalumière, vice president of information technology, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. “We were looking for a more efficient way to handle this, and SAP Business AI provided us with a simply stunning answer.”

The assistant leverages SAP HANA Cloud to store and process structured data derived from incoming emails, along with analysis results and generated responses. SAP AI Core foundation supports intelligent automation, enabling the assistant to detect urgency, sentiment and even root causes of payment delays. This has drastically reduced manual workload and improved supplier satisfaction.

“As we partner with Cirque du Soleil on this transformative journey, it’s inspiring to see how technology is streamlining operations and focusing organizations even more on what they do best—delivering unforgettable experiences,” said Dr. Philipp Herzig, chief technology officer and chief AI officer at SAP SE. “This is a perfect example of how data and AI can unlock both creativity and efficiency.”

Key benefits include:

• Efficiency: Automation frees up employee time and accelerates response rates.
• Accuracy: AI minimizes human error and helps ensure timely, contract-compliant payments.
• Multilingual support: Bilingual capabilities enable inclusivity across Cirque’s global supplier base.
• Scalability: The assistant handles high volumes without additional resources.
• Enhanced experience: Standardized, timely responses foster stronger supplier relationships.

With this innovation, Cirque du Soleil continues to lead not only in the world of live performance but also in operational excellence. SAP remains a trusted partner in this journey, helping the company scale its global footprint while staying agile and responsive.

Visit the SAP News Center. Get SAP news via LinkedIn and Bluesky.

Media Contact:
Lesa Plingen, +49 622 776 9000, lesa.plingen@sap.com, CET
SAP Press Room; press@sap.com

Top image courtesy of Cirque du Soleil

This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F.
© 2025 SAP SE. All rights reserved.
SAP and other SAP products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP SE in Germany and other countries. Please see https://www.sap.com/copyright for additional trademark information and notices.

SAP LeanIX has once again been recognized as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for Enterprise Architecture Tools, marking its fifth consecutive year of this acknowledgment.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant research methodology says that “Leaders execute well against their current vision and are well positioned for tomorrow.”

In this year’s Magic Quadrant, SAP LeanIX was positioned furthest and highest in both Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute, which also marks the first time an SAP solution has been positioned in this way.

We believe this result reflects the unique strength of SAP LeanIX solutions in helping enterprises: 

• Make confident, data-driven technology investment decisions 
• Drive transformation initiatives that deliver measurable business impact 
• Accelerate AI innovation while ensuring responsible governance 

“Our goal is to empower our customers to build transformation as an ongoing capability, rather than a one-off project,” Dee Houchen, chief marketing officer at SAP Signavio, said. “As transformation never ends, our solutions help companies secure a full picture of the applications they’re running and, more importantly, the capabilities they offer. This means understanding exactly how those applications can be best deployed to maximize efficiency and productivity. Enterprise architecture planning is at the heart of this approach, and we believe being recognized as a Leader for the fifth consecutive year by Gartner reaffirms our unwavering commitment to value realization for our customers.”

In today’s dynamic business landscape, enterprise architecture planning and implementation are vital for organizational transparency, smarter decision-making, and business growth, and SAP LeanIX maintains an ongoing dedication to innovation and customer satisfaction in this field, as part of SAP’s integrated business transformation toolchain.

In our opinion, this repeated recognition of SAP LeanIX solutions provides useful context regarding the state of the enterprise architecture market. As a vendor, SAP LeanIX empowers organizations to make informed decisions about technology investments, map and support large-scale business transformation, and implement sound AI governance to ignite AI innovation across the enterprise.

The Gartner Magic Quadrant equips businesses with valuable insights to make informed decisions. Get a complimentary copy of the latest Gartner Magic Quadrant, recognizing SAP LeanIX solutions, here.

Lucas de Boer is Global Marketing program lead for SAP Signavio.

Gartner does not endorse any vendor, product or service depicted in its research publications and does not advise technology users to select only those vendors with the highest ratings or other designation. Gartner research publications consist of the opinions of Gartner’s research organization and should not be construed as statements of fact. Gartner disclaims all warranties, expressed or implied, with respect to this research, including any warranties of merchantability or fitness for a particular purpose.
GARTNER is a registered trademark and service mark of Gartner and Magic Quadrant is a registered trademark of Gartner, Inc. and/or its affiliates in the U.S. and internationally and are used herein with permission. All rights reserved.

Although the iconic German footwear and fashion brand Birkenstock is synonymous with a laid-back lifestyle, before it took the first step on a journey to transform its North American operations the company carefully planned the project and left nothing to chance.

Birkenstock’s technology transformation included launching a new subsidiary in Canada and replacing an outdated, 16-year-old AS 400 system in the U.S. with cutting-edge technology supported by SAP S/4HANA and the industry-specific features of the SAP S/4HANA for fashion and vertical business solution.

The Birkenstock project team, led by Joshua Milos, senior director of IT for Birkenstock Americas, worked closely with SAP partner Rizing to reinvent its Canadian and U.S. operations and now has a streamlined, modern platform to support the company’s robust growth.

The greenest of greenfields

Birkenstock has long had a presence in the U.S., and in 2019 it decided to open a new subsidiary in Canada to better serve its growing market there. Starting out with no existing infrastructure in the country—no offices, employees, or tech—it was a true “greenfield” project in every sense of the term. From the start, Milos and his team saw the Canadian project as a blueprint for a planned revamp of Birkenstock’s U.S. operations and the perfect opportunity to lay a foundation for future growth.

“This was the greenest of greenfield implementations you could have, which gave us the chance to use it as a template for future expansion,” he explains. “Starting with Canada gave us the opportunity to test our processes and make adjustments before rolling out to other regions.”

The Birkenstock team worked with Rizing to establish a robust foundation for the new subsidiary, relying on the partner’s system architecture expertise to ensure that the infrastructure was scalable, future-proof, and met the company’s specific needs. “Rizing provided us with preconfigured clients and the expertise necessary to get us off the ground quickly,” says Milos, noting that this enabled seamless implementation of advanced functionalities like order management, inventory control, and financial reporting.

Process standardization was crucial: the Canadian project team collaborated closely with U.S. colleagues to identify and embed best practices from the U.S. business. Rizing helped Birkenstock map out its business processes and configure the new SAP system to align with these standards, ensuring that the Canadian operations were consistent with established U.S. practices.

Immediate benefits

The Canadian implementation quickly demonstrated the benefits of a modern ERP system. Within a few months, Birkenstock Canada was operating with a level of efficiency and visibility that was unattainable with the legacy systems in the U.S.

Real-time reporting and analytics capabilities in the new SAP system provided Birkenstock with immediate insights into operations, allowing for faster decision-making and better resource allocation. Automated workflows and integrated systems significantly reduced manual processes, improving operational efficiency and freeing up resources for more strategic tasks. And as Birkenstock Canada grows, its SAP infrastructure is ready to handle increased loads and expanded operations.

Patience… and partnerships

While the Canadian greenfield implementation was straightforward, Birkenstock’s “brownfield” transition from its old system to SAP S/4HANA in the U.S. wasn’t without challenges. The company’s legacy system hadn’t been upgraded in 16 years, resulting in inefficiency and manual processes. A global pandemic, a private equity investment, and an IPO all added additional layers of complexity along the journey. Milos knew that patience and consensus-building with stakeholders were crucial for change management. “We had to identify where the issues and pain points were to establish our ROI,” he says.

Rizing helped navigate these hurdles, providing industry expertise to create a compelling business case for global leadership. And to get buy-in at all levels of the organization, the project team spent ample time with business stakeholders, including visualizing processes in a sandbox environment to make the technology more approachable.

Another key step was to form a super-user group comprising key business stakeholders. This group, empowered by extensive training, was responsible for owning the system post-implementation. “The user group made the decisions, took ownership, and were heavily involved in the process,” Milos notes.

Clean core, clean data

Birkenstock has ensured that its system is future-proof, nimble, and upgradeable by sticking to a “clean core”—using standard functionality and avoiding unnecessary customizations. “We took an MVP [minimum viable product] approach. Only the minimal things needed for go-live were implemented,” Milos explains.

Having clean, accurate data before go-live was also vital. “Get your master data right before you start transacting in the system. It drives a lot of what goes on daily,” Milos advises. Focusing on data integrity enabled a smooth data migration and allowed the company to get immediate value from its new system.

Birkenstock leaned heavily on Rizing’s expertise with SAP best practices as it implemented the clean-core strategy. The SAP partner helped Birkenstock identify where standard functionality could be leveraged, reducing the need for custom development.

Integration and real-time insights

Implementing SAP S/4HANA has allowed Birkenstock to achieve a unified system for its wholesale, retail, and digital channels that offers real-time insights and streamlined business processes. “We have more sales reporting and can see data in a holistic view, not in silos,” Milos notes.

The transition has also improved supply chain visibility, crucial for navigating global uncertainties like tariffs. “Being able to support our consumers better and adapt to changes nimbly has been a game-changer,” Milos says. In addition, Rizing’s industry-specific solutions and deep understanding of the fashion retail sector ensured that Birkenstock could maximize the benefits of SAP S/4HANA.

The fashion-forward power of SAP S/4HANA

Birkenstock opted for the SAP S/4HANA for fashion and vertical business solution because of its industry-specific features like allocations, ATP scheduling, and the retail article master. “For fashion companies, using SAP S/4HANA for fashion and vertical business is crucial for its advanced capabilities and better product management,” Milos emphasizes.

Rizing’s preconfigured Fashion Suite accelerator for SAP S/4HANA for fashion and vertical business also sped up the implementation process. With order types, pricing procedures, and other processes ready to go “out of the box,” Birkenstock could focus on business-specific customizations.

A resounding success

Despite initial skepticism from Birkenstock executives that had experienced past project challenges, the company’s North American SAP S/4HANA implementation went live on schedule and was a resounding success. From the beginning, the team knew it needed to do the U.S. implementation as a “big bang,” with the wholesale, retail, and digital channels all going live at the same time. To ensure a smooth transition, the team added an additional six months to the initial timeline for rigorous testing.

The project was also a success from the SAP partner’s perspective, says Rizing’s Javier Zayas Cela, business development senior director, fashion: “Partnering with Birkenstock on this transformation journey has been incredibly rewarding. Their openness to change and strategic vision in transitioning from legacy systems to the advanced capabilities of SAP S/4HANA have positioned the brand well to embrace new technologies and accelerate its growth.”

The transformation has not only modernized Birkenstock’s operations but also equipped the company with the tools to adapt and thrive in the constantly-changing fashion business landscape. As the company moves forward, it’s focused on continuous improvement and optimization and is committed to using its SAP system to drive innovation and growth. “This is just the beginning,” Milos says. “We’re excited about the possibilities that lie ahead.”