Young people entering today’s workforce face a world transformed by technology, automation, and artificial intelligence. Too many still lack the confidence, digital skills, and exposure needed not just to adapt to this future, but to shape it. 

That’s why we’re launching the Global Career Discovery Initiative, a new global partnership between SAP and JA Worldwide that will reach tens of thousands of young people aged 17 to 24 in more than 30 countries. 

“Young people are entering a world of work that’s being reshaped by technology, automation, and artificial intelligence,” says Asheesh Advani, CEO of JA Worldwide. “This partnership ensures that youth—especially those from underserved communities—don’t just learn about the future of work but learn how to shape it.”

From local impact to global scale 

Over the past 20 years, SAP has partnered with JA through dozens of local and regional programs, from workshops in Colombia to mentoring sessions in Vietnam. These efforts have created a meaningful impact, but we recognized the opportunity to amplify our work by aligning globally. This unified partnership enables us to scale what works, streamline volunteer engagement, and ensure more consistent access to high-quality learning experiences for young people everywhere. 

JA Worldwide already delivers more than 19 million student learning experiences annually in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial health, powered by a network of over 700,000 teachers and business volunteers. This scale and experience make JA an ideal partner to help build a brighter future for the next generation of innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders. 

Together, we’re combining JA’s proven curriculum with SAP’s global network of employee volunteers to create a structured, scalable experience that helps young people build in-demand skills, discover career pathways, and connect directly with mentors and role models. In its first year, the initiative aims to reach more than 85,000 students across six continents, engaging 800 SAP volunteers of all ages as mentors and role models. 

Why this matters now 

The world of work is evolving faster than many education systems can adapt. We believe the future belongs to young people who combine essential human skills—like creativity, resilience, and collaboration—with digital confidence. JA’s curriculum delivers exactly that, and through this global initiative SAP is proud to help bring these vital skills to youth at scale. 

For many of us at SAP, this work is deeply personal. Like countless colleagues, we know from experience how early exposure to mentors and practical skills can change a life. 

“I joined JA as a student 25 years ago. Those early experiences shaped my journey. They equipped me with the tools and skills I needed to grow in the business world and helped me believe, at a very young age, that with knowledge, grit, and humility, anything was possible,” says Sam Masri, global chief sales officer, SAP. “I’m incredibly proud that SAP will now bring that same opportunity to thousands of youth around the world!”

Building future skills, together 

Our collaboration goes beyond volunteering; it’s a long-term alignment focused on skills development, equity, and innovation. We’re committed to creating a more inclusive, opportunity-rich future for all young people, regardless of geography or background. We’re proud to be part of this effort and excited about the impact ahead. 

The Global Career Discovery Initiative is one way we’re putting SAP’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategy into action. Around the world, millions of young people are not in education, employment, or training, while employers struggle to find skilled talent. We believe building future skills is essential to empower the next generation and ensure a fair, sustainable transition from education to employment or entrepreneurship. 

To do this, we focus on three areas: 

• Ecosystem development: Building partnerships to align skills with job market needs and open career pathways 
• Education: Supporting innovative programs that equip youth with relevant skills for the digital and green economies and spark youth entrepreneurship
• Employee engagement: Empowering our people to share their knowledge and time through mentoring, coaching, and pro bono consulting

CSR can’t be a tick-box exercise. It must be a strategic approach that tackles social and environmental challenges and creates shared value for businesses and communities alike. Our purpose at SAP—to help the world run better and improve people’s lives—is brought to life every day through our products, services, and the dedication of our people. 

This partnership with JA builds on two decades of collaboration, from workshops in Colombia to classrooms in Vietnam. Now, we’re aligning and scaling that local impact globally, so that more young people, especially those from underserved communities, can see what’s possible and have the support they need to shape the future of work. 

Hemang Desai is interim global head of Corporate Social Responsibility at SAP.

Aker BP, one of Norway’s privately owned oil, gas, and energy companies, operates six major fields on the Norwegian continental shelf. The company produces around 440,000 barrels of oil equivalent daily, making it one of Europe’s largest independent listed oil producers.   

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.  

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. 

To realize this vision, Aker BP implemented SAP Asset Performance Management as a hub for condition-based maintenance (CBM). In partnership with Lighthouse, the company leveraged SAP S/4HANA and SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) as well as artificial intelligence and machine learning to automate maintenance and enable predictive, data-driven decision-making. 

Vision behind Aker BP’s 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.

“In 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.”

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’s 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. 

Putting plan into action

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

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.  

“Our goal is to establish a comprehensive maintenance strategy that eliminates unknown breakdowns on critical equipment,” explained Kim Alexander Jørgensen, 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.”

Using the data from SAP 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. 

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 SAP 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. 

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 SAP 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. 

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. 

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

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 SAP applications into SAP Asset Performance Management, facilitating seamless workflows and supporting the growing scale and complexity of operations. 

Fine-tuning was essential after implementation, as alerts were initially too frequent. The team introduced a “mass close” 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 

SAP 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. 

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 SAP S/4HANA — enhances data accessibility and interpretation, while its scalability means it can handle Aker BP’s growing operations.

“For our new project, ‘Yggdrasil,’ starting up in 2027, this solution is a prerequisite,” 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 SAP Asset Performance Management, embedded IoT, in 2025, enabling even more advanced real-time monitoring capabilities.  

Since 1994, SAP has showcased publicly accessible art exhibitions at its Walldorf training center while simultaneously building its own collection of now more than 2,000 works. SAP’s art historian Alexandra Cozgarea has been responsible for art at headquarters since 2008.

On a cold day in February 2023, Cozgarea stood alone in building one on the Walldorf campus. In just a few days, the building’s renovation was set to begin. Workstations and meeting rooms has already been cleared, heating and water had been shut off.

About 400 pieces of artwork were still on the walls, all of which she needed to personally take down, document, and have professionally packed — a logistical masterpiece that demonstrates the importance of art at SAP.

From Hasso Plattner’s vision to corporate collection

SAP’s art collection traces back to co-founder Hasso Plattner, a passionate art collector. “He was the driving force behind bringing art to SAP,” Cozgarea explains. Until his departure from operational business, Plattner was involved in art selection decisions for SAP. “At the time, art at SAP was handled at the Executive Board level, specifically by Hasso’s staff.”

But the company didn’t just acquire its own art objects. As early as 1994 and 1995, the first of now 60 exhibitions of contemporary artists took place at the Walldorf training center. What made it special was that the exhibitions were publicly accessible from the beginning, a deliberate step to promote interest in art in the region and encourage exchange with SAP and its employees.

“We opened ourselves to everyone who wanted to visit SAP,” Cozgarea emphasizes. “Art is a good way to start conversations.”

External visitors were able to gain an unusual insight into a technology company while simultaneously experiencing contemporary art.

Encounters between company and society

The exhibitions create a special place of encounter. An average of 400 to 600 visitors attend the opening receptions, a mix of about 30 percent SAP employees and 70 percent external guests.

“What’s beautiful is that people come together and talk with each other,” Cozgarea explains. “Whether about art or other topics – art creates connections.”

These encounters extend across various target groups: school classes use the exhibitions for workshops, students from Heidelberg University of Education develop their own projects based on the themes shown, and corporate groups incorporate tours into their team days.

From South Africa to NFT art: 60 exhibitions

Since 2008, Cozgarea has curated almost 30 of the total 60 art exhibitions at SAP. The themes have ranged from social questions to technological developments. “I observe a lot, research, and then make contact with artists or institutions. Over time, ideas come to life that address social questions and developments or that have a connection to SAP themes,” she says, describing her curatorial approach.

In 2018, SAP was one of the first companies worldwide to present an NFT art exhibition, with the title “Poetry of the Blockchain.” The 2023 exhibition “The Metaverse: Dreamland or Dystopia?” was dedicated to the metaverse theme and is currently viewable via virtual tour. The design thinking methods that have been in use at SAP for many years are addressed in the exhibitions “Fail Early and Often” and “From Bauhaus to AppHaus” (both 2019). Other exhibitions like “Un Paseo de Arte Latino” (2016) and “South African Identities” (2018) build bridges to cultures and continents where SAP is represented.

Currently, the exhibition program is on hiatus as new spaces are being planned as part of the training center renovation. During this pause, SAP offers online virtual tours that allow employees and non-employees alike worldwide to experience the exhibitions.

“That’s important,” says Cozgarea, “because this way colleagues and external art enthusiasts around the globe can visit our exhibitions – not just on-site in Walldorf.”

Art historian with a feel for corporate culture

Cozgarea came to SAP in a roundabout way — or rather, she came back to SAP. During her studies in art history and psychology in Heidelberg, she was a working student at SAP in Communications and supported regional art projects. After her studies, she gained further experience in corporate collecting at Heidelberg Cement. “We built a very focused corporate collection back then – everything around the theme of building and cement,” she remembers.

Then, in 2008, came the call that changed her life. “They asked if I wanted to come back to SAP. And I said: ‘No, of course not — I do exclusively art.’ They said: ‘That’s exactly why!’” SAP was planning at the time to professionalize its art program and set it up more structurally. For this, there was an independent curatorial role to fill.

Today Cozgarea moves fluidly between two worlds of technology and art. “I try to bring these together through themes and bridges,” she says. The connection is what makes her work particularly appealing to her.

More than decoration: art as an educational mission

For SAP, the most important aspect is not the investment value of the artworks, but rather the educational mission and employee development they support. “The intention was always to give something back to the employees and the region,” she explains.

SAP’s collection now comprises more than 2,000 artworks distributed across SAP locations in Germany. Teams in Germany may borrow art for their offices and team rooms, a service that was originally reserved for top management but is now open to all interested parties.

“Colleagues appreciate the very personal approach,” Cozgarea says, describing the process. “They come to me, we select a piece of art together, and then we organize transport and hanging.” Many employees appreciate this small break from their work routine to select a picture.

The 400 artworks removed from building one, currently closed due to renovation, are waiting in the training center’s storage facilities for their next deployment. Some will re-enter building, but many of them will also be available to all employees in Germany for the first time.

In February 2025, SAP introduced Joule for developers and ABAP AI capabilities, ushering in a new era for ABAP development. This powerful integration of generative AI into the development environment is helping to revolutionize how developers interact with SAP systems. Designed to enable smarter, faster, and more intuitive coding, these tools help developers elevate both productivity and innovation.

Joule for developers leverages a purpose-built large language model (LLM) trained on millions of lines of SAP code. It can deliver contextual, ABAP-specific results that support tasks ranging from intelligent code suggestions to automated unit test creation. As customers continue their SAP S/4HANA transformations, these AI features can also support optimized code migration through smart analysis, explanations, and actionable suggestions. The result: AI becomes a collaborative partner that helps developers tackle complex challenges with confidence and efficiency.

IDC’s recent white paper, “ABAP Development in the Age of AI”, outlines how AI is transforming modern development. One key finding: 80% of developers reported increased productivity when using AI coding assistants, with an average productivity gain of 35%. The top-used features include unit test generation, code generation, and autocompletion—clear signs that AI is now a central pillar of the development experience.

To succeed in this evolving landscape, developers must cultivate new skills. These include writing precise natural language prompts, verifying AI-generated code, integrating proprietary data for improved AI context, and using AI to enhance requirements documentation. These capabilities ensure AI remains an intelligent collaborator that upholds enterprise-grade standards.

SAP Build solutions and ABAP Cloud can further empower developers by enabling automation, improved security, and scalable collaboration—all while supporting a clean core strategy. These tools reflect SAP’s commitment to intelligent extensibility that balances innovation with system integrity.

AI is no longer just a futuristic concept—it’s a vital asset shaping every phase of the software development life cycle. Developers are evolving from code writers to orchestrators of intelligent systems that learn, adapt, and co-create. Joule for developers and ABAP AI capabilities illustrate how SAP is leading this evolution by providing tools that are aligned with enterprise development needs and future-ready innovation.

To learn more, explore the IDC white paper, “ABAP Development in the Age of AI.”

Sonja Lienard is senior vice president of Product Marketing and head of SAP BTP ABAP at SAP.

A great employee experience isn’t a nice-to-have—it’s a business imperative. Every interaction, every HR touchpoint shapes how employees feel, engage, and perform. But as expectations rise and workplaces evolve, HR teams need new ways to meet the moment. That means delivering faster, more personalized, high-quality support—and doing so at scale.

With AI-powered innovation and a unified approach to HR service delivery, organizations can create the seamless, connected experiences employees expect while unlocking new levels of efficiency and strategic impact for HR. That’s exactly what SAP is enabling with the SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management solution, recently delivered in the 1H 2025 SAP SuccessFactors HCM release and now available.

Leading companies like Döhler Group, a global producer of natural ingredients for the food and beverage industry, are already seeing the impact, with benefits such as:

• 33% reduction in case resolution times
• 4X productivity increase
• 80% reduction in e-mail writing time using generative AI

Paul Wittig, head of HR Operations & Services, Döhler, said, “Enterprise service management for HR is a huge step towards a more digital and, therefore, more transparent and structured way of work.”

The future of HR service delivery is now

The employee experience is shaped not just by big career moments, but by everyday opportunities, interactions, and the ability to get support when it’s needed. That’s why one of the most critical HR touchpoints in any organization is the HR help desk—and it’s also one of the most overburdened.

HR service reps at large enterprises often work in shared business centers and are responsible for managing high case volumes and diverse requests, ensuring accuracy and compliance. They may process hundreds of service requests in a month, each taking 1-3 days to resolve depending on the complexity of the issue, leaving employees waiting for the answers they need and HR teams overwhelmed by volume.

But this model is evolving—advancements in technology solutions are fundamentally reshaping how this work gets done. It’s no longer just about processing more cases, faster. It’s about preventing many of those cases from being raised in the first place. Intelligent, AI-powered tools enable employees to find answers independently, reducing case volumes and allowing HR teams to focus on more complex issues that require human expertise.

According to Gartner*, “By 2025, 70% of organizations with more than 2,500 employees will have invested in an HR service management solution.”

The momentum is clear, and organizations taking action are already seeing the benefits: reduced case volumes, faster resolution times, and a more seamless experience for both employees and HR teams.

The potential of AI to transform service delivery is also reflected in recent SAP SuccessFactors research. In one survey, 89% of employees said their workplace experience would improve if they could use AI to get answers to HR questions. In a related survey, HR leaders identified self-service and other AI-enabled administrative tasks as the most valuable use cases for their teams—freeing them from repetitive requests and creating space for more meaningful conversations with employees, from career development to conflict resolution.

The question is: what does HR service really look like in an era where embedded AI has the potential to transform not just the speed, but the entire nature of support?

The benefits of a single cloud platform, powered by AI

SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management enables organizations to completely reimagine HR service delivery with a unified cloud platform powered by AI.

Enhancing the employee experience is among the top benefits of SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management. Delivering added value to HR, the solution can harness the power of AI to help search, analyze, and update the underlying knowledge base and policy data, enabling it to better address employees’ questions in the future before cases are generated. SAP’s AI copilot Joule can give employees instant access to the answers and support they need through collaboration tools, a rich knowledge base, and omnichannel self-service experiences.

For example, imagine an employee with questions about parental leave. Instead of submitting a case and waiting for an HR response, the employee can simply ask Joule the question from directly within the platform. Joule can provide accurate, personalized guidance based on company policies and the employee’s specific eligibility, helping to instantly resolve the inquiry without any manual intervention. If the question is more complex or requires documentation, the technology helps seamlessly create and route the case to an HR service rep, along with all relevant details, working to ensure fast, informed support. The best part: Joule can be accessed from anywhere across SAP and is not just contained within HR.

The solution also benefits HR teams by helping to simplify daily operations and significantly scale efficiency. SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management can enhance HR service delivery behind the scenes with AI-driven case management, automated document handling, and intelligent knowledge updates, working to reduce manual effort for service reps and improve compliance. AI at work is central to this process, enabling auto-classification of service requests, content summarization to give agents a concise, contextual view of each case, and next-best action recommendations to help resolve issues quickly and effectively. The solution can continuously learn from past interactions, helping to make classification and resolution processes smarter and more accurate over time. Generative AI can further elevate efficiency by automatically generating clear interaction summaries, consistent resolution recaps, and professional, personalized e-mail drafts—helping to accelerate case handling, enhance communication quality, and ensure a more seamless, consistent service experience for both employees and HR teams.

With embedded SAP Analytics Cloud, HR teams can gain real-time visibility into service performance, enabling data-driven decisions to further optimize operations and elevate the employee experience.

A win for the business, employees, and HR

SAP customers that already use SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central for core HR are well positioned to quickly implement and reap the benefits of SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management. Together, these solutions can create a unified, AI-powered foundation that can deliver personalized, compliant HR support at every touchpoint.

Real-time, trusted core HR data from SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central helps ensure employees receive accurate, context-aware support, while quick actions embedded in the solution can make it easy to complete common HR tasks with just a few clicks—all within the flow of work. Within SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management’s case management experience, HR service reps can also benefit from direct access to the SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central people profile, available as a mash-up, helping to provide immediate, secure visibility into relevant employee information without the need to switch systems. The solution can extend core SAP SuccessFactors HCM investments with a secure, compliant service layer to help maintain centralized data governance, streamline service processes, and reduce manual effort—working to ensure a seamless, intuitive experience for employees and HR teams alike.

We all know that HR is not just a back-office function. It is central to shaping employee experience and driving business outcomes. With SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management, powered by SAP Business AI, organizations can deliver the support employees expect while reducing HR workloads and improving efficiency. The result? A triple win for the business, employees, and HR.

Learn more about SAP SuccessFactors Enterprise Service Management for HR service delivery.

Lara Albert is chief marketing officer at SAP SuccessFactors.

*Source: Gartner: Market Guide for Integrated HR Service Management solutions, May 2024

Adding SAP Preferred Success to a deal goes far beyond technical support—it can create a smarter, more resilient path to customer success. For partners, this can mean putting customers at the heart of every interaction while unlocking time to focus on strategic work, sharpening insights to drive action, and driving momentum to expand their services footprint.

SAP partners have always played a critical role in helping businesses unlock the value of cloud solutions. However, technical expertise alone isn’t enough. Projects face increasing scrutiny, high customer expectations, and constantly evolving business goals. To stay ahead, partners need access to the latest tools, insights, and best practices to deliver results at scale and without overextending their teams.

That’s where the SAP Preferred Success plan can come in. More than a support offering, it’s a shared growth strategy that can give partners the expert guidance, enablement, best practices, and bandwidth to be able to deliver meaningful outcomes again and again.

Efficiency gains that drive value

SAP Preferred Success helps deliver significant efficiency gains by taking on critical, behind-the-scenes tasks—such as release planning, usage monitoring, product best practices, and the identification of customer-relevant innovations. Such support can allow partners to stay focused on strategic implementations, drive innovation, and solve complex challenges without being bogged down by operational overhead.

Partners that work closely with SAP experts can receive targeted, data-driven guidance tailored to actual usage patterns, industry needs, and solution capabilities. Doing so helps reduce unexpected effort, accelerate delivery timelines, and enable high-value implementation work that delivers measurable results.

SAP Preferred Success also helps simplify the complexity of frequent cloud updates from SAP. Guidance focused on what matters most to each customer helps partners zero in on relevant innovations while enabling smoother implementations, continuous feature adoption, and faster time to value. As a result, customer relationships can grow stronger and new opportunities can naturally emerge.

According to a Forrester Total Economic Impact (TEI) study, SAP Preferred Success reduces internal implementation effort by 10% and release preparation time by 25%. These efficiency gains contribute to a three-year, risk-adjusted value of US$467,000 in savings for the average customer organization.

Enhanced visibility for proactive delivery

SAP Preferred Success can give partners the visibility to better support proactive delivery and identify new service opportunities. With targeted functional insights, partners can spot adoption gaps early, respond to issues before they escalate, and identify areas where customers may benefit from additional capabilities or services.

That approach helps open the door to more meaningful conversations, ranging from solution extensions and new feature adoption to strategic guidance. And the results speak for themselves: Forrester cites that organizations using SAP Preferred Success achieve a 10% faster time to value and reduce implementation timelines by up to one month.

Confidence that sustains long-term growth

By helping to keep projects on track and customers engaged throughout the journey, SAP Preferred Success can build confidence. Consistent and fast access to expert guidance helps ensure fewer disruptions and less risk of costly delays, budget overruns, or unplanned efforts. Moreover, partners can stay focused on making their customers successful.

Forrester reports that customers using SAP Preferred Success experience a 24% boost in user productivity. This empowers partners to move beyond troubleshooting to deepen the adoption of key features and capabilities, even after the customer goes live.

By supporting stronger project continuity and minimizing risk, SAP Preferred Success can enable partners to scale more predictably and build lasting, trust-based customer relationships.

More engagement, more services, more growth

When customers understand how to get the most from their solutions and apply new capabilities to business needs, they see their ROI on SAP solutions increase. Access to prescriptive guidance, tailored enablement, and structured learning paths empower customers to actively participate in their transformation journeys.

This can lead to more frequent interactions with the partner team, more opportunities to demonstrate value, and stronger, lasting relationships. Customers that adopt more features and pursue new goals often require additional services, such as strategy workshops, integration work, or even new solution deployments.

SAP Preferred Success helps create a more predictable and positive customer experience that can support a stronger value journey and can enable stable, recurring revenue streams that partners can rely on. Forrester research shows that customers with SAP Preferred Success have better solution adoption and are more likely to consume a greater share of their licensed capabilities to help achieve business goals.

Furthermore, SAP Preferred Success isn’t one-size-fits-all. It includes tailored elements that partners can integrate into their delivery methods, whether focused on ERP, human capital management, procurement, supply chain, or industry-specific cloud solutions. It’s an adaptable foundation that helps strengthen the customers’ transformation as well as the partners’ client relationships. 

Shared success, scaled impact

At its core, SAP Preferred Success helps unlock the full value of the cloud for customers and partners. It helps partners deliver faster, support smarter, and build stronger relationships that drive long-term customer value.

More important, SAP Preferred Success represents a shift in mindset. It’s a recognition that customer success is a shared effort. With the right tools and collaboration, partners can do more than implement software—they can lead transformation with confidence, continuity, and clarity.

Ready to accelerate your customers’ outcomes with SAP Preferred Success? Contact your SAP partner manager or visit the SAP Partner Portal site for program details and incentives.

Kiron Satyavarapu is global solution owner of SAP Preferred Success at SAP.

The new cloud edition of SAP Customer Checkout provides customers a seamless, efficient, and scalable point-of-sale (POS) solution for the future.

The first cloud edition has been released in alignment with the company’s cloud strategy. Designed for customers in retail, merchandising, catering, and sports and entertainment, SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition offers seamless integration with SAP S/4HANA and other systems. From payments, article handling, and coupons to returns, loyalty points, and gift cards, the solution addresses all comprehensive POS needs.

Evolution of SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition

The development journey of SAP Customer Checkout began in 2014 as on-premise solution with first customers in the sports and merchandising area. As demand grew, the solution expanded into retail and catering businesses, now serving over 900 customers in more than 50 countries worldwide. After more than 10 years, the solution has now advanced to the next stage by moving to the cloud.

“The new cloud edition isn’t just a technological advancement, it’s a beacon for innovation and a catalyst for RISE with SAP,” Andre Bechtold, president of SAP Industries and Experiences, shared. “Already proven in several SAP Experience Centers worldwide and the new S.MART Store, it symbolizes our commitment to driving growth and ushering in digital transformation for our customers. This evolution is opening new avenues, enabling businesses to stay strategic and competitive as the entire POS market and SAP product portfolio transitions to the cloud.”

What’s new in SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition

The cloud edition of SAP Customer Checkout is perfect for businesses seeking a sophisticated, modern POS system and embarking on digital transformation. The solution consists of two components:

• SAP Customer Checkout manager, cloud edition: Cloud-based centralized platform for seamless POS operations and management as well as system integration
• SAP Customer Checkout point-of-sale, cloud edition: Powerful solution running in-store at your POS location to streamline all sales and customer transactions

A key distinction between the on-premise version and the new cloud edition is the deployment of SAP Customer Checkout manager now running on the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), adhering to SAP cloud product standards.

Benefits and why customers should move to the cloud edition

The new cloud edition of SAP Customer Checkout offers the best POS solution of both worlds and leverages the incredible power and flexibility of the cloud. Launching SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition brings numerous benefits.

Harald Tebbe, senior manager and head of Development for SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition, highlighted: “Our approach ensures reliability and local stability at POS locations, coupled with the cloud’s scalability and connectivity. With adherence to SAP cloud standards, businesses will receive continuous updates and feature enhancements, achieving sustained competitiveness and efficiency.”

SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition provides additional the following key benefits to customers: 

• Integrated and future-proof POS technology tailored for the retail, catering, and sports and entertainment industries
• High scalability and flexibility, ensuring to meet growing demands with compromising on performance
• Reliable performance, ensuring continuous business operations with the cloud’s high uptime
• Enhanced efficiency through streamlined POS operations and automatic updates without any disruptions
• Many more features and functionalities, including one complete new user interface for self-checkout, enabling end customers to proceed with sales and payment process by themselves

As of today, new and existing SAP customers can use SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition and will gain access to the SAP Customer Checkout manager, cloud edition.

Upcoming webinar for customers and partners

A webinar will soon be available for customers, partners, and those is interested in learning more about the solution. Register here.

Learn more about SAP Customer Checkout, cloud edition

Elena Vavitsa is senior solution specialist for SAP Customer Checkout at SAP.

In today’s rapidly shifting digital economy, businesses expect more than just reliable software. They demand seamless implementation, fast resolutions, and, above all, outcomes that drive value. Whether you’re a customer managing complex SAP landscapes or a partner delivering SAP solutions, knowing how to navigate SAP’s support offerings is no longer optional—it’s essential.

This is where Support Accreditation can step in. Designed as an easy-to-consume training, Support Accreditation helps equip you with the knowledge and confidence to make full use of SAP’s powerful support ecosystem. And the best part? It’s available to all customers and partners at no additional cost.

What is Support Accreditation?

At its core, Support Accreditation is a self-paced online course that helps demystify the tools, services, and methodologies within SAP’s support landscape. With four digestible modules, interactive quizzes, how-to videos, and one-page summaries, it can deliver clarity in a space that often feels complex and fragmented.

Upon completion, learners earn a digital Support Accreditation badge—a mark of proficiency and confidence that can be showcased on social media or used to enhance your professional profile.

“Understanding SAP’s support landscape shouldn’t be a mystery. Support Accreditation gives you the clarity and confidence to lead with impact,” said Anja Schneider, SVP and global head of Premium Engagement & Advisory, SAP.

Recent updates that make it even better

SAP continuously evolves the accreditation to reflect the dynamic nature of cloud support. Recent updates include:

• A new AI-guided support module covers how SAP leverages large-language models and AI to help drive predictive, real-time support. You’ll learn how tools like Incident Solution Matching and AI-based recommendations can improve response times and accuracy.
• An enhanced focus on 24/7 support structures teaches you how to engage with SAP’s global support organization across different channels and time zones.
• The expanded coverage of SAP Cloud ALM showcases how to manage implementation and operations more effectively using a cloud-native, out-of-the-box solution.
• In-depth guidance on SAP for Me details how SAP’s personalized digital companion can provide transparency and control across all touchpoints—from licenses to lifecycle management and support interactions.

Whether you’re scheduling an expert, chatting in real-time with SAP support engineers, or using SAP for Me to get a consolidated view of your landscape, Support Accreditation helps ensure you know how to make the most of these resources.

“Support is more than solving issues. It’s about enabling outcomes. This accreditation empowers you to do just that,” said Augusto Spinelli, EVP and global head of Adoption Services Center, SAP.

Why it matters for customers and partners

Let’s face it—even the best digital tools fall short without the right enablement. Many organizations aren’t fully aware of all the support resources available to them, leading to longer resolution times, missed opportunities, and frustration.

Support Accreditation helps bridge that gap. Customers can learn how to accelerate resolution times, engage effectively with support teams, and use self-service tools to reduce case volumes. Partners can gain a competitive edge by delivering projects and managed services aligned with SAP best practices.

“The future of support is proactive, intelligent, and business-driven. This accreditation empowers you to lead that future,” said Stefan Steinle, EVP, global head of Customer Support & Cloud Lifecycle Management.

Over 5,000 success stories and counting

Each year, more than 5,000 customers and partners complete the Support Accreditation course. The average course rating? A near-perfect 4.75 out of 5. It’s not just useful; it’s loved. And because the course is updated regularly, SAP recommends refreshing your badge once a year to stay aligned with the latest tools and best practices.

Whether you’re new to SAP or a seasoned consultant, there’s never been a better time to invest a couple of hours in a course that will pay dividends across every support interaction you have.

Ready to take the next step?

Join the thousands already leading with confidence. Start your journey with Support Accreditation today on SAP Learning.

Oliver Huschke is VP of External Engagements, Customer Support, and Cloud Lifecycle Management at SAP.

Business travel is up in the air. The toss-up between cost-savings, employee safety, and the value of in-person interaction is an ongoing boardroom debate. In the age of virtual calls, many employees are desperate to hit the road, while others prefer to conduct their business via digital channels.

Whichever side of the fence you fall on, business travel remains vital to build working relationships and drive growth. Yet, there are certain topics relating to company travel initiatives that don’t have full stakeholder agreement. To understand the perspectives, challenges, and opportunities, it’s vital that leaders know where the disconnects lie.

The seventh annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey asked 3,750 business travelers, 700 travel managers, and 600 chief financial officers (CFOs) about friction points in business travel. These are the main areas where we found some disagreement.

The need for business travel

The overwhelming majority (94%) of business travelers believe travel is helpful, if not essential, to success in their roles. Yet, 43% of CFOs say more than half of their company’s business travel could effectively be replaced by teleconferencing or other communication methods that don’t require travel. A third (33%) of travel managers view the tilt towards virtual meeting options as a direct threat to their company’s business travel.

Employee willingness to travel

There’s a disconnect over a perceived lack of enthusiasm to travel. Seventy percent of business travelers are very willing to travel over the next 12 months, marking an increase from 67% in 2023. Yet, this optimism is not universally shared within organizations. Thirty-five percent of travel managers view employees’ unwillingness as a potential threat to business travel and nearly half (45%) of CFOs believe employee reluctance or refusal to travel could negatively impact company health within the next year. While many employees are very willing to hit the road, concerns remain among CFOs and travel managers about whether travel enthusiasm is widespread enough to fully support business goals.

Changes in travel budgets

Each role has a different view on how travel budgets are evolving. Nearly half (48%) of business travelers are worried that their company’s travel budgets will remain stagnant or decrease this year. On the bright side, only 24% of CFOs and 22% of travel managers say budgets will be reduced or stay the same—suggesting a disconnect between employee fears and management’s financial outlook.

The roles that hold the most influence

There’s a perception gap over who influences business travel decision-making. Business travelers believe travel managers (37%) and CFOs (36%) have similar influence, significantly ahead of their own at 28%. However, travel managers are broadly aligned in feeling they (43%) have nearly the same amount of influence as CFOs (41%), compared to only 16% for business travelers. CFOs strongly disagree, with 69% believing they are the most influential decision-makers, significantly ahead of travel managers (21%) and travelers (9%).

The impact of budget limitations

Although they see travel as critical to their roles, two-thirds (66%) of business travelers say important trips have been curtailed due to costs. In alignment, 69% of travel managers believe their company travel budget fails to reflect the importance of business travel to their organization’s success. And whilst CFOs acknowledge the problem, there’s dissent in the ranks. Fifty-one percent of CFOs somewhat agree that budget limitations stop employees from traveling as much as they need to do their jobs well, while just 29% strongly agree.

How data can help to solve the business travel debate

These findings highlight the different perceptions between travelers, travel managers, and CFOs, for the first time in our SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey. To empower employees to develop professionally and create new opportunities on the road, it’s vital that every role in the organization aligns on common goals.

Bridging these gaps requires more than dialogue—it demands visibility. Organizations need a shared source of truth to understand behaviors, align priorities, and make informed decisions. Integrated travel and expense solutions offer companies the data and insights they need to steer their travel programs and budgets in a complex multi-stakeholder environment. SAP Concur solutions can help analyze employee spend, drive cost-savings, and ensure efficient business travel.

Explore more insights in the seventh annual SAP Concur Global Business Travel Survey.

Charlie Sultan is president of Concur Travel at SAP Concur.

The SAP Concur Global Business Traveler Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between April 30 and May 12, 2025, among 3,750 business travelers in 24 markets: U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Benelux (Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg), Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Italy, Spain, ANZ (Australia, New Zealand), Middle East (UAE, Saudi Arabia), Japan, Korea, India, Mexico, Brazil, SEA (Singapore, Malaysia), South Africa, Portugal, Switzerland, and Austria.
The SAP Concur Global Travel Manager Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between April 30 and May 12, 2025, among 700 travel managers, defined as those who direct or administer travel programs for businesses, across seven markets: Germany, Italy, Canada, Japan, ANZ (Australia, New Zealand), UK, and U.S.
The SAP Concur Global CFO Survey was conducted by Wakefield Research between April 30 and May 12, 2025, among 600 CFOs across six markets: Germany, Canada, Japan, ANZ (Australia, New Zealand), UK, and U.S.