I first walked into SAP TechEd in 2008, excited about GRC and the promise of data analytics. Fast forward to 2025, and SAP TechEd Berlin felt like a glimpse into an entirely new enterprise reality powered by AI and automation. One thing was abundantly clear: AI and automation are rapidly reshaping how enterprises build, connect, and extend their SAP environments. The agenda was dominated by discussions on SAP Joule, AI agents, the Business Data Cloud, and the evolution of SAP’s developer ecosystem. It was inspiring to witness the momentum and maturity behind these technologies. Yet, one recurring theme echoed throughout the week: data is still the foundation.
I first walked into SAP TechEd in 2008, excited about GRC and the promise of data analytics. Fast forward to 2025, and SAP TechEd Berlin felt like a glimpse into an entirely new enterprise reality powered by AI and automation. The contrast couldn’t be starker.
SAP TechEd 2025 in Berlin made one thing abundantly clear: AI and automation are rapidly reshaping how enterprises build, connect, and extend their SAP environments. The agenda was dominated by discussions on SAP Joule, AI agents, the Business Data Cloud, and the evolution of SAP’s developer ecosystem.
It was inspiring to witness the momentum and maturity behind these technologies. Yet, one recurring theme echoed throughout the week: data is still the foundation.
What really struck me at TechEd was the momentum and maturity behind these technologies; it was genuinely inspiring to see. But throughout the week, one theme kept coming back to me: no matter how advanced AI gets, or how sophisticated automation and integration frameworks become, it all comes back to data. The quality, structure, and connectedness of data are what make, or break, success. Without it, even the most cutting-edge tools can only go so far
Here are my five key takeaways from TechEd Berlin – and why they matter for every organisation planning its next SAP transformation.
1. AI is no longer an add-on; it’s part of SAP’s core
AI isn’t just an add-on anymore, it’s becoming part of the very core of SAP. Walking through TechEd, I saw that SAP Joule isn’t just a concept or a preview; it’s already woven into the day-to-day SAP experience. AI agents are starting to interact with users, surface insights, and even automate actions. The idea of the ‘intelligent enterprise’ is no longer just a vision, it’s happening right now.
But the more AI becomes embedded, the more I realised how critical the underlying data really is. AI can only enhance decisions if the information feeding it is accurate, consistent, and relevant. That means making sure the right data is accessible to the right processes at the right time.
For SAP customers, this isn’t just an IT project, it’s a responsibility that spans the entire business. AI adoption is going to force some of the data conversations that many organisations have been putting off for years, and that’s both exciting and challenging to witness firsthand.
2. The Business Data Cloud is emerging as SAP’s new data backbone
At TechEd, the Business Data Cloud really stood out as SAP’s new data backbone. It connects SAP and non-SAP data across the enterprise, giving AI, automation, and analytics the context they need to actually deliver value. For me, it highlighted that data isn’t just a supporting element, it’s the foundation of everything SAP is doing.
The key takeaway? No matter how advanced the technology, success depends on the quality, structure, and accessibility of data. Organisations leading the way are using this moment to clean, harmonise, and govern their data so AI and analytics can thrive. Seeing this focus on getting the data right first really reinforced that in SAP transformations, data always comes first.
3. Integration and clean-core strategies are non-negotiable
One thing was clear at TechEd: integration and a clean-core strategy are non-negotiable. The SAP Integration Suite is now the connective tissue linking systems, data, and processes, while clean-core practices keep environments lean and flexible through side-by-side extensions and APIs.
But here’s the catch: integration and automation only work if the underlying data is solid. You can’t connect what’s misaligned or automate what’s incomplete. For me, this reinforced that a clean core isn’t just about reducing custom code, it’s about building a consistent, unified data foundation that makes everything else possible.
4. Developer enablement is accelerating – but readiness still matters
One of the most exciting trends at TechEd this year was SAP’s growing focus on developer experience. With tools like SAP Build, Build Code, and low-code/no-code extensions, innovation is being unlocked at every level, from business users to professional developers.
For many organisations, this is a game-changer: faster delivery, less reliance on niche skills, and more responsive digital initiatives. But as I saw throughout the week, speed without structure can quickly turn into chaos. The more solutions teams build, the more critical data design, governance, and quality control become.
For me, the takeaway is clear: agility only works when it sits on a strong, standardised data foundation. The organisations that get this balance right, freedom to innovate supported by solid data, are the ones that will truly succeed
5. Data remains the constant
Across every theme at TechEd, AI, automation, integration, and developer enablement, one thing stood out: data readiness is the true enabler of transformation. Without it, even the most advanced tools can’t deliver their full value.
At EPI-USE Labs, this is exactly where we focus. With our PRISM solution, we help organisations prepare, align, and move their SAP data with precision, making the intelligent enterprise vision a reality. Whether it’s Test Data Management, migrations, carve-outs, mergers, or consolidations, we help businesses move forward without disrupting operations.
By combining deep SAP expertise with intelligent automation, PRISM gives clients confidence that their data won’t hold them back. In short, we make it easier to move with SAP, faster, cleaner, and with less risk.
What this means for your SAP data strategy
What really struck me at TechEd this year is that SAP’s message is both ambitious and achievable. The technology is ready, the AI vision is clear, and developer tools are more accessible than ever.
But as I walked through the sessions and demos, one truth kept coming back: transformation success still depends on the foundation beneath it. And for most organisations, that foundation is data. How well it can be adapted, connected, and trusted as the business changes is what really drives agility.
Whether you’re preparing for S/4HANA, managing a merger or divestiture, or supporting rapid reorganisation, the ability to move and reshape data quickly and accurately is what separates organisations that can innovate confidently from those that get stuck.
How PRISM makes possibilities achievable in practice
What I realised at TechEd is how much is now possible with SAP AI, automation, the Business Data Cloud, and developer tools are all ready to drive transformation. But as exciting as these innovations are, their success still depends on one thing: having the right data foundation.
That’s where our work at EPI-USE Labs comes in. PRISM, our proven solution for intelligent SAP data transformation, combines deep technical expertise with automation to help organisations simplify their landscapes, harmonise data, and accelerate outcomes, whether it’s a system consolidation, cloud migration, merger, acquisition, or carve-out. It ensures data is clean, connected, and ready for innovation.
In short, PRISM helps make the possibilities showcased at TechEd achievable in practice, so organisations can move faster, reduce risk, and realise the intelligent enterprise vision with confidence.
