For many years, SAP Business Suite was synonymous with the seamless interaction of modular enterprise applications – with the aim of mapping key business processes end-to-end. In this construct, SAP ERP functioned as the core system of an integrated platform that bundled different software components. With the introduction of SAP S/4HANA, SAP Business Suite was initially absorbed into the new ERP generation.
SAP is now reviving the familiar terminology and shifting the approach from the on-premise world to the cloud. The new SAP Business Suite consists of the Cloud ERP system, SAP Business AI, and SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC), while SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) ensures the seamless integration of the components and applications involved. The modular interaction of the components is designed to enable companies to benefit in particular from the associated added value.
Artificial intelligence (AI) is a new feature of SAP Business Suite 2.0. The promise is to combine AI, data, and applications in ways never seen before. With the help of SAP Business Suite, companies have the opportunity to break down existing silos, standardize their system landscape, and map business processes end-to-end. The path thus leads from isolated individual products to an integrated, AI-supported platform.
Accordingly, SAP S/4HANA is no longer available as a stand-alone solution, but in combination with complementary LoB solutions (LoB = Line of Business). In addition to SAP S/4HANA Cloud (as Private Edition or Public Edition), the various SAP Business Suite packages include specific applications tailored to the relevant business departments. For example, ready-to-use best practice processes are available for finance, supply chain, human resources, procurement, sales, and service.
SAP Business AI plays a key role in integrating AI into applications and business processes. The AI agents in SAP Joule use their intelligent functionalities to accelerate processes and increase productivity. SAP Joule understands the business context and supports workflows in the business departments with tailored actions. With the help of SAP Business AI, business processes can be optimized and automated with industry-specific best practices, resulting in greater accuracy and improved efficiency.
The possible applications of SAP Business AI range from recommendations for specific courses of action to the automation of repetitive tasks. AI’s greatest strength lies in generating new insights and recommendations based on the evaluation of huge amounts of internal and external data. Each AI assistant is designed to support users in their specific role within the company. At the same time, the AI agents also work together across functions to tackle complex company-wide challenges.
Within the SAP Business Suite framework, SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) provides a central database that bundles and harmonizes data from SAP and non-SAP systems. This enables SAP BDC to deliver critical insights across all lines of business. Organizations can better cope with economic and geopolitical uncertainties because they have transparency about what is happening within the company and in their network. Users access all relevant data in the form of data products, while maintaining the business context. SAP BDC enables data-driven decisions by providing relevant information in a consistent and context-sensitive manner.
The seamless interaction of AI, data, and applications enables SAP Business Suite to make smarter business decisions. Its key features include a combination of powerful cloud applications and a semantically rich, harmonized data layer, as well as the provision of high-quality AI functions in a unified environment. In SAP Business Suite, all application modules are interlinked. The benefits for companies include better business results thanks to end-to-end processes and the targeted promotion of innovation.
Choosing SAP Business Suite means making a future-proof architecture decision. The Cloud ERP applications integrate best practice processes, AI, and industry-specific solutions to meet the individual requirements of different industries. SAP Business AI brings powerful artificial intelligence directly into business processes and integrates it seamlessly into SAP applications – tailored to the context of the company’s data. The AI assistant Joule supports daily tasks, provides proactive recommendations, and increases process efficiency.