AI is Not a Surefire Success: 5 Impulses to Unlock Its Potential

No success can be achieved with breakthrough technology alone. There must be people who use it properly. So far, so good. And yet, companies continue to overlook this. They invest massively in new software and systems, but in most cases, they barely exploit their full potential.

I had observed this contradiction long before the possibilities of artificial intelligence (AI) became a hot topic. Even before everyone started talking about AI, a significant portion of the new functions available in ERP solutions, for example, remained underutilized. Automation, integrated analytics, smart workflows – all these features have been available for a long time but are rarely applied consistently.

The cloud has amplified this pattern. With SAP Cloud ERP (formerly: SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition), SAP delivers innovations automatically and reliably with every new release. But companies hardly notice them. This means that while technology continues to evolve, its use has not progressed at the same pace.

1. AI – Technological maturity does not automatically translate into benefits

Understandably, many companies are working hard to use AI. They invest in technology fundamentals such as data quality, integration, and infrastructure. That’s important, but it’s not enough.

The crucial question is not, “Are we technically prepared?” but rather, “How do we use what we already have?” Even where AI has long been integrated – such as in SAP Joule, embedded AI within SAP Cloud ERP and other solutions, or intelligent agents – it doesn’t automatically guarantee benefits. Why? Because no one is taking responsibility for the specific use of AI, setting priorities, or translating technology into tangible value.

2. The problem lies in the organization, not the software

SAP provides its cloud ERP customers with numerous tools that make it easier for them to leverage innovation. Tools such as the Release Assessment and Scope Dependency (RASD) or the SAP Discovery Center clearly demonstrate the available features of SAP Cloud ERP.

But who checks the status regularly? Who evaluates which innovations are relevant? And who ensures that specialist departments truly capitalize on these opportunities? Technologically, most companies have long been ready, but organizationally, they are not. The software can do more than the company allows.

3. AI and SAP Cloud ERP: Innovative technology must be part of everyday business

SAP Cloud ERP is not a project that you complete and check off; rather, it is a system that needs ongoing development. With every release, new feature, and process improvement, it grows and evolves.

Successful companies understand: Innovation doesn’t end with the go-live. They regularly check for new functions and establish routines to utilize them actively. They measure which features add value, for example, using solutions such as SAP Signavio Process Intelligence or WalkMe. This is the only way technology will become an integral part of everyday business, rather than just a component of the IT environment.

4. The right consulting partner makes the difference

Technology provides the potential, but it’s the IT consulting and implementation partner who translates it into real impact. A good partner doesn’t disappear after the go-live; they remain an active supporter – acting as a consultant, sparring partner, and driver for innovation.

Our role as a partner is to make innovation visible, prioritize the relevant use cases, and ensure that functions are used systematically. That’s when the cloud becomes the foundation of a company’s success.

5. Those who understand the cloud understand the future

SAP Cloud ERP continuously delivers innovation, release by release. Those who keep pace with these developments and integrate the innovations into their processes in a targeted way will gain a significant competitive edge. The future doesn’t depend on who implements modern software, but on who uses its capabilities to the fullest.

Decision-makers should therefore ask themselves these three questions:

• Are we exploiting the potential of our systems?
• Have we defined clear responsibilities for their targeted application?
• Are we using our systems as they were designed, or are we following the usual procedures?

New technology, whether it’s SAP Cloud ERP or AI, is never guaranteed success. Its value doesn’t come from implementation alone but from consistent, strategic use of its full potential. And that’s where technology ends – and leadership begins.