The global and independent platform for the SAP community.
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Cover story April 2024

SAP Basis with Cloud ALM, on-prem
and licenses.

Salzburg 2024: Hana and S/4 also need a robust SAP basis. The Customer Competence Center of SAP R/3 and Business Suite 7 is transforming itself with ALM, process mining and enterprise architects. The SAP Competence Center Summit in Salzburg is dedicated to this transformation process.

TO THE COVER STORY
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Cover Story, October 2026

Value-Add-in

GIB CEO Björn Dunkel is leading the company into a new era of procurement and logistics with AI and Clean Core. Due to geopolitical upheavals, volatile markets, and the pressure to migrate to S/4, the transformation of supply chains has evolved from a mere efficiency task into a matter of survival for existing SAP customers. In this arena, software specialist GIB has possessed a successful core competency for decades.

To the current cover story incl. podcast in DE, EN, ES and FR
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Human Resources: Business Value Instead of Code

October 8, 2026
Gerald Zaynard-Schmid, Snap Consulting
Exponential growth has already overwhelmed us humans since the invention of chess. But thanks to adapted skill sets, we remain relevant even in the face of highly complex AI.
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Thinking from Sales to Operations

October 7, 2026
Marco Messinger, Nagarro
Expectations for customer service are high—and are often not met. This hurts business. A clear starting point helps: understand the current level of maturity, identify opportunities, and prioritize relevant use cases. This is how to take a pragmatic first step toward a better customer experience.
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The Silent Devaluation of Middle Management

October 6, 2026
Frank Rechsteiner
Many companies still talk about AI as if it were just another efficiency tool. They focus on higher productivity, automated processes, lower costs, and faster workflows. But this perspective falls short. AI doesn't just change individual tasks or workflows.
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Freedom in Walldorf

October 5, 2026
Peter M. Färbinger, E3 Magazine
When taken to their logical conclusion—the Business AI Platform, the Autonomous Enterprise, and the Knowledge Graph—these technologies open up the possibility for existing SAP customers to transition away from S/4HANA: an SAP without SAP.
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What Modern Data Architectures Require Today

October 2, 2026
Dieter Schmitt, Theobald Software
Today, SAP data integration must do more than simply provide data: What is needed is up-to-date, traceable data, open architectures, and the integration of data and processes across system boundaries as the foundation for a flexible and robust data and process architecture.
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Waiting for EU Inc.

October 1, 2026
E3 Magazine
The new legal structure known as „EU Inc.“ enjoys broad support among founders. Six out of ten (62 percent) would establish their next startup as an EU Inc. This is the result of a survey conducted by Bitkom Research among 102 tech startups in Germany.
The election of a new DSAG CEO marks the end of Jens Hungershausen’s successful tenure. DSAG members are now called upon to chart a new course: a positive partnership with SAP is balanced by a constructive yet critical discussion of ERP.
To close the functional gaps in its own data portfolio and prevent existing customers from migrating to generic cloud platforms, SAP has designed the BDC as an open ecosystem and established partnerships with third-party providers.
The fundamental risk of the SAP Autonomous Enterprise lies in the contradiction between how artificial intelligence works and the mathematical nature of an ERP system.

Comments

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Exponential growth has already overwhelmed us humans since the invention of chess. But thanks to adapted skill sets, we remain relevant even in the face of highly complex AI.
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October 5, 2026

Freedom in Walldorf

When taken to their logical conclusion—the Business AI Platform, the Autonomous Enterprise, and the Knowledge Graph—these technologies open up the possibility for existing SAP customers to transition away from S/4HANA: an SAP without SAP.
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September 28, 2026

SAP Sales: Big Versus Small

Opinions clash at the SAP roundtable: It’s clear that SAP treats its existing customers very differently. Discounts, perks, and price reductions are handed out almost arbitrarily.
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Modern IT environments combine SAP systems with various Linux distributions. Agentic AI and the Model Context Protocol now enable the secure, automated management of these complex environments using natural language.

SAP News

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Boomi's vendor-neutral positioning is proving to be a disruptive alternative to the proprietary standardization doctrine of the global ERP market leader in today's SAP market.
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In June 2026, U.S. export controls on powerful Frontier models such as „Fable“ and „Mythos“ made clear what many companies had previously underestimated: Leading AI capabilities for cyberattacks and cyberdefense are no longer a freely available resource.
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A roundtable discussion hosted by E3 Magazine—streamed on YouTube—featuring licensing experts Myrja Schumacher of DLC, Andreas Knab of Soterion, and Lorenz Müller of HiSolutions reveals many pitfalls and areas in need of improvement in the SAP ERP universe.
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To provide targeted support to companies in implementing the requirements of the EU Packaging Regulation (PPWR), NTT Data is expanding its BTP-based solution, Sustainability Data Simplified.

Business Management

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Today, SAP data integration must do more than simply provide data: What is needed is up-to-date, traceable data, open architectures, and the integration of data and processes across system boundaries as the foundation for a flexible and robust data and process architecture.
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When an SAP transaction stalls, the impact extends far beyond the software itself. Order-to-cash processes can be delayed, service levels can be compromised, and supply chains can come under pressure. At the same time, it’s harder to pinpoint the causes because SAP environments have long since become hybrid.
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Global Standard for Material Creation and Maintenance as Part of the SAP S/4HANA Implementation: With Apicon Data Master, the Scherdel technology group is establishing complete material master data and transparent, streamlined processes.
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September 1, 2026

Unleashed Potential

The integrated toolchain is a component of the Rise methodology designed to support migration to the cloud. What it can do, how artificial intelligence can reduce effort, and how agents can be coordinated securely.

IT Management

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Expectations for customer service are high—and are often not met. This hurts business. A clear starting point helps: understand the current level of maturity, identify opportunities, and prioritize relevant use cases. This is how to take a pragmatic first step toward a better customer experience.
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Software consumes electricity. Especially in large SAP systems, inefficient lines of code add up to massive energy wasters. The „Green ABAP“ concept outlines concrete steps toward a system landscape that is both sustainable and high-performing.
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In 2016, Mercedes-Benz faced a challenge that was both strategically and technically complex. The existing GSSclassic—a central SAP system used to map international trading processes—was becoming outdated. Going forward, the company’s IT department will rely on S/4.
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September 22, 2026

Rise for SAP Add-ons

As is well known, SAP allows users to choose from a variety of SAP operating models. However, customers are looking for SAP Basis automation solutions in the form of „non-SAP add-ons.“ These are now available for Rise for SAP as well.

Economy

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October 1, 2026

Waiting for EU Inc.

The new legal structure known as „EU Inc.“ enjoys broad support among founders. Six out of ten (62 percent) would establish their next startup as an EU Inc. This is the result of a survey conducted by Bitkom Research among 102 tech startups in Germany.
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Accenture AI Progress Barometer: European companies have improved their AI readiness over the past six months, yet North American firms remain ahead. Smaller companies could fall behind.
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Artificial intelligence and digital technologies will be at the top of the agenda for German companies in 2026. As technology evolves, the importance of cybersecurity is also growing. At the same time, issues such as performance and competitiveness are coming into sharper focus.
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Artificial intelligence and digital technologies will be at the top of the agenda for German companies in 2026. As technology evolves, the importance of cybersecurity is also growing. At the same time, issues such as performance and competitiveness are coming into sharper focus.

People Management

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E3 Book Recommendations

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Schrödinger Programs ABAP
A Reference Book with a Difference

Schrödinger already knows a little bit about programming, but ABAP—as he notes—is a world of its own. That’s why Roland Schwaiger is now teaching him everything: from the basics to ABAP Objects to modern cloud development.
Sometimes Schrödinger's head is spinning from all the data types, classes, and function modules. But thanks to plenty of exercises and tips, he soon gets the hang of it.
I bet you do, too?

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RETHINKING MARKETING - A Call for a New Mindset and Bold Action

With *Rethinking Marketing*, editors Oliver Klein and Wolfgang Merkle present an anthology that consistently views marketing as a strategic value driver. The contributions from renowned practitioners and experts demonstrate how companies can respond to changing customer expectations, digitalization, and the use of AI. The message is particularly relevant for SAP users: modern technologies only realize their full potential when accompanied by a clear marketing strategy and a consistent focus on the customer. The book combines insightful ideas with practical examples and encourages readers to critically examine established processes. Rather than offering simple, one-size-fits-all solutions, it provides diverse perspectives on the future of marketing. A highly recommended read for executives and decision-makers who want to more closely integrate marketing, data, and technology and position their companies for the future.

Order here

Working on the SAP basis is crucial for successful S/4 conversion. 

This gives the Competence Center strategic importance for existing SAP customers. Regardless of the S/4 Hana operating model, topics such as Automation, Monitoring, Security, Application Lifecycle Management and Data Management the basis for S/4 operations.

For the fourth time, E3 magazine is organizing a summit for the SAP community in Salzburg to provide comprehensive information on all aspects of S/4 Hana groundwork.

Venue

FourSide Hotel Salzburg,
Trademark Collection by Wyndham
Am Messezentrum 2, 5020 Salzburg, Austria
+43-662-4355460

Event date

Wednesday, June 10, and
Thursday, June 11, 2026

AI experience workshop only on June 11, 2026 (limited places)
Bonus: Access to all lectures on June 11, 2026

Regular ticket

Lectures, evening event and, depending on availability, the AI workshop on June 11, 2026
Places at the AI experience workshop are limited and registration is required.

Subscribers to the E3 Magazine Ticket

reduced with promocode CCAbo26

Students*

reduced with promocode CCStud26.
Please send proof of studies by e-mail to office@b4bmedia.net.
*The first 10 tickets are free of charge for students. Try your luck! 🍀
EUR 305 excl. VAT.
EUR 590 excl. VAT
EUR 390 excl. VAT
EUR 290 excl. VAT

Venue

Hotel Hilton Heidelberg
Kurfürstenanlage 1
D-69115 Heidelberg

Event date

Wednesday, April 22 and
Thursday, April 23, 2026

Tickets

AI onlyExperience workshop on April 23, 2026 
Bonus: Access to all lectures on April 23, 2026
Regular ticket
April 22, 2026: Lectures and evening event
April 23, 2026: Lectures and AI workshop
EUR 305 excl. VAT
EUR 590 excl. VAT
Subscribers to the E3 magazine
reduced with promocode STAbo26
EUR 390 excl. VAT
Students*
reduced with promocode STStud26.
Please send proof of studies by e-mail to office@b4bmedia.net.
EUR 290 excl. VAT
*The first 10 tickets are free of charge for students. Try your luck! 🍀
The event is organized by the E3 magazine of the publishing house B4Bmedia.net AG. The presentations will be accompanied by an exhibition of selected SAP partners. The ticket price includes attendance at all presentations of the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2026, a visit to the exhibition area, participation in the evening event and catering during the official program. The lecture program and the list of exhibitors and sponsors (SAP partners) will be published on this website in due course.