SAP Sapphire 2025 made one thing clear: enterprise IT is shifting from rigid systems to adaptable, AI-powered platforms and SAP is leading that shift. With announcements touching every layer of the stack, from data integration to ERP modernization and intelligent automation, the event marked a major step forward for organizations navigating digital transformation.
A standout move was the rebranding of RISE with SAP. It now falls under the name SAP Cloud ERP Private Edition, reflecting a more streamlined and modular approach to cloud ERP.
Here are the key announcements that matter for SAP users, IT leaders, and digital transformation teams.
1. RISE with SAP is Now SAP Cloud ERP Private Edition
One of the most significant updates was the renaming and repositioning of RISE with SAP. Going forward, it will be known as the SAP Cloud ERP Private edition — a comprehensive offering designed for large enterprises looking to move to the cloud at their own pace while maintaining a clean core.
This package includes:
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Modernized SAP S/4HANA Cloud capabilities (private deployment)
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Embedded transformation tools and services
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Support for extensibility, analytics, and clean core principles
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Industry-specific packages tailored to business needs
SAP is emphasizing flexibility and faster time-to-value, making it easier for customers to scale cloud ERP with less friction and more control.
For IT-Conductor users, this evolution speaks directly to the need for visibility and automation across hybrid landscapes where traditional SAP systems now coexist with modern, cloud-native components.
2. Joule Expands as SAP’s Enterprise AI Copilot
SAP continues to double down on AI with Joule, its generative AI copilot now integrated across more SAP applications and touchpoints. Joule provides contextual recommendations, automates workflows, and helps users navigate systems faster — all using natural language.
At Sapphire, SAP announced:
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Broader Joule integration across SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SuccessFactors, and Customer Experience
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Developer tools under the SAP AI Foundation, including Joule Studio, Knowledge Graph, and AI Hub
This positions SAP not just as an application provider, but as a platform for intelligent business process orchestration.
3. Embedded Automation and Low-Code Process Design
The SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) received notable upgrades, with expanded automation capabilities now available through new AI agent builders and low-code environments.
Use cases shown at Sapphire 2025 included:
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Automated incident routing and resolution
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Guided HR workflows via SAP SuccessFactors and WalkMe
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Event-based automation driven by business signals
This continued investment into automation complements the growing complexity of SAP environments and supports IT-Conductor’s mission to orchestrate, monitor, and automate end-to-end processes.
4. Business Data Cloud and Unified Intelligence
SAP’s Business Data Cloud took a more prominent role this year as a unified environment where structured and unstructured data from SAP and third-party systems can coexist and power analytics and AI.
Updates included:
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Native support for industry data models
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Integration with hyperscalers and third-party sources
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Launch of intelligent applications like Spend Control Tower and People Insights
These tools enable real-time monitoring of performance, compliance, and forecasting — areas where IT-Conductor users can overlay their operational data to drive proactive action.
5. Ecosystem Collaboration and AI Partnerships
SAP also revealed partnerships aimed at making its AI more context-aware. For example, collaboration with Perplexity AI will allow external data sources to enrich SAP's core data for enhanced decision-making. This supports SAP’s vision of interoperable AI agents that connect across vendors and platforms.
6. SAP Cloud ALM: Central to the New Transformation Strategy
SAP Cloud ALM (CALM) took a more strategic role at Sapphire 2025 as SAP revealed how it will support customers across the entire cloud transformation lifecycle from planning and scoping to execution and post-go-live operations.
Key announcements include:
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New Project Workspace Features: CALM now enables multiple, combinable transformation roadmaps, allowing customers to plan across various lines of business using a unified view. This helps orchestrate S/4HANA migrations, modular ERP adoption, and BTP use cases more effectively.
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AI Integration Coming Q3 2025: As part of the evolving RISE Methodology, SAP announced that Joule AI will be embedded into CALM to offer 24/7 expert-level assistance, actionable insights, and even automation of certain project tasks, a big leap toward intelligent project management.
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Transition Guidance Orchestration: CALM will serve as a core layer in SAP's new transition guidance app, integrating with SAP Signavio, LeanIX, and Joule to coordinate tools, assets, and services throughout the transformation journey.
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Security and Testing Enhancements: As part of broader platform improvements, SAP Cloud ALM will also support new testing, compliance, and security use cases for SAP Cloud ERP Private Edition, ensuring system integrity as customers modernize.
What This Means for You
The rebranding of RISE to SAP Cloud ERP Private Edition is more than just a name change. It represents SAP’s move toward simplified, modular transformation, giving organizations more control over how and when they modernize. Combined with deeper AI integration, enhanced automation, and real-time data platforms, the SAP ecosystem is becoming more intelligent and agile.
At IT-Conductor, we see this as a natural fit with our platform’s purpose: to provide real-time observability, proactive automation, and orchestrated operations for SAP and hybrid environments. As the enterprise landscape becomes more dynamic, the need for intelligent control is greater than ever.
SAP Sapphire 2025 wasn’t just about new features, it was about rethinking the path to transformation. With SAP Cloud ERP Private edition, Joule AI, and an evolving data foundation, SAP is giving customers tools to modernize without losing what makes their systems resilient.
As your SAP systems evolve, IT-Conductor is ready to help you monitor smarter, automate faster, and transform with confidence.