Autonomous Enterprise
We make SAP business processes ready for agents – from process clarity and the data foundation to secure productive operations.
With the Autonomous Enterprise, SAP has set a target vision that companies cannot simply switch on. The value is not created in the agent itself, but in its preparation, embedding, safeguarding and scaling in the real business process.
From process exception to controlled autonomous decision.
What SAP processes usually lack today to be ready for agents
Not every bad process should be made autonomous. Some processes first have to be standardised or abolished – otherwise you are not automating the value stream, but the existing inefficiency. Often there is not even a uniform definition of "customer", "supplier", "order", "exception" or "approved".
Standardised processes
Reliable master data
Clear roles and decision rights
Suitable APIs and events
Sufficient clean core capability
Controlled extensions instead of modifications grown over time
A governance model for agents
01
Target vision vs. reality
SAP has set an ambitious target vision. In SAP user companies, we encounter a different starting point – and that is exactly where the real work begins.
Foundation
SAP's target vision: SAP Business AI Platform, Business Data Cloud and Knowledge Graph as the foundation.
Reality at customers: some of the building blocks are available, others are in early adopter programmes or a staggered rollout.
Application layer
SAP's target vision: Joule, Joule Studio and the Autonomous Suite as the application layer.
Reality at customers: processes, master data, APIs and authorisations are rarely ready for agents.
Assistants and agents
SAP's target vision: more than 50 domain-specific Joule Assistants and more than 200 specialised agents.
Reality at customers: clean core capability and controlled extensibility are often missing.
Management agenda
SAP's target vision: high visibility in management, noticeable willingness to invest.
Reality at customers: no governance model for agents that change data or carry out actions.
Our key message
The Autonomous Enterprise is not a finished product that can be activated, but a strategic umbrella over several SAP technologies and transformation disciplines.
That is why the value is not created by the agent itself, but by its preparation, embedding, safeguarding and scaling in the real business process.
02
Autonomy maturity model
Autonomous does not mean without people. Instead of an all-or-nothing discussion, we assess every process on a scale and define the economically sensible degree of autonomy.
Level 1 · Assisted
AI answers questions, makes suggestions or summarises information.
Decisions and execution remain entirely with people.
Level 2 · Agent-supported
An agent carries out clearly defined tasks.
Usually with human approval.
Level 3 · Orchestrated
Several agents and systems coordinate an end-to-end process.
Across system and departmental boundaries.
Level 4 · Limited autonomy to closed loop
The process runs largely independently within defined rules.
Monitoring, deciding, executing and controlling take place in a closed loop.
Where SAP customers stand today
Most SAP customers are not at the top end of this scale today.
What matters is not the maximum but the economically sensible degree of autonomy – process by process.
03
Six consulting fields
We connect strategy, processes, SAP architecture, data, agents and governance – so that agents work reliably and auditably in the process.
A · Autonomous Enterprise Strategy
Target vision and maturity assessment, prioritised process map and use case portfolio.
Target architecture, roadmap over 12 to 24 months, business case and make-or-buy decisions.
B · Process design and process-to-agent
Capture and measure processes, recognise variants, media breaks and exceptions, identify decisions that can be automated.
Define the target process, decision scope, control points and benefit measurement.
C · Clean core and agent-ready SAP architecture
Custom code and modification analysis, API and event readiness.
BTP extensibility, ABAP Cloud and side-by-side extensions, integration architecture, role and authorisation concept.
D · Data quality, business context and knowledge layer
Data readiness assessment and master data harmonisation, data ownership and data governance.
Data products, business semantics and terminology models, integration of SAP and non-SAP data.
E · Agent design and Joule Studio
Selection and design of agents, definition of tools and actions, prompt and context design.
Human-in-the-loop, test cases, golden datasets, deployment and lifecycle.
F · AI governance, security and controls
Agent register and risk classification, role model, RACI and approval limits.
Segregation of duties, four-eyes principle, auditability as well as logging, monitoring, incident and fallback processes.
What sets us apart
Not building an agent, but building an agent that works reliably and auditably in the process.
To do this, we bring together processes, SAP architecture, data, governance and value contribution – instead of configuring agents in isolation.
04
Service chain: from assess to operate
From the target vision to secure productive operations: an end-to-end service chain instead of individual agent pilots.
First the foundation, then the agent
Assess, prioritise, standardise, enable: we assess maturity and the starting point, prioritise processes and use cases, standardise where necessary and create the prerequisites on the architecture and data side.
Build, govern, operate: only then are agents created – safeguarded by governance and controls and transferred into secure productive operations.
From process exception to controlled autonomous decision
For CIOs, COOs, CFOs, CDOs, SAP programme managers and business process owners.
We make SAP business processes ready for agents – from process clarity and the data foundation to secure productive operations.