If you’re working with SAP® today, you know the environment is shifting fast. The migration to SAP® S/4HANA is picking up speed, automation is everywhere (but not without its hurdles), and the promise of new platforms and AI is both exciting and a little daunting.
So, what’s really happening out there? And how can you make sense of the noise to drive real results for your business?
That’s exactly what we’ve set out to answer in new research conducted in partnership between Precisely and the Americas SAP® Users Group (ASUG).
Drawing on fresh survey data from 173 SAP® stakeholders – IT leaders, business users, and transformation experts – the report dives deep into the adoption, opportunities, and persistent challenges shaping SAP® modernization in 2026.
Read on for a sneak peek into some of the major takeaways and actionable insights from the report, Transforming SAP® Processes Through Automation: 2026 Trends & Challenges – and be sure to get your copy so you don’t miss a thing.
Automation Adoption: Progress, Pause, and Possibility
For years, automation was the centerpiece of digital transformation. But this year’s survey reveals a more nuanced story. Adoption is steady, with 57% of organizations leveraging automation, but growth has stalled.
Why? Intense focus on migration projects, too many automation tool options, and the persistent complexity of SAP® processes.
And then there’s AI. It’s everywhere in the headlines, but in practice, many companies are cautious. The promise is huge, but layering AI on top of already complex modernization efforts can feel risky. Most teams are waiting to see how the technology matures before making big bets.
Case-by-Case Wins and the Rise of Citizen Developers
Despite the plateau, the appetite for automation is alive and well. Most organizations (54%) are deploying automation on a case-by-case basis, and “best-of-breed” solutions are gaining traction.
No-code and low-code platforms are helping business users (“citizen developers”) automate processes directly, scaling adoption without overwhelming IT.
Here’s what’s new:
- More than half of respondents say citizen development is important to their automation strategy.
- The share rating it “very important” jumped to 14% this year.
- 75% confirm that no-code/low-code capabilities are key to their automation plans.
This shift is delivering faster results, reducing duplication, and enabling collaborative teams of professional and citizen developers. But there’s still work to do – 42% of organizations restrict automation to SAP® IT teams, a legacy approach that can slow progress.
Migration to S/4HANA: A Milestone in SAP® Modernization
SAP® S/4HANA migration is no longer optional. With the 2027 deadline approaching, 59% of organizations are now fully or partially live – a big leap from last year’s survey. Another 5% expect to be live by the end of 2025, and 29% are actively engaged in the migration process.
But progress isn’t simple. The survey highlights three major hurdles:
- Business process change (49%): Moving from SAP® ECC to S/4HANA goes beyond technical upgrades. It’s a fundamental rethink of how data is created and managed.
- Customizations (44%): Unique, business-critical processes built in ECC often can’t be transferred with standard migration tools, making SAP®’s “clean core” strategy tough to implement.
- Organizational resistance (37%): Change management is as challenging as the technical migration itself, requiring cultural and operational shifts.
And don’t forget data quality. Manual processes introduce errors, and moving data into S/4HANA and the HANA database requires significant restructuring.
Building automated data quality and transformation into migration plans can reduce errors, accelerate timelines, and deliver lasting improvements.
User Interfaces: The Hidden Complexity
The shift from the traditional SAP® GUI to SAP® Fiori apps and the web-based GUI for HTML is creating friction for both IT and business teams. While GUI for HTML offers familiarity, Fiori is a fundamentally new environment intended to simplify user interactions.
- 54% of companies operate in mixed UI environments, a slight improvement from last year.
- The share fully transitioned to Fiori and GUI for HTML doubled from 9% to 18%.
This complexity has direct implications for automation, as IT teams hesitate to adopt solutions until their UI strategy stabilizes. Organizations are seeking platforms that deliver consistency across SAP® ECC, S/4HANA, and all SAP® interfaces.
SAP® BTP: Growth, Promise, and Growing Pains
SAP® Business Technology Platform (BTP) adoption is gaining traction. The survey shows that 50% of companies now use BTP services (up 10 points from last year), with another 26% beginning their journey.
But adoption isn’t straightforward. The top three challenges cited are:
- Skills gap (46%): A lack of in-house expertise is the most significant barrier, limiting companies’ ability to fully leverage BTP.
- Complexity of development (43%): BTP offers a wide array of services, but many organizations describe it as a “build-it-yourself kit” without instructions.
- Difficulty understanding capabilities (36%): Few teams have the expertise needed to combine BTP’s myriad services into end-to-end solutions.
BTP was designed to be a one-stop shop for extending and optimizing SAP® processes, but unless organizations invest in skills and simplify their adoption strategies, it risks becoming underutilized, even as it becomes an essential layer in the SAP® modernization journey.
The Future: Balancing Progress and Pause
The market is at a pivotal moment. Organizations are accelerating their move to S/4HANA, but automation adoption has plateaued as resources are diverted to migration. BTP adoption is growing, but weighed down by skills shortages and complexity.
Success will depend on striking the right balance: keeping migration on track while not delaying the automation and platform strategies that deliver long-term value. That’s what will help SAP® modernization initiatives deliver on their promise. And, investing in skills and organizational change management is as critical as the technology choices themselves.
Ready to take the next steps in building a strategy for success in 2026?
Get all of the data, expert perspectives, and practical guidance you need in the full report: Transforming SAP® Processes Through Automation: 2026 Trends & Challenges.
Whether you’re deep into your S/4HANA migration, exploring automation options, or just starting to think about BTP, you’ll find the details, benchmarks, and recommendations that can help you turn today’s challenges into tomorrow’s opportunities.
