Three spotlights for 2025: What will be important in the SAP cosmos in the coming year

The migration to SAP S/4HANA and the increasing shift of business processes to the cloud make one thing clear: cloud-compatible software is no longer just an option - it is essential. Companies expect solutions that are flexibly scalable, secure and can be seamlessly integrated into hybrid IT landscapes.
SAP is actively supporting this change with programmes such as RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP, which accompany both large corporations and SMEs in their transformation to the cloud. There are differences between the public and private cloud: while the public cloud primarily scores points for standardisation and cost efficiency, the private cloud offers more flexibility and customisation options.
For many companies, the use of on-premise or private cloud solutions is currently still an intermediate step. However, SAP is successfully pursuing the long-term positioning of S/4HANA public cloud solutions, both commercially and functionally, in order to establish them as the preferred option. At the same time, SAP's Business Technology Platform (BTP) provides a basis for seamless integrations and enhancements that are equally valid for all of the aforementioned operating scenarios - on-premise, private cloud and public cloud.

AI is no longer a technology of the future, but a central component of modern software solutions. In the SAP environment, this is particularly evident in areas such as predictive analytics, automated decision-making and the processing of large amounts of data. Companies that do not optimise their processes with AI-based software will experience competitive disadvantages in the long term.
SAP has recognised this and is setting a clear course with technologies such as SAP AI Core and SAP AI Launchpad. Many of the AI-related features in S/4HANA are provided in the public cloud variant in particular. This underlines SAP's strategy of gradually leading companies into the public cloud, where continuous innovations can be rolled out faster and more efficiently. On the one hand, this increases the pressure to innovate, while on the other hand, the opportunities are greater, as IT-supported workflows enable a much wider range of solutions and can contribute to process improvements.

Geopolitical tensions, new trade agreements and stricter sanctions make effective compliance management a challenge. More and more companies have to ensure that they comply with international regulations - be it through customs tariffs, sanctions lists or export controls.
In addition, environmental, social and governance (ESG) requirements are increasingly taking centre stage. Regulations such as the Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) in the EU are creating new requirements to record and reduce CO2 emissions along the supply chain. From 1 January 2026, the requirements will be further tightened as companies will have to submit detailed reports on CO2 emissions and purchase certificates for imported goods based on the emissions released during the manufacturing process. Companies must not only adapt their trade and production processes to legal standards, but also create transparency in order to meet stakeholder expectations.
In 2025, trade compliance will not only remain a mandatory field for many companies, but will also increasingly become a strategic competitive advantage.

As Mercoline and part of DATAGROUP, we look forward to actively incorporating these trends into our work, supporting our customers and setting the necessary course in good time. With innovative solutions that increasingly rely on cloud technologies and AI and strengthen compliance, we will continue to stand by our customers in the coming year.

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