Over the past two decades I’ve had the opportunity to experience SAP change from both sides of the fence. First as an SAP customer, and now as a technology provider helping enterprises navigate change. Here’s what I’ve seen consistently: change doesn’t happen overnight. It’s complex, layered, and in today’s world continuous. 

The urgency to adapt to this new world is only increasing as SAP plays a more business critical role across enterprises. Navigating this hybrid landscape demands new tools, new skills, and a new mindset. In this blog I will discuss how this co-existence is reshaping the capabilities we need to take a smarter approach to change management – and why SAP professionals are central to driving that evolution. 

Change Is Ongoing, Never “Done” 

Too often, SAP programs are viewed as projects with end dates. But in truth, SAP change is never finished. Even enterprises that have completed their initial S/4HANA migration continue to adapt and evolve their landscapes in response to business change and today’s always-on world. 

Rather than chasing “completion,” organisations should embrace continuous change as the new normal. Don’t wait for a perfect moment to act. Build your strategy, align your teams, and start proving value incrementally. 

Dual Landscapes Are Today’s Reality 

Most enterprises aren’t flipping the switch from ECC to S/4HANA overnight. I see many organisations straddling both landscapes that will likely continue to do so for the next decade or more, and those managing ongoing S/4 upgrades or dual maintenance. 

This coexistence poses challenges. Teams must manage different systems, technologies, and expectations while ensuring consistency across environments. A merged team approach can help manage this effectively. 

Blended Teams Build Resilience 

We’ve seen success when teams take ownership of both the ABAP-based legacy systems and newer side-by-side developments on SAP BTP. This fosters shared understanding and accelerates the transition. This approach will also benefit non-SAP enterprise toolchains like ServiceNow, Jira and ADO as development spans beyond the SAP ecosystem. 

Splitting teams between on-prem and cloud risks creating silos. Instead, we should encourage cross-training and knowledge sharing. That’s how we build resilient teams capable of handling both environments effectively. 

The Skills Shift We Can’t Ignore 

ABAP isn’t going away anytime soon, especially for large enterprises that have invested heavily in custom developments over the years and those using ABAP Cloud. But it’s no secret that ABAP developers are becoming harder to find. It’s a niche skill and upcoming developers often prefer more modern languages like JavaScript, Node.js, or Python. 

If you’re leading an SAP team today, you need a forward-looking plan to evolve your talent. Whether it’s upskilling existing team members, recruiting externally or bringing in expertise from elsewhere in the organisation, the shift is coming. We need to be ready. 

Innovation at a Manageable Risk 

One of the biggest changes I’ve observed is how SAP’s architecture has evolved to support safer, faster innovation. With Clean Core principles and modular, side-by-side extensibility, the risk is reduced. Changes are more isolated, making it easier to innovate without jeopardising the stability of the entire system. 

When we talk about business innovation, it’s about doing so with confidence that the impact is contained. This is critical for organisations trying to stay competitive while managing risk. 

Start Small, But Start Now 

If there’s one piece of advice I consistently give, it’s this: just get started.  

You don’t need to re-engineer your most complex processes on day one. Start small. Try out ABAP Cloud, experiment with BTP, build a simple extension. Learn through doing. 

This isn’t about massive overnight change; it’s about building momentum. The sooner you start, the sooner your teams build the skills and confidence they’ll need for the long haul. 

The Future Is Ongoing: Lead the Change 

Today’s constantly evolving world means the journey through SAP change isn’t linear – and it’s certainly never complete. The enterprises that thrive are the ones that treat change not as a one-time event, but as an ongoing strategic capability.  

If you’re waiting for the perfect moment to start, don’t. Start now, learn quickly, and build momentum. The future will belong to those who set the pace. 

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