From AI agents to Equipment-as-a-Service, SAP Sapphire 2026 showcased how emerging technologies and new business models are reshaping the future of enterprise operations.
This year, BearingPoint participated in SAP Sapphire Orlando and Madrid, where customers, partners, and SAP experts explored how AI is reshaping enterprise operations. Across both events, conversations focused on three major themes: the rise of AI-driven business processes, the growing role of AI agents, and the increasing demand for flexible service-based business models.
AI Is Moving From Assistants to Business Execution
One of the strongest themes at Sapphire was the evolution of AI from a productivity tool into an active participant in business processes. Discussions centered on how AI can support decision-making, automate routine tasks, and help organizations operate more efficiently across finance, operations, and customer-facing processes.
AI Agents Are Becoming Part of the Enterprise Landscape
SAP showcased its vision for AI-powered businesses, where specialized agents support planning, analytics, and finance processes. Organizations are increasingly exploring how AI agents can work alongside employees to accelerate processes and improve business outcomes.
Business Data Is the Foundation for AI
Another recurring topic was the importance of trusted and connected data. As organizations look to adopt AI at scale, access to unified business data and integrated processes becomes critical for generating reliable insights and supporting intelligent automation.
Equipment-as-a-Service Continues to Gain Momentum
Alongside AI, many discussions focused on the shift from ownership to usage-based business models. More organizations are exploring leasing, rental, and Equipment-as-a-Service approaches to create recurring revenue streams and deliver greater flexibility to customers. [Lease&Rent...2026 short | PowerPoint]
Industry-Specific Solutions Remain Essential
As business models evolve, organizations require solutions that combine deep industry expertise with seamless SAP integration. Customers are looking for platforms that can manage contracts, assets, finance, and operational processes while remaining aligned with SAP's innovation strategy.
Lease&Rent helps organizations manage leasing, rental, and Equipment-as-a-Service offerings within a single SAP-integrated platform. By connecting asset management, contract management, funding, billing, and accounting processes, organizations gain the foundation needed to support both operational excellence and future AI-driven innovation.