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The Next Big Thing: BTP

The SAP Business Technology Platform is becoming the third successful pillar of the future after Hana and S/4. SAP executive Martin Heinig explores the question of what BTP will look like in ten years. There is still hope for SAP ERP users!
Peter M. Färbinger, E3 Magazine
25 October 2023
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This text has been automatically translated from German to English.

New Ventures and Technologies

SAP executive Martin Heinig's department bears the somewhat cryptic name "New Ventures and Technologies," yet it deals with very real and relevant SAP issues, such as what the Business Technology Platform might look like in five to ten years. This is both an extremely important question as well as a reassuring message for the entire SAP community.

At the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2024, an event E3 Magazine is hosting, Martin Heinig will discuss a BTP roadmap, demonstrating that SAP has far-reaching plans for this platform. Investments made by customers and partners will thus have long term lasting power—perhaps even beyond S/4.

Abap modification and Steampunk

Since SAP R/3, individual ERP adjustments have been made through Abap tables and in the Z namespace (Abap modifications). This approach was tried and tested up to SAP ECC 6.0. Even in S/4, some Abap tables that were used back in R/3 still emerge occasionally. However, the overall concept has changed fundamentally, not only due to cloud computing, but also due to SAP's specification of a "clean core". SAP has carried out an Abap conversion under the code name "Steampunk" and thus created an embedded Abap on the BTP.

SAP partners have begun programming their first applications on the BTP with Steampunk, i.e. Embedded Abap. S/4 customers have customized the BTP, and SAP CEO Christian Klein announced at the Annual Congress 2023, held by the German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG), that the BTP will also be available for hyperscalers.

The universal platform

Customers and partners’ efforts will also be safeguarded by the strategic move to position BTP among hyperscalers. In addition, the research carried out by Martin Heinig, Head of New Ventures and Technologies, which looks at the further development of BTP for the next five to ten years, is also a safeguarding measure.

With Martin Heinig's work and widespread availability, SAP's Business Technology Platform could become a universal ERP playground whose importance could ultimately extend beyond S/4.

Composable ERP

Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer published his latest book "Composable Enterprise: agile, flexible, innovative" in Munich a few weeks ago. Composable, cybernetically acting ERP building blocks will require a platform, and BTP could potentially become said platform. For now, unfortunately, SAP is not quite there yet. However, based on Martin Heinig's work, the SAP community may already have a composable ERP platform with Steampunk in the near future. Martin Heinig will talk about part of his work in his exclusive keynote at the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2024 in Heidelberg, Germany on February 28, hosted by E3 Magazine. For more information, visit our Events tab.

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Peter M. Färbinger, E3 Magazine

Peter M. Färbinger, Publisher and Editor-in-Chief E3 Magazine DE, US and ES (e3mag.com), B4Bmedia.net AG, Freilassing (DE), E-Mail: pmf@b4bmedia.net and Tel. +49(0)8654/77130-21


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SAP Man in Davos

Work on SAP Basis is crucial for successful S/4 conversion. This gives the so-called Competence Center strategic importance among SAP's existing customers. Regardless of the operating model of an S/4 Hana, topics such as automation, monitoring, security, application lifecycle management, and data management are the basis for the operative S/4 operation. For the second time already, E3 Magazine is hosting a summit in Salzburg for the SAP community to get comprehensive information on all aspects of S/4 Hana groundwork. With an exhibition, expert presentations, and plenty to talk about, we again expect numerous existing customers, partners, and experts in Salzburg. E3 Magazine invites you to Salzburg for learning and exchange of ideas on June 5 and 6, 2024.

Venue

Event Room, FourSide Hotel Salzburg,
At the exhibition center 2,
A-5020 Salzburg

Event date

June 5 and 6, 2024

Tickets

Early Bird Ticket - Available until 29.03.2024
EUR 440 excl. VAT
Regular ticket
EUR 590 excl. VAT

Secure your Early Bird ticket now!

Venue

Event Room, Hotel Hilton Heidelberg,
Kurfürstenanlage 1,
69115 Heidelberg

Event date

28 and 29 February 2024

Tickets

Regular ticket
EUR 590 excl. VAT
The organizer is the E3 magazine of the publishing house B4Bmedia.net AG. The presentations will be accompanied by an exhibition of selected SAP partners. The ticket price includes the attendance of all lectures of the Steampunk and BTP Summit 2024, the visit of the exhibition area, the participation in the evening event as well as the catering during the official program. The lecture program and the list of exhibitors and sponsors (SAP partners) will be published on this website in due time.