As we move into 2026, the pace of change in the SAP ecosystem is only accelerating. Conversations with customers, combined with insights from research and advisory firms like Gartner and our own project data, reveal several trends that will shape transformation strategies in the coming year. From how companies approach their migration path to what they expect from technology partners, the priorities are shifting (and sometimes quite dramatically).

Below are the key developments we expect to see in 2026.

1. Bluefield will outpace Greenfield, while Brownfield will remain stable

One of the most visible shifts is the continued rise of hybrid (Bluefield) transformations. Companies want more than a simple technical conversion, yet they also want to avoid the disruption and cost of a full rebuild. 

The hybrid approach offers a practical middle path. It allows businesses to retain critical processes and data while optimizing and modernizing their systems. Leveraging the Bluefield approach means they can dial in the right level of transformation and ROI while not exceeding the cost, risk, and organizational change management constraints they face.

We expect demand for this approach to grow further in 2026, while Greenfield will decline and Brownfield will remain relatively constant. The reason is simple: Customers want meaningful change delivered pragmatically.

2. Non-SAP systems are coming into scope

More customers now look beyond their SAP core when planning transformation programs. In 2026, we expect significantly more interest in moving or consolidating non-SAP applications such as Maximo, HR systems, and other ERPs.

This reflects a growing desire for:

• A unified data landscape
• Simplified integration
• Reduced operational complexity

SAP programs are no longer isolated upgrades – they are enterprise-wide modernization initiatives.

3. Mergers, divestitures, and reorgs will remain a continuous reality

M&A activity shows no signs of slowing down, and with it comes a steady stream of carve-outs, integrations, and organizational restructuring. What used to be treated as a one-off, high-impact transformation project has shifted into something far more routine.

In many organizations, change is no longer an isolated event. It is an ongoing operating condition.

This means transformation capabilities must be designed to be reused, repeated, and scaled, not reinvented every time.

Companies need:

• Repeatable carve-out and carve-in capabilities
• Modular and scalable approaches
• Transformation toolsets that can be reapplied
• Architectures designed for flexibility

Transformation is becoming a continuous discipline; one where readiness and agility matter as much as technology.

4. Downtime reduction will become non-negotiable

Minimizing downtime has been gaining importance for years, but 2026 will be the point where it becomes universal. Across all industries, customers expect:

• Predictable cutovers
• Minimal disruption
• Strategies for near-zero downtime

As companies operate 24/7 across multiple regions, even short outages carry operational and financial consequences. Downtime-optimized approaches for selective data transition, delta-based migrations, and robust validation will continue to rise in importance.

5. RISE Private Cloud will become the target environment of choice

We expect RISE Private Cloud (SAP Cloud ERP Private) to strengthen its position as the preferred landing zone for many S/4HANA migrations.

Customers are drawn by:

• A stable, predictable operating model
• Strong SLAs for mission-critical workloads
• Managed innovation
• The balance of standardization and flexibility

It offers a future-ready environment with fewer surprises and clearer long-term planning.

6. AI will become a core driver of transformation value (not an add-on)

AI is now a topic in every conversation, from the first scoping workshop through to post-go-live optimization. Organizations increasingly view their S/4HANA and cloud migrations as opportunities to lay the groundwork for AI-enabled operations.

The focus is moving toward:

• AI-ready data that is clean, structured and governed to support automation, forecasting, and decision-making.
• Standardized processes that allow AI models to scale across regions.
• Integrated landscapes where SAP and non-SAP data can work together in AI use cases.
• Continuous insights that help reduce operational risk and improve service levels.

Customers are asking not only “What can AI do after we go live?” but also “What should we fix, harmonize, or redesign during the migration so AI actually works later?”

This turns the data transformation, system redesign, and integration strategy into essential building blocks of AI adoption, not just technical steps on the way to S/4HANA.

7. Unstructured data will become a central focus of transformation

A growing priority for 2026 is the management of unstructured data. Many industry sources agree that for most organizations, an estimated 80% of enterprise data is unstructured. A vast amount of operational data (documents, emails, contracts, engineering files, images, maintenance records, and collaboration content) often ends up scattered across systems that don’t talk to each other.

As companies carve out businesses, merge landscapes, or harmonize processes, they are increasingly looking to treat unstructured data with the same discipline and intelligence they apply to structured ERP data. This means:

• Identifying which documents belong with which business unit during a carve-out
• Merging or segregating file repositories during integrations
• Classifying, cleansing, and securing content across multiple platforms
• Reducing duplication, risk, and storage sprawl

And as organizations prepare their data for AI, unstructured content becomes even more important. AI models perform best when they have access to complete, context-rich information which often sits in unstructured data sources. Bringing structure, governance, and intelligence to this data is becoming a strategic priority, not an optional enhancement.

In 2026, unstructured data management will move from a background concern to a core pillar of transformation.

2026: The year SAP transformations become faster, smarter, and continuous

If 2025 was the year of defining digital ambitions, 2026 will be the year of executing them with precision.

Companies expect flexibility in how they modernize, stability in where they land, and confidence in the tools and partners guiding their journey.

Hybrid approaches, continuous transformation cycles, unified data landscapes, downtime minimization, RISE Private Cloud momentum, growing focus on unstructured data and expectations will shape the year ahead. What will set organizations apart is the ability to deliver transformations that are faster, smarter, and designed for ongoing change.