SAP Brings AI-Powered Migration and Modernization Assistants to Cloud ERP Projects

SAP is expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) capabilities with four new migration and modernization assistants designed to help businesses simplify complex ERP transformation projects and accelerate their transition to cloud-based enterprise systems. Announced on October 28, 2026, the new capabilities are now supporting live cloud ERP transformation projects through SAP’s Early Adopter Care programme.

The latest development focuses on four important areas of ERP modernization: data management, test management, custom code modernization and business configuration. By introducing AI-powered assistance across these activities, SAP aims to reduce manual workloads, improve project execution and help organizations prepare for cloud ERP adoption more efficiently.

ERP migration projects often involve complex data structures, legacy customizations, business process changes and extensive testing requirements. SAP’s new assistants are designed to address these challenges by automating repetitive activities and providing intelligent recommendations throughout the transformation process.

Four AI Assistants Target Key ERP Migration Challenges

SAP has introduced four migration and modernization assistants to support different stages of enterprise ERP transformation.

1. Data Management Assistant

The Data Management Assistant helps organizations identify and resolve data quality problems before migrating information into cloud ERP environments. It analyses data quality metrics, identifies inconsistencies and prioritizes issues according to their business impact.

The assistant also recommends corrective actions and supports both automated and guided data remediation. This helps businesses improve data accuracy and establish stronger information management practices during ERP transformation.

Global paints and coatings manufacturer AkzoNobel is already using the assistant as part of its RISE with SAP journey. The company is using it to evaluate data quality across its ERP landscape and prioritize remediation activities.

2. Test Management Assistant

Testing is one of the most time-consuming activities in ERP implementation projects. SAP’s Test Management Assistant aims to simplify this process by analysing business processes, project requirements and user stories.

It helps organizations define testing scope, identify important business scenarios, generate test cases and determine the data required for testing.

The assistant also connects with SAP Test Automation by Tricentis for automated test execution. This integration helps businesses improve testing coverage while reducing manual preparation efforts.

3. Custom Code Assistant

Many organizations depend on customized ERP applications to support their specific business requirements. However, legacy custom code can create challenges when migrating to modern cloud ERP platforms.

The Custom Code Assistant helps businesses assess existing custom developments, identify migration requirements and recommend modernization opportunities.

It also supports SAP’s clean core strategy by helping organizations align custom extensions with recommended APIs and cloud-ready development practices. The assistant can apply available automated fixes and generate AI-powered recommendations for remaining code issues.

This allows businesses to reduce technical debt while preserving important business-specific capabilities.

4. Business Configuration Assistant

The Business Configuration Assistant helps organizations accelerate business design and ERP implementation planning.

It recommends and applies configurations based on industry requirements, business goals and organizational structures. The assistant can also analyse existing system configurations, identify deviations from SAP target requirements and maintain an audit trail.

These capabilities help implementation teams reduce manual configuration activities and establish a more consistent approach to cloud ERP deployment.

SAP Plans to Expand Its AI-Powered Transformation Portfolio

Beyond the four assistants currently supporting early-adopter projects, SAP plans to introduce additional capabilities covering more stages of the ERP transformation lifecycle.

The planned innovations include:

• System Analysis Assistant: Creates a customer-specific understanding of existing ERP systems, configurations and custom developments.
• Project Management Assistant: Provides project insights, identifies potential risks and supports coordination across implementation teams.
• Rollout Assistant: Helps organizations manage global ERP deployments while considering regional business requirements.

Together, these planned developments are expected to create a more integrated, AI-supported transformation experience for SAP customers.

Benefits for Businesses Adopting Cloud ERP

SAP’s migration and modernization assistants are designed to help organizations overcome common ERP implementation challenges.

Key benefits include:

• Reduced Manual Effort: Automates repetitive activities across data preparation, testing and configuration.
• Improved Data Quality: Identifies critical data issues and supports structured remediation.
• Faster ERP Modernization: Helps businesses simplify complex legacy system migration activities.
• Better Testing Efficiency: Generates relevant test cases and supports automated execution.
• Reduced Technical Debt: Helps organizations modernize custom code and follow clean core principles.
• Improved Project Readiness: Provides structured guidance for implementation planning and deployment.

Conclusion

SAP’s introduction of AI-powered migration and modernization assistants represents an important development in enterprise cloud ERP transformation. By combining intelligent automation with data management, testing, custom code modernization and business configuration, SAP aims to make ERP migration projects more efficient and predictable.

With four assistants already supporting early-adopter customer projects and additional capabilities planned, SAP is expanding its vision of agent-led enterprise transformation. As organizations continue moving from traditional ERP environments to cloud-based platforms, AI-powered migration tools could play an increasingly important role in reducing complexity, improving implementation efficiency and accelerating digital transformation.