By: Manas Nayak, Business Head – Data, Analytics & AI, UK & Europe, LTIMindtree

Twenty-five years ago, as a postgraduate student at the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru, I chose to work on Mathematical Modelling of Complex High-Temperature Chemical Processes for my thesis. My focus was on applying early data mining techniques to identify key parameters influencing high-temperature chemical reactions. I had no idea then that this academic pursuit would lead me down a path deeply rooted in data—starting with data warehousing and eventually evolving into AI-powered business transformation.

At the time, the most coveted career options for engineers were in ERP—led by the then-undisputed king, SAP—or in the emerging domain of data warehousing. I happened to choose the latter. Over the years, I’ve had the privilege of building solutions that merge these two worlds, SAP and data analytics, into one cohesive digital ecosystem.

A 25-year evolution: From warehouses to intelligence

Over the past two and a half decades, data warehouses have transformed from on-premises repositories into powerful cloud-native data lakes. These platforms now enable support advanced analytics and AI-driven business processes such as real-time supply chain tracking, dynamic pricing, hyper-personalized customer experiences, and intelligent fraud detection.

Take supply chain operations, for example. I’ve worked on building Supply Chain Visibility Towers that ingest and analyze SAP logistics data in real-time, helping organizations manage inventory and vendor proactively.

In another engagement, we developed a customer 360 platform by integrating SAP CRM data with external sources to support hyper-personalized marketing campaigns. Platforms like the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform have played a key role in building domain-specific AI solutions that bridge SAP and non-SAP ecosystems effortlessly.

At the crossroads of SAP and Data

Some of the most impactful systems I’ve helped design sit at the intersection of SAP business processes and modern data platforms. What happens when these traditionally siloed systems come together? Here are some examples:

• Master Data Management: Standardizing and enriching critical SAP entities—Customer Master, Product Master, Supplier Master, and Chart of Accounts—to improve business accuracy.
• Operational and Management Dashboards: Powering insights for SAP-driven functions like financial planning, order fulfillment, and manufacturing through real-time reporting.
• Cross-Domain Integration: Enabling 360-degree visibility across business domains—Customer, Product, Finance, Factory—by integrating SAP and non-SAP data via platforms like Databricks.
• AI-Native Solutions: Implementing use cases like Price-Volume-Mix simulations, Demand Forecasting, Assortment Planning, and Risk Management by applying AI on SAP data.

Gen AI in 2024: The disruptor has arrived

In 2024, Gen AI firmly entered the enterprise landscape. Consulting leaders have echoed that sentiment, calling GenAI the most significant disruptor of enterprise IT since cloud computing.

But how are enterprises adapting? Increasingly, they’re not just embedding AI into workflows—they’re rebuilding those workflows to be AI-native.

From intelligent systems to systems of action

SAP’s transformation from building “systems of record” to developing “Intelligent Enterprise” was a massive leap. But the next leap is even bigger: evolving into a System of Action. This means going beyond automated workflows to agentic, AI-native business processes that place AI at the core and keep humans in the loop for contextual decision-making.

As SAP CEO Christian Klein aptly said, “We are bringing AI to where data and business context live—directly inside SAP applications.”

So how does SAP enable this shift at scale? By partnering with the right technology platform that delivers AI with speed, accuracy, and cost-effectiveness.

SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) x Databricks: A game changer

On March 25, 2025, SAP announced the launch of SAP BDC with embedded Databricks—a pivotal moment in enterprise AI.

SAP BDC provides native access to SAP data, eliminating the need for expensive data  replication. Embedding Databricks within BDC means organizations can now leverage the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to build, train, and deploy AI models directly on live SAP data securely, efficiently, and compliantly.

“By joining forces with SAP, we’re helping organizations bring together all their data—regardless of format or where it lives—to build domain-specific AI applications on the Databricks Data Intelligence Platform.”
— Ali Ghodsi, Co-founder & CEO, Databricks

“Our partnership with Databricks represents a turning point in how enterprise data is harnessed. Together, we’re fusing SAP’s proven expertise in mission-critical applications with Databricks’ cutting-edge data engineering and AI capabilities to help our customers unlock the next era of digital innovation.”

—Muhammad Alam, Executive Board Member at SAP

Time to act: Strategy for SAP BDC + Databricks

In the last few months, I’ve had numerous deep dive conversations with customers, SAP, and Databricks experts. One question keeps coming up: “What’s the right strategy for adopting SAP Business Data Cloud with Databricks?”

Many organizations are navigating this shift and looking for a structured, practical way to move forward—one that balances innovation with compliance, and speed with scalability. One such organization, LTIMindtree, helps organizations approach this transformation through a clear and pragmatic framework built on four pillars: WHY, WHAT, HOW, and WHO:

• WHY: Organizations want to unlock the value of SAP data for AI and analytics but face challenges with data silos, compliance, and costs. SAP BDC + Databricks resolves these effectively.
• WHAT: Define a clear roadmap across maturity stages—from SAP-heavy environments to hybrid and AI-first enterprises.
• HOW: Activate cross-domain data products, implement frictionless ingestion, build AI-native use cases, and modernize reporting for actionable insights.
• WHO: With 1,500+ Databricks-trained professionals and award-winning solutions, our team delivers value across industries like manufacturing, retail, finance, and supply chain.

Are you thinking about what this could mean for your organization? Could your existing SAP ecosystem be ready for its AI transformation?

Building systems of action: The time is now

We’ve reached a tipping point where businesses no longer need to replicate data—they need to replicate outcomes. SAP and Databricks have made the technology real. Now it’s about moving fast, with clarity and purpose.

It’s time to transform your systems of record into systems of action—where decisions happen faster, insights become immediate, and your data works as hard as you do.

Blog written mid-air on Lufthansa LH 454 to join 2025 edition of Databricks Data + AI summit from Germany (SAP’s home base) to San Francisco (Databricks’ home); the perfect flight path for the future of AI-powered business.

Citation

1. Nvidia CEO Says All Companies Will Need ‘AI Factories,’ Touts Creation of American Jobs, Belle Lin, The Wall Street Journal, April 30, 2025: https://www.wsj.com/articles/nvidia-ceo-says-all-companies-will-need-ai-factories-touts-creation-of-american-jobs-33e07998