The technology space and the business world are changing rapidly. The race to explore and exploit the potential of AI is accelerating that change even further. However, businesses can only realize AI innovations if they move from on-premise systems to the cloud to take advantage of the unparalleled speed and agility they offer.
SAP’s vibrant ecosystem of over 25,000 partners and open SAP PartnerEdge ecosystem members help ensure customers are supported and thrive throughout the customer journey. These trusted partners share SAP’s vision to help companies bring out their best and can be the catalyst for true business transformation. Partners apply their deep technical expertise and business experience to build, sell, service and run SAP’s leading cloud ERP and AI solutions.
Recognizing this and the need to empower partners to lay the right foundation for the cloud, SAP is revamping SAP PartnerEdge – its flagship, global program for engaging with partners, regardless of their path to market. The program, now 100% focused on the cloud, is designed to help identify and nurture partners who are ready to support customers in the cloud-powered AI economy.
A closer look at the changes coming in 2025
Prioritizing partners who are in step with SAP’s vision to drive business growth and customer value, we are focusing on the following key pillars for the SAP PartnerEdge program in 2025:
- Alignment with SAP’s cloud vision: We’ve redesigned the program with elements that support and incentivize partners to reflect SAP’s strategic focus on the cloud. This helps distinguish partners that are fully aligned with SAP direction.
- Deepening SAP expertise: Under the new framework, expertise plays an even stronger role in determining partner levels. Competencies and specializations – focused on cloud solutions from SAP – serve as benchmarks of a partner’s maturity and reliability. These also signal to clients that they can trust a partner’s expertise in the areas most critical to their business.
- AI Champion Adoption: To meet the AI momentum, partners are further motivated to innovate tools that can lower the entry bar for customers to leverage AI technologies. From code-free simplicity to advanced customization, partners are encouraged to build on SAP’s integrated AI portfolio and create tailored solutions that meet the unique needs of our customers.
- Commitment to customer value: Long-term success for our customers is our top priority—and it carries real weight in our partner program, too. By prioritizing growth led by solution adoption, aligning delivery practices with SAP cloud methodologies and delivering measurable results, partners can create sustainable value throughout the customer lifecycle, ultimately driving their partnership as well .
An approach endorsed by industry experts
These changes to the SAP PartnerEdge program signal our deepening commitment to cloud, AI innovation and, most importantly, our customers and their success. Industry experts agree, highlighting the drivers behind this transformation and SAP’s proactive approach:
“The convergence of the cloud and artificial intelligence is ushering in a new era of business innovation,” said Dave McCarthy, research vice president, Cloud and Edge Services at IDC. “This synergy is driving transformative advances across industries.”
“SAP understands this shift and is actively taking steps to ensure its partner ecosystem is aligned and paving the way for businesses to take advantage of new innovations,” added Steve White, program vice president, Channels and Alliances. in IDC.
Supporting customers to find their most suitable partner
Under our new program framework, SAP and partners will be able to experience increased synergies as they move forward focused on cloud and AI. However, customers will see the greatest benefits. While SAP PartnerEdge is designed for partners, its goal is to ultimately create a strong ecosystem that has the experience, knowledge, and specialization to address the unique needs of all our customers and create a blueprint for long-term success.
For businesses ready to find their most suitable partner, SAP Partner Finder can provide simple search functionality to quickly find partners that match their industry, line of business or size. It also shows the level, competencies and unique qualifications of each partner, such as GROW with SAP partner designation.
For customers to find success in the AI-driven era—and thrive at the pace of innovation it brings—partnerships are more important than ever. By combining partner expertise with the power of SAP’s robust portfolio of cloud solutions, AI technologies and data capabilities, customers can take advantage of this exciting moment as they transform their business.
SAP encourages businesses to explore our partner ecosystem today and take the next step towards business transformation, greater competitiveness and growth.
Karl Fahrbach is the chief partner at SAP.
