Our customers have always turned to SAP partners who know their industries, understand their businesses, and provide them with the tools they need for business success. Today, SAP customers are looking for tools that leverage AI for operational efficiency and a competitive edge. IDC reports that AI spending will see 53% year-over-year growth to reach $700 billion by 2029 globally. However, that same research found that about half of those use cases will miss their ROI targets due to “unclear business gains, weak human-to-machine collaboration, and poor data foundations.” These AI implementation challenges and uncertainty will drive enterprises to find the expertise they need – and SAP wants to ensure partners are prepared to meet this growing demand.
To ensure partners are AI-ready in the age of the Autonomous Enterprise, SAP is adjusting its Competency Framework for 2027. As announced in June 2026, SAP renamed the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) competency as the SAP Business AI Platform competency. But SAP did more than change the name. SAP took a holistic look at the framework to ensure partner AI readiness is recognized and rewarded across the board. With this updated competency, partners can show their customers and prospects that they are prepared and skilled with various AI implementations, and the Competency Framework helps promote that AI-expertise to their markets.
Start with the Foundation: SAP Business AI Platform
The updated SAP Business AI Platform competency carries significant strategic meaning. It’s the first step in building a modernized Competency Framework that fully aligns with how partners and customers leverage SAP’s platform today with artificial intelligence at the center. As SAP’s portfolio evolves to make AI central to every solution, the Competency Framework will reflect that evolution — starting with the SAP Business AI platform.
Beginning in 2027, the competency evolves from its SAP BTP roots into four specializations that reflect SAP’s converged AI and data platform strategy: Technology Foundation, SAP Integration Suite, Artificial Intelligence, and SAP Business Data Cloud.
The Technology Foundation Specialization: Instill AI Literacy Across All LOBs
With the SAP Business AI Platform now established as the foundation of the AI-centric Competency Framework, it raises an important question: How do partners actually demonstrate they’re ready to deliver on SAP’s AI-first vision? The answer is the Technology Foundation specialization.
To achieve Advanced or Expert tier in SAP Cloud ERP, Supply Chain Management, Human Capital Management, Spend Management, or Customer Relationship Management, partners must hold the Technology Foundation specialization. That translates to partners who achieve those tiers not only have specializations in their solution areas but are also equipped to develop and implement AI agents. With every line-of-business (LOB) competency now including an AI component built into Advanced and Expert tiers, partners who reach these levels can help customers achieve the return they anticipate for their AI implementation projects while they differentiate their practices and grow their businesses. This reflects SAP’s commitment to enabling partners to build and implement AI-powered, partner-led agents. The Technology Foundation specialization is the core building block of the SAP Business AI Platform and equips partners with the skills to lead in this space.
Also note that rather than requiring the Technology Foundation specialization in full, the SAP Cloud ERP Private competency introduces individual role requirements — Generative AI Developer and Data Architect — drawn directly from the Technology Foundation. This reflects the strategic importance of SAP Cloud ERP Private and ensures partners can deliver AI-enabled, data-driven implementations at the customer level.
Additionally, to help partners who have achieved their competencies under the previous requirements, SAP has expanded the safeguarding period from 90 to 180 days. This gives partners ample opportunity to learn and develop AI skills and expertise, while maintaining their current competency designation.
SAP Partner Finder: Your Direct Line to Customers
Earning competency is only half the story for SAP partners. The other half is making sure customers can see it. That’s where SAP Partner Finder comes in. SAP Partner Finder is where prospects and existing customers go to find a reliable, skillful partner with proven understanding of their business and industry. In a market where customers are seeking AI expertise, an SAP Partner Finder profile is often the first impression — and the clearest signal of what an SAP partner brings to the table. This is one of the most important reasons that achieving the SAP Business AI Platform competency matters to partners. Once they’ve earned the competency, it shows up directly in their SAP Partner Finder profiles, giving customers immediate, credible proof that they are not only a platform expert but also an SAP partner skilled and equipped in the age of AI.
Furthermore, with the Technology Foundation specialization now woven into the Advanced and Expert tiers of line-of-business competencies, SAP partners’ AI readiness is reflected across their entire solution portfolio. For example, a customer searching for a Supply Chain or HCM partner will find partners with solution expertise but can also see a partner equipped to build and implement AI agents in that domain. The visibility that SAP Partner Finder provides is what turns hard-earned expertise into real market differentiation, demand generation, and business growth.
Full-Circle: From Competency to Customer
At its heart, the Competency Framework exists to help partners better position their specific skills and experience for improved market visibility and to help customers choose the best-fit partner for their requirements based on solution focus, expertise, and maturity. The journey partners take to earn and grow competency is ultimately a journey toward valuable customer relationships, especially as the demand for AI expertise grows.
Visit SAP Partner Portal for more information on the Competency Framework and to access enablement materials. Begin preparing today for the changes to the framework that reflect SAP’s AI-centered strategy and review your SAP Partner Finder profile to ensure it’s fully up to date.
Our customers have always turned to SAP partners who know their industries, understand their businesses, and provide them with the tools they need for business success. Today, SAP customers are looking for tools that leverage AI for operational efficiency and a competitive edge. IDC reports that AI spending will see 53% year-over-year growth to reach $700 billion by 2029 globally. However, that same research found that about half of those use cases will miss their ROI targets due to “unclear business gains, weak human-to-machine collaboration, and poor data foundations.” These AI implementation challenges and uncertainty will drive enterprises to find the expertise they need – and SAP wants to ensure partners are prepared to meet this growing demand.To ensure partners are AI-ready in the age of the Autonomous Enterprise, SAP is adjusting its Competency Framework for 2027. As announced in June 2026, SAP renamed the SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) competency as the SAP Business AI Platform competency. But SAP did more than change the name. SAP took a holistic look at the framework to ensure partner AI readiness is recognized and rewarded across the board. With this updated competency, partners can show their customers and prospects that they are prepared and skilled with various AI implementations, and the Competency Framework helps promote that AI-expertise to their markets.Start with the Foundation: SAP Business AI PlatformThe updated SAP Business AI Platform competency carries significant strategic meaning. It’s the first step in building a modernized Competency Framework that fully aligns with how partners and customers leverage SAP’s platform today with artificial intelligence at the center. As SAP’s portfolio evolves to make AI central to every solution, the Competency Framework will reflect that evolution — starting with the SAP Business AI platform.Beginning in 2027, the competency evolves from its SAP BTP roots into four specializations that reflect SAP’s converged AI and data platform strategy: Technology Foundation, SAP Integration Suite, Artificial Intelligence, and SAP Business Data Cloud.The Technology Foundation Specialization: Instill AI Literacy Across All LOBsWith the SAP Business AI Platform now established as the foundation of the AI-centric Competency Framework, it raises an important question: How do partners actually demonstrate they’re ready to deliver on SAP’s AI-first vision? The answer is the Technology Foundation specialization.To achieve Advanced or Expert tier in SAP Cloud ERP, Supply Chain Management, Human Capital Management, Spend Management, or Customer Relationship Management, partners must hold the Technology Foundation specialization. That translates to partners who achieve those tiers not only have specializations in their solution areas but are also equipped to develop and implement AI agents. With every line-of-business (LOB) competency now including an AI component built into Advanced and Expert tiers, partners who reach these levels can help customers achieve the return they anticipate for their AI implementation projects while they differentiate their practices and grow their businesses. This reflects SAP’s commitment to enabling partners to build and implement AI-powered, partner-led agents. The Technology Foundation specialization is the core building block of the SAP Business AI Platform and equips partners with the skills to lead in this space.Also note that rather than requiring the Technology Foundation specialization in full, the SAP Cloud ERP Private competency introduces individual role requirements — Generative AI Developer and Data Architect — drawn directly from the Technology Foundation. This reflects the strategic importance of SAP Cloud ERP Private and ensures partners can deliver AI-enabled, data-driven implementations at the customer level.Additionally, to help partners who have achieved their competencies under the previous requirements, SAP has expanded the safeguarding period from 90 to 180 days. This gives partners ample opportunity to learn and develop AI skills and expertise, while maintaining their current competency designation.SAP Partner Finder: Your Direct Line to Customers Earning competency is only half the story for SAP partners. The other half is making sure customers can see it. That’s where SAP Partner Finder comes in. SAP Partner Finder is where prospects and existing customers go to find a reliable, skillful partner with proven understanding of their business and industry. In a market where customers are seeking AI expertise, an SAP Partner Finder profile is often the first impression — and the clearest signal of what an SAP partner brings to the table. This is one of the most important reasons that achieving the SAP Business AI Platform competency matters to partners. Once they’ve earned the competency, it shows up directly in their SAP Partner Finder profiles, giving customers immediate, credible proof that they are not only a platform expert but also an SAP partner skilled and equipped in the age of AI.Furthermore, with the Technology Foundation specialization now woven into the Advanced and Expert tiers of line-of-business competencies, SAP partners’ AI readiness is reflected across their entire solution portfolio. For example, a customer searching for a Supply Chain or HCM partner will find partners with solution expertise but can also see a partner equipped to build and implement AI agents in that domain. The visibility that SAP Partner Finder provides is what turns hard-earned expertise into real market differentiation, demand generation, and business growth.Full-Circle: From Competency to CustomerAt its heart, the Competency Framework exists to help partners better position their specific skills and experience for improved market visibility and to help customers choose the best-fit partner for their requirements based on solution focus, expertise, and maturity. The journey partners take to earn and grow competency is ultimately a journey toward valuable customer relationships, especially as the demand for AI expertise grows.Visit SAP Partner Portal for more information on the Competency Framework and to access enablement materials. Begin preparing today for the changes to the framework that reflect SAP’s AI-centered strategy and review your SAP Partner Finder profile to ensure it’s fully up to date. Read More Technology Blog Posts by SAP articles
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