Change is hard. In enterprise technology, it’s even harder. Legacy systems, deeply embedded customizations, and complex IT landscapes often make modernization feel like an uphill battle. But SAP’s Business Technology Platform (BTP) is flipping that script—empowering businesses to innovate without the burden of rigid ERP systems.
In a recent episode of Lemongrass Roots, our CTO and Co-founder, Eamonn O’Neill, sat down with Brian Dennett, the new Sales Practice Lead for Lemongrass’s SAP BTP practice. Their conversation wasn’t just about technology—it was about transformation, and how companies can break free from the past to build a more agile future.
From Monolithic ERPs to Agile Innovation
Brian’s SAP journey began in 2006, in an era when ERP systems were bulky, inflexible, and packed with custom ABAP code. While these customizations gave businesses control, they also created technical debt—making upgrades a nightmare and innovation nearly impossible.
Fast forward to today, and SAP BTP offers a new path. “BTP isn’t just a set of tools,” Brian explains. “It’s a launchpad for innovation. It gives businesses the agility to extend, enhance, and integrate their SAP landscapes without locking themselves into a web of custom code.”
The BTP Advantage: Innovation Without Constraints
For decades, SAP customers built solutions directly into their ERP cores, a practice that worked—until it didn’t. Every customization made upgrades harder, every modification increased risk. Now, SAP is advocating a cleaner, more modular approach with BTP, allowing businesses to extend their systems externally while maintaining a lean, upgrade-friendly core.
BTP and RISE with SAP: A Strategic Partnership
BTP and RISE with SAP often come up in the same conversation, but what’s the connection? Brian breaks it down into three stages:
• Before RISE: Companies experiment with BTP, cleaning up technical debt and integrating Cloud-native solutions.
• During RISE: BTP streamlines the Coud migration process, enhancing workflows and ensuring a seamless transition.
• After RISE: With SAP in the Cloud, businesses can harness BTP to continuously innovate, adapt, and stay competitive.
Where to Begin: Four Key Focus Areas
For businesses looking to embark on their BTP journey, Brian recommends starting with these foundational pillars:
- Integration Suite – The connective tissue that seamlessly links SAP with external applications.
- Work Zone – A user-friendly interface that brings SAP applications into a centralized, intuitive workspace.
- Build Process Automation – A low-code/no-code tool that empowers businesses to automate workflows and streamline operations.
- DataSphere – SAP’s advanced data platform, driving AI-powered analytics and business intelligence.
AI-Powered Transformation: The Next Frontier
But the story doesn’t end with BTP adoption—AI is changing the game entirely. At Lemongrass, we’re pioneering AI-driven solutions that accelerate SAP modernization. One of the most exciting developments? Generative AI that can analyze and migrate legacy ABAP code to BTP, making clean core strategies a reality.
“Our AI solution is still in early pilots, but it’s already proving to be a game-changer,” Eamonn reveals. “By automating the migration process, we’re helping customers adopt SAP’s latest innovations faster and more efficiently.”
The Time to Act is Now
The future of SAP is unfolding, and businesses that embrace BTP today will be best positioned to lead tomorrow. As Brian and Eamonn emphasize, modernization doesn’t have to be painful—it just requires the right approach.
Are you ready to unlock the full potential of SAP BTP? Let’s explore how Lemongrass can help you navigate this transformation and turn technology into a true business accelerator.
