SAP AI-native North Star Reference Architecture
About this Document
As the enterprise software market enters a defining platform shift, one comparable in significance to the advent of the internet, agentic AI is fundamentally transforming enterprise software and business processes, reshaping how organizations operate, decide, and compete. SAP believes this shift will move enterprises from systems that execute to systems that reason, learn, and adapt, toward what we call the Autonomous Enterprise.
This AI-Native North Star Architecture paper outlines SAP's target reference architecture and strategic vision for that future. It is not a detailed specification, product roadmap, or commitment to deliver specific capabilities, products, or timelines. Rather, it sets a strategic direction for SAP's AI-native, self-evolving enterprise platform, illustrating how AI agents, applications, business processes, data, context, and platform capabilities will increasingly converge in the next generation of enterprise systems.
The document is introduced by forewords from Philipp Herzig, Anirban Majumdar, Stefan Nogly, Thomas Henzler, and Geoff Scott. These contributions reflect both SAP's strategic technology vision and the perspectives of leading SAP user groups, represented by DSAG and ASUG, highlighting a shared commitment between SAP and its customer community to shape the future of AI-native enterprise architecture.
The paper is available on the SAP Architecture Center site and will evolve alongside the rapid pace of AI innovation, with quarterly updates planned to incorporate new insights, architectural decisions, and ecosystem developments. A downloadable PDF version is also available.
