AI That Acts, Not Just Chats: The Integration Advantage | feat. Craig Stasila
Dec 02, 2025
Show notes
Niklas Siemer is joined by Craig Stasila, Senior Director of Product Marketing at SAP, to unpack how integration is the missing link powering the next generation of agentic AI.
From the rise of autonomous agents to real-world enterprise applications, they explore why AI cannot deliver meaningful business value without strong integration foundations. You’ll hear how SAP Integration Suite, APIs, and event-driven architectures are evolving to make AI agents smarter, safer, and more connected than ever before.
They also dive into the newly announced support for MCP in SAP Integration Suite, how it standardizes communication between AI agents and business systems, and what this means for developers and architects working to operationalize AI across the enterprise.
Also in this episode:
What “agentic AI” really is—and how it differs from chatbots or RPA.
Why integration is the backbone of every AI system, connecting agents to real-world business data and actions through APIs.
How SAP Integration Suite and event-driven architecture enable real-time data exchange, reliability, and secure AI access.
How the Model Context Protocol (MCP) will shape the next generation of API and AI agent interoperability.
Governance and safety frameworks ensuring humans stay in control as AI agents scale across business processes.
Real-world use cases showing how integration and AI agents can optimize procurement, supply chains, and decision-making.
Best practices and architectural patterns for balancing real-time responsiveness with data reliability.
Plus, hear Craig’s take on ska music, mixology, and how the DIY mindset of punk rock mirrors today’s rapid experimentation in AI and integration innovation.
Don’t miss this deep dive into how SAP BTP and Integration Suite are helping enterprises move from hype to hands-on success in the era of agentic AI.
With extensive experience in integration and enterprise automation, Craig has been a key player in the SAP ecosystem since 1998. He’s held diverse roles: from integration consultant to product manager and successfully connected countless systems, even an SAP system to a toaster. In his current role, he uses his passion and deep knowledge to engage users and help them harness the power of SAP Integration Suite.
Outside of work, Craig cherishes spending time with his wife and daughters, pickup basketball games, and indulging in mixing craft cocktails. He also loves attending live music shows featuring under-the-radar bands. Whether you’re into tech, family life, unique hobbies, or punk rock music, Craig is always up for an engaging conversation.
Senior Product Specialist SAP Business Technology Platform
Niklas is a passionate Product Manager for SAP BTP with a strong background in software development, primarily using Java and Node.js. He co-hosts the Unlocking SAP BTP (formerly SAP BTP Talk) podcast, where he explores SAP BTP topics in monthly deep dives. Before his current role, Niklas worked as a Learning Specialist, creating and delivering technical training on SAP BTP and the ABAP Platform.
Feedback or podcast ideas? Write us an email at platformtalks@sap.com
Become an AI-first, Suite-first Enterprise with SAP Databricks in SAP Business Data Cloud | feat. San Tran
Oct 22, 2025
Show notes
Gaurav Dey is joined by San Tran, Product Manager for SAP Business Data Cloud, to discuss the groundbreaking partnership between SAP Business Data Cloud and SAP Databricks. They chat how SAP BTP (Business Technology Platform) is driving AI-first enterprise transformation through seamless SAP Data Sphere integration, zero-copy data sharing, and advanced AI/ML workflows.
Also, hear how Business Data Fabric and SAP Business AI are enabling future-ready enterprise IT, making it easier than ever to turn enterprise data into real business value. From hands-on use cases like cash flow forecasting, margin analysis, and attrition analysis to practical tips for engineers and data scientists, you’ll get a front-row seat to digital transformation outcomes that matter.
Also in this episode:
How SAP and Databricks have formed a deep partnership, enabling seamless integration between SAP Business Data Cloud and Databricks for advanced machine learning pipelines and AI/ML use cases.
The new zero-copy data sharing approach for real-time, bi-directional data access between SAP and Databricks, eliminating the need for cumbersome data replication and ETL processes.
SAP’s Business Data Fabric architecture as a holistic strategy for managing, enriching, and analyzing both SAP and non-SAP data, including SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP HANA Cloud migration.
Leveraging powerful tools like SQL analytics, Python notebooks, and integrated ML tooling (including MLflow) within the SAP ecosystem for engineers and data scientists.
Real-world use cases—such as cash flow forecasting, margin analysis, and attrition analysis—demonstrating how AI and machine learning are being applied to solve business challenges.
The upcoming BDC Connect, which will expand integration capabilities and allow enterprise Databricks customers to combine SAP and non-SAP data for a complete business view.
Hands-on resources, including trial environments, SAP Integration Suite, SAP Build, SAP Document AI, webinars, and upcoming SAP TechEd workshops, to help you get practical experience with SAP Business Data Cloud and Databricks.
How the data marketplace and SAP Data Sphere integration are shaping the future of data-driven innovation and BW modernization strategy.
Feedback or podcast ideas? Write us an email at platformtalks@sap.com
Achieving Clean Core with the updated Clean Core extensibility White Paper | feat. Marco Matha
Sep 02, 2025
Show notes
Niklas Siemer is joined by Marco Matha to dive deep into the concept of “clean core” and its critical role in enterprise transformation. Learn why keeping your SAP systems clean, up-to-date, and extensible is more important than ever in today’s fast-paced tech landscape.
Niklas and Marco break down SAP’s new clean core levels using relatable metaphors, explain the evolution from the classic extensibility model, and share practical advice for developers and architects. Learn about essential tools like the SAP Discovery Center, Guidance Framework, and ABAP Test Cockpit, and get actionable best practices for your clean core journey. Whether you’re a seasoned SAP developer or just starting out, this episode offers valuable insights, real-world examples, and even a few personal recommendations to inspire your next steps.
Also in this episode:
Clean Core is Essential for Agility: Maintaining a “clean core” in your SAP systems enables organizations to quickly adopt new technologies, reduce technical debt, and stay competitive in a rapidly evolving landscape.
New Extensibility Levels Clarified: SAP has introduced a four-level model (A–D) for extensibility, making it easier to understand which development approaches are most future-proof and compliant with best practices.
Level A is the Gold Standard: Developing extensions using SAP Build and released APIs (Level A) ensures maximum stability, cloud readiness, and long-term support.
Custom Code Can Hinder Progress: Legacy customizations and undocumented modifications can slow down upgrades and increase maintenance challenges, making clean core compliance even more important.
Tools to Support Your Journey: Resources like the SAP Discovery Center, Guidance Framework, and ABAP Test Cockpit (ATC) help developers assess, govern, and improve the cleanliness of their codebase.
Methodology for Extension Planning: A structured three-phase approach—assess use case, assess technology, and define target solution—guides teams in making informed, strategic extension decisions.
Continuous Learning and Best Practices: SAP provides detailed white papers, open-source projects, and recommended reading (like “Talk Like TED”) to help developers stay informed and continuously improve their skills and solutions.
Senior Product Specialist SAP Business Technology Platform
Niklas is a passionate Product Manager for SAP BTP with a strong background in software development, primarily using Java and Node.js. He co-hosts the Unlocking SAP BTP (formerly SAP BTP Talk) podcast, where he explores SAP BTP topics in monthly deep dives. Before his current role, Niklas worked as a Learning Specialist, creating and delivering technical training on SAP BTP and the ABAP Platform.
Modernize Your BW Landscape with SAP Business Data Cloud | Lift, Shift & Innovate | feat. Sandy Tran
Jul 31, 2025
Show notes
In this episode we discuss Business Warehouse (BW) modernization and BW transformation highlighting how customers can move from SAP BW 7.5 and BW/4HANA to SAP Business Data Cloud.
Gaurav Dey is joined by Sandy Tran, Product Manager for SAP Business Data Cloud (BDC) on SAP BTP, to discuss Business Warehouse (BW) modernization and BW transformation. Together they outline how customers can move from SAP BW 7.5 and BW/4HANA to BDC via the pragmatic “lift → shift → innovate” approach.
Sandy details the new Data Product Generator, showing how legacy BW InfoProviders become SAP data products ready for AI in SAP scenarios—whether you’re using SAP Datasphere, SAP Databricks, or intelligent copilots like SAP Joule. Listeners also get an early look at the SAP roadmap for 2025, which promises deeper object associations, automated dependency handling, and smoother SAP cloud migration paths.
Also in this episode:
Lift, Shift, Innovate Approach: Move existing Business Warehouse (BW) assets to SAP Business Data Cloud without large re-implementation effort, then layer innovation on top.
Data Products & Intelligent Applications: Turn BW InfoCubes, MultiProviders, and DSOs into discoverable, governed SAP data products that power SAP intelligent applications and analytics across lines of business.
AI & Machine Learning Ready: Modernized BW content feeds directly into AI in SAP workflows through tight integration with SAP Datasphere and SAPDatabricks—no additional pipelines required.
Extended Maintenance & Flexibility: With SAP BW 7.5 in extended maintenance until 2030, customers can choose a phased journey from SAP BW 7.5 to BDC, aligning with budget and resource realities.
Technical Implementation Highlights: The Data Product Generator provides metadata and semantic modeling information, accelerating SAP cloud migration and reducing manual effort.
Enhanced Collaboration: A unified data catalog bridges IT and business teams, slashing redundancy and unlocking faster insights.
Why SAP Build Is a Game-Changer for Developer Efficiency | feat. Howard Holton and Mark Wright
Jul 10, 2025
Show notes
New Report Reveals How Using SAP Build Leads To “MASSIVE” Time & Cost Savings For Developers
Niklas Siemer is joined by Howard Holton from GigaOM and Mark Wright from SAP to discuss GigaOm’s groundbreaking Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) report on SAP Build.
The conversation dives deep into how SAP Build’s AI-powered development tools can dramatically improve developer efficiency, reduce costs, and transform application development.
Also in this episode:
Developer Efficiency: SAP Build enables junior developers to work more effectively, reducing the need for senior developers and allowing them to focus on strategic tasks.
Cost Savings: The GigaOM report found that SAP Build can deliver approximately 59% cost savings and develop applications three times faster compared to custom development stacks.
AI Integration: SAP’s Joule AI is specifically trained on SAP code, providing unique insights and capabilities for developers working within the SAP ecosystem.
Synthetic Data Generation: The tool excels at creating synthetic data for testing, which helps address data privacy and compliance challenges.
Ecosystem Advantage: SAP Build leverages the existing SAP ecosystem, providing seamless integration and reducing the complexity of connecting different systems.
Risk Mitigation: While adopting new technologies, companies should start with low-risk data sets and invest time in understanding their data governance processes.
Future of Development: AI-powered tools are transforming software development, allowing developers to focus more on creative problem-solving and less on repetitive coding tasks.
As the CEO of GigaOm, Howard is a trusted advisor to many Fortune 1000 organizations. He has helped them develop successful strategies and execute their vision. He has a passion for executive leadership, which he developed at Rheem, Hitachi Vantara, Verizon, and various startups. Follow Howard on: LinkedIn
Mark Wright Senior Director Product Marketing, SAP Build
A seasoned professional in the tech industry with a passion for bringing innovative products to market. With a degree in Computer Science, I’ve dedicated the last two decades to shaping the future of technology. Currently, I serve as the Senior Director of Product Marketing, where I thrive on bridging the gap between cutting-edge solutions and the needs of our users. Follow Mark on: LinkedIn
Hosted by Niklas Siemer Senior Product Specialist SAP Business Technology Platform
Niklas is a passionate Product Manager for SAP BTP with a strong background in software development, primarily using Java and Node.js. He co-hosts the Unlocking SAP BTP (formerly SAP BTP Talk) podcast, where he explores SAP BTP topics in monthly deep dives. Before his current role, Niklas worked as a Learning Specialist, creating and delivering technical training on SAP BTP and the ABAP Platform. Follow Niklas on: LinkedIn
Episode 118: Become a SaaS provider of multi-tenant applications with SAP BTP
Apr 25, 2025
Show notes
In the April 2025 episode of SAP BTP Talk, we explore how existing and potential SAP partners can build, run, and integrate scalable full-stack cloud applications using the SAP Cloud Application Programming Model (CAP) and adhering to the development recommendations set out in the SAP BTP Developer’s Guide.
We would touch upon including an ERP-agnostic design while you are developing the solution that lets you deliver your application as a side-by-side extension to consumers using any SAP solution, such as SAP S/4HANA Cloud, SAP Business One, and SAP Business ByDesign.
Also in this episode:
Joule is now available in SAP Datasphere for space management and user inquiries. Joule in SAP BTP cockpit has reached general availability, enabling users to manage global accounts and view available runtimes.
SAP Build has introduced Gen AI features to automate process creation and provide UI suggestions, enhancing app development.
Existing and potential partners can leverage Cloud Application Programming model to create and integrate scalable full-stack cloud applications on SAP BTP. CAP documentation provides comprehensive guidance and tutorials for developing multi-tenant solutions, including the Partner Reference Application repository.
The “Poetry Slam Manager” is one ready-to-run sample application within the Partner Reference App repository that includes comprehensive tutorials for development and integration. This creative use case shows how event managers can utilize SAP ERP systems to organize and manage poetry slam events.
Roadmap items for SAP BTP services include Joule capabilities for CAP, letting developers leverage AI for enhanced accuracy and efficiency, and new transport management functionalities.
Learning and enablement opportunities are available through virtual formats (SAP BTP InnoBytes, SAP BTP Garage) and upcoming in-person events like SAP ReCap and SAP Sapphire.
Feedback or podcast ideas? Write us an email at platformtalks@sap.com
About Knut Heusermann
Knut Heusermann is a Product Manager and part of the Business Suite Ecosystem team at SAP SE. He drives partner and customer innovations based on the SAP Business Technology Platform by connecting extension architecture, integration capabilities and commercial models.
Christian Böhrer is a Development Manager in the SAP S/4HANA Cloud Foundation unit at SAP’s headquarters in Walldorf. He is heading a development team with focus on partner extensibility and ecosystem enablement for the SAP Business Suite that is delivering architecture and engineering guidance for SAP’s partner ecosystem.
Episode 117: Discovering Knowledge Graph within SAP HANA Cloud
Apr 01, 2025
Show notes
In this new episode Niklas Siemer, Product Specialist for SAP Business Technology Platform, is talking to Shabana Samsudheen, Senior Product Manager for SAP HANA Cloud. We’re making a deep dive into the new Knowledge Graph engine of SAP HANA Cloud: talking about what knowledge graphs are and what they’re used for, typical use cases of knowledge graphs and why they are so beneficial, and how to put them to use in SAP HANA Cloud.
Interview Guest:
Shabana Samsudheen is Senior Product Manager for SAP HANA Cloud, focusing on the multi-model topic, that covers the spatial, property graph, document store, vector and the recently rolled out knowledge graph engine.
Episode 116: Enhance developer efficiency using SAP Integration Suite and SAP Build for enterprise automation scenarios
Feb 27, 2025
Show notes
Explore how the enterprise automation framework enhances developer efficiency and streamlines connectivity to underlying data sources.
In the February 2025 episode of SAP BTP Talk, we explore how SAP accelerates enterprise automation with SAP Build and SAP Integration Suite offering a unique and comprehensive AI-powered solution to integrate applications, discover process inefficiencies, and automate processes across heterogeneous enterprise environments.
Discover how SAP helps enterprises integrate everything, improve continuously, and automate completely.
Evegniy Gorbunov is a Product Manager for SAP Build with over 10 years of experience in diverse roles in the IT industry.
Being a passionate enthusiast and evangelist of hyper-automation, Evgeniy is leading various product management, customer adoption, and go-to-market initiatives within SAP.
Feedback or podcast ideas? Write us an email at platformtalks@sap.com
Episode 115: Develop apps, automate processes, and design engaging digital workspaces with SAP Build
Jan 30, 2025
Show notes
Get a holistic understanding of how SAP Build accelerates development and automation with low-code, pro-code, and generative AI tools.
In the January 2025 episode of SAP BTP Talk, we explore how SAP Build accelerates development and automation with low-code, pro-code, and generative AI tools. Discover how businesses can build cloud-ready extensions to maximize investments in cloud ERP and their application ecosystems.
Hemant Rachh is a Senior Director, Product Management, SAP Build, with proven success in new business launches, scaling products across geographies, spearheading new initiatives, and managing agile teams. In his current role, he is leading outbound product management of SAP Build across LoBs. Before the SAP Build, Hemant co-founded a startup “Inversation by SAP” funded by SAP.iO. He has overall 20 years of experience and holds a master’s in business administration from NMIMS, Mumbai.
Feedback or podcast ideas? Write us an email at platformtalks@sap.com
Episode 114: Configure and manage BTP landscape with your AI digital assistant – Joule within SAP BTP Cockpit
Dec 24, 2024
Show notes
Learn how Joule revolutionizes the way you interact with your SAP Business Technology Platform landscape through SAP BTP Cockpit.
In this episode of SAP BTP Talk, December 2024, we will talk about how Joule – the AI copilot from SAP – truly understands your business. And when this intelligence is infused in SAP BTP Cockpit, how it transforms productivity and the way your teams work.
Host Gaurav Dey interviews Kishore Vivekanandan, a product lead at SAP BTP, discussing Joule’s role in making BTP administration more efficient and user-friendly. Our conversation delves into the advancements in AI, particularly interactive AI in business applications, with a focus on the new features of SAP BTP and Joule’s integration. We also touch upon the learnings that the development team had from the beta program and how those insights have shaped the product roadmap.
Kishore Kumar Vivekanandan, Head of BTP Core Experience (Multi-Cloud, AI & Neo), leads the BTP Core Experience organization, overseeing engineering teams responsible for critical foundations such as SAP BTP Cockpit—the central management UI for SAP BTP services and environments—along with the BTP CLI, a developer-focused terminal interface for cloud-native operations, and BTP Neo Core services.
As a visionary leader, Kishore spearheads the strategic investment in integrating AI capabilities into SAP BTP Cockpit. His efforts are driving the evolution of SAP’s administrative interfaces with Joule, SAP’s AI-powered copilot, to transform how users interact with and manage their BTP landscapes.
Kishore’s expertise lies in managing cross-functional teams, delivering complex enterprise-grade solutions, and fostering innovation in cloud computing and AI. He is passionate about enhancing user experience and empowering customers to unlock the full potential of SAP BTP.
Our TOPPODCAST Picks 
Stay Connected
