SAP CFO Dominik Asam Urges AI Shift to Core Business Processes

SAP CFO Dominik Asam stated on July 23 that artificial intelligence in enterprise software must move beyond chatbots and coding tools to realize significant productivity gains. Following the company's second-quarter results, Asam categorized current AI applications as low-hanging fruit and argued that substantial returns depend on embedding governed systems within core business processes, such as supply chain management and finance.

Asam warned that integrating AI into these complex workflows is difficult because hallucinations can compound statistically over many steps, creating risks for compliance. He asserted that the high-hanging fruit requires building systems tailored to specific businesses using governed data rather than relying on generic, plug-and-play large language models.

According to Asam, the most advanced models are not always the best choice for enterprises. He suggested that companies will prioritize the most cost-effective reliable tools that can guarantee a safe and compliant outcome.