SEIDOR: 94% Of Companies Plan To Modernise Their SAP ERP, But Only 15% With A Strategic Vision

WEYBRIDGE, U.K. - July 6, 2026 - PRLog -- The technology consultancy SEIDOR has launched an exclusive new report: SAP ERP Modernisation 2026. Based on interviews with 360 CIOs from companies with over €100 million in revenue across nine countries, the study reveals that while 94% of companies plan to modernise their ERP, only 15% aspire to a strategic transformation capable of redesigning processes around data and artificial intelligence (AI).

The report highlights a significant gap between ambition and execution: many companies seek innovation, but most projects remain focused on technical migration, operational continuity, and platform change. According to SEIDOR, true competitive advantage will belong to organisations that use this wave to reduce technical debt, simplify processes, and prepare the core for intelligent capabilities.

"The risk is not failing to migrate; the risk is migrating and continuing to operate in the same way," notes Javier Navarro, Global SAP Leader at SEIDOR.

Three Levels of Modernisation
The study structures SAP modernisation around three cumulative levels:

1. Migration or Technical Evolution (94% of companies): Updating the platform, moving to the cloud, and responding to SAP's maintenance timetable.

2. Simplification (23% of companies): Reducing custom developments and moving toward a "clean core" model to restore flexibility.

3. Reinvention (15% of companies): Redesigning processes around clean data and AI so the ERP becomes an active decision-making platform.

AI Ambition and the Technical Debt Barrier
AI is a major driver, with 46% of companies citing analytics, data, and AI as motivations. However, 72% still view AI merely as a productivity layer over current processes. SEIDOR warns that AI cannot transform the operating model without prior simplification and data quality; investing in AI without resolving accumulated complexity will limit its real impact.

This complexity is a major hurdle. 71% of companies acknowledge that custom developments and technical debt make SAP evolution difficult, though 90% would accept more standardised processes in exchange for agility. This shift means SAP modernisation is no longer a purely technical decision, but a strategic business conversation involving finance, operations, and general management.

Two Strategic Timelines (2026–2032)
The study identifies two distinct decision windows:

2026–2028: Dominated by migration and technical evolution to ensure continuity ahead of SAP ECC maintenance deadlines.

2028–2032: Focused on advanced simplification, process reinvention, and deep AI integration.

Companies that simplify their core during the first window will achieve greater transformative capacity in the second.

From System to Ecosystem
ERP is evolving from a single block into a layered architecture (core, cloud, AI, data, and integration). In this scenario, the role of the technology partner shifts from simple execution to strategic guidance.

Learn more about SEIDOR's modernisation services at: https://www.seidor.com/en-gb