YOUR STORY. OUR GLOBAL STAGE.

SAP Innovation Awards 2027

Celebrating the visionary teams using SAP cloud and AI technologies to turn operational challenges into real-world impact.
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About the Innovation Awards

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For 14 years, the SAP Innovation Awards have elevated the stories of organizations that refuse to settle for the status quo. From intelligent automation to sustainable growth, this program honors leaders who use SAP technology to solve real-world problems, build long-term operational resilience, and drive outcomes that matter for their business, their industries, and the global community.

How to enter

Take the eligibility self-assessment

​Use the online tool to check your submission eligibility before you start developing your innovation story.

Check eligibility 

Prepare your pitch deck

Submit a compelling, well-structured story using the innovation story template. You can refine your innovation story until the submission deadline.

Download the template 

Submit your entry

Use the link below to complete the entry form and upload your innovation story in PDF format.

Submit your entry 
SAP Innovation Awards News

Stay informed with the latest news on the SAP Innovation Awards.

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Award benefits

Recognition

Showcase your company’s innovation on a global stage and be recognized as a leader making a real impact in your industry and beyond.

Testimonials from previous winners

Celebration

Receive an exclusive physical trophy, along with a complimentary pass to SAP Sapphire Orlando or Barcelona, or elect to donate a US$1,000 voucher to a pre-approved charity of your choice.

Learn about SAPPHIRE

Amplification

Amplify your story across SAP’s official media channels, earn press coverage, and access exclusive thought leadership and potential speaking opportunities at SAP events.

Blogs from previous winners

Award categories

For 2027, the SAP Innovation Awards feature 14 solution categories and 5 industry categories to celebrate impactful customer transformations. To make entering as simple as possible, applicants submit a single innovation story, and the SAP Innovation Awards Team evaluates each entry to assign it to all applicable solution and industry categories.

AI Excellence

SAP customers who are harnessing one or more of SAP AI solutions to transform operations, elevate efficiency, and shape the future of work through intelligent automation and smarter processes.

Autonomous Enterprise Orchestrator

SAP customers that seamlessly integrate and orchestrate multiple SAP solutions across their enterprise to drive end-to-end automation, intelligent workflows, and holistic business transformation.

Business Network Luminary

SAP customers who are leveraging SAP Business Network solutions to build highly collaborative, transparent, and resilient trading partner ecosystems. These organizations are driving ecosystem-wide efficiency, mitigating supply chain risk, and seamlessly connecting procurement, logistics, and asset operations.

Cloud ERP Champion

SAP customers who confidently embrace AI-powered ERP to transform, future-proof, and unlock new avenues for growth and innovation.

Customer Experience Innovator

SAP customers who have transformed their businesses with cloud technologies, creating standout experiences that delight customers and fuel growth.

Emerging Growth Leader

Mid-sized organizations leveraging SAP solutions to accelerate growth, streamline operations, and drive rapid speed-to-value. This category honors agile, expanding businesses that demonstrate exceptional operational impact and scalable innovation.

Financial Futurist

SAP customers who are leveraging SAP Finance to revolutionize financial processes to deliver new business models, optimize working capital, increase efficiency, and reduce risk.

People Experience Pioneer

SAP customers who are reimagining HR through AI-enabled, cloud-powered transformation that empowers their people and their business to perform at their best.

Procurement Visionary

SAP customers who are leveraging SAP Spend Management solutions to automate procurement processes and actively manage indirect and direct spend for better control, greater value, more savings, and operational efficiencies.

Services Superstar

SAP cloud customers who have leveraged SAP Services to accelerate their business goals by enabling organizational learning, increasing user adoption, enhancing productivity, and maximizing the overall value of their SAP solutions.

Supply Chain Catalyst

SAP customers use Supply Chain Management (SCM) solutions to build resilient, transparent, and well-orchestrated supply chains. By integrating SAP SCM solutions, companies can improve supply chain efficiency and visibility, support regulatory compliance, and strengthen customer satisfaction.

Sustainability Hero

SAP customers who are harnessing the power of connected apps, data, and AI for improved efficiency, streamlined compliance, and business growth for a sustainable and resilient future.

Technology Pathfinder

SAP customers who have implemented one or more SAP Business AI Platform solutions to solve a business problem or unlock an innovative use case that results in a positive, measurable impact on the community or society.

Transformation Impact

SAP customers driving business impact and steering corporate-wide transformations by leveraging latest AI and non-AI capabilities of SAP LeanIX, SAP Signavio, WalkMe, CALM, Tricentis and/or Syniti. Using one or multiple solutions resulted in clear IT and business value across the dimensions of processes, applications, people and data, while building the foundations to adopt, monitor and govern agentic AI in their enterprise operations.

The Industry Leader category: All entries will be evaluated for this category and assigned to a cluster based on the participant’s industry:

Consumer Industries

  • ​Agribusiness

  • Consumer Products

  • Profit-based Healthcare

  • Life Sciences

  • Retail

  • Wholesale Distribution

Discrete Industries

  • ​Aerospace and Defense

  • Automotive

  • High Tech

  • Industrial Manufacturing

Energy & Natural Resources

  • ​Chemicals

  • Mill Products

  • Mining

  • Oil Gas & Energy

  • Utilities

Public Services

  • ​Defense and Security

  • Education and Research

  • Non-profit Healthcare

  • Public Sector (includes NGOs and other non-profits (e.g., Red Cross, UN Food Program, Girl Scouts, etc.)

Service and Financial Services Industries

  • ​Banking

  • Engineering Construction and Operations

  • Insurance

  • Media

  • Professional Services

  • Sports and Entertainment

  • Telecommunications

  • Travel and Transportation

Award timeline

Learn about important dates for this year’s awards.

Entry submissions

September 28, 2026 to February 19, 2027

Judging period

February 20 to April 13, 2027

Finalists announcement

April 14, 2027

Winners announcement

April 21, 2027

Judging criteria

Judges will review and score the entries to select the finalists and winners based on a set of specific criteria, which include:

Innovation & Use Case

  • Did you use SAP technology to solve a complex business challenge in a novel, disruptive, or highly creative way?

  • Does your story showcase true business process re-imagination, or is it a routine technical upgrade?

Measurable Business & Human Impact

  • What concrete, verifiable metrics did your project achieve

  • Does your submission articulate both strategic business value and tangible human outcomes for employees, customers, or communities?

Future-readiness

  • Is your organization actively adopting SAP's vision for the future through live deployments of SAP Business AI, Joule, or modern machine learning?

  • Are you building a scalable, pristine cloud foundation strictly aligned with Clean Core principles?

2026 champions

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SAP Innovation Awards newsletter

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Other SAP awards programs

Explore SAP’s many prestigious recognition programs for customers and partners, including awards dedicated to specific regions and products.

SAP ACE Awards

In conjunction with INDUS (SAP’s India User Group), the SAP ACE Awards celebrate organisations that demonstrate significant business impact using SAP technology and solutions.

Learn more 

SAP Best Tech Awards

The SAP Best Tech Awards celebrate the achievements of the top companies in Australia and New Zealand that use SAP products to turn insight into action, drive innovation, and transform their businesses.

Learn more 

Concur Innovation Awards

The SAP Concur Innovation Awards celebrate global stories of innovation, focusing on how customers and partners are improving their business processes with SAP Concur solutions.

Learn more 

SAP Customer Excellence Awards for SEA

The SAP Customer Excellence Awards for Southeast Asia (SEA) commemorate organizations that use cloud solutions from SAP to drive business innovation throughout the region.

Learn more 

SAP Heroes

The SAP Heroes program honors businesses that drive innovation and success with SAP technology and solutions, excelling in their fields and leading impactful go-lives.

Learn more 

SAP Pinnacle Awards

The SAP Pinnacle Awards showcase top-performing partners who demonstrate their ability to understand customer business needs and deliver unmatched value using SAP technology.

Learn more 

Frequently asked questions

Get answers to frequently asked questions about the SAP Innovation Awards program.

The SAP Innovation Awards celebrate customers who are turning ideas into reality by using SAP’s cloud and AI technologies to take on real-world challenges and deliver results that matter. It’s our way of shining a light on the people and teams behind the innovation. Winners and finalists get the chance to share their stories with the world, get recognized for their impact, and inspire others across industries and communities.

  1. Simplified Entry Process: Submissions close on February 19, 2027. Applicants submit a single innovation story, and our committee will assign your entry across all relevant solution and industry categories.
  2. Multi-Category Eligibility: Since the SAP Innovation Awards Team assigns your single story across all applicable solution and industry categories, an entry will automatically be considered across multiple categories if suitable.
  3. New & Streamlined Categories: We've introduced 14 total solution categories, including new categories like Autonomous Enterprise Orchestrator, Business Network Luminary and Emerging Growth Leader.

  • September 28, 2026: Submissions open

  • February 19, 2027: Submissions close

  • February 20 – April 13, 2027: Judging period

  • April 14, 2027: Finalists announced

  • April 21, 2027: Winners announced

1. Any organization using SAP products or services to drive transformation.

2. SAP Partners can participate in two ways:

a. As an SAP Customer: Submit your own internal organization’s transformation story using SAP solutions.

b. On behalf of an SAP Customer: Submit a customer’s story (with their express written consent).

3. Solutions must be live and fully deployed; proofs of concept (PoCs) or planned projects are not eligible.

4. Participants from non-eligible countries or government-related entities can still be recognized as winners and receive an official trophy, but they are ineligible to receive event tickets, donation prizes and other prizes per legal guidelines.

5. Please use the self-assessment tool to check your eligibility.

Participants from all countries are eligible to submit an entry to the SAP Innovation Awards. Participants from non-eligible countries or government-related entities can still be recognized as winners and receive an official trophy, but they are ineligible to receive event tickets, donation prizes and other prizes.

 

The following countries are eligible for the full prize package in the 2027 SAP Innovation Awards:

 

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Botswana, Brazil, Canada (excluding Quebec), Chile, China, Colombia, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Ecuador, Egypt, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Malaysia, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Republic of Kazakhstan, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.

 

Note: Each year, the SAP Innovation Awards team collaborates with legal counsel to expand the list of eligible countries based on local contest laws. To qualify for prize eligibility, the business application featured in the entry must be primarily deployed in an Eligible Country, or developed and intended to be sold/used by customers in an Eligible Country.

  • Winner prize package: Each winning entry receives an official SAP Innovation Awards trophy and kit, along with a choice of:

    • One (1) complimentary pass to attend SAP Sapphire Orlando or Barcelona 2027—SAP’s premier event showcasing cutting-edge advances in business and technology innovation.

    • A US$1,000 donation voucher to direct funding toward a pre-approved charity of their choice.

  • Finalist prize package: Finalists receive an official recognition trophy and kit in honor of their achievements. Finalists who plan to attend SAP Sapphire are eligible to receive one (1) pass to SAP Sapphire Orlando or Barcelona. If a finalist chooses not to attend, the ticket is forfeited and cannot be transferred or exchanged for another prize value.

  • Single pass rule: Each entry is eligible for a maximum of one (1) SAP Sapphire pass total. Winning entries receive a single pass (or the donation alternative); winning an award does not stack an additional winner ticket on top of a finalist ticket.

  • Amplification & thought leadership: Winners and finalists are offered exclusive opportunities to showcase their achievements through SAP media channels, customer spotlight videos, podcasts, social media features, and potential speaking opportunities at SAP events.

Participants representing government-related entities, as well as participants located in (or whose deployments are in) non-eligible countries, are fully welcome to submit an entry and receive official recognition. If selected as a finalist or winner, they will receive an official SAP Innovation Awards trophy, but are ineligible to receive SAP Sapphire passes or any other prizes due to compliance, ethics, and legal restrictions.

The selection process involves two main rounds of judging:

  1. Round 1 (Finalist Selection): A panel of SAP experts evaluates all submitted innovation stories and assigns entries across eligible categories. The highest-scoring entries in each category advance as official finalists.
  2. Round 2 (Winner Selection): The judging panel will then conduct a secondary review of the finalist entries to select the category winners.

Note: Submissions that do not win a category may still be eligible to receive formal recognition as Outstanding Achievers when winners are announced. If a customer entry wins or becomes a finalist, any implementation partner credited on the submission will also receive an official trophy.

 

Judges evaluate entries based on three equal core pillars:

  1. Innovation & Use Case: Did you use SAP technology to solve a complex business challenge in a novel, disruptive, or highly creative way? Does your story showcase true business process re-imagination, or is it a routine technical upgrade?
  2. Measurable Business & Human Impact: What concrete, verifiable metrics did your project achieve? Does your submission articulate both strategic business value and tangible human outcomes for employees, customers, or communities?
  3. Future-readiness: Is your organization actively adopting SAP's vision for the future through live deployments of SAP Business AI, Joule, or modern machine learning? Are you building a scalable, pristine cloud foundation strictly aligned with Clean Core principles?

  • As an SAP Customer: Submit your own internal organization’s transformation story using SAP solutions.

  • On behalf of an SAP Customer: Submit a customer’s story (with their express written consent).

You can enter by following these steps on the How to Enter section:

  1. Take the Eligibility Self-Assessment (optional): Use the online tool to check your submission eligibility before you start developing your innovation story.
  2. Prepare your innovation story (required): Maximize your chance of winning by submitting a compelling and well-structured story. The innovation story template is a vital tools to help prepare and structure your pitch using your own voice. You can find the innovation story template on the SAP Innovation Awards website.
  3. Submit your Entry (required). Along with the innovation story, you must also complete the Entry Form through the Customer Appreciation Network platform. The form includes basic information about you (participant) and your company, and the promotional opportunities you would like to participate in. Remember to upload the innovation story in PDF format.

Each entry will be reviewed for eligibility and completeness by the awards team. Qualified entries will be posted on the awards website. Entries must be in English.

Submissions must utilize one or more SAP products and be deployed in production (go-live.)

 

Note: Proof of concepts will not be considered.

  • Global recognition & milestones: Showcase your innovation on a global stage, gain industry leadership status, and celebrate the career-defining efforts of your project teams.

  • Trophies & prizes: Win an official physical trophy and your choice of an SAP Sapphire pass (Orlando or Barcelona) or a US$1,000 charity donation voucher.

  • Executive & media amplification: Be recognized by SAP executives and amplify your transformation story across SAP channels, spotlight videos, podcasts, media/analyst interviews, and social campaigns.

  • Network & connect: Expand your professional network with peers, industry leaders, and experts at SAP Sapphire.

  • Promote customer success: Highlight your client's achievements, showcase your role as a trusted implementation partner, and co-brand on global SAP channels.

  • Earn partner trophies: If your nominated customer becomes a finalist or winner, your partner organization will also receive an official trophy to commemorate your joint achievement.

  • Promote your own internal transformation: If submitting as an SAP customer, showcase your internal deployment to build market credibility with prospects and industry peers.

All previous award winners are publicly available on the awards website – “Past Winners”. Submissions for the 2026 Awards will be posted on the website as soon as they are verified.

The SAP Innovation Awards logos can be downloaded by clicking on the following link: 2026 SAP Innovation Awards Logo

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