2026 Integration Research: How SAP Customers Simplify Integration Priorities and Prepare for AI
Integration is now a strategic priority with 88% of SAP customers actively involved in integration projects and a significant 20% increase in the adoption of detailed integration strategies. Research from ASUG and SAP reveals how SAP customers are evolving their integration strategies as complexity, skill constraints, and AI ambitions converge. تحميل الوثيقة2026 Integration Research: How
SAP Customers Simplify Integration
Priorities and Prepare for AI
Research Infographic:
Explore More ASUG Research at
asug.com/insights/research
The State of
Integration
Simplifying Integration
Benefits Amid
Skill Constraints
Agentic AI
Adoption and
Enablement
of SAP customers are somewhat to extremely
involved in integration projects
88%
Have a strategy
+20% from 2024 +3% from 2024
72% Do not have
a strategy
14% Still planning
14% No plans
for integration
0%
As AI enablers come into focus, organizations increasingly emphasize unified integration
approaches to support core business processes. In practice, SAP tools and business
process alignment form the foundation of organizations’ integration strategies.
Integrating SAP to
non-SAP applications
Integrating SAP to
SAP applications
Key Components of Integration Strategies
Rely on tools
from SAP
Standardize and
align processes across
the business
Ensure security
and compliance
integration design
Are organizations currently using or planning to implement
agentic AI capabilities within SAP landscapes?
Level of Integration Involvement and Strategy
Types of Integrations at Organizations
Integration
Best Practices
Research from ASUG and SAP reveals how SAP customers are evolving
their integration strategies as complexity, skill constraints, and AI
ambitions converge.
A significant 20% increase in the adoption of detailed integration
strategies reflects a deliberate shift toward more intentional and
structured approaches. While integration activity remains elevated,
organizations are becoming more selective in where they invest,
prioritizing simplification, e ciency, and clearer strategic direction.
Integration deployment challenges persist, particularly around internal
skills and resourcing. In response, organizations are narrowing the scope
of integration benefits they pursue, focusing on near-term operational
improvements over broader, insight-driven transformation initiatives.
As attention turns toward AI and agentic capabilities, unified integration
approaches, standardized APIs, and strong data foundations are
emerging as critical enablers.
Supporting both current operational needs and future AI-driven
initiatives increasingly depends on disciplined integration execution,
targeted investment, and AI-ready capabilities.
Integration Strategy Breakdown
-21% from 2024 -3% from 2024
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Top Integration Benefits Realized by SAP Customers
76%
67%
Streamlined business processes
57%
72%
Improved use of data and analytics
54%
62%
Better adoption and use of applications
42%
49%
Increased agility
37%
54%
Transparency/visibility into all processes
36%
52%
Intelligence to drive business decisions
36%
33%
Reduced IT expenses
2025 2024
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136), October 2023 (2023, n=129)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142) Note: Respondents provided with the following
specification for agentic AI: e.g., autonomous agents or AI systems that can make independent decisions or actions within SAP solutions
Team upskilling
and AI literacy
Clear governance
and compliance
framework
Modern cloud
infrastructure and
scalability
Secure and reliable APIs
between SAP and
non-SAP systems
Unified, high-quality
business data
across SAP systems
Real-time events and
process orchestration
through SAP Integration
Suite or BTP
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142)
Building these skills
among our existing staff
Working with third parties
who support our
integration projects
Recognized integration
experts on staff
Hiring consultants who
are experts in integration
Working with SAP Established an integration
competency center
Cooperative Research from
Integration deployment challenges remain widespread. Most integration deployment
challenges are consistent with 2024, but internal skills and resource constraints increased,
aligning with reduced upskilling activity.
Top Integration Deployment Challenges
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Lack of internal
skills/resources
Budget
constraints
Data
inconsistencies
Security
concerns
Incompatibilities
between SAP and
non-SAP applications
+5% -4%
43%
38% 39%
43%
38% 40%
33% 35% 32%
39%
2025 2024
85%91%
+3% from 2024 +4% from 2024
Integration demands are substantial: Customers integrate with
an average of 18 applications and 60% connect to up to 20.
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142)
1 to 10 11 to 20 31+ Don’t know
/not sure
30% 30%
20%
8%
21 to 30
11%
Too many projects, not enough resources.
-2% -2%
Integration continues to deliver tangible operational value, but the mix of benefits is shifting
after the surge seen in 2024. Results do remain above 2023 levels, indicating a period of
stabilization. In response, organizations are taking a more targeted and simplified approach,
prioritizing near-term e ciency gains over broader, insight-driven transformation initiatives.
Sta ng for Integration Management at Organizations
Respondents invest in internal integration capability to a lesser extent in 2025. Sta ng for
integration management now hinges equally on internal and external support.
-7%
-7% from 2024
-7% from 2024
-3% from 2024
No change
+1% from 2024
+5% from 2024
of organizations are planning to implement
agentic AI capabilities
4%
Yes, we are currently using agentic AI
13%
No, but we are planning to implement it within 6 months
32%
No, but we are planning to implement it in the near future (more than a year from now)
23%
No, but we are planning to implement it within 6-12 months
13%
No, and we have no current plans
15%
Don’t know/not sure
Key Enablers for Adopting Agentic AI Within SAP
Agentic AI ambitions depend on upskilling, secure APIs, real-time events, and strong
data foundations. Organizational readiness and integration maturity are critical to
scaling these capabilities fast.
40% 39% 22%
Use the research trends to guide your integration strategy. Visit the SAP Integration
Suite website to explore use cases, best practices, and AI-ready capabilities.
Turn Insights into Action
Start here
35 average projects 31 average projects
-15%
-17%
-16%
SAP Customers Simplify Integration
Priorities and Prepare for AI
Research Infographic:
Explore More ASUG Research at
asug.com/insights/research
The State of
Integration
Simplifying Integration
Benefits Amid
Skill Constraints
Agentic AI
Adoption and
Enablement
of SAP customers are somewhat to extremely
involved in integration projects
88%
Have a strategy
+20% from 2024 +3% from 2024
72% Do not have
a strategy
14% Still planning
14% No plans
for integration
0%
As AI enablers come into focus, organizations increasingly emphasize unified integration
approaches to support core business processes. In practice, SAP tools and business
process alignment form the foundation of organizations’ integration strategies.
Integrating SAP to
non-SAP applications
Integrating SAP to
SAP applications
Key Components of Integration Strategies
Rely on tools
from SAP
Standardize and
align processes across
the business
Ensure security
and compliance
integration design
Are organizations currently using or planning to implement
agentic AI capabilities within SAP landscapes?
Level of Integration Involvement and Strategy
Types of Integrations at Organizations
Integration
Best Practices
Research from ASUG and SAP reveals how SAP customers are evolving
their integration strategies as complexity, skill constraints, and AI
ambitions converge.
A significant 20% increase in the adoption of detailed integration
strategies reflects a deliberate shift toward more intentional and
structured approaches. While integration activity remains elevated,
organizations are becoming more selective in where they invest,
prioritizing simplification, e ciency, and clearer strategic direction.
Integration deployment challenges persist, particularly around internal
skills and resourcing. In response, organizations are narrowing the scope
of integration benefits they pursue, focusing on near-term operational
improvements over broader, insight-driven transformation initiatives.
As attention turns toward AI and agentic capabilities, unified integration
approaches, standardized APIs, and strong data foundations are
emerging as critical enablers.
Supporting both current operational needs and future AI-driven
initiatives increasingly depends on disciplined integration execution,
targeted investment, and AI-ready capabilities.
Integration Strategy Breakdown
-21% from 2024 -3% from 2024
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Top Integration Benefits Realized by SAP Customers
76%
67%
Streamlined business processes
57%
72%
Improved use of data and analytics
54%
62%
Better adoption and use of applications
42%
49%
Increased agility
37%
54%
Transparency/visibility into all processes
36%
52%
Intelligence to drive business decisions
36%
33%
Reduced IT expenses
2025 2024
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136), October 2023 (2023, n=129)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142)
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142) Note: Respondents provided with the following
specification for agentic AI: e.g., autonomous agents or AI systems that can make independent decisions or actions within SAP solutions
Team upskilling
and AI literacy
Clear governance
and compliance
framework
Modern cloud
infrastructure and
scalability
Secure and reliable APIs
between SAP and
non-SAP systems
Unified, high-quality
business data
across SAP systems
Real-time events and
process orchestration
through SAP Integration
Suite or BTP
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142)
Building these skills
among our existing staff
Working with third parties
who support our
integration projects
Recognized integration
experts on staff
Hiring consultants who
are experts in integration
Working with SAP Established an integration
competency center
Cooperative Research from
Integration deployment challenges remain widespread. Most integration deployment
challenges are consistent with 2024, but internal skills and resource constraints increased,
aligning with reduced upskilling activity.
Top Integration Deployment Challenges
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142), October 2024 (2024, n=136)
Lack of internal
skills/resources
Budget
constraints
Data
inconsistencies
Security
concerns
Incompatibilities
between SAP and
non-SAP applications
+5% -4%
43%
38% 39%
43%
38% 40%
33% 35% 32%
39%
2025 2024
85%91%
+3% from 2024 +4% from 2024
Integration demands are substantial: Customers integrate with
an average of 18 applications and 60% connect to up to 20.
Source: ASUG/SAP research, SAP Integration Suite, November 2025 (2025, n=142)
1 to 10 11 to 20 31+ Don’t know
/not sure
30% 30%
20%
8%
21 to 30
11%
Too many projects, not enough resources.
-2% -2%
Integration continues to deliver tangible operational value, but the mix of benefits is shifting
after the surge seen in 2024. Results do remain above 2023 levels, indicating a period of
stabilization. In response, organizations are taking a more targeted and simplified approach,
prioritizing near-term e ciency gains over broader, insight-driven transformation initiatives.
Sta ng for Integration Management at Organizations
Respondents invest in internal integration capability to a lesser extent in 2025. Sta ng for
integration management now hinges equally on internal and external support.
-7%
-7% from 2024
-7% from 2024
-3% from 2024
No change
+1% from 2024
+5% from 2024
of organizations are planning to implement
agentic AI capabilities
4%
Yes, we are currently using agentic AI
13%
No, but we are planning to implement it within 6 months
32%
No, but we are planning to implement it in the near future (more than a year from now)
23%
No, but we are planning to implement it within 6-12 months
13%
No, and we have no current plans
15%
Don’t know/not sure
Key Enablers for Adopting Agentic AI Within SAP
Agentic AI ambitions depend on upskilling, secure APIs, real-time events, and strong
data foundations. Organizational readiness and integration maturity are critical to
scaling these capabilities fast.
40% 39% 22%
Use the research trends to guide your integration strategy. Visit the SAP Integration
Suite website to explore use cases, best practices, and AI-ready capabilities.
Turn Insights into Action
Start here
35 average projects 31 average projects
-15%
-17%
-16%