Walls of white bricks or tiles - SAP + Databricks: Putting data and AI to work | DXC Technology Insights

Growth Drivers | May 22, 2025

SAP + Databricks: Putting data and AI to work

By Dr. Chris Nøkkentved, Global CTO for SAP and Enterprise Applications, DXC Technology

 

In today's fast-paced business world, data is the lifeblood of an organisation. The ability to quickly analyse and act on data is what sets thriving businesses apart.

And while there is no doubt that AI is a powerful engine for enterprise intelligence, to work its magic it will need to easily access data so that it can quickly make more informed decisions faster.

The enterprise resource planning software SAP is the heartbeat of global business. And the good news is that it has new solutions that consolidate data from various sources and integrate seamlessly with next-generation AI tools. 

And by partnering with the cloud-based data analytics and AI platform Databricks to launch its Business Data Cloud, SAP now has a platform designed to help enterprises make their data AI-ready for all kinds of important work.

SAP systems yield a high volume and variety of business data and support a myriad of use cases, including supply chain optimisation, inventory management, profit forecasting and more. And when combined with Databricks, the benefits get much bigger and the use cases become broader. 

Unlocking the power of SAP with Databricks

 

Traditional methods for extracting SAP data are often complex, costly and time-consuming.  The lack of consistency in retaining SAP context only adds to the challenge, making it increasingly difficult to develop high-quality AI applications rapidly.

The SAP Databricks solution resolves this challenge by making it possible for data to be extracted from a variety of sources and integrated into a centralised location so that it can be analysed and bring value to an organisation.

Other benefits include:

  • A unified platform that makes it easy for organisations to use both structured and unstructured data for AI and analytics.

  • Secure bi-directional sharing between SAP systems and the Databricks environment.

  • Access to the same data across all applications, which means that organisations can avoid the need for redundant data pipelines or data migration and instead have a more streamlined and efficient workflow. As a result, businesses can make more informed decisions with greater ease and speed.

  • A flexible path to the cloud so that organisations can easily access their data and simplify their modernisation journey.

  • The availability of a true 360-degree view of customers, operations and supply chains.

Databricks' analytics and machine learning capabilities, combined with SAP's data, will make it easy for organisations to integrate AI-driven insights into core business operations and use rich data sources for AI development.

Examples you can use

 

By integrating SAP with Databricks, organisations can make timely informed decisions using data analysis and AI-driven insights. This can have meaningful impact across industries and departments such as customer care, IT operations, and financial planning and forecasting and more.

What we offer

 

DXC’s team of experts has a proven track record of helping clients maximise the capabilities of SAP and Databricks across different industries. This includes assisting businesses in:
 

  • Building modern data ecosystems  

  • Preparing data for AI-driven insights  

  • Developing AI and agentic AI platforms  

  • Offering advanced accelerators (such as the DXC Data Ingestion Framework) to simplify SAP data integration  

  • Using SAP Business Data Cloud to ensure seamless governance and security

 

To prepare for future innovations around SAP and Databricks, organisations need to pivot quickly, seize new opportunities and develop expertise across the enterprise. To that end, DXC has created a centre of excellence to help its customers deploy Databricks as a unified platform for all their data and AI needs.

Overhead view of atrium with shadows on a tile floor, SAP + Databricks: Putting data and AI to work | DXC Technology Insights

 

The big picture

The road to seamless AI adoption and real-time data integration isn't easy. Companies need to tackle infrastructure roadblocks, data complexity and security concerns. 
 
But thanks to a 35-year partnership between SAP and DXC, we’re working together to identify opportunities where AI, powered by data, can make the most substantial impact for our clients.

And SAP's partnership with Databricks is a game changer in terms of making AI more accessible and actionable for enterprises.

Go deeper

 

About the author

Chris Drumgoole, managing director for Global Infrastructure Services

Dr. Chris Nøkkentved is the Global CTO for SAP and Enterprise Applications. He is engaged with some of the most complex customer transformation programs, while contributing in standards from operations to business capabilities.