Companies are constantly seeking ways to innovate without overcomplicating their core systems. Enter the “Clean Core” ERP strategy—a game-changer that keeps your essential operations streamlined while leveraging external platforms like SAP’s Business Technology Platform (BTP) for cutting-edge advancements. This article highlights concrete examples.
What’s the Buzz About “Clean Core” ERP?
Imagine your ERP system as the heart of your business operations. A “Clean Core” approach ensures this heart remains healthy and uncluttered by minimizing customizations. This purity allows for seamless updates and maintenance. But how do you add new capabilities without meddling with the core? That’s where SAP BTP comes into play.
SAP BTP: Your Innovation Playground
SAP BTP is like a high-tech playground where businesses can experiment, develop, and deploy new applications and processes without touching the core ERP. It offers a suite of tools and services that enable companies to integrate advanced technologies smoothly.
Real-World Innovations Powered by SAP BTP
Let’s dive into some concrete examples of how businesses are harnessing SAP BTP to drive innovation:
Retail Revolution: Personalizing Customer Experiences
Challenge: Retailers often struggle with fragmented customer data spread across various channels, making it tough to deliver personalized experiences.
Solution: A global retail giant utilized SAP BTP to unify customer data from e-commerce platforms, physical stores, and service centers. By creating a 360-degree customer view, they launched targeted marketing campaigns, optimized inventory based on real-time insights, and significantly boosted customer satisfaction.
Manufacturing Makeover: Predictive Maintenance
Challenge: Unexpected equipment failures can halt production and lead to hefty losses.
Solution: A leading manufacturing company integrated IoT sensors with SAP BTP to monitor machinery in real-time. By analyzing this data, they could predict equipment failures before they occurred, reducing downtime and maintenance costs. This proactive approach ensured smoother operations and a healthier bottom line.
Banking on Efficiency: Automating Financial Reporting
Challenge: Financial institutions often face time-consuming and error-prone manual reporting processes.
Solution: A major bank implemented SAP BTP to automate data consolidation from multiple sources. Using SAP Analytics Cloud and Intelligent Robotic Process Automation (RPA), they slashed the time required for financial reporting by 50%. This automation
BTP not only improved accuracy but also freed up valuable employee time for strategic tasks.
Energy Sector: Driving Sustainability
Challenge: Energy companies are under pressure to reduce their carbon footprint and promote sustainability.
Solution: An energy firm leveraged SAP BTP to integrate environmental data with operational metrics. This integration allowed them to monitor their carbon emissions in real-time and identify areas to reduce energy consumption. The result? Significant cost savings and a positive environmental impact.
Why This Matters
By adopting a “Clean Core” ERP strategy and utilizing SAP BTP, businesses can:
- Stay Agile: Quickly adapt to market changes without overhauling core systems.
- Innovate Continuously: Implement new technologies and processes with ease.
- Reduce Risks: Keep the core system stable and secure while experimenting on the periphery.
In essence, this approach offers the best of both worlds: a robust, stable core system and the flexibility to innovate at the edges.

Daniel Airich
Meet Daniel Airich, Managing Partner at Kumulon GmbH and the guy who makes SAP BTP sound less like a tech buzzword and more like a game-changer. From day one, Daniel has been at the helm, driving innovation and ensuring that cloud solutions don’t just tick boxes but actually make life easier for businesses.
Recently, he took his passion for all things SAP to ASUG Tech Connect/SAP TechEd, soaking up the latest insights, connecting with industry leaders, and probably enjoying one or two ridiculously oversized American meals. When Daniel talks about technology, it’s never just theory—it’s hands-on, practical, and always sprinkled with a bit of humor.
Feel free to reach out to Daniel at [email protected]