The rise of AI in enterprise software
As large language models become embedded in enterprise software, CIOs will likely face a brick wall of resistance from internal stakeholders concerned about sharing confidential data and data compliance regulations like GDPR.
Generative AI systems and large language models like ChatGPT, rely on processing vast swathes of training data, often collected from the public cloud.
Many heads of IT and IT security are assessing the privacy and security implications for their organisations.
A new BlackBerry’s study, conducted in June and July by OnePoll, based on a survey of 2,000 IT decision-makers, found that two-third (66%) of respondents have banned or are considering banning ChatGPT.
Computer Weekly previously discussed how smaller businesses are at a disadvantage in the world of large language models, as their datasets may not span a wide enough range to provide robust training for an AI system. There will clearly be opportunities to purchase commercial LLMs that have been trained on much larger datasets. The challenge is then how to combine multiple data sources in a way that offers decision-makers meaningful, auditable and accurate insights.
Larger organisations may well have diverse enough datasets to build their own data models internally and the expertise and resources to enhance these with controlled access to public data stores. But some recent changes at SAP may mark the beginning of a trend in enterprise software, taking the build or buy debate into the AI era.
SAP Rise adds premium AI
In July, during SAP’s second quarter earnings call, CEO Christian Klein unveiled a new plan for how some of the more advanced AI-powered features in the company’s enterprise software will be delivered. Customers of SAP pay significant maintenance fees to keep their ERP up-to-date with the latest developments. But Klein now wants to differentiate between premium AI-powered add-ons, only available to SAP Rise customers, hosting their enterprise software on the SAP cloud and those whose strategy involves running SAP S/4Hana in on-premise datacentres or hosting in another public cloud provider’s infrastructure.
SAP appears to be positioning Rise hosted on SAP servers as the best way to take advantage of the continuous improvements to data models the company can offer through its cloud services. Benefits, according the SAP, include faster return on investment. According to the transcript of the earnings call, posted on Seeking Alpha, Klein sees a potential doubling of SAP’s addressable market to $1 trillion by 2028 thanks to AI enhancements in business software.
IT chiefs may have a very good reason for not wanting to host their commercially sensitive data in SAP’s cloud, even if it will offer compelling AI enhancements, albeit at a premium. Anyone facing this dilemma will have some difficult choices: build your own AI enhancements or accept SAP Rise as your enterprise platform.