SAP Business Data Cloud: Bluestonex’s Take on the Future of Data and AI

SAP has finally unveiled its worst-kept secret: Business Data Cloud (BDC)—a major shift in how enterprises manage data and leverage AI. But what does it actually mean for businesses? Is this just another rebrand, or is there real value beneath the surface?

At Bluestonex, we’ve taken a closer look at the announcement, what it promises, and what SAP might have overlooked.

A Closer Look at SAP’s AI and Data Strategy

At the heart of BDC is SAP’s partnership with Databricks, a move aimed at breaking down data silos and making data more accessible by infusing AI. The goal? A unified data foundation that eliminates complex pipelines and simplifies AI adoption.

Many SAP users won’t be rejoicing at this news. In fact, many are probably irritated, if not confused by SAP’s messaging. There’s an SAP-fatigue out there and we hear you, but it’s definitely far from bad news. To clarify, BDC is the next iteration of the Data and Analytics pillar in Business Technology Platform. We would interpret it as a new marketing banner with some (not all) new tech. The area which encompassed DataSphere, SAC and reporting insights will be now found under BDC alongside Databricks. They have been re-packaged into their own sub-platform. That’s all BDC is!

Key features of SAP Business Data Cloud include:
✅ Federated Data Access – No need for redundant data pipelines; data remains where it is, accessible in real-time.
✅ AI-Ready Insights – Enhanced AI and predictive analytics capabilities.
✅ Multi-Cloud Integration – Works across SAP and third-party systems in both hybrid and multi-cloud environments.
✅ Simplified Data Management – Reduces duplication, ensuring a more efficient data landscape.

The concept of this is great because it puts data back to the top of the priority list- its rightful place, but there’s a crucial missing piece—data governance.

BDC’s Missing Ingredient: Governance

Bluestonex Co-Founder and COO Dan Barton said: “Having data tools to knit together structured and unstructured data into  insightful, meaningful data is a good thing, but for me, where is the governance and management of it all?”

SAP is making a big AI play—but without governance, businesses could be setting themselves up for long-term data chaos.

SAP’s announcement completely ignored governance, an oversight that could lead to major problems down the line. Bad data = bad AI.  This is a cardinal sin as it effectively leaves anyone jumping to buy it with a ticking time bomb. It’s SAP’s equivalent of the meteorite which has been in the news recently, which might hit the earth in 2032. It wouldn’t destroy the world, but there’s a growing chance that in years from now, that data could cause major business disruption. So, following the analogy, think of governance as Bruce Willis in Armageddon- the hero saving the day and averting disaster. The point is, if AI is the future of business operations, governance needs to be the future that underpins everything it touches.

Dan went on to say “What will you do with it? Don’t expect AI to tell you, well…. not yet.  The space for us is in the data governance layer enabling us to build rules to assist AI and also manage the data process for ERP and Non SAP updates/reads and writes.  This whole area becomes complex for organisations and can cost vast sums of money and for what exactly….more value, yes but it needs explanation.  I have said for a long time I don’t truly believe AI can use dirty data (I know there is a discussion to be had on this point) but if your data is critical and also sensitive then you need a governance platform that knits it all together.”

The Community Reacts

The SAP community has had varied reactions to the announcement, with many expressing both excitement and a bit of confusion. Garth Arendse shared, “I miss the days of Digital Enterprise 😆”, evoking a sense of nostalgia for a simpler time when SAP’s messaging seemed more straightforward.

Owen Pettiford also chimed in with a humorous comment about the evolving product landscape: “Datahub -> Data Intelligence -> DataSphere -> DS4AI. R/3 -> Business Suite -> BS4/HANA -> BS4AI. 😵‍💫”, playfully pointing out many SAP-style iterations have come and gone.

Other reactions have been mixed, with some pointing to the potential of the new BDC offering, and others questioning how it fits into SAP’s broader strategy. Harpal Singh’s comment, “Data? Bricks?” highlights some scepticism regarding the naming conventions, while Anil Kumar Mullagiri jokingly suggested “How about SAPGPT?” referring to the rise of AI-focused solutions across the tech landscape and how it might take “inspiration” from some of them.

What This Means for Bluestonex and Our Clients

For us, the Business Data Cloud reinforces the importance of a strong data foundation. Companies exploring AI-driven transformation must first get their data strategy right. Now, with the latest release of Maextro cloud for public and private cloud, its a good place to start the journey.

Richard Henry put it best: “Finally data is being given the spotlight it deserves but not without its challenges. As specialists in BTP, innovation and data governance, we look forward to embracing the introduction of BDC but are mindful of how complex this area already is for our customers. For years it has been a challenge to support customers in their understanding of BTP commercial models, consumption metrics and product names, and BDC will be no different.  Mixed in with RISE, GROW, and Clean-Core strategies we enter yet another layer for customers to wrap their heads around. Final details are still being shared but my opinion and advice to customers is to be aware, but not feel forced to act in the short term. The existing products and serves are here, established and can serve your business now and SAP have already made announcements to provide transition paths to BDC both technically and commercially. Offering advice, I feel what is glaringly obvious from the announcement and where customers should take action is to align their teams on the importance and accuracy of their master data. The enfused AI, analytics, forecasting will all be anchored to this. We all know how hit and miss AI tools can be today so, ask yourself, would you trust the analytical, or AI driven outputs if it was based on your business data?”

At Bluestonex, we’re helping businesses navigate these changes, ensuring they unlock the real potential of AI—without the risks of poor data governance.

Final Thoughts: The Future of Data and AI

BDC represents an exciting step forward, but businesses must see past the hype. AI is only as good as the data it’s built on—and without governance, organisations could end up facing major operational risks in the future.
For companies looking to embrace AI and optimise their data strategy, now is the time to act. Because in the future of AI, governance isn’t optional—it’s everything.
How businesses leverage BDC is yet to be seen- we will have to wait and see as SAP reveals more, but it’s definitely going to accelerate the potential of real-time analytics for business decisions- even if it’s doing so with the same technology we have now.

Stay tuned for more insights from Bluestonex as we continue to unpack SAP’s evolving data strategy.