Published on: April 14, 2025 / update from: April 14, 2025 - Author: Konrad Wolfenstein
Independent AI platforms vs. SAP-own solutions: An analysis of the advantages-Image: Xpert.digital
Why independent AI platforms can surpass saps solutions
Independent AI vs. SAP: The better choice for companies?
While SAP is making impressive progress with his AI portfolio, there are convincing reasons why independent AI platforms can be better choice in many scenarios. The following report analyzes in detail why companies should consider independent AI solutions as an alternative to the native SAP AI offers.
Suitable for:
Data sovereignty and data protection
One of the most convincing arguments for independent AI platforms is complete control over sensitive company data. When using SAP-owned Cloud Ki services, there is often a need to process data outside of your own infrastructure.
Local data storage as a key advantage
Independent solutions enable companies to “operate AI completely, independently, safe and in accordance with data protection in their own systems”. This is particularly relevant for industries with strict regulatory requirements or when processing sensitive business data. With local AI platforms, companies keep complete control over their data and do not have to transmit them to third-party providers such as Openaai, Google or Microsoft.
Protection against external access
While SAP as a German company fulfills high data protection standards, they sometimes use cooperations with US providers for their AI services. Local solutions, on the other hand, offer “maximum security, flexibility and independence from external cloud services”, which can be a decisive advantage, especially for companies with particularly worth protecting data.
Strategic independence from large providers
The dependence on a single provider of business-critical AI functions carries considerable strategic risks that are often underestimated.
Protection against vendor lock-in
Independent AI platforms protect companies "from unpredictable risks. For example, if the large providers increase prices, set some services or make data accessible to others". This strategic independence allows long-term planning security and prevents a vendor lock-in that can be a factor in SAP solutions.
Flexibility in model selection
Platforms such as pimcore offer “total independence from large AI providers” and enable the integration “any KI/ML functions or language models”. This flexibility allows always to choose the best and latest models for specific application cases instead of being limited to the models supported by SAP.
Tailor -made and modular solutions
SAP KI solutions are primarily geared towards SAP applications and processes. Independent platforms offer significant advantages for companies with various IT landscapes.
Adaptability to industry requirements
Independent providers often develop “AI solutions that are tailored to the different needs of the respective company”. These tailor-made solutions take into account specific industry requirements and business processes more precisely than standardized SAP offers.
Modular structure for flexible implementation
A “modular platform as a“ AI control center ”of a company” enables a gradual entry into AI technologies. Companies can start with small, manageable projects and expand the platform as required without having to establish a comprehensive SAP Ki ecosystem.
Integration with heterogeneous IT landscapes
Most corporate environments are heterogeneous and, in addition to SAP, include numerous other systems and data sources.
Seamless connection to non-SAP systems
While SAP-KI solutions primarily interact with SAP products, independent platforms often offer “maximum flexibility” and allow access to “powerful LLMS […] regardless of their infrastructure or hosting environment”. This is particularly important for companies that operate a hybrid IT landscape with SAP and non-SAP systems.
Open API architectures
Modern independent AI platforms have “extensive rest API endpoints” that enable “to head AI models or COWORKER from other systems or to automatically upload new data for AI training via API interface. This openness significantly makes integration into existing workflows considerably easier.
Cost efficiency and resource optimization
The economic factor plays a central role in AI investments, especially for medium-sized companies.
Common use of resources
Smaller companies can “use AI systems together with the help of partners to reduce the costs”. Such collaboration models are less common in SAP solutions, since these are usually based on individual licenses per company.
Transparent and flexible cost models
Independent providers often offer more transparent and more flexible price models than the complex license structures of SAP. The “long -term cost reduction” by AI can be implemented better, since the investments can be focused more specifically on the functionalities actually required.
On premises options for maximum control
SAP focuses strongly on cloud solutions, which is not the optimal choice for all companies.
Complete local control
Independent providers such as Localmind enable “powerful AI models to operate completely locally in your corporate environment”, which ensures maximum control over hardware, software and data. This is particularly relevant for companies in highly regulated industries or with strict compliance requirements.
Hybrid approaches for flexible architecture
While SAP is increasingly relating to cloud solutions, independent platforms often enable flexible hybrid approaches: "This is how you use Genai in SAP and NON-SAP areas, in the cloud and on-premises for your business lead". This flexibility allows a gradual migration and takes into account existing investments in on-premises infrastructure.
Suitable for:
Future security through technology openness
The AI landscape is developing rapidly, and technological openness is becoming increasingly the decisive factor.
Access to the latest innovations
Thanks to “partnership with Hugging Face, platforms such as Pimcore offer access to over 500,000 specialized models” that can be seamlessly integrated into your own platform. This openness makes it possible to always benefit from the latest AI innovations, regardless of the provider.
Adaptability to future requirements
The modular and open architecture of independent platforms offers a higher adaptability of future technology developments and business requirements. This reduces the risk of being committed to outdated technologies.
Find the right balance
The decision between SAP native AI solutions and independent platforms should not be understood as a binary choice. Many companies benefit from a hybrid approach that combines the strengths of both worlds.
SAP-KI solutions such as joules offer deep integration into existing SAP processes and are ideal for optimizing SAP-centered workflows. Independent AI platforms, on the other hand, shine through their data sovereignty, adaptability and independence from individual providers.
The optimal strategy depends on individual factors such as the existing IT landscape, regulatory requirements and long-term business objectives. A clear analysis of your own requirements and strategic planning, which takes into account both short -term improvements and long -term technological independence, is crucial.
At a time when AI is becoming increasingly a strategic competitive factor, the right mix of SAP-integrated and independent AI solutions can make the decisive difference.
Suitable for:
Your AI transformation, AI integration and AI platform industry expert
☑️ Our business language is English or German
☑️ NEW: Correspondence in your national language!
Konrad Wolfenstein
I would be happy to serve you and my team as a personal advisor.
You can contact me by filling out the contact form or simply call me on +49 89 89 674 804 (Munich) . My email address is: wolfenstein ∂ xpert.digital
I'm looking forward to our joint project.
