SAP Study: German Companies See AI ROI Doubling Within Two Years

SAP’s latest study with Oxford Economics surveyed 1,600 senior executives across eight countries, including a dedicated sample of 200 leaders in Germany. The study reveals a decisive shift in how German businesses view and leverage artificial intelligence (AI). Not only is AI already integrated into their daily operations, currently supporting 25% of the tasks in German companies, but investment in these tools is increasing.  

The findings illustrate a decisive shift: AI is no longer experimental. It is embedded into daily operations, and investment is accelerating as companies see tangible business impact.    

However, a transformative period lies ahead, where AI will be the differentiating factor between those organizations that have improved returns, strategic alignment, and responsible use of data and technology, and those who lag.  

AI adoption rising, ROI set to double

While AI is already being used for daily tasks, respondents see that adoption increasing to 41% over the next two years. However, a challenge faced by these organizations will be around AI management and governance as only one in ten (9%) organizations report that their AI adoption is more strategic in nature.  

The study also shows that adoption remains uneven. 44% of AI investment is still fragmented, 32% originates from individual business units, and just 9% of companies consider their AI programs truly strategic. 

In addition, while ROI from investment in AI is only about 17% or $6 million for German companies surveyed this year. However, this is set to nearly double within the next two years to 31%, much faster than non-AI technologies.   

Three-quarters of the respondents firmly believed in the positive ROI potential of AI within one to three years of implementation; however, a similar number (68%) stated that they believe AI is not yet delivering its full potential. To build on current gains, high-quality data availability, stronger collaboration, and strategic clarity were seen as top requirements.    

This lack of coherence can undermine long-term scalability. SAP is stepping in to remedy this fragmentation. By embedding its AI capabilities into core business applications through Joule, Joule Agents, and AI-native workflows, SAP offers a more unified and governed approach.  

Combined with its emphasis on data maturity, governance frameworks, and cross-team alignment, SAP helps enterprises move from pilot projects to enterprise-wide AI programs, accelerating both adoption and ROI in a sustainable, disciplined way. 

 Agentic AI and organizational readiness

Organizations are also scrutinizing Agentic AI as a major driver of future gains. AI agents, i.e., systems capable of autonomous reasoning and action, have been of major interest to businesses for their ability to automate end-to-end processes. But the implementation of Agentic AI systems is not without its challenges. While data readiness and upskilling the workforce are the two main hurdles organizations face when it comes to AI transformations, adopting AI agents also requires a greater level of governance. 

Even though AI adoption is only increasing, the study revealed that most businesses believed that their teams are currently underprepared to navigate it responsibly. 70 percent said their staff lack detailed AI training, and almost the same percentage of businesses agreed that without comprehensive guardrails, AI investment becomes very risky. 

What This Means for SAPinsiders 

Prioritize enterprise-wide AI strategy over isolated pilots. Many organizations still approach AI in a fragmented way, limiting scalability and slowing ROI. SAP’s embedded AI capabilities, including Joule, Joule Agents, and AI-native applications, provide a unified framework that helps centralize governance, reduce silos, and drive consistent value across the enterprise.  

Strengthen data quality, governance, and cross-functional alignment. High-quality data and well-defined oversight structures are essential to unlocking AI’s potential. SAPinsiders should focus on breaking down data silos, improving data readiness, and creating governance models that ensure AI is deployed responsibly and consistently across business units.  

Invest in workforce readiness and responsible guardrails. As AI adoption accelerates, the gap in skills and governance becomes a critical risk. Prioritize upskilling employees on AI tools and concepts, build clear usage guidelines, and implement safeguards that ensure trustworthy, compliant use. Doing so will position your organization for sustainable ROI.