At the recent ASUG TechConnect event there was a great conversation about the evolving role of the enterprise architect in the SAP ecosystem.
Hosted by Jon Reed, co-founder of Diginomica, the session featured Geoff Scott, ASUG CEO and Chief Community Champion, and Josh Greenbaum, Principal at Enterprise Applications Consulting.
Together, they explored the challenges, opportunities, and critical skills required for enterprise architects to bridge the gap between business and technology. I strongly encourage you to listen to the podcast yourself, but here’s my summary of the points raised.
Why are Enterprise Architects a Hot Topic?
SAP’s renewed emphasis on enterprise architects stems from a fundamental issue: the persistent disconnect between business and technology.
Many organizations hesitate to migrate to SAP S/4HANA because they cannot construct a compelling business case. The enterprise architect’s role is to address this divide, ensuring technology decisions align with business objectives.
With SAP CEO Christian Klein promising every RISE project an enterprise architect, the pressure is on to deliver.
However, given that there are lots of SAP customers yet to transition to S/4HANA, there’s a pressing need for more Enterprise Architect professionals to help guide organizations through strategic decision-making and digital transformation.
Complex Choices Ahead: RISE, GROW, or Hybrid?
Organizations face significant decisions regarding their future architecture. Should they embrace SAP RISE, opt for SAP GROW, or maintain an on-premise infrastructure while leveraging cloud capabilities? The challenge is finding a balance between maintaining operational control and adopting innovations like AI-driven processes.
SAP advocates for a cloud-driven model where they manage core business processes, allowing companies to focus on innovation. However, many customers remain wary, preferring hybrid models that retain some on-premise control while benefiting from cloud efficiencies.
To help make the right choices, organizations need Enterprise Architects with the right vision and skillsets.
The Real Challenge: It’s Not About Tools
Some “Enterprise Architect” job openings still ask for detailed coding skills, fundamentally misunderstanding the point of the role.
And discussions about enterprise architecture often default to technology solutions. For example Signavio, LeanIX, WalkMe, and Cloud ALM are clearly very important for SAP’s architect strategy in the future.
But the problem is less a lack of tools and more a lack of clarity about the enterprise architect’s skillset and role. Instead of focusing on tools, organizations must define what they expect enterprise architects to achieve and ensure they possess the right competencies.
Some CIOs maintain dedicated enterprise architects, while others distribute the role among multiple staff members. Without clear job specifications and success metrics, enterprise architects risk being underutilized or misaligned with business needs.
Why Enterprise Architects Are Critical
Josh Greenbaum points out that one of the core issue in enterprise software is the historical siloed approach to development and sales. Vendors build and sell products in silos, leading customers to purchase and implement them in silos.
The result? Fragmented systems that make cross-functional digital transformation incredibly challenging.
Enterprise architects are among the few professionals who can think across silos, bringing together business units to drive cohesive strategies. However, this role is not yet widely embedded within organizations, often leaving companies with disjointed technology landscapes that hinder progress.
Managing Stakeholders, Not Just Technology
In an era where business people can whip out a credit card and purchase an online service—sometimes proudly ignoring central IT—enterprise architects do not own governance authority over technology choices but must navigate a landscape where they have to patch together what they’re given. Architects must focus on consensus-building, fostering collaboration between IT and business leaders to ensure alignment.
Rather than focusing on coding or infrastructure, today’s enterprise architect must be a skilled communicator and relationship builder. This means advocating for governance without being perceived as a roadblock, providing business leaders with the insights needed to make informed technology decisions.
The Art of Tough Love in Enterprise Architecture
The biggest challenge for enterprise architects is securing trust. Business leaders often move ahead with technology decisions independently, leaving IT to integrate solutions after the fact. Architects must establish relationships early, engaging with business leaders before technology choices are made.
The key to success, say the panel? Tough love. Architects must push back when necessary, ensuring business decisions align with enterprise-wide strategies. This means challenging vendors who bypass IT, advocating for holistic integration, and demonstrating the long-term value of architectural foresight.
AI Raises the Stakes for Enterprise Architects
While AI fatigue is real, AI also underscores the importance of enterprise architecture. Without a unified enterprise data model, AI initiatives will struggle to deliver accurate insights. Fragmented data sources lead to incomplete or misleading AI outputs, undermining the value of automation and analytics.
Contrary to some predictions, AI will not eliminate the need for enterprise architects. Instead, it heightens their importance by forcing organizations to address long-standing data and integration challenges.
Architects must take an active role in shaping AI strategies, ensuring that technology investments support—not hinder—business objectives.
Breaking Down the Business vs. IT Divide
One of the biggest barriers to enterprise architecture’s success is the entrenched distinction between IT and business. Many organizations still view enterprise architects as IT personnel rather than strategic business partners. To overcome this, architects must reframe their role, demonstrating how their work directly contributes to business goals.
Building trust requires more than technical expertise; it requires storytelling. Architects must communicate the value of technology decisions in business terms, linking architectural strategy to revenue growth, customer experience, and operational efficiency.
The Need for Guardrails, Not Bureaucracy
To ensure effective enterprise architecture, organizations should focus on practical governance structures. Rather than slow-moving architecture review boards, companies should implement less-ominous sounding “guardrails”—predefined guidelines that help teams make aligned technology decisions without unnecessary bureaucracy. These guardrails promote agility while maintaining architectural integrity.
Call to Action: Strengthening Enterprise Architecture Skills
Enterprise architects have never been more essential, but success requires continuous learning and adaptation. To thrive in this evolving landscape, Enterprise Architects need to:
- Develop Stakeholder Management Skills – Build relationships across the organization and position yourself as a strategic partner.
- Master the Art of Storytelling – Learn to communicate the business value of architectural decisions effectively.
- Expand AI and Data Knowledge – Understand how AI and data governance impact enterprise architecture.
- Embrace Hybrid Models – Balance on-premise control with cloud-driven innovation.
- Implement Effective Guardrails – Promote structured decision-making without excessive bureaucracy.
As digital transformation accelerates, enterprise architects must evolve from IT experts to business enablers.
By fostering collaboration, breaking down silos, and driving strategic conversations, they can position themselves as indispensable leaders in shaping the future of enterprise technology.
A Conference Opportunity!
One good way to do that is to join us for the Next Generation SAP Enterprise Architect Forum at SAP Headquarters in Philadelphia, Feb 24-27! (early bird discount runs out on Feb 7th, hurry!)
Join legendary SAP community evangelist Paul Kurchina, and a host of other illustrious SAP speakers and experts as we discuss how the Enterprise Architect role is changing in the future, the role of AI, and have a great time doing it!
In the meantime, how do you see the role of enterprise architects evolving in your organization? Share your thoughts and experiences in the comments below!
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