AI as the "System of Action"

Written By Nicolas Coisne

The future isn't about "ripping and replacing" SAP. Instead, AI will become the default interface on top of these legacy systems.

  • Implementation: AI-native tools are being used to de-risk migrations by auto-producing documentation and mapping processes.

  • Usage: Instead of hunting for fields in the SAP UI, users will use AI "sidecars" to execute multi-app workflows.

  • Extensions: Retailers can build "Lovable" thin apps on top of the "Unloved" core. For example, a single "Vendor Onboarding" app that handles documents and approvals but pushes the final data back into the trusted SAP system of record.

AI Becomes the UI

While legacy systems will persist as the reliable "data plane," they will cease to be the surface where actual work happens. The "AI layer" will become the primary operating environment, allowing retail teams to describe the outcome they want (e.g., "create a return and notify the customer") while the AI handles the complex "button clicking" across various back-end systems.

For more information —> a16z News

Nicolas Coisne
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