Real AI adoption important, not just selling into hype: SAP CEO

Core Insights - SAP's third-quarter revenue fell short of expectations, with cloud revenue growth at the slowest rate since 2023, but earnings exceeded estimates, increasing by 12% [2] - The company has guided its full-year operating profit to the upper end of its range, indicating a positive outlook despite the lower cloud revenue guidance [2] Financial Performance - Cloud revenue increased by 27%, and the current cloud backlog also grew by 27%, showcasing strong performance in this segment [4] - SAP's core ERP solutions grew by over 30%, indicating market share gains as peers grow in the mid-teens [5] Market Outlook - The pipeline for Q4 is strong, with expectations for significant revenue as many companies are looking to spend their budgets [5] - AI use cases are becoming increasingly relevant, with customers seeking solutions to enhance supply chain resilience and reduce costs [5][7] AI Integration - AI is embedded in every deal in the Q4 pipeline, highlighting its importance in customer decision-making [12] - The company is focusing on delivering AI value creation rather than competing in the infrastructure space, which is seen as a commodity [12][13] Customer Adoption - There is a notable shift in customer sentiment towards cloud solutions, with a consensus that moving to the cloud is essential for accessing innovation and AI capabilities [10] - Customers are increasingly adopting AI tools for practical applications, such as sourcing and procurement, leading to higher usage rates [7] Future Expectations - The order backlog for the next year looks promising, with 80-85% of next year's revenue already secured after Q4 [14] - The company remains optimistic about closing the year strongly, which will positively influence investor outlook for the upcoming year [14]