SAP and Microsoft have made the integration of Joule and Microsoft 365 Copilot available in a private preview.
Having previously been showcased at both companies’ 2024 events, the collaboration of the two tech firms’ virtual assistants is significant.
After all, the move will allow mutual customers to choose either tool as their primary assistant across combined Microsoft-SAP environments.
As a result, users will be able to perform tasks and access data across both platforms without switching applications.
For instance, Microsoft 365 users may use Copilot to access data from SAP applications. Meanwhile, SAP users can leverage Joule to automate cross-platform workflows.
Ultimately, the collaboration aims to deliver a unified experience that “redefines” workplace productivity by allowing employees to work in their preferred environment with optimal tools for efficiency.
In a blog post, SAP outlined some of the other benefits of the integration:
“This two-way integration allows employees to work in the environment most effective for the task at hand, helping to ensure they have everything they need to get their work done efficiently.
The new integration enables product managers to coordinate business activities with the team simply by using a few queries.
The interaction of the two solutions can be seen in practice in the below demo video from SAP:
Further Joule Updates
Alongside the launch of the integration in private preview, SAP also announced the following additional Joule updates.
Joule in SAP Mobile Start
In more integration news, Joule now integrates with the SAP Mobile Start app, enabling users to interact with SAP applications through natural language on smartphones or tablets.
SAP Mobile Start is designed for centralized access to mobile apps, cloud tools, and insights.
The integration allows users to quickly retrieve data or perform tasks like approvals and maintenance through simple chat interactions.
SAP believes that these capabilities will transform workflows across various areas, including sales, HR, and supply chain processes.
SAP Consulting Capability
With the ambitious promise that it will “forever change how consultants work,” the SAP Consulting Capability is now in its early adopter phase.
By leveraging AI and a comprehensive SAP-focused knowledge base, the company believes that the tool has the capacity to enhance efficiency by providing fast, precise insights and reducing time spent on common tasks.
Indeed, SAP has claimed that consultants can save up to 1.5 hours daily on research and spend 40 percent less time analyzing ABAP code by quickly understanding its purpose, logic, and structure.
Additionally, the tool accelerates skill development through expert guidance, helping consultants expand their knowledge and make a greater impact.
Joule Analytical Insights
SAP confirmed enhancements to Joule’s existing features by making data insights easily accessible to business users.
With simple queries, users can receive tailored, context-specific analytical insights from their SAP applications, regardless of their expertise in data or analytics.
According to SAP, this capability empowers users across all business functions to make faster, more informed decisions.
Building on its 2024 Foundations
As well as discussing some of the fresh tools and capabilities for the new year, SAP also highlighted several of its most significant achievements from Q4 of 2024.
SAP Business AI in Sales, Services, Marketing, and Commerce
In sales, services, marketing, and commerce, Joule in SAP Sales Cloud Version 2 has helped to deliver faster data access and intelligent recommendations.
It has enabled sales teams to navigate 50 percent faster, while AI improvements have transformed unstructured text into structured data.
Joule Available in SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition
The general availability of Joule within this feature provides users with an intuitive way to access insights and complete tasks more quickly.
With up to 95 percent faster information retrieval and 90 percent quicker navigation, users can simply ask Joule for guidance.
In addition, the Private Edition has added AI-driven features like master data governance and sales order monitoring to enhance efficiency.
SAP SuccessFactors
In SAP SuccessFactors, AI simplifies tasks like writing, translating, and analyzing text.
Moreover, 360 reports are able to provide personalized growth recommendations, while AI streamlines hiring with automated job matching and assignment creation.
SAP Business AI in IT and Platform
The feature has led to the introduction of tools like email generators and free AI-powered document processing in 40-plus languages.
The use of generative AI (GenAI) features has also improved data retrieval, while Joule’s integration into SAP tools has accelerated application development by up to 30 percent.