AI coding tools can now create a working app in minutes, leading many to claim that traditional software companies are finished. SAP’s CTO Philipp Herzig disagrees, saying this confuses the ability to build an app with the far tougher job of running it.
Building an expense app is easy; operating it across many countries is not. A business app must follow changing tax rules, control who can see or approve what, and correctly reconcile payments—tasks that demand reliable data, security, and governance.
This is also why many AI projects remain impressive demos but never enter real use. A prototype may work for one person, while a production system must work safely, at scale, and alongside the complex systems a company already uses.
Herzig says adoption is harder than technology because AI changes who makes decisions and how expertise is valued. The best way forward is to start with one high-value task and involve trusted colleagues first; AI may change the interface, but dependable business processes remain essential.
AI CAN CREATE THE APP, BUT ONLY TRUSTED SYSTEMS CAN RUN THE BUSINESS.
Sanjay Sahay
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