SAP BTP study shows AI automating enterprise user roles and tasks

A new qualitative study published on arXiv (June 2026) investigates how artificial intelligence is transforming user roles in enterprise software, specifically focusing on SAP's Business Technology Platform (BTP). Researchers conducted 20 expert interviews and a participatory workshop with 24 participants, analyzing shifts in day-to-day tasks and responsibilities within development teams. The study reveals three major trends: increasing automation of operational tasks, expanding human-AI collaboration, and a growing reliance on agentic AI systems that can act autonomously.

The findings have direct implications for existing user-role frameworks such as the BTP User Type Matrix. As AI takes over routine work, new roles emerge for governance, oversight, and AI-native system design. The researchers call for revised role taxonomies, updated design approaches, and stronger governance mechanisms to manage the transition. For enterprise professionals, this means preparing for a workforce where human-AI collaboration is the norm, and where traditional job descriptions must evolve to accommodate both AI tools and the new responsibilities they create.