Selecting an AI Suite for Your Retail Enterprise: SAP Business AI vs. Oracle AI
The retail industry is increasingly striving for innovative methods to boost efficiency, and AI tools are at the forefront of these efforts. With AI suites offering end-to-end solutions suited for various industries, it’s crucial to select the right platform for retail-specific needs.
Two prominent leaders in this space are SAP Business AI and Oracle AI, both boasting powerful capabilities that convert directly into business value. In this piece, we break down the key comparisons between SAP’s and Oracle’s AI solutions to help retailers determine the best fit for their enterprise.
OVERVIEW
SAP Business AI
SAP Business AI is a suite of SAP’s AI-embedded applications. This portfolio differentiates itself through purpose-built AI tools that currently support over 230 scenarios. A key component of these solutions is SAP’s generative AI copilot Joule, which uses natural language processing to streamline user communication and provide data-driven recommendations, and features Joule Agents that autonomously execute multi-step workflows across the SAP Business Suite and non-SAP applications. With use cases for supply chain, marketing, sales & services, procurement, and eCommerce, SAP Business AI helps retailers enhance productivity to meet shifting customer expectations.
Oracle AI
Oracle AI offers both generative AI tools and AI features embedded in existing Oracle databases and cloud services. With a host of ready-to-use services in Oracle Cloud Infrastructure (OCI), this suite helps businesses enhance their applications with prebuilt models to maximize insights. Industry-specific tools built into Oracle Fusion also make it simpler to connect AI with data while limiting risks. From fine-tuning LLMs to building a chatbot, Oracle’s AI services span a wide range of retail business needs.
COMPARING SAP BUSINESS AI VS. ORACLE AI
AI Capabilities
SAP Business AI provides optimized tools for retail use cases like personalized promotions and inventory management. These embedded solutions support merchandising strategies and omnichannel experiences, ensuring that AI works within existing retail workflows. In contrast, Oracle AI's broader toolkit enables retailers to use prebuilt analytics from OCI across merchandising, pricing, and supply chain domains. Both SAP Business AI and Oracle AI support core business functions using predictive analytics to enhance operations.
Integration
SAP embeds AI directly in platforms like SAP Commerce Cloud, S/4HANA for retail, and SAP Customer Experience (CX), seamlessly connecting processes including supply planning and price optimization. Retailers who already use SAP systems benefit greatly from AI features being built into tools they know how to use. On the other hand, Oracle integrates AI into its Fusion Cloud Applications, and its cloud-based services are accessed through OCI. This provides more flexibility for customization but could require further orchestration if the business uses both Oracle and non-Oracle systems.
Industry Focus
SAP’s tools are designed for industry-specific needs, with solutions tailored around KPIs to produce tangible value. For the retail vertical, SAP Business AI emphasizes audience segmentation, sustainable supply chains, and frictionless customer journeys. SAP and Oracle both span a wide range of additional industries, from manufacturing to healthcare to financial services. Oracle’s Retail AI Foundation is its primary retail solution, aimed at planning and inventory optimization. Overall, Oracle and SAP both offer cross-industry versatility, but SAP has more specialized capabilities in retail.
Deployment
SAP Business AI runs on SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), combining built-in AI with customizable models through AI Core, Datasphere, and Business Data Cloud (BDC). This approach allows retailers to deploy AI models with flexibility across different environments. Oracle’s AI capabilities are available through OCI and the Retail AI Foundation, offering managed services that are easy to deploy within Oracle Cloud. Retailers already using Oracle Cloud benefit from streamlined deployment, while those with diverse systems may prefer SAP’s hybrid infrastructure.
User Experience
Within retail operations, SAP’s Joule copilot is embedded into merchandising and supply chain apps, where Joule Agents assist by automating tasks and delivering analytical insights. It provides natural-language prompts and in-context suggestions, enabling teams to access AI insights without leaving their workflows. Oracle offers conversational assistants through its Digital Assistant, and its customized chatbot and voice experiences are tied to real-time inventory data. Both SAP and Oracle employ generative AI to improve user engagement and support smart decision-making.
SELECTING AN AI SUITE
SAP Business AI and Oracle AI both provide extremely valuable tools for retailers, but the best choice depends on your company’s current technological environment and business objectives.
SAP Business AI excels at integrating its solutions within SAP’s retail applications, and its AI-powered scenarios can effectively enhance key retail processes. On the other hand, Oracle AI provides a cloud-first approach with customizable services on Oracle Cloud Infrastructure.
If you’re a retailer weighing your options, understanding your current systems and retail priorities is necessary to choose an AI suite.
For more guidance on how SAP Business AI can elevate your retail business, contact Crescense today.
Contributions from Hannah Yang