IBM and SAP Partner on Cloud ERP Acceleration as Enterprise Modernization Intensifies

Midsize organizations seeking to expedite their cloud ERP transitions now have a new tool at their disposal. IBM and SAP announced the launch of IBM Ready for SAP Solutions, which merges Cognitus' consulting methodology for SAP Cloud ERP with AI-powered delivery capabilities via IBM Consulting Advantage. The partnership builds on IBM's 2025 acquisition of Cognitus, a consulting firm specializing in SAP transformations across global enterprises.

The timing reflects broader enterprise priorities. According to a May survey by the IBM Institute for Business Value that polled 1,000 senior executives, 68% of enterprises view accelerating ERP modernization as essential to boosting operational efficiency. Real-world deployments underscore this urgency: Levi Strauss & Co. retired more than 90 legacy systems and consolidated more than 2,600 employees onto a single platform through a multiyear effort that included moving to SAP S/4 Fashion, a cloud-based ERP system.

Enterprise IT Updates

Accenture and Dell establish joint modernization unit

Accenture and Dell deepened their relationship, which spans more than two decades, by creating the Accenture Dell Business Group. The partnership aims to help enterprises both scale artificial intelligence and modernize their infrastructure. The group's stated objectives include giving organizations greater command over their data, more stable AI cost structures and the computational resources required for agentic workloads.

Google consolidates modernization portfolio

Google Cloud rolled out Google Cloud Modernize, positioning it as an "end-to-end transformation portfolio to help enterprises collapse multiyear roadmaps with the power of AI." The offering brings together existing migration and modernization capabilities including Google Cloud Mainframe Modernization and Google Cloud VMware Engine. Separately, Google introduced a new Gemini agent designed to provide enterprise users with unified access to the platform through a single interface.

Cognizant launches dedicated AI deployment unit

Cognizant, which operates as both an AI builder and technology services firm, unveiled Cognizant Activate to shorten the timeline for enterprises implementing AI solutions. The new business unit will deploy vertically integrated teams directly into client environments and provide pre-built configurations spanning data and AI, enterprise applications, cloud modernization, cybersecurity and managed services. Financial services, retail, consumer packaged goods, healthcare and manufacturing represent the unit's initial target sectors.

Atlassian enters forward deployed engineering space

Atlassian, a provider of productivity software, launched its Forward Deployed Engineering program, placing senior applied AI engineers directly into enterprise customer environments to accelerate AI scaling. The move aligns Atlassian with Microsoft, Google, AWS and other vendors who have established similar FDE initiatives as enterprises navigate the complexities of AI adoption and broader system modernization.

Cisco enhances Webex with agentic features

Cisco expanded its Webex collaboration platform by integrating Claude, enabling teamwork between human users and AI agents and supporting data analysis capabilities within the platform. The company is also advancing its broader strategy through Intelligent Workplace Experiences, a unified platform for managing workspace devices via Cisco Cloud Control, alongside introducing Dialog, an agentic tool designed to manage customer relationships.