Fortience Consulting Launches AI Solution 'CleanCoreNext' to Enhance SAP S/4HANA® Utilization

Fortience Consulting Co., Ltd. (formerly KUNEI, Inc.), a member of the NTT Data Group, headquartered in Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, with President and CEO Shigeki Yamaguchi (hereinafter 'Fortience'), will begin offering the 'CleanCoreNext (Clean Core Next)' solution starting July 14, 2026.

This solution is primarily aimed at enterprises that have completed their migration to SAP S/4HANA® and established a standardized platform. It provides the 'next step' by leveraging business data accumulated in core systems through AI agents to accelerate decision-making and enhance corporate value. Fortience will comprehensively support the implementation and adoption of AI agents that combine generative AI and MCP (※1), from diagnosis to deployment and stabilization. By integrating with systems and channels customers already use—such as Microsoft Teams and Salesforce—complex business challenges across sales, procurement, quality, logistics, and finance can be resolved via natural language.

Background

In recent years, corporate awareness of data utilization has increased significantly, with more companies moving beyond conceptual stages to actively implement data-driven initiatives. At the same time, in the ERP market, demand for upgrades driven by the '2027 issue' is nearing completion, and efforts to leverage business data stored in SAP through AI are rapidly gaining attention.

For customers who have established Clean Core (※2) through migration to SAP S/4HANA, the next challenge is 'how to enhance business value using AI while maintaining the standardization of their well-structured platform.' There is growing demand for methods to integrate generative AI without modifying the core system. However, barriers such as lack of implementation expertise in new technologies like MCP, security design, and organizational adoption remain.

To address these challenges, Fortience has developed and will offer a new consulting service, 'CleanCoreNext,' which integrates next-generation ERP utilization based on SAP Clean Core principles with advanced data utilization powered by generative AI.

Overview

CleanCoreNext is an integrated solution designed for customers who have achieved Clean Core through SAP S/4HANA migration, enabling them to accelerate AI-driven data utilization while leveraging their existing platform. While maintaining the integrity of the standardized platform and adhering to the principle of non-invasive extension (i.e., no modifications to the core), the solution enables rapid and secure integration of AI agents into business processes. Support is provided in stages—from current-state assessment, AI agent implementation and proof-of-concept, to adoption and stabilization.

At its core, the solution adopts MCP (Model Context Protocol), a protocol that allows LLMs to securely operate external systems, enabling natural language data queries and utilization across SAP S/4HANA, Salesforce, and databases. Business users can simply interact via chat in Microsoft Teams to instantly execute complex business inquiries without directly operating SAP.

The solution supports diverse use cases tailored to customers’ industries and business challenges, enabling rapid deployment of proven AI agents across sales, manufacturing, procurement, quality, and other domains. Beyond improving efficiency in on-site inquiries and analysis, it directly connects business data stored in core systems to executive decision-making, accelerating the evolution toward data-driven management.

Key Features

1. Maximizes Existing Assets, Minimizes New Investment

Fortience maximizes the use of customers’ existing assets such as SAP S/4HANA, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce, and Azure OpenAI. While usage-based costs may apply for BTP or Azure OpenAI, the solution minimizes new investment by building on existing infrastructure, delivering high value through faster decision-making, democratization of SAP data at the operational level, and a clear path to in-house development.

2. Non-Invasive Architecture: Extend Without Compromising the Core Platform

The most distinctive feature of this solution is its ability to integrate AI without modifying the core of the enterprise system. By extending functionality externally (via side-by-side extensions using MCP, APIs, etc.) while preserving the integrity of the standardized platform, the solution avoids disrupting future upgrades and prevents the accumulation of technical debt. This allows continuous expansion of AI utilization while maintaining the 'well-structured state' established through SAP S/4HANA migration.

3. Natural Language Interface Accessible to Business Users

Simply by messaging in Microsoft Teams chat, users can automatically complete complex tasks such as inventory checks, delivery date responses, and quality analysis. Even departmental staff without SAP expertise can immediately begin using the system.

4. End-to-End Support from Diagnosis to Adoption

Fortience provides comprehensive support—from evaluating current SAP usage and AI applicability (white space) using proprietary diagnostic tools, to prioritizing use cases, implementing AI, conducting user training, and monitoring KPIs.

Implementation Roadmap

The solution delivers value in four progressive phases, allowing flexible execution based on the customer’s pace and readiness.

Phase

Content

Estimated Duration

Key Deliverables

Phase 1

Current-State Assessment

Data extraction of SAP usage, interviews with peripheral systems, diagnosis of AI applicability

1–2 weeks

Assessment report, list of prioritized use cases

Phase 2

Use Case Selection

AI analyzes diagnostic results to select and propose optimal use cases tailored to the customer’s environment

1–2 weeks

Proposal document (prioritized use cases, PoC plan)

Phase 3

PoC Package Delivery and Implementation

Implement and validate selected use cases in the customer’s environment. Build AI agents leveraging existing systems

4–8 weeks

Operational AI agent, E2E test results

Phase 4

In-House Development and Self-Sufficiency Support

Design an in-house development roadmap based on the customer’s skill set. Provide ongoing support for progressive self-sufficiency

Ongoing

(3 stages)

Skill-up roadmap, operational handbook

※ Duration for each phase may vary depending on the customer’s environment and scope.

Comment

Shinya Unno, Managing Director, Fortience Consulting Co., Ltd.

'Fortience has led numerous SAP implementation and transformation projects, primarily in manufacturing and distribution. CleanCoreNext is designed based on our experience and insights to enable customers to rapidly and reliably realize the value of generative AI while leveraging their existing environment. We will comprehensively support business transformation through AI agents, maximizing the use of customers’ existing assets such as SAP, Salesforce, and Teams, while preserving the standardization of their Clean Core platform.'

※ 'CleanCoreNext' Service Page

https://www.fortience.com/solutions/enterprise/cleancorenext

※1. MCP (Model Context Protocol) refers to an AI agent