AI Pair Programming with GitHub Copilot at SAP: Looking Back, Looking Forward!

How did SAP roll out an AI pair programmer to 25,000 developers? By focusing on well-being, not just productivity.

#1about 3 minutes

Defining the three pillars of developer experience at SAP

Developer experience is centered on increasing flow state, shortening feedback loops, and reducing cognitive load for engineers.

#2about 1 minute

Using AI to reimagine the developer experience

Generative AI is viewed as a strategic opportunity to elevate the entire developer experience, with productivity gains as a natural outcome.

#3about 2 minutes

Evaluating and selecting an AI pair programming tool

SAP chose GitHub Copilot after a thorough evaluation of multiple tools based on enterprise needs like security, trust, and indemnity.

#4about 2 minutes

How GitHub Copilot enhances the developer workflow

Copilot improves the developer workflow through features like code completion, chat for debugging, and the new agent mode for complex tasks.

#5about 2 minutes

The phased rollout strategy for enterprise adoption

A phased rollout, starting with a 500-developer pilot and thorough due diligence, enabled a successful and secure deployment across the company.

#6about 2 minutes

Measuring impact with system data and developer surveys

A comprehensive research strategy combined system usage data with structured developer surveys and university partnerships to generate deep insights.

#7about 1 minute

Analyzing developer feedback on productivity and usability

Surveys of over 10,000 developers confirmed high satisfaction, with 88% wanting to continue using Copilot for its ease of use and productivity benefits.

#8about 3 minutes

How AI is changing required developer skills and learning

Copilot is shifting the relevance of technical skills and transforming learning by enabling developers to acquire new languages and concepts on the job.

#9about 2 minutes

Developer testimonials on learning and productivity

Developers share how Copilot helps them learn new languages faster, stay in a state of flow, and more easily work as full-stack engineers.

#10about 4 minutes

Scaling adoption and support for 25,000 developers

Scaling to 25,000 users was achieved through a phased onboarding process and a support system built on a central SharePoint, a Q&A community, and expert talks.

#11about 4 minutes

Key lessons for enterprise AI tool implementation

Successful enterprise AI adoption requires executive sponsorship, a combination of factual and experience data, a clear roadmap, and scalable community assets.

#12about 3 minutes

Future priorities for GitHub Copilot at SAP

The future focus is on increasing adoption by closing feature gaps, being early adopters of new innovations, and continuously measuring the tool's value.