If you have ever wondered how to effectively align business strategy with technology, the spring 2025 release of the SAP reference architecture provides an answer. The Technology Capability Model (TCM) is not just another layer of documentation - it is a genuine bridge between the language of business and the world of IT, one that is revolutionising the approach to enterprise architecture management.
The evolution of SAP’s reference architecture
SAP’s reference architecture, part of the comprehensive SAP Enterprise Architecture Framework, has undergone a significant transformation. In spring 2024, two key extensions were introduced: the Technology Capability Model and Business Data Objects.
Until now, SAP’s reference architecture has focused on two main pillars:
Reference Business Architecture (RBA) - a product-independent, business-oriented model of the organisation, dividing the enterprise into four domains: Products and Services, Delivery, Customers, and Corporate
Reference Solution Architecture (RSA) - illustrating how SAP’s product portfolio addresses individual business challenges
“We are observing a fundamental shift in how our clients approach enterprise architecture,” says Jacek Bugajski, CEO of SNOK and a long-standing SAP solutions architect. “SAP’s reference architecture has evolved from a simple collection of patterns into a comprehensive ecosystem that genuinely helps with strategic business and technology decisions. This shift means architecture is no longer the sole domain of IT departments, but becomes a communication tool at every level of the organisation.”
The Technology Capability Model - a new dimension of architecture
The Technology Capability Model (TCM) complements the existing Business Capability Model (BCM), introducing an important distinction:
Business capabilities describe WHAT an organisation does within specific functional areas
Technology capabilities define the generic capabilities delivered by technology, independent of any specific solution or business context
This distinction is of key importance in today’s business environment, where technology is not only a support for processes but the foundation of transformation.
Practical benefits for organisations
Implementing the Technology Capability Model within an organisation brings tangible benefits:
A shared communication language - builds a bridge between the world of business and IT
Identification of gaps and redundancies - helps identify areas requiring optimisation
Better transformation planning - enables strategic planning of the transition from the “as-is” to the “to-be” state
Objective application assessment - allows solutions to be evaluated based on functionality and strategic significance
“In practice, the Technology Capability Model is not just a diagram on a wall,” explains Michał Korzeń, CTO of SNOK and SAP Enterprise Architect. “It is a dynamic tool that lets us, together with the client, map their current technology capabilities, identify gaps, and plan investments. What is more, integration with LeanIX allows us to visualise these dependencies in a way that is understandable both to management and to technical teams.”
SAP LeanIX’s approach to mapping business capabilities
SAP’s integration with LeanIX has opened up new possibilities for mapping both business and technology capabilities. In practice, this means:
Access to ready-made, industry-specific business capability maps
The ability to import patterns from the SAP reference architecture repository
Automatic linking of business capabilities to suggested SAP solutions
Visualisation of the dependencies between business capabilities, applications and IT components
How to get started?
Experts recommend a phased approach:
Start with a single area and two levels to quickly achieve initial results
Ensure capabilities are mutually exclusive (no overlap)
Focus on a maximum of 10 top-level capabilities
Build a model no deeper than three levels
Engage stakeholders from both the business and IT sides
SNOK’s expertise in enterprise architecture
SNOK’s Enterprise Architecture and SAP architects have many years of experience designing and implementing solutions based on SAP’s reference architecture. Our competencies allow us to effectively address even the most complex challenges in this area:
We have carried out numerous business and technology capability mapping projects for organisations across various sectors
We support clients in the process of transforming and modernising IT infrastructure based on SAP best practice
We integrate SAP solutions with existing systems, ensuring a consistent flow of data and processes
We have practical experience using tools such as LeanIX to visualise and manage enterprise architecture
Thanks to the combination of technical knowledge, industry experience, and familiarity with the latest SAP solutions, we are able to advise on the best approach to implementing the technology capability model and integrating it with existing enterprise architecture.
Summary
SAP’s Technology Capability Model is not merely a theoretical construct - it is a practical tool for navigating the complex world of digital transformation. Drawing on SAP standards and 50 years of experience working with organisations across various industries, this model can become a strategic compass for any company seeking to make effective use of technology.
If you are interested in a full implementation of SAP’s Technology Capability Model, we invite you to get in touch with SNOK’s experts -> office@snok.ai