SAP Joule for Developers, which brought generative AI capabilities into SAP Build and ABAP at no additional cost during its initial promotional period, is ending on September 30th, 2026. We are extending the promo offer for SAP Build features to December 31st, 2026, and this post explains exactly what that means for you, what happens to each capability you may be using today, and what your path forward looks like after December 31st, 2026.
We know changes like this require planning, and we want to give you as much clarity as possible, well in advance, so you can make informed decisions for your team and your projects.
What Does This Mean for You?
If you are using SAP Build generative AI capabilities today — SAP Build Process Automation generative AI features or Joule Studio, classic edition (Vibe Coding) generative AI features — you retain full access through December 31, 2026. AI chat in SAP Build Code is already rolled out in Business Application Studio and will continue beyond December 31, 2026. SAP Joule for Developers, ABAP AI capabilities will be commercially available starting October 1, 2026, outside the promotion (previously announced here).
SAP Build continues as a customer-managed solution development platform for extending SAP applications. What is changing is the commercial structure behind certain AI capabilities that were offered on a promotional basis, and the transition of the SAP Joule for Developers brand that will only be associated with ABAP AI capabilities as we move into 2027.
Why Are We Making This Change?
SAP Joule for Developers promotional period was designed to give customers hands-on experience with generative AI in SAP Build without an immediate commercial commitment. That exploration phase has provided real-world signals on what delivers value. Based on customer feedback, we made deliberate decisions for each capability. Where usage and value are clear, we are moving capabilities into supported commercial models; where strategic alternatives exist to deliver better customer value, we are directing investment accordingly.
What Happens to Each Capability?
ABAP AI — Continues under commercial licensing
As announced in May 2026, ABAP AI moves to consumption-based pricing (PUPM model) effective October 1, 2026. If you are currently using ABAP AI under SAP Joule for Developers promotional access, SAP will contact you before the transition date with licensing details. More details available here.
Action required: Plan for a licensing transition before October 1, 2026.
AI assistance in SAP Build Code — Already Available in Business Application Studio
AI Chat in SAP Build Code has already been rolled out in Business Application Studio (BAS) for those using build-code (SAP Build Code) or build-default (SAP Build Developer) plans. This will remain available beyond December 31, 2026. No action is required from customers; your AI coding assistance experience is uninterrupted and enhanced to now allow you to configure your own large language model provider, such as SAP AI Core, a third party LLM provider, or Github Copilot.
SAP Build Process Automation GenAI Features — Access through December 31, 2026
SAP Build customers using generative AI features in SAP Build Process Automation — including process generation, decision generation, form generation, script generation, and summarization — can continue using those features until December 31, 2026. After December 31, 2026, you can continue using SAP Build Process Automation without generative AI support. You can begin exploring Joule Studio for a new agentic development experience once it is generally available in H2 2026.
Your existing automations, processes, and decisions built in SAP Build Process Automation are unaffected. This transition impacts only the ability to use AI while authoring new content, not your existing artifacts.
Joule Studio, classic edition GenAI features (Vibe Coding) — Access through December 31, 2026
Customers using Joule Studio, classic edition can continue using its generative AI features such as agent creation and deletion, configuring agent properties, adding and removing tools, and triggering test modes until December 31, 2026. After December 31, 2026, you can continue using Joule Studio, classic edition, but without generative AI support. This specifically and only refers to the generative AI support during design time. You can begin exploring the new Joule Studio and its agentic development experience once it is generally available in H2 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SAP Build being deprecated? | No. SAP Build continues as a customer managed application development platform for extending SAP applications, automations and digital workspaces. |
Do my existing SAP Build projects, automations, and code get affected? | No. Your built artifacts are fully intact. Only AI-assisted authoring capabilities are affected by this transition. |
Can I keep using SAP GenAI and Joule Studio, classic edition vibe-coding features? | Yes — full access continues up to December 31, 2026. After this time, Joule Studio, classic edition GenAI features such as agent creation and deletion, configuring agent properties, adding and removing tools, and triggering test mode will be removed. |
What happens after December 31, 2026 for SAP Build Process Automation GenAI and Joule Studio, classic edition GenAI? | For SAP Build Process Automation and Joule Studio, classic edition, you can continue using these products without generative AI support after December 31, 2026. You can begin exploring Joule Studio for a new agentic development experience once it is generally available in H2 2026. |
What about the AI assistance in SAP Build Code? | AI Chat is already rolled out in Business Application Studio (BAS) and continues beyond December 31, 2026. No action needed. |
Will ABAP AI Capabilities still be available after the promotional period ends? | Yes — ABAP AI capabilities moves to the Per User Per Month (PUPM) commercial license from October 1, 2026. ABAP Development Tools remain free; only the AI capabilities require licensing. |
What should I do right now? | If you use ABAP AI, engage your SAP account manager to plan the licensing transition before October 1, 2026. For SAP Build Process Automation GenAI and Joule Studio, classic edition, you can continue using SAP Build Process Automation and Joule Studio, classic edition without generative AI support after December 31st, 2026. You can begin exploring Joule Studio for a new agentic development experience once it is generally available in H2 2026. |
Who do I contact with questions? | Your SAP account manager or Customer Success Partner. Or leave a comment below. |
Next Steps
- If you use SAP Joule for Developers, ABAP AI Capabilities — engage your SAP account manager now to plan the AI Units licensing transition before October 1, 2026. Purchase the AI Units contract (SKU 8019164) on the SAP Store.
- If you use SAP Build Process Automation GenAI features or Joule Studio, classic edition vibe coding, your access continues through December 31, 2026. After that date, you can continue using SAP Build Process Automation and Joule Studio, classic edition without generative AI support. You can begin exploring Joule Studio once it is generally available in H2 2026.
- If you use the AI chat in SAP Build Code — no action needed. The capability continues in Business Application Studio beyond December 31, 2026 under fair use limits and is enhanced to now allow you to configure your own large language model provider, such as SAP AI Core, a third party LLM provider, or Github Copilot.
- Share this post internally with developers, architects, and project owners who need to plan for these changes.
If you have questions, please leave a comment below or reach out to your SAP account manager or Customer Success Partner.
