Data Management in the Age of AI: Lessons from the Field

In this reflective piece, Chris Sam — Principal Architect at SAP with 18 years of experience spanning data warehousing, SAP Data Services, Information Steward, and modern ERP data governance — shares hard-won insights on what it really takes to succeed at enterprise data management Key takeaways include: Data management is a journey , not a switch — it requires time, investment, and patience. Organizational commitment is non-negotiable — without real data owners, no tool or initiative will succeed. Data stewards are critical infrastructure — the rare people who understand both the business pro