80+ Ways to Learn SAP [2026]

Often, when someone first hears about SAP, they have no clue just how expansive the software company’s suite of products is.

Key takeaway: To learn SAP, choose a role (such as functional, developer, analytics, or admin), focus on one core area like finance or ABAP, follow a structured roadmap, and practice with guided scenarios before pursuing certification.

SAP Basics

Before diving into ways you can learn SAP, there are a few things you should know about SAP. Let’s start with some fun facts.

• SAP stands for Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing
• It was founded in 1972 by IBM colleagues in Germany
• Its flagship ERP, SAP S/4HANA, was released in 2015
• SAP systems touch as much as $22 trillion in revenue across the globe

What Industries is SAP Involved In?

SAP is involved in pretty much any industry you can think of thanks to a portfolio that includes solutions used for financial and management accounting, supply chain operations, human resources, customer relationship management, data warehousing, and more. And where there isn’t an out-of-the-box option, it’s likely that a customized solution is possible using SAP’s robust technical stack of platforms such as SAP HANA and SAP Business Technology Platform, and programming languages such as ABAP.

There Are Different Ways to Learn SAP

One of the biggest beginner mistakes is assuming there’s just one way to “learn SAP.” There isn’t. There are four major paths, and each requires very different skills.

1. Learning SAP Navigation

This is the starting point for most business users. Here, you learn how to log in, how to navigate UIs like SAP Fiori, how to run reports, how to execute transactions, and how to search and filter data. Learning this does not mean you understand the business logic behind SAP. It simply means you can operate the system.

2. Learning a Functional Module

This is where you specialize in a business area. Areas you could focus on include financial or management accounting, materials management, sales & distribution, warehouse management, and production planning, among others. In order to learn these, you would focus on business processes, configuration, integration points, reporting structures, and how transactions impact other modules. This is typically the path for SAP consultants or in-house process experts.

3. Learning SAP Development

This path is technical. Here, you explore ways to build or extend SAP applications, not just using them. Areas to focus on include ABAP programming with classic or RESTful techniques, extending SAP S/4HANA, developing on SAP BTP, and utilizing APIs and integrations. This is the path that developers, technical architects, and extension specialists take.

4. Learning SAP Administration

This is infrastructure-focused. Learning SAP administration means learning how to install and upgrade SAP systems, setting up and managing users, providing authorization and security support, and running performance tuning and landscape management. This path is best for IT administrators, infrastructure specialists, and technical operations teams.

Do You Need an SAP Certification to Be Successful in an SAP Career?

The SAP Global Certification program is designed to help SAP users validate their expertise and experience. Obtaining a certification is required or recommended for many SAP consultants, professionals, and software users who currently work or plan to work in an SAP-related role. While it’s not necessary to have SAP certification, it does allow you to showcase your expertise and open more opportunities.

Learn more about SAP certifications on this page.

How to Learn SAP in 2026

With such a vast array of SAP-related things to learn about, it can be overwhelming to know where to start or how to get SAP experience. No matter what type of job you’re looking for and no matter what your learning style is, however, rest assured that there are ways to learn SAP that fit your needs. (For example, if you’re looking for books, we publish many titles every year.) In this post, we will explore the many different options available, listed alphabetically. We wish we could fit them all, but then this post would never end!

Official SAP Training Resources

SAP puts a lot of effort into written and audiovisual learning materials to help clients make the most of their system and gain SAP experience. Below highlights some of the most popular.

SAP Community

The SAP Community is a repository of thousands of documents that can be searched by the keyword of your choice, including blog posts, Q&As, event details, and more. If you know specifically what you’d like to learn more about, you can skip the search functionality by selecting one of over 140 different topic categories ranging from ABAP Connectivity and Development to Web Dynpro.

A similar resource, the SAP Developer Center, is also available for developers looking for more customized content.

SAP Help

SAP Help is a portal to all SAP product documentation, including technical specifications, SAP Notes, and more. You can search by keyword or drill down through the product hierarchy page; or, if you’re just starting to learn about a topic, you can view a handful of Learning Journeys that introduce you to the topic at hand.

SAP Inside Track

SAP Inside Tracks are community events held by local organizers all over the world. At these events, SAP Community members get together to talk about various SAP topics and brainstorm, troubleshoot, and even practice SAP skills. Check out local SAP groups to learn more about SAP Inside Tracks here.

SAP Jam

SAP Jam is the equivalent of a social network for SAP users. It includes different spaces focused on various topics, and shares product information and tutorials, as well as links to the other types of content mentioned above.

SAP Learning

SAP Learning is a website that includes links to all sorts of free SAP learning courses. These include learning journeys, certification study materials, and links to other official SAP training materials. 

SAP Learning Hub

SAP Learning Hub is a paid, self-serve training module that provides subscribers with e-learning courses, live learning sessions, and virtual social rooms to connect with peers and talk shop. There are four editions of SAP Learning Hub available depending on your needs—from solution-specific to cross-portfolio information.

SAP Training

SAP Training is a catalog of different paid classes that one can take to learn more about the topic of their choice. Whether you’re a beginner at SAP or looking for advanced instruction, there is something for you to learn here.

Books

There are numerous publishing houses that write books that focus on SAP, written by everyone from business users to SAP product owners and developers. Below are some of the most popular:

• Apress
• Espresso Tutorials
• O’Reilly
• Packt
• SAP PRESS

Since we wrote the post, we have to plug ourselves. SAP PRESS publishes dozens of books and E-Bites (shorter, e-only publications) a year on all sorts of SAP topics with the goal of helping you reach your professional goals. Our books are even listed more than 50 times on Book Authority’s 100 Best SAP Books of All Time. To gain SAP experience, you can check out our entire list of products here—nearly all of them have a free reading sample available to check out.

Paid SAP Training Resources

You can also take paid trainings from organizations other than SAP. These companies create their own curricula on different SAP topics. Below are a couple to know.

ERP Prep

ERP Prep creates courses that focus on topics such as SAP ERP, SAP HANA, SAP S/4HANA, SAP Fiori, SAP Solution Manager, and more. Its goal is to help customers prepare for SAP certification exams.

Michael Management

Michael Management creates content for those looking to take courses to improve their SAP skills. It also does one-day, live, “Jumpstart” classes for those looking to ask questions as they learn.

Rheinwerk Courses

Launched in 2024, Rheinwerk Courses are live, online trainings with SAP experts. Courses range from single-day overviews to multi-day deep dives, and attendees can ask questions as the instructors teach.

ZaranTech

ZaranTech is an online learning platform offering self-paced IT and professional training courses, certifications, and career-focused video lessons in areas like SAP, Workday, cloud, data science, and more to help learners upskill and advance their careers.

Online Publications

There are scores of SAP-focused blogs and websites out there. Below is a list of some of the most popular.

ASUG News

ASUG, America’s SAP User Group, puts out web articles that explore different avenues where SAP solutions are being used and how readers can utilize the solutions to do the same things in their organizations.

Diginomica

Diginomica is a media group focused on providing insight on different topics such as the digital enterprise, cloud apps, and technology disruption. It covers many different vendors, including SAP, Oracle, and Workday.

ERPCorp

The consulting firm ERPCorp publishes blog posts and videos on things related to the Controlling subcomponent of SAP ERP, as well as its SAP S/4HANA sibling.

E-3 Magazine

E-3 Magazine is a German-based web publisher of SAP content that prides itself on its independent stance.

Guru99

Guru99 provides email-based SAP training on topics including SAP HANA, SAPUI5, SAP SuccessFactors, security, and more. They also sell e-books covering topics like FICO, materials management, production planning, and more.

Inside SAP

Inside SAP is an Australian-based web publisher that focuses on keeping the region up to date on the latest SAP happenings. Their website includes information on SAP technology as well as case studies.

SAPinsider

SAPinsider publishes multiple content formats, including a magazine, research papers, and whitepapers. It also hosts annual industry- or solution-specific events and produces webinar and video content.

SAP PRESS Blog

The SAP PRESS Blog includes more than 750 posts on everything from ABAP and SAP Fiori development to SAP Customer Experience. A Learning Center also includes links to topic overviews and Q&As with our authors.

SearchSAP

Run by the technology firm TechTarget, SearchSAP publishes case studies, news, and other information such as overviews of SAP technology like SAP HANA and ABAP.

SUNSource

Formerly known as SAP Insight, SUNSource (SUN standing for Super User Network) focuses on information tailored for super users of not only SAP solutions, but also Oracle, Workday, and more.

The Dallas Marks Blog

Author and SAP Mentor Dallas Marks has a blog dedicated to different business intelligence topics, notably SAP BusinessObjects. His blog also includes SAP book reviews and information on Tableau.

The Timo Elliott Blog

SAP innovation evangelist Timo Elliott has his own blog which focuses on both SAP and non-SAP topics. He includes posts that focus on presentations he gives, information gleaned from various SAP conferences and events, and more.

The Xavier Hacking Blog

Author and SAP BI consultant Xavier Hacking has a blog focused on different business intelligence and data management tools such as SAP Data Warehouse Cloud, SAP Analytics Cloud, and more.

ZAP Yard

ZAP Yard (formerly SAP Yard) is a website dedicated to providing technical documentation to those working with ABAP, SAP HANA, SAP Fiori, OData, SAP S/4HANA, and more.

Audiovisual SAP Training Resources

In addition to written documentation, there are numerous podcasts and YouTube channels that focus on SAP topics. Below lists some of the top options to explore to gain SAP experience.

SAP Coffee Corner Radio

The unofficial SAP Community podcast, SAP Coffee Corner Radio is run by three SAP employees and explores the current state of SAP, conference happenings, and more.

SAP PRESS YouTube Channel

The SAP PRESS YouTube channel includes videos on different topics, including author interviews and how-to videos.

SAP’s YouTube Channels

SAP has a whole host of YouTube channels, each focused on different topics including industries, development, sports and entertainment, SAP Help, and the SAP Community.

The ZAP Yard YouTube Channel

ZAP Yard’s official YouTube channel provides in-depth information on topics such as SAP Fiori deployment, ABAP Development Tools, CDS, and more.

Conferences

There are numerous SAP-focused conferences and events held throughout the year. For a full list of upcoming events hosted by SAP, check out this page. Popular, recurring major events are listed below.

ASUG Industry and Technology Conferences

The America’s user group hosts many events throughout the year. These include events on SAP Business One, oil & gas, and more.

Mastering SAP

Held in Australia as well as South Africa, the Mastering SAP events cover a collection of different SAP topics, including SAP technologies, finance, HR, business and analytics, security, and more.

SAP Controlling Conference

Organized by ERPCorp, the annual Controlling Conference is held every year in San Diego, California. Attendees spend the majority of a week attending sessions relating to FICO, networking with peers, and exploring exhibitor booths.

SAPinsider Events

SAPinsider hosts numerous events during the year, each with a focus on different areas of SAP. These include SAP HANA, analytics, administration, FICO, GRC, cybersecurity, and more.

SAP Sapphire and ASUG Annual Conference

SAP Sapphire, held every year, is SAP’s trade show that includes keynote speeches by SAP leadership, celebrities, business partners, and more. Attendees have the option to attend scores of sessions on all types of SAP topics. Major new solutions or product functionality are typically announced at SAP Sapphire.

The ASUG Annual Conference is held in conjunction with SAP Sapphire and is put on to help ASUG members as well as the public work toward overcoming their SAP challenges.

SAP TechEd

Another conference hosted by SAP, SAP TechEd focuses on the technical side of SAP. Like SAP Sapphire, attendees have the option to attend scores of sessions on all types of SAP topics. Unlike SAP Sapphire however, SAP TechEd is held in multiple locations around the world in the last quarter of the year..

User Groups

Many regions have created their own groups that focus on SAP users. Below are some of the most popular:

• Australia: SAUG
• Germany, Austria, and Switzerland: DSAG
• India: INDUS
• North America: ASUG
• South Africa: AFSUG
• Sweden: SAPSA
• United Kingdom and Ireland: UKISUG

Social Media

Many SAP employees, users, etc. are on social media. We suggest searching for keywords relevant to you and following those accounts that appear. To get you started, here are a few popular experts to follow on LinkedIn:

• Abdullah Galal (SAP S/4HANA Finance)
• Alok Kumar (general SAP)
• Bert Vanstechelman (SAP S/4HANA)
• Christian Klein (SAP CEO)
• Devraj Bardhan (SAP S/4HANA and AI)
• Faisal Iqbal (SAP SuccessFactors)
• Felipe dos Anjos Almeida (development)
• Frank Densborn (SAP S/4HANA)
• Jawad Akhtar (logistics)
• John Jordan (SAP S/4HANA Finance)
• Jon Simmonds (SAP Fiori)
• Kendall Tyler (host of the SAP PRESS Book Club)
• Martin Koch (SAP consulting)
• Nitin Gupta (Central Finance)
• Paul Kurchina (enterprise architecture)
• Philipp Herzig (SAP CTO)
• Raja Gupta (AI)
• Sindhu Gangadharan (SAP SVP)
• Sven Denecken (SAP SVP)
• Thomas Saueressig (SAP Executive Board member)
• Trung Van Tran (integration)
• Wouter van Heddegham (general SAP)

In addition to these LinkedIn accounts, there are numerous LinkedIn groups that you can join to meet peers. Here are a few of our favorites:

• Americas' SAP Users' Group - ASUG (Official Group)
• Global SuccessFactors and SAP Community
• SAP Community
• SAP Community S/4 HANA FICO HCM SCM Fiori Jobs ABAP CRM Finance Careers
• SAP Controlling Community
• SAP Education
• SAP Extended Warehouse Management (EWM)
• SAP Experts Group
• SAP Fiori Group
• SAP MM WM QM / Logistics Consultants
• SAP Security Group
• SAP S/4HANA, SAP BW and SAP BTP - Business Technology Platform

Learn SAP Online: Training Options Compared

You’ve probably now realized that whether you’re searching for “learning SAP online,” “SAP online training,” or the best “SAP learning sites,” there are many options, and they’re not all designed for the same type of learner.

Some paths are flexible and affordable. Others are structured and certification-focused. Some are ideal for developers looking for SAP developer training courses, while others are better suited to business users.

Here’s a clear breakdown so you can choose the right format.

SAP Learning Options at a Glance

Is Free SAP Training Worth It?

If you're trying to learn SAP online for free, as you can see from the table above, there are many high-quality free resources available. However, it’s important to understand what free learning is great for… and where it typically falls short.

What You Can Learn for Free

Free SAP resources are excellent for building your foundation. You can learn:

• Vocabulary: You’ll quickly become familiar with key SAP terms like ERP, S/4HANA, Fiori, ABAP, BTP, FI, MM, and more. Understanding the language alone removes a huge amount of beginner confusion.
• Navigation basics: Through tutorials, videos, and blog posts, you can learn how SAP screens work, how SAP Fiori apps function, and how users move through transactions and reports.
• Introductory tutorials: There are many step-by-step beginner guides that explain basic concepts, simple workflows, and high-level overviews of modules.
• Community insight and real-world discussion: SAP Community posts, blogs, LinkedIn discussions, YouTube videos, and podcasts give you exposure to real problems, real questions, and real professionals working in SAP today.

What Free Resources Usually Can't Provide

At some point, most learners hit a ceiling. Here’s why.

• Structured progression: Free content is rarely organized into a clear, start-to-finish learning path. You might understand individual topics — but not how they connect.
• Deep configuration knowledge: Advanced configuration, integration points, and system architecture are typically covered in structured books, courses, or official training.
• Real-world troubleshooting experience: Reading about SAP is different from diagnosing production issues, resolving integration errors, or designing scalable solutions.
• A coherent roadmap: Free resources don’t usually tell you what to learn first, what to ignore, what level of depth is required for your role, and when you're “ready” for the next step

Without a roadmap, many beginners feel like they’re learning a lot, but not progressing. Use the free information as a stepping stone to understand the basics if you’re just getting started with learning SAP. Then invest in your future with paid resources.

FAQ

What is the best way to learn SAP?

The best way to learn SAP is to choose one specialization and combine structured learning with hands-on practice. Start with a module or technical path that aligns with your background, use a book or course for guided progression, and practice in a real or sandbox system. Trying to learn all of SAP at once leads to confusion.

Can I learn SAP online?

Yes, you can learn SAP online through books, video courses, official SAP training platforms, and community resources. Many professionals build their SAP careers entirely through online learning combined with practical experience. The key is choosing a structured path instead of relying only on random tutorials.

Are there free SAP classes?

Yes, there are free SAP learning resources available, including introductory tutorials, documentation, and community content. These are useful for learning terminology and basic concepts. However, free resources usually do not provide structured progression, deep configuration training, or guided hands-on practice.

How long does it take to learn SAP?

Learning SAP can take anywhere from a few weeks to over a year, depending on your goal. Basic navigation may take weeks, while becoming proficient in a functional module or development role typically requires several months of focused study and practice.

Is SAP difficult for beginners?

SAP can feel overwhelming at first because of its size and terminology, but it is not inherently difficult. The challenge comes from trying to learn too much at once. Focusing on one role or module makes SAP much more manageable for beginners.

Which SAP module should I learn first?

You should learn the SAP module that aligns with your professional background or career goal. For example, finance professionals often start with FI, logistics professionals with MM or SD, and developers with ABAP or SAP S/4HANA development tools.

Should I learn SAP S/4HANA or SAP ECC?

If you are starting today, you should focus on SAP S/4HANA. While many organizations still use SAP ECC, SAP S/4HANA is SAP’s strategic platform and the future of ERP, making it more relevant for long-term career growth.

Do I need ABAP to work in SAP?

No, you do not need ABAP to work in SAP unless you plan to become a developer. Functional consultants, analysts, and business users typically focus on processes and configuration rather than programming.

Do I need certification to get hired?

Certification can strengthen your resume, but it is not always required. Many employers prioritize practical experience and process knowledge over formal certification, especially for entry-level or internal SAP roles.

Conclusion

As you can tell, there are so many ways to learn SAP and gain SAP experience—while we’ve named some, there are always plenty more to explore on your own through a Google search. The best part is that once you’ve learned things from the resources above, you can turn around and create content of your own—like an SAP PRESS book, perhaps?—to give back to the community as well. Best of luck with your SAP training!