Driving Co-Innovation, AI, and Human-Centered Experiences
Extentia, a Merkle Company, made its presence felt at the SAP AppHaus Network Partner Meetup in Walldorf, Germany, held from February 24 to 26, 2026, a three-day gathering of global partners focused on collaboration, innovation, and sharing insights.
Representing Extentia, Melinda Rodrigues, Senior Strategy Analyst, engaged with the AppHaus community, showcasing how Extentia has embedded the AppHaus methodology within Merkle. She highlighted structured approaches for presales, discovery workshops, SAP BTP pursuits, and internal collaboration, demonstrating how workshops and co-innovation practices can be translated into scalable, production-ready solutions.
Highlights & Insights
Day 1 featured immersive experiences including tours of S.Factory, S.MART, and the Experience Labs, where attendees explored real-world demonstrations of digital manufacturing, retail operations, and AI-powered automation. Fireside chats with SAP SIX leaders – Dennis Kecskemeti, Paul Saunders, and Andreas Wendel emphasized human-centered innovation, the growing role of AI in personalized experiences, and the importance of ecosystem collaboration to deliver measurable business value.
Melinda actively engaged with partners during interactive workshops, sharing Extentia’s approach to embedding AppHaus tools, methods, and co-innovation practices into everyday client engagements.
On how Extentia’s AppHaus approach has evolved within Merkle since the acquisition, Melinda Rodrigues remarked:
“Following the acquisition, the AppHaus ethos did not diminish but instead gained momentum. Merkle reinforced its commitment by scaling the approach across practices and investing in time, talent, and proprietary tool development throughout 2025, with further innovation capabilities envisioned for 2026. The trajectory reflects sustained belief, shared ownership, and a continued commitment to carrying the AppHaus spirit forward with confidence and intent.”
Day 2 focused on Experience Center engagement, co-innovation services, and building executive-ready solutions. Attendees explored how structured frameworks, live business scenarios, and iterative testing can bridge the gap between ideation and execution, turning AI and digital transformation ambitions into tangible results.
Day 3 focused on methods, learning, and hands-on collaboration. Partners participated in interactive sessions to refresh tools, frameworks, and best practices. Share-outs and feedback discussions helped identify gaps and refine approaches for practical implementation. The day concluded with a wrap-up of next steps, reinforcing continuous improvement and alignment across the SAP AppHaus partner ecosystem.
Joining the AppHaus Network
When Extentia became part of the global AppHaus Network in 2019 it marked an important milestone in our journey of human-centered innovation. As a Merkle company, we brought together design thinking, digital engineering, and experience-led transformation within a broader co-creation ecosystem. By integrating the AppHaus approach into Merkle’s global framework, we strengthened discovery engagements, enhanced presales capabilities, and enabled partners to deliver clearer, scalable outcomes with greater confidence.
Connect with us to explore how our AppHaus expertise can help your organization innovate, scale, and turn ideas into impactful solutions.
About Merkle
Merkle, a dentsu company, is a leading data-driven customer experience management (CXM) company that specializes in the delivery of unique, personalized customer experiences across platforms and devices. For more than 30 years, Fortune 1000 companies and leading nonprofit organizations have partnered with Merkle to maximize the value of their customer portfolios. The company’s heritage in data, technology, and analytics forms the foundation for its unmatched skills in understanding consumer insights that drive hyper-personalized marketing strategies. Its combined strengths in consulting, creative, media, analytics, data, identity, CX/commerce, technology, and loyalty & promotions drive improved marketing results and competitive advantage. With more than 14,000 employees, Merkle is headquartered in Columbia, Maryland, with 50+ additional offices throughout the Americas, EMEA, and APAC. For more information, contact Merkle at 1 (443) 542-4000 or visit www.merkle.com.
About Extentia, a Merkle Company
A global IT services firm that helps clients transform and realize their digital strategies. With a unique Experience Centric Transformation approach, Extentia’s ground-breaking solutions are in the space of mobile, cloud, and design. The team is differentiated by an emphasis on excellent design skills that they bring to every project. Focused on enterprise mobility, cloud computing, and user experiences, Extentia strives to accomplish and surpass their customers’ business goals. The company’s inclusive work environment and culture inspire team members to be innovative and creative, and to provide clients with an exceptional partnership experience.