AMID the disruptions to businesses and supply chains caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, SAP – a multinational software company – had 12 months ago spawned the idea to build the world’s largest business network that brings all parties of the supply chain together – buyers, suppliers, manufacturers, logistic providers – in real time, in a completely transparent manner.
This vision was unveiled at its global SAPPHIRE NOW conference which started on June 2, with the first step being the launch of the SAP Business Network, which brings together SAP’s Ariba Network, SAP Logistics Business Network and SAP Asset Intelligence Network.
It is said that over 5.5 million organisations would benefit from being members of this connected community.
To support this initiative, SAP is also announcing new innovations designed to help companies modernise and digitalise their business processes to become ‘intelligent enterprises’.
Members of the new SAP Business Network would be able to access a single, unified portal to gain a holistic view into their supply chain ecosystem, logistics and traceability, and equipment management and maintenance.
During a virtual press conference today attended by some of the world’s leading media, including Focus Malaysia, SAP CEO Christian Klein pointed out that the most resilient companies during the COVID-19 pandemic were those which had embraced technology to transform their business processes.
He added that demand for SAP solutions has increased since the outbreak because customers realise you can only really overcome the challenges with technology and with a partner like SAP that is helping them to transform their business.
“Integration is the foundation and that happens on our platform. Integration also helps our topline,” he remarked.
On the question how much of SAP solutions are on the cloud, Klein shared that “Everything outside of ERP (enterprise resource planning) is already in the cloud, and we’re taking all our customers with us.”
“In the ERP space, our customers are also moving unto the cloud as they see the benefits cloud offers.”
He also touched on Qualtrics, a customer experience management (CXM) platform known for collecting, organising, and understanding important data relative to customers and employees.
“Qualtrics provides ‘real time’ feedback. When I wake up in the morning, I want to see the sentiment of my customers,” he said, adding that Qualtrics enables him to do so.
In Malaysia, a company that has embraced Qualtrics to enhance CXM is property developer Mah Sing Group Bhd, to better understand the views and perspectives of its buyers.
The Qualtrics platform reportedly offers omni-channel survey distribution where Mah Sing can reach out to customers through email, SMS and QR code. This way, it enables Mah Sing to better understand the views and perspectives of its buyers. – June 4, 2021
