FeatureInnovation is at the heart of everything SAP does, and its solutions are constantly evolving to meet the changing needs of its customers and governments. In addition, its solutions evolve based on its continued focus on sustainability as well as global networking to provide solutions to the world’s current challenges.
Aside from enhancing existing offerings, some exciting areas of future development are in quantum technologies, blockchain, artificial intelligence, composable enterprises and cryptofinance, among many others.
SAP has comprehensive cloud, on- premises and hybrid solutions aimed at running a business better, faster, and simpler, and which cover all business processes across all industries. Flagship products include S4HANA, a cloud-based enterprise resource planning solution; SuccessFactors, a talent management and engagement solution; SAP Ariba e-procurement and supply chain management solutions; and Concur Expense, a cloud-based and mobile system to manage the entire expense process.
SAP offers RISE with SAP to support its customers who want to leverage the benefits of cloud computing
In addition, SAP offers RISE with SAP to support its customers who want to leverage the benefits of cloud computing to run their business-critical processes quickly, securely and flexibly in the cloud.
SAP is focused on helping companies become ‘intelligent enterprises’, that is, enterprises that apply advanced technologies and best practices within integrated, agile processes. SAP’s comprehensive range of digital solutions address the main challenges businesses face today, namely, building resilient supply chains, creating sustainable enterprises and transforming in the cloud.
RISE with SAP is a step-by-step holistic offering that supports companies’ digital transformation and is tailored for each company’s complexity and starting point. The aim is to go beyond a technical migration to the cloud, and instead enable companies to truly transform their business, realising a faster time-to-market for new capabilities and applications, and allowing for ongoing transformation.
Amongst the top differentiators are the comprehensiveness of SAP solutions, which cater for the needs of companies of all sizes across all industries; SAP’s focus on cloud computing, meaningful analytics and innovation; and the robust business ecosystem of skilled consultants and partners supporting SAP customers. In addition, SAP’s focus on sustainability and its globality are appealing to customers.
In fact, 99 of the 100 largest companies in the world are SAP customers, while 97 of the 100 greenest companies in the world run SAP. Businesses are increasingly realising, first, that sustainability should be built into all business processes, and second, that to react to global changes in an agile way, they need 360-degree visibility over all areas of operations – both of which SAP delivers.
A few recent UAE wins and projects in 2022 include the following:
- The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development signed an MOU with SAP to leverage SAP’s UAE cloud offering.
- Moro Hub, a subsidiary of Digital DEWA, and SAP partnered to enhance intelligent automation at government and private organisations.
- Dubai’s Museum of the Future signed a strategic partnership with SAP and are collaborating on an ongoing basis.
- SAP partnered on two separate projects – with Dubai Government Human Resources Department and with ENOC – to develop Emirati talent through its Young Professionals Programme.
TOP EXECUTIVE
Zakaria is responsible for SAP’s in-country presence and growth strategy including sales and marketing operations across the UAE. In this role, he works closely with SAP’s regional and global teams.
Zakaria has more than 20 years’ experience as a business leader and IT executive. He began his career at Siemens and Oracle, before joining SAP in October 2008. At SAP, he held different leadership positions before becoming Managing Director for SAP UAE. The most recent was Vice President of Global Channels and General Business, SAP MENA, responsible for defining and executing the GTM Strategy across MENA for both the Sales and Channel teams while developing business in emerging territories.
SAP has formed several significant partnerships in the UAE over recent years. Zakaria says that SAP’s ongoing partnership with Museum of the Future; SAP’s role in supporting the training of Emiratis through the Young Professionals Programs, and SAP’s immense involvement in EXPO 2020 are three particular highlights. He adds that visitors flocked to SAP House Dubai, established at EXPO, which successfully served as a hub to inspire lively discussions and to showcase how SAP solutions help businesses and governments drive resiliency, profitability, and sustainability.
Zakaria hopes to continue to hold a position where he is able to nurture and develop talent, whether it is in his own team or helping to create a sustainable workforce in the UAE that will support the UAE’s role as a global hub of technology.
Zakaria admires organisations and people who focus on innovation with a purpose. This, of course includes SAP and its CEO Christian Klein, but Zakaria stresses that the UAE leadership and a plethora of people across businesses and universities also serve as examples, as do organisations such as the Dubai Future Foundation, The Museum of the Future and the Ministry of Industry and Advanced Technology.
Zakaria enjoys watching sport, spending time with family and friends, and has a keen interest in anything related to new developments in technology.
