GEC News Wire

Tag: sap

  • Ducati to adopt SAP Commerce Cloud, Integrated Business Planning for agile supply chain

    Ducati to adopt SAP Commerce Cloud, Integrated Business Planning for agile supply chain

    SAP and Ducati announced a global collaboration, that sees the Italian motorcycle manufacturer choose RISE with SAP to enable an important business transformation, covering key business processes. The collaboration is underpinned by a shared desire to improve and enrich the experiences of passionate Ducati customers through innovation excellence and cutting-edge products and services.

    Technology and innovation are essential elements in Ducati’s DNA. With SAP, the Italian company aims to be at the forefront, and its intent is to create an intelligent business network with suppliers and partners, extending the digitalization of processes and enhancing the accuracy and timeliness of information. These are necessary steps as Ducati puts passionate customers at the center of its business, and to respond effectively and efficiently to an increasingly complex global supply system.

    To achieve these goals, Ducati will also adopt the SAP Commerce Cloud solution for Ducati’s online business management and SAP Integrated Business Planning (IBP) for agile supply chain planning, that will lead to an extended and integrated digital supply chain.

    “Our passionate customers have always been at the center of the company strategy, and we try to offer them the best possible experience in the world of two wheels. We rely heavily on innovation and technology to be at the forefront of our business processes, given our focus on product development,” said Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati. “Supply chains are increasingly complex and have been subject to transformation in recent years. Having a partner like SAP at our side will allow Ducati to make the supply chain even more flexible, reactive and integrated, connecting the needs of the “Ducatisti” better and better to the logic of supply and production”.

    “The Ducati brand is synonymous with excellence and is known all over the world for the quality of its products and for the competitiveness it expresses in every race. Ducati has the highest standards for their Customer’s Experience and operates a sophisticated Supply Chain, therefore end-to-end process integration and high availability are essential. By combining our strengths and bringing all our innovative know-how with CX, Supply Chain and RISE with SAP, we could not be prouder to be on this business transformation journey together. Customer Experience today represents everything, and Ducati wants to put CX even more at the center of its operations,” commented Emmanuel Raptopoulos, President, EMEA South SAP. “Working alongside Ducati in the MotoGP world championship as Official Partner of the Ducati Lenovo Team is a tremendous honor for SAP. The power and excellence of Ducati motorcycles, combined with the best of SAP innovation, are a winning combination”.

    The collaboration between the two companies also extends to the world of racing, an area in which technological development and innovation have always been driven to excellence. SAP joins the Official Partners of the Ducati Lenovo Team in MotoGP for the 2022 season.

    • Ducati to drive SAP innovation to improve and enrich its customers’ experiences
    • Claudio Domenicali, CEO Ducati: “Having a partner like SAP at our side will allow us to make our supply chain, so complex and subject to transformation in recent years, even more flexible and responsive thanks to the most innovative software solutions”
    • SAP also becomes Official Partner of the Ducati Lenovo Team for the 2022 MotoGP season
  • Abu Dhabi Dept of Economic Development partners with SAP to become cloud services provider

    Abu Dhabi Dept of Economic Development partners with SAP to become cloud services provider

    The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development signed a memorandum of understanding with SAP. As part of the agreement, ADDED and SAP shall explore  collaboration opportunities to enhance industry innovation and digital transformation, develop advanced business models, nurture Emirati talent, and foster local digital competencies, particularly through supporting startups and small business enterprises (SMEs).

    In terms of the MOU, ADDED intends to leverage SAP’s UAE cloud offering while simultaneously enabling SAP to accelerate expansion in the region as an authorized cloud services provider. Both parties also intend to work together to develop emerging talent by training UAE nationals through in-country, global and virtual programs on technology, business, and behavioral skills. In addition, ADDED and SAP aim to  support job seekers and freelancers through a new SAP-designed platform that will bridge the gap between supply and demand for full-time and freelance opportunities.

    The support that ADDED and SAP will offer to SMEs and startups as part of the MoU will be delivered through “SAP.io” and “Grow by SAP” initiatives. In addition, both parties are exploring the feasibility of establishing a regional innovation center in Abu Dhabi to deliver support to both public and private sector entities, and services.

    ADDED and SAP have also stated their intention to explore and launch Industry 4.0 initiatives within Abu Dhabi, where SAP aims to create a Point of View (POV) document to propose mutually beneficial strategic initiatives. The POV document will focus on the main pillars of the Abu Dhabi’s strategy , including healthcare, education, economy, defense, security, and government efficiency. In addition, SAP intends to train individuals in the manufacturing sector in digital skills to succeed in Industry 4.0 while developing an emirate-wide framework to adopt consistent manufacturing standards.

    ADDED intends to leverage SAP’s UAE cloud offering while enabling SAP to accelerate expansion in the region as an authorised cloud services provider

    H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of ADDED and Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, Middle East South, SAP attended an event orgaqnised to mark the signing of the MoU which was signed by HE Rashed Abdulkareem Al Blooshi, Undersecreatry of ADDED and Zakaria Haltout, Managing Director SAP- UAE.

    Commenting on the signing, H.E. Mohamed Ali Al Shorafa, Chairman of ADDED, said: “This is a large-scale partnership covering various sectors and fields we focus on, and it will see ADDED and SAP bringing together the best they can offer.  Abu Dhabi has nurtured a supportive ecosystem that presents growth opportunities to all; we believe this collaboration will help us in accelerating success journey and achieving our objectives”.

    “Innovation and talent development are among our top priorities as we are focusing on knowledge and innovation-based economic sectors. We believe that training and upskilling our talents will support in finding innovative solutions to current and future challenges. To this end, our collaboration with SAP is focusing on training UAE youth to equip them with soft and hard skills that are necessary for future”. “We look forward to collaborating closely with joint strategic initiatives and having SAP power our digital transformation. With SAP’s experience in the field and Abu Dhabi’s record in digital transformation, we are confident that we have the right formula for a project of this magnitude.” H.E. Al Shorafa added .

    Sergio Maccotta, Senior Vice President, Middle East South, SAP, concurred: “Our partnership with ADDED is a key enabler of SAP’s wider support for Abu Dhabi’s public sector and economy. By being an authorized provider, we aim to equip Abu Dhabi entities with the integrated strategy, solutions, and services to accelerate their digitalization through the cloud, innovation, and wider adoption of Industry 4.0.”

    Looking toward the future benefits, Maccotta added, “Through the development of the UAE’s national talents, SAP will enhance the strategic vision of ADDED and Abu Dhabi, empowering both our customers and partners. Furthermore, SAP’s solutions and services are designed to support the establishment of a highly skilled and knowledge-based economy, creating significant alignment with the vision and goals of ADDED and the wider Abu Dhabi government.”

  • 20+ MENA South enterprises recognised for HR transformation at SAP HXM Elite Club Awards

    20+ MENA South enterprises recognised for HR transformation at SAP HXM Elite Club Awards

    Global technology company SAP’s Human Experience Management arm, SuccessFactors, recently awarded leading organizations in the Middle East for the successful implementation of SAP SuccessFactors solutions for HR transformations at the SAP HXM Elite Club Award MENA South 2021.

    SAP awarded a total of 21 organizations across three main categories: The Largest HXM Transformation category identified the top customers for the largest and boldest transformations in HR; the Innovation Awards category focused on innovations in 2021, and the Tenacity Award category was aimed at those who pushed forward across all challenges.

    Commenting on the wins, Jan Duthoo, Senior Vice President and General Manager, SAP SuccessFactors, EMEA South, said: “SuccessFactors is one of SAP’s most successful offerings and we are proud to see its large-scale implementation in the region. I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate each winner and thank them for their commitment towards SAP and SuccessFactors. We aim to provide top-notch HR and Human Experience Management solutions that are applicable across various industry sectors and this award ceremony is a true testament to SuccessFactors achieving that goal.”

    In the first category, four main organizations were identified for the Largest HXM Transformation. This category saw Qatar’s Civil Service and Governmental Development Bureau, and Power International Holding winning for the Largest HXM Transformation in Government and Conglomerates respectively. Meanwhile, Egypt-based Banque Misr was awarded for the same in Financial Services, and UAE’s Chalhoub Group was awarded for Retail.

    The second category for Innovation Awards saw the distribution of a total of 16 awards. UAE based organizations took home many of the awards for various sectors. This included Kerzner International (Hospitality), Khidmah (Facility Management), Al Habtoor Motors (Automotive), Averda International (Waste Management and Environmental Services), Magrabi (Retail), Emirates Nuclear Energy Corporation (Utility), Majid Al Futtaim (Holding), Pure Health (Healthcare), Al Dahra (Agriculture), UAE Space Agency (Government) and Air Arabia (Aviation).

    This category also had winners from Qatar including Qatar International Islamic Bank (Banking), Al Jazeera Media Network (Media & Entertainment) and Gulf Warehousing Company (Logistics). Oman based Sohar Aluminum was awarded in the Manufacturing sector while the Jordan-based Jordan Kuwait Bank was awarded in the Commercial Banking sector.

    Hayel Saeed Anaam from Yemen was awarded the HXM Tenacity Award in the Holding Sector for commitment and dedication despite the unstable environment of the region.

  • Saudi based Alpha Pharma to implement SAP S4HANA, SuccessFactor, Private Cloud, RISE

    Saudi based Alpha Pharma to implement SAP S4HANA, SuccessFactor, Private Cloud, RISE

    Alpha Pharma, a local pharmaceutical manufacturer with the state-of-the-art manufacturing facility, and a part of the healthcare distributor Cigalah healthcare company in Saudi Arabia, has inked a partnership with global technology company SAP to enable its digital transformation as part of a wider business strategy.

    The new partnership aims to streamline Alpha Pharma’s operations in the areas of finance, supply chain, logistics, production, and HR, while also aligning the organization with the digitalization goals of Saudi Vision 2030. Recognizing the benefits of a digitalized management approach, Alpha Pharma plans to deploy solutions including SAP S4HANA, SuccessFactor, Private Cloud and the core offering of RISE with SAP to centralize and streamline a number of key business functions.

    Established in 2017, Alpha Pharma is a subsidiary of Cigalah healthcare company with a direct investment of SAR 296 million. The pharmaceutical plant boasts the capacity to produce up to 1 billion tablets, 300 million capsules and 30 million bottles of syrups and suspensions per year that complies with international Current Good Manufacturing Practice cGMP standards. The plant also maintains high quality across manufacturing stages while focusing on continues improvement and minimal operator intervention.

    Commenting on the partnership, Murad Al-Saggaf, General Manager, Alpha Pharma said: “Just as technology plays a significant role in our nation’s Vision 2030, Alpha Pharma recognizes the cost efficiencies and organizational agility that can be achieved through digital transformation.  SAP’s demonstrated expertise and knowledge of Saudi Arabia make them an ideal partner for Alpha Pharma on this organization-wide journey.”

    Mohammed Alromaizan, SAP KSA Vice President, said: “We have previously successfully implemented business solutions for global healthcare and pharmaceutical brands which have given us greater insight into Alpha Pharma’s digital transformation potential. In addition to the partnership, this signing also helps SAP further strengthen our presence in the Kingdom’s pharmaceutical sector.”

     

  • SAP recognises Majid Al Futtaim as distinguished customer for real-time customer experiences

    SAP recognises Majid Al Futtaim as distinguished customer for real-time customer experiences

    SAP recognised Majid Al Futtaim as one of its most distinguished customers as a part of the Customer Experience Annual Event, for their ground-breaking and innovative contributions toward enhancing customer experiences with real-time technology across the organisation. Majid Al Futtaim was identified for its valuable partnership with SAP, enabling an overall impactful customer experience as well as its collaboration for the OneView program. Majid Al Futtaim was also recognised as a finalist in the Business Transformation Cloud category for the SAP MENA Quality Awards 2021 for its successful implementation of digital solutions in accordance with principles of quality and excellence set by SAP.

  • SAP receives Cloud Data Centre Class C Certification from CITC

    SAP receives Cloud Data Centre Class C Certification from CITC

    Global technology company SAP last week received Class C certification of SAP Cloud DATA Center from the Communications and Information Technology Commission. SAP also hosted a large-scale drone show. The global technology company, whose CEO Christian Klein delivered a keynote,  continues to invest in the Kingdom and strengthens its qualifications to work with the public, private, and nonprofit sectors to store their public data and restricted data on its data center.

    View the full video here.

    https://twitter.com/i/status/1489205222136295430

  • Saudi Arabia based TASNEE to implement SAP S4 HANA Cloud, SAP Enterprise, S4 RISE

    Saudi Arabia based TASNEE to implement SAP S4 HANA Cloud, SAP Enterprise, S4 RISE

    TASNEE, the first Saudi joint stock company wholly owned by the private sector, has inked an agreement with global technology company SAP, to implement SAP S4HANA Cloud, the core offering of RISE with SAP, to power its business growth strategy.

    The milestone transformation tackles various challenges faced by TASNEE which include a greater need for business agility, operational efficiency, and compliance as well as growing demand for visibility on real time financial performance. By moving to S4 RISE, TASNEE will benefit from the resilience of S4 on the Cloud while also solving complex business process with a highly customized ECC system. As part of this digital transformation, SAP will deliver to TASNEE a range of solutions, including a variety of SAP S4 HANA Cloud and SAP Enterprise Testing solutions among other SAP products.

    In addition to the transformation initiative, FAHSS (an integral subsidiary of TASNEE) also signed an education reseller agreement with SAP. As part of the agreement, FAHSS shall offer a combination of instructor-led and self-paced training solutions developed by SAP Training and Adoption unit. FAHSS will also offer access to the SAP Learning Hub with participants able to earn an industry-recognized SAP Professional Certification. This is in alignment with SAP’s commitment towards upskilling and improving employability of jobseekers with critical digital-ready skills, to meet the emerging demand for skilled talent as the Kingdom strengthens its digital economy and future.

    TASNEE has a rich history as a company founded as early as 1985 and is one of the world’s largest investors in titanium dioxide. The company and its various subsidiaries look into industrial investment, conversion of petrochemicals, chemicals as well as marketing and technical support activities.

    Mutlaq Al-Morished, CEO, Tasnee, commented: “Partnering with SAP is a long-term strategic decision that will enable TASNEE to develop new operational models through improved decision-making, facilitating an enhanced digital experience overall. A partnership of this magnitude at the beginning of 2022 will transform our business in the coming year by delivering measurable benefits to our bottom line.”

    Commenting on the transformation initiative, Ahmed Al-Faifi, Senior Vice President and Managing Director, SAP Middle East north: “The partnership with TASNEE is truly a milestone achievement, as it will be one of the most significant RISE transformations in the wider region. We look forward helping TASNEE improve their processes and increase their organizational resilience, opening the doors for further expansion.”

     

  • 92% Saudi govt decision makers agree pandemic has accelerated transformation finds YouGov

    92% Saudi govt decision makers agree pandemic has accelerated transformation finds YouGov

    Nearly all (92%) of Saudi Arabia’s government IT decision-makers agree that the COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated their digital transformation over the past year, according to a new YouGov survey launched today by global technology company SAP in the run-up to LEAP, the platform attracting leaders from around the world on February 1-3, 2022.

    “The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is in a large-scale phase of digital transformation, especially in the public sector, and we are proud to partner with some of the most strategic projects leading with our innovation business software solutions”, said Ahmed Al-Faifi, Senior Vice President and General

    Manager, Middle East North, SAP “Thanks to initiatives such as Saudi Vision 2030, Smart Cities and among others NEOM and The Red Sea Project, the Kingdom is on the path to becoming a technology hub leading with innovations in the Cloud.”

    In terms of the top three priority areas for Saudi government organizations’ digital investment in 2022 and beyond, 67% said human capital management, 61% said enterprise resource planning, 56% said core solutions, 41% said customer experience, 41% said predictive analytics, and 34% said procurement.

    With emerging technologies continuing to develop and mature, many of the Kingdom’s government and public sector organizations are at the forefront of adopting innovative solutions.

    More Than Half to Invest in HCM, ERP, and Core Solutions in 2022 and Beyond

    77% to Invest in AI/Machine Learning and Predictive Analytics in 2022 and Beyond

    Among the top three emerging technologies that the respondents said their organizations will prioritize in 2022 and beyond are: artificial intelligence and machine learning (77%), the Internet of Things (65%), cloud (51%), predictive analytics (38%), robotic process automation (36%), and blockchain (35%).

    “The Kingdom’s National Strategy for Data and AI is already seeing a ripple effect, with 77 percent of government IT decision-makers prioritizing artificial intelligence and machine learning for the next year to optimize operations, talent development, and citizen experiences,” added Al-Faifi. “As Saudi Arabia begins to emerge from the pandemic, the Kingdom is playing an important role in creating a platform for diversified entrepreneurship in emerging sectors. With SAP’s knowledge exchange programs, the youth skills and talent are constantly developing, creating a new generation of leaders.”

  • SAP appoints Emmanuel Raptopoulos as President SAP EMEA South

    SAP appoints Emmanuel Raptopoulos as President SAP EMEA South

    SAP has appointed Emmanuel Raptopoulos as the new President for SAP’s EMEA South region, which comprises Southern Europe, the Middle East and Africa. In this capacity, he will report to Scott Russell, SAP Executive Board member, Customer Success. With presence in 75 countries, 24 offices and 5,000 employees across the region, EMEA South is at the forefront of SAP’s transformation to the cloud.

    Raptopoulos, who is based in Milan, succeeds Claudio Muruzabal, who has been promoted to President of SAP’s Global Cloud Success Services organization. This newly established organization unites an impressive driving force of over 20 000 of the entire company’s talented and experienced workforce to bring new services offerings to market that help customers derive even greater value from SAP’s cloud solutions.

    With more than 20 years at SAP in leadership roles in General Management, Sales, Operations and Consulting, in both Europe and the Middle East, Raptopoulos’ extensive track record demonstrates the fostering of a high-performance culture of inclusivity and innovation.

    “The voice of our customers is loud and clear. They want to transition to and transform in the cloud for rapid innovation, exceptional experiences, and next-level business outcomes. With Claudio Muruzabal as President of our global Cloud Success Services organization, we are centering and optimizing our talent around helping our customers maximize value in the cloud with SAP – at every single touchpoint in their lasting relationship with us,” commented Scott Russell. “With the appointment of Emmanuel Raptopoulos as President of EMEA South, we are ensuring a seamless transition in the region for our customers, our partners, and our people. In addition to his deep and varied experience, he has a proven passion for the success of our customers and a strong track record of delivering it.”

    “EMEA South’s next decade will be driven by cloud growth, anchored by our purpose, people and partnerships and I am honored to take on this new role,” said Raptopoulos. “The region represents a dynamic market for SAP as agile organizations are transforming their businesses into Intelligent and Sustainable Enterprises via the cloud. I look forward to partnering with our great customers across this diverse region to innovate and thereby meaningfully contribute to their long-term success.”

  • Mid-sized businesses losing $17,000 a year due to expense fraud finds SAP Concur global survey

    Mid-sized businesses losing $17,000 a year due to expense fraud finds SAP Concur global survey

    Mid-sized businesses could be losing $17,000 a year due to fraud, according to an SAP Concur global survey. “The Hidden Cost of Expense Fraud and Non-Compliance” report takes a closer look at the topic of expense fraud and employees’ attitudes towards it, how businesses are tackling the issue, and the digital tools which have the potential to help.

    Adjusting expense submissions might encompass a broad spectrum of behaviours: from deliberately falsifying receipts through to claiming a “little bit extra” as recompense for a long weekend business trip. The research reveals that employees believe that it’s acceptable to knowingly submit a false expense claim of up to $145 on average.

    While it’s important to understand that most incorrect claims are raised unintentionally, it’s also important to understand those factors that make deliberate expense fraud more likely to happen – and these are often related to employee awareness and satisfaction. According to the survey:

    • There is a widespread lack of understanding of fraudulent activity and its implications for employees and the business. For example, 49% of employees have rounded up mileage fees, while a further 14% would consider doing it. In addition, 41% have expensed private restaurant bills, and another 16% would consider doing it.
    • Almost half (48%) of employees think it is perfectly acceptable to over expense or disregard company policies regarding expenses on a yearly basis. Should all these people act on these attitudes, a company of 250 people that hand in expense reports could potentially be looking at an annual loss of USD 17,000.
    • Many employees cite fairness as a reason for their tolerant attitude towards cheating: whether that’s to get a little extra compensation for the overtime they don’t get paid for (19%), for the private money they need to spend on working from home (18%), or for the time spent travelling for business (17%).

    Pierre-Emmanuel Tetaz, EMEA SVP & General Manager, SAP Concur, explains: “It’s clear from our research that expense fraud is commonplace, and often at such a small scale, that some employees don’t even see it as an issue. For some employees – from juniors to leaders – it’s not only okay to hand in incorrect expense claims, but they also consider themselves totally justified in doing so.

    For organisations it can be an issue though– and this goes beyond lost profits. Travel and finance teams may spend many hours checking and investigating expense claims, and there is always the risk of non-compliance and its potential consequences.

    Tools like our new Concur Detect by Oversight that use Artificial Intelligence (AI) help to ease that burden. AI can help automate some of the more labour-intensive tasks, identify patterns and make data-based decisions. This frees up time for organizations to focus on educating employees on T&E policy and the perils of non-compliance and making tailored policy adjustments.”

    As companies look towards the future, business and finance leaders are starting to see how AI-enabled solutions will help them to better tackle fraud and non-compliant expenses:

    • Over half of travel and finance decision makers (54%) believe that artificial intelligence tools can help detect fraud
    • Over half of travel and finance decision makers (54%) believe that artificial intelligence tools can simplify their compliance processes.
    • However, with AI comes critical concerns about the unintended consequences for employees. Almost half (44%) of decision makers worry that employees might object to the use of AI tools in the compliance process, and 39% are afraid that AI will make their job redundant.