SAP has recently announced the “SAP Good Goods Business Challenge 2021” in collaboration with the Hong Kong Council of Social Service (HKCSS) to reinforce its commitment to helping social enterprises. The latest SAP for Enterprise program aims to equip organisations with the digital technologies and skills they need to succeed in the new economy.
As a leading enterprise application software provider in the world, SAP aims to assist social enterprises in improving corporate supply chains through mutually beneficial partnerships. In October last year, the German tech giant established 5 & 5 by ’25 to encourage organisations around the world to allocate 5{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of their addressable procurement expenditure to social enterprises and 5{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} to diverse suppliers by 2025. It is a part of SAP One Billion Lives, SAP’s flagship corporate social responsibility (CSR) program centered on delivering a positive impact to one billion lives by bringing social enterprises into the global economy through procurement practices.
Since 2018, SAP has sponsored the annual Social Enterprise World Forum as a member of the COVID-19 Response Alliance for Social Entrepreneurs of the World Economic Forum (WEF). It works directly with non-profit and social enterprise partners by offering skills, technical expertise, and market access to over 1,500 organisations. Additionally, the SAP Social Sabbatical Program — a portfolio of pro bono volunteering initiatives — enables SAP employees to make use of technology and collaborate in small, cross-functional teams with young social enterprises or not-for-profit groups.
Launched recently by SAP Hong Kong and HKCSS, the “SAP Good Goods Business Challenge 2021” also assists social enterprises in achieving social objectives such as job creation, environmental protection, and education opportunities for the underserved communities. Intended for businesses supporting various sectors in the country, the SAP for Enterprise initiative provides professional electronic retailing (e-tailing) training and consultation to help them improve social entrepreneurial skills and refine their business models.
Enhancing Hong Kong Businesses’ Digital Skills Through the SAP for Enterprise Program
According to HKCSS Chief Executive Chua Hoi Wai, Hong Kong’s social entrepreneurship ecosystem is expanding — with 659 social enterprises listed in the Social Enterprise Business Centre’s Social Enterprise Directory. He noted that the global economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic has put extra pressure on the industry.
“Due to evolving consumer behavior, social entrepreneurs require necessary commercial and digital skills to generate sufficient revenue to sustain their operations. HKCSS is delighted to partner with SAP to help bridge this gap,” he further explained.
During an open recruitment session conducted by the Social Enterprise Business Centre, the “SAP Good Goods Business Challenge 2021” will begin on the 20th of October 2021. E-commerce, e-marketing, product photography, videography workshops will be held later this year led by SAP subject experts, volunteers, and students from different institutes.
The participating social enterprises will compete in other challenges using the skills they learned in the workshops, with the top five receiving targeted professional assistance to prepare for the last one. Throughout this stage of the competition, HKCSS, SAP volunteers, university students, and experienced consultants will continue to provide guidance and support. As social enterprises progress through the challenges, they will get cash incentives, with the final challenge granting access to a HK$100,000 grand prize, which will be distributed on a pro-rata basis based on sales following the last assessment.
Fabian Padilla Crisol, Managing Director at SAP Hong Kong, believes that today’s businesses must look for new and innovative ways to respond to the new normal. Commenting on the new collaboration with HKCSS, he said:
“The “SAP Good Goods Business Challenge 2021” is a platform for social enterprises to enhance entrepreneurial skills by adopting mission-critical digital technologies and transformative business models, which will help them thrive in the digital economy. This truly reflects SAP’s purpose to help the world run better and improve people’s lives.”
