SAP.iO Foundries in Tokyo and Shanghai have recently launched new startup programs aimed at promoting innovation and collaboration between startups, SAP customers, and partners.
Focused on accelerating and expanding startup innovation as well as incubating employee initiatives, SAP’s strategic business unit SAP.iO aims to bring new collaborations and products to the German enterprise software giant. By working with startups, SAP.iO Foundries are able to access new technologies and ideas that can be integrated into existing products or used to create entirely new solutions. This focus on innovation ensures that SAP stays ahead of the curve and remains at the forefront of the tech industry.
This month, SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo — with its emphasis on Business to Business (B2B) Enterprise Software as a service (SaaS) — welcomed the first cohort of participants for its “B2B Enterprise SaaS” startup program. In total, four startups operating in a broad range of markets and industries have been chosen to participate in the program. The initiative’s goal is to deliver innovative solutions to SAP’s local and international customers through seamless integration with SAP’s portfolio-wide offerings.
For the benefit of SAP customers, the goal of the equity-free initiative is to speed up innovation and promote the development of novel business models. Additionally, the 13-week digital program provides startups with personalized mentorship, access to SAP’s technologies and application programming interfaces (APIs), and the chance to work with SAP’s existing client base.
Commenting on the latest startup program, Hirofumi Suzuki, President and Representative Director, at SAP Japan, shared in a statement:
“SAP has been shifting to a cloud-centric strategy and collaborating with a variety of cloud-native external startups enables us more to provide our customers with even more flexible, extendable, and innovative products in the cloud. At the same time, it helps them to realize their digital transformation. This program will encourage our customers to utilize a variety of new solutions or technologies with SAP systems brought by cutting-edged startups.”
The following companies are part of the “B2B Enterprise SaaS” cohort:
- A1A, a cloud-based manufacturing and procurement systems provider, offers SaaS solutions for direct material ordering in manufacturing units, with a focus on analyzing quotation data to find opportunities for cost savings.
- OPRO, a startup that provides cloud report services, helps businesses digitize their paperwork by providing them with customizable online forms in the cloud.
- SmartShopping aims to make it easy for customers to automate inventory and order management, in addition to optimizing stock and streamlining the supply chain with Internet of Things (IoT).
- Techtouch provides a SaaS-based digital adoption platform in the cloud that facilitates the use of technological tools by the company’s clientele.
In 2020, the first accelerator program at SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo was also geared towards B2B technology for consumer products. The selected businesses are all in their early stages of development and work in the retail, consumer products, and distribution sectors.
Promoting Innovation with SAP.iO Foundries
At the SAP.iO Foundry Shanghai, SAP also just introduced a new startup program aimed at developing consumer and retail technology that will positively impact the future of retail. Technological and digital transformation have been expedited by the global COVID-19 pandemic, and its effects can now be seen in every aspect of society. Massive shifts in consumer behavior have opened up new avenues for commerce in the consumer goods and retail sectors.
Seven businesses were chosen to participate in the program and form collaborations with the German tech giant by a jury consisting of SAP specialists, other partners, venture capital firms, government innovation agencies, and SAP clients like Shui On Land. Sharing her thoughts about the new startup initiative, Sophie Zhang, General Manager of SAP Customer Experience (CX) at SAP Greater China, remarked:
“I am very happy that the new SAP.iO cohort can work with CX. We are always looking for innovative solution partners to expand our portfolio and deliver local SaaS solutions to CX customers.”
In order to better serve worldwide customers in consumer, catering, retail, hospitality, fashion, and other industries, SAP.iO Foundry Shanghai has established the “Future of Shopping” cohort to attract retail and consumer SaaS firms. Meng Xu, Vice President of Strategic Industry Consulting at SAP China, commented:
“The consumer, retail and fashion industries are the top priorities of China’s strategic industry group, accounting for 40% of our revenue. We pay great attention to the ecosystem of these industries. The seven startups we recruited this time can well meet the different requests of local customers.”
These are the startups that are taking part in the “Future of Shopping” cohort:
- XForcePlus’s supply chain information collaboration services and VAT invoice management solutions are available to businesses of all sizes.
- With Freemud’s help, chain brand stores may quickly turn into “smart stores” and meet the difficulties of the digital era.
- Large consumer-facing brands can make use of Reabam’s scalable and configurable SaaS services for their chain brand businesses.
- Zjian provides businesses with in-house designed tools and shopping assistants to re-engage current members and enhance the purchasing experience for new ones.
- For businesses both at home and abroad, Shenyan Intelligent provides comprehensive data center and business center solutions.
- Qiyuesuo is a SaaS platform that allows users to digitally sign documents and save certificates.
- Apexdata’s services support clients in conducting insightful credit analyses and increasing the value of their credit profiles.
