As many businesses reinvent themselves through the pandemic, many are hyper focused on leveraging big data, cloud computing and artificial intelligence to improve their business processes, personalize the customer experience or monetize data.

This requires integrating data across multiple systems; migrating compute and data storage to scalable cloud platforms; and expanding access to business-ready, up-to-date information to everyone in the organization.

But to accomplish this, businesses need flexibility.

Flexibility to unlock and provide governed but easy access to business data in systems, such as SAP and others; flexibility to choose any cloud compute and storage platform based on their companies’ needs and commercial economics; and flexibility to scale experimentation with big data machine learning models.

Responsive, automated data platforms underpin this agility with technology capabilities, such as no-code or low-code application development; more configuration versus manual coding; and active intelligence that makes continuous, up-to-date information available at the speed of business.

At Qlik, we are committed to helping organizations unlock and accelerate their full innovation potential. The Qlik platform enables real-time, cost-efficient data integration automation and world-class modern data analytics. Powerful data replication and automated analytics data pipelines make available enterprise data across diverse platforms and hybrid on-premise or cloud environments.

And the recently announced SAP solution accelerators jump start and accelerate end-to-end data modernization, helping businesses gain competitive advantages. SAP solution accelerators are now available for Order-to-Cash, Financials and Inventory Management.

Working hand-in-hand with our technology partners – Snowflake, Amazon Web Services, Microsoft Azure and Google Cloud – Qlik has developed solution accelerators that build upon our proven data and analytics platform. Acceleration comes from agile data integrations, ever-refining data models, tailored key performance indicators and purpose-built analytic dashboards (see an example below).

These solution accelerators not only provide enormous value for SAP customers but also for Qlik partners in the SAP ecosystem. Remember this mantra: innovation, flexibility and acceleration.

Our SAP solution accelerators are just one way we can help you break away from the pack. For more information on how Qlik data integration and analytics solutions supercharge your SAP data in a trusted way that’s SAP certified, download your free copy of “3 ways to transform SAP data into value” now.

This article is sponsored by Qlik

The post Innovation + Flexibility + Acceleration = Competitive Business Advantage appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

SAP HANA is an in-memory, column-oriented, relational database management system from enterprise software solutions provider SAP. It was the first data platform to deliver real-time analytics on live transactions and provides the foundation for a data-driven enterprise to turn data into true business value. The solution is used by more than 32,000 customers. It combines a robust database with services for creating innovative applications for businesses to overcome complex data landscape and scale data management at a lower TCO (total cost of ownership).

With its advanced technological features, SAP HANA offers faster access to data in multicore CPUs through its fault-tolerant search capabilities, faster memory reads, and real-time data analytics. It can be deployed on-premise, in the cloud or in a hybrid environment from several leading cloud service providers including Google Cloud Platform (GCP), Amazon Web Services (AWS), Microsoft Azure, IBM Cloud, and Huawei FusionSphere.

The new features of the database platform include hybrid extensions to the cloud, enhanced developer experience, increased scale and data reliability with tiered storage capabilities, external key server enablement, advanced data analytical processing, and improved predictive and machine learning. In addition, SAP HANA 2.0 SPS 05 offers an extended five-year support and maintenance commitment to customers.

Customers in the Asia Pacific region who have found success with SAP HANA include:

• Contemporary Amperex Technology (CATL), an energy storage company in China that specializes in the manufacturing of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles and energy storage systems, as well as battery management systems.
• Maharashtra State Power Generation Co. Ltd. (Mahagenco), the second largest power producing company in India.
• Prism Johnson Limited (Formerly Prism Cement Limited), one of India’s leading integrated Building Materials Company.

Seamless Cloud Adoption with SAP HANA

Cloud adoption has seen significant growth in recent years, with many enterprises continuing to embrace multi-cloud and hybrid cloud strategies in an effort to improve the scalability of their internet-based database capabilities while reducing costs and risks. According to the ninth Flexera 2020 State of the Cloud Report, at the top of organizations’ 2020 priority list is optimizing their existing cloud use, followed by migrating more workloads to the cloud. Further, a fresh Gartner survey on cloud adoption says that 80{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of respondents using public cloud are using more than one cloud service provider.

As the only fully-managed multi-cloud support on all leading cloud service providers, SAP HANA is well-positioned in providing crucial support to enterprises in their journey to the cloud. To support customers in getting started with transitioning to the cloud, SAP HANA 2.0 SPS 05 adds new features that optimize data replication and distribution of processing to support hybrid scenarios between SAP HANA Cloud and SAP HANA on-premise.

Hybrid scenarios help businesses leverage their on-premise investment while still taking advantage of the flexibility of the cloud. Extending workloads or processes from SAP HANA Cloud, SAP HANA data lake as well as other cloud data storage such as AWS Athena and Google BigQuery is made easier through the SAP HANA Cloud gateway. SAP HANA further increases flexibility and cost reduction with enhanced cloud backup integration that allows the implementation of SAP HANA database backup and restoration directly from AWS S3.

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The resumption in local train operations will begin slowly—just around 20{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} to 30{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of use initially—before being re-examined in 3 to 4 weeks as new data is collected. Additionally, a specified report with different suggestions should be there in 1 or 2 weeks, according to Sandeep Juneja, Professor and Dean of the School of Technology and Computer Science at TIFR.

On Monday, June 1st, the Indian government started the three-phase plan to lift the nationwide lockdown—allowing more states to open up, as well as allowing hospitality, retail sectors and places of worship to open from June 8.

As the country slowly transitions to more-relaxed lockdown measures, having an extensive understanding of how the COVID-19 virus might spread and estimating its future course is key to driving policy decisions for logistics, health, demand & supply circumstances.

According to Sindhu Gangadharan, managing director of SAP Labs India:

“It is essential to know that we look at such intercessions to reduce the spread of coronavirus & support the government authorities to take the required and right steps.”

The IISc in Bengaluru and the TIFR in Mumbai, started utilizing the comprehensive city-scale epidemic simulator in May with technological support from SAP Labs India to assess the impact of restrictions imposed explicitly on some spaces and to enable the government to make informed decisions in implementing the nationwide lockdown. According to Gautam Menon, a professor of physics and biology at Ashoka University, the simulator is a high-quality study that implements a detailed agent-based model approach to an Indian city for the first time.

Further, Rajesh Sundaresan, a professor of electrical and electronic engineering at IISc, said:

“An agent-based model gives us an ability to study targeted interventions like closing schools and colleges alone, home quarantining, social distancing of the elderly, implementing odd-even strategies at workplaces, etc.”

India’s SAP Labs-supported epidemic simulator models a city with agents (i.e. individuals or groups) distributed across municipal wards, considers public spaces where interactions are likely to occur and accounts for the variations in demographics as it “seeds” the virus infections in the city-scale replica to see how the virus is transmitted based interactions among citizens.

The simulations compared the impact on infections and death rates of a scenario where lockdown is implemented for an indefinite period of time versus less stringent interventions—such as a return to normal activity after April 20, 2020, after May 3, 2020, and partial restrictions for a period after these dates.

The results of the epidemic simulator showed that coronavirus-related deaths would be reduced by 98{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} in Mumbai and 99.9{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} in Bengaluru with an indefinite lockdown period. While results on less stringent interventions showed that by July 1, 2020 death rates in Mumbai would be reduced by up to 82{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22}, while in Bengaluru it would be reduced by up to 99.5{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22}.

Moreover, the epidemic simulator has been forming sets of data to come up with practices and information over various locations to predict the number of beds or ICUs needed in hospitals, as well as draw up a plan on tackling a surge in COVID-19 active cases with the country’s existing health infrastructure.

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Improved Data Quality Tools

Talend, a global leader in cloud data integration and data integrity, today announced it has once again been recognised by Gartner, Inc. as a Leader in data quality tools as described in the 2019 Magic Quadrant for Data Quality Tools. This is the second consecutive time that Talend has been positioned in the Leaders quadrant.  Talend improved its position over the previously issued report based on completeness of vision and ability to execute.

Only Talend offers a single suite of apps for data integration and data integrity with built-in, pervasive data quality and governance. Talend solves some of the most complex aspects of the data value chain, enabling companies to collect data across systems, govern it to ensure proper use and compliance, transform it and improve quality, and share it with internal and external stakeholders to help more users make the right decision on time, every time.

Software Tools

In the report, Gartner notes: Data quality tools are vital for digital business transformation, especially now that many have emerging features like automation, machine learning, business-centric workflows and cloud deployment models. According to Gartner, the market for data quality software tools reached $1.61 billion in 2017 (the most recent year for which Gartner has data), an increase of 11.6 percent over 2016.

“Data quality has never been more important,” said Mike Tuchen, CEO, Talend. “It’s essential that companies can trust the data fuelling their business decisions while delivering it at the speed required to remain on the cutting edge. We believe our position in the Leaders quadrant validates our vision and unique approach where data quality and governance are built-in and managed throughout the data value chain. We’re thrilled that Gartner has again positioned Talend as a Leader in this Magic Quadrant report.”

For a full copy of the report click here.

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Data-Driven Decision Making

Snowflake Computing, the only data warehouse built for the cloud, today announced a new partnership with the Aston Martin Red Bull Racing Formula One team to support the team’s winning ambitions and drive data-based decision making in the 2019 F1 racing season. Aston Martin Red Bull Racing will use Snowflake’s cloud-built data warehouse to gain a more holistic view of its business. The partnership will enable Snowflake to tap into exciting marketing opportunities with the Team.

In Formula One racing, where every millisecond counts and data insight is essential for performance, the very best technology and innovation are vital to achieving success. Partnerships are key to helping Aston Martin Red Bull Racing reach new benchmarks in performance. By tapping into Snowflake’s built-for-the-cloud data warehouse, Aston Martin Red Bull Racing will be able to obtain data in real time to enable more effective business strategies.

“We’re thrilled to be partnering with Aston Martin Red Bull Racing,” Snowflake CMO, Denise Persson said. “Formula One racing thrives on pushing the boundaries of performance, which is the same ethos Snowflake operates on with our technology. By providing instant and infinitely scalable access to data when organisations like Aston Martin Red Bull Racing most need it, our customers can put data in the driver’s seat to make quick business decisions and ultimately drive their competitive edge both on and off the track.”

A Winning Formula 

Snowflake is the only data warehouse built for the cloud, enabling the data-driven enterprise with instant elasticity, secure data sharing and per-second pricing, across multiple clouds. Snowflake combines the power of data warehousing, the flexibility of big data platforms and the elasticity of the cloud at a fraction of the cost of traditional solutions. This flexibility has attracted strategic partners.

“A large part of our success is built on our technology and innovation partnerships, and our new collaboration with Snowflake is a continued step toward securing yet another strong Formula One season,” Aston Martin Red Bull Racing’s Head of Technical Partnerships, Zoe Chilton said. “We are excited to be working with Snowflake to get instant access to insights throughout this racing season.”

For more Snowflake news check out our other article.

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Call Centre Service Statistics

Traditionally, service centres have primarily operated using telephones, and voice communication remains vital for businesses. More than email, in-person, live chat, mobile app, self-service, search engine, social media, online community, text message, or bot, the phone is the customer service channel used most in the United States.

According to Microsoft’s “State of Global Customer Service Report” report, 74 percent of respondents have contacted customer service by phone. Email is the next most popular channel at 62 percent. About as many people begin a customer service interaction over the phone as start their search online. The phone has the widest reach of any channel. Age often determines preferences, and there is growing evidence that using the phone to contact a human agent is not necessarily the first choice for many consumers. For millennials who have grown up with social media, messaging appears preferable.

Messaging and Bots

Messaging apps are at the heart of the mobile experience. Half of US consumers say they prefer to use some form of messaging for customer service, reports Aspect. Messaging is a new service channel that is a natural medium for bots. Many businesses are introducing a bot into their customer service mix. According to Jack Kent of IHS Technology, the popularity of messaging apps, like Facebook Messenger, WhatsApp, and WeChat, makes them a logical medium for business.

Most businesses choose to introduce bots to provide a specific customer service. The quality of these bots varies depending on the provider’s objectives. Many bots are limited in scope and capability because their primary purpose is to test new technology, business process adoption, and user experience.

Bots can resolve customer problems without human intervention. Unlike humans:

• There are no queues or waiting times. Bots can scale to handle as many calls as required.
• They are available 24/7 – day or night and on the weekends..

Combining bots with technologies like blockchain and Big Data, the customer service industry can delight customers and lower costs at the same time.

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Finalised Acquisition

Qualtrics is the global pioneer of the experience management (XM) software category that enables organizations to thrive in today’s experience economy. The combination accelerates the new XM category by combining Qualtrics’ experience data with operational data from SAP software to power the economy. SAP and Qualtrics will offer businesses the means to deliver exceptional customer, employee, product and brand experiences.

The acquisition was originally announced shortly after Qualtrics, filed S-1 documents with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission to go public with an IPO carrying an estimated valuation of $4.8 billion. Qualtrics quickly withdrew their IPO paperwork after SAP expressed interest in acquiring the company.

Ryan Smith will continue to lead Qualtrics, which will retain its current leadership, personnel, branding and company culture and operate as an entity within the Cloud Business Group at SAP. Qualtrics will continue to maintain dual headquarters in Provo, Utah, and Seattle, Washington.

Combining Forces

The acquisition is an opportunity to combine Qualtrics’ customer experience data with operational data generated by SAP’s ERP and CRM applications to provide managers and executives with deeper insights about their businesses.  This union will help organisations better manage supply chains, networks, employees and core processes.

Experience data (X-data) focuses on obtaining and tapping the value of outside-in customer, employee, product and brand feedback. Combining Qualtrics’ experience data and insights with unparalleled operational data (O-data) from SAP software will enable customers to manage supply chains, networks, employees and core processes better. Together, SAP and Qualtrics will deliver a unique end-to-end experience and operational management system to power the economy.

By combining forces with SAP’s extensive global sales force and client base, Qualtrics will be able to scale rapidly around the world. SAP has a strong track record of accelerating the growth of the innovative companies it acquires, as exemplified by the rapid success of SAP’s recent acquisitions.

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Structure of WARC Media Awards

There were four categories and each one had its own judging panel and set of Special Awards. The judging panel of industry experts, chaired by Nicole Kane, Global Media Director, McDonald’s, read the entries. As part of the judging process, judges were asked to nominate entries they think deserve to be considered for the Special Awards. The categories are:

• Effective channel integration: How sophisticated communications architecture helped boost campaign effectiveness.
• Effective use of partnerships & sponsorships: How collaborations with third parties, including native advertising and sponsorships, have helped brands meet business goals.
• Effective use of tech: Communications that have effectively used or combined emerging platforms or technology in the media mix. How did using a particular tech contribute to the overall business success of a broader campaign?
• Best use of data: Recognising the role of data in an effective communications strategy.

Details of the Winning Campaign

The campaign also picked up one of three special awards bestowed this year – the Personalisation Special Award for being “the best example of a campaign that used data to segment effectively.”

Challenged with sluggish growth, rising alternatives for enterprise solutions, and shorter key decision-maker lifespans in a category that tends to have long lead times, SAP and PHD had to work together to find a better way to spark growth.

The award-winning campaign, ‘Finding a Buried Treasure’, increased leads for SAP and decreased their cost-per-lead by tracking executives’ job changes and continuing where it left off with the executives previously exposed to SAP, rather than approaching them as fresh leads just because they changed companies.

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“Big data and analytics is no longer uncommon in Malaysia, and many organisations have started to accept this technology these days. By using analytic capabilities, organisations will be able to run their business operations, improve the overall customer experience, and expand its product and services offering, by increasing their competitive advantage over other existing competitors in the market,” said Ng Quan Xiong, market analyst for software, IDC Malaysia.

The analyst firm said that with an increasing amount of unstructured data gathered from various channels such as social media, company websites and contact centres, enterprises are seeking to use analytics to gain insights from this data. Visual analytics is particularly popular because it provides functionality to support the analytic workflow, provides a channel for consumption of analytics, and enables non-IT staff to analyse, visualise, share and review data.

According to IDC, software vendors and the channel ecosystem will play an important role in drive adoption of big data technology. There will also be an increase in the need for customisation, deployment options, and the incorporation of cognitive computing capabilities to guide enterprises as they adopt big data technologies.

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The new version of SAP Vora is delivered utilising containers, and leverages Kubernetes for deployment and cluster management on public cloud infrastructure offerings.

Also among the enhancements, SAP Data Network’s live customer cloud service will use the distributed computing capabilities of SAP Vora to process large data volumes to highlight business insights in near real-time. The service combines expertise in big data, machine learning and analytics to provide an end-to-end portfolio for data monetisation as a ready-to-consume cloud service.

“We are bringing together data transformation and business transformation on the same platform, uniting structured data and computed unstructured data to change the way businesses plan, scale and innovate,” said Greg McStravick, president, SAP Database and Data Management.

SAP has plans to support Azure Data Lake, hosted in Microsoft’s public cloud Azure, and can now load and distribute data files stored in Amazon S3. Other features of the latest release are an enhanced monitoring framework, support for Apache Spark2.x and connectivity optimisation with the SAP HANA platform.

“We use SAP Vora to realise our accelerator data services that quickly process and curate industry and line-of-business-specific data for reusability in many business scenarios – thus enabling faster time to market for our customers,” said Helen Arnold, president, SAP Data Network.

“SAP Vora 2.0 will play a role in further executing on our promise to create new business models and revenue streams for our customers by using one of the greatest assets of our time – data.”

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