Many organisations today are gradually recovering from the pandemic shake-up. SAP has been enabling enterprises through intelligent solutions to mitigate disruptions in their supply chain, operations, and overall performance. Through SAP.iO Foundries, SAP’s global network of top-tier startup programs, the software giant is able to identify and support new companies that offer innovative solutions to help businesses run better even during these unprecedented times. 

At SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo, the recent focus is on supporting B2B startup companies that offer solutions to accelerate customer experience (CX) and digital supply chain transformation. Last year, more than ever, the supply chain has experienced debilitating challenges that greatly affected the global exchange of goods and services, and, consequently, customer experiences.

SAP Japan President and Representative Director Hirofumi Suzuki said:

“At SAP, we enable our customers to become intelligent enterprises by integrating data and processes, building flexible value chains, and innovating with industry best practices. 

The goal is for them to grow more resilient, more profitable, and more sustainable, particularly in light of the current COVID-19 pandemic. This program will enable our customers to realise digital transformations with new technologies brought by cutting-edge startups.”

Backing Robotics and AI Technology Companies

In October 2020, SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo featured consumer-products-focused B2B technologies. This year, the Foundry selected five early-stage startups that offer digital supply chain and customer experience B2B technologies to join the open innovation model and zero-equity-ask program. 

Below is the cohort for the first half of 2021 with the theme of “Intelligent Enterprise”:

Adacotech has developed a solution that offers anomaly detection AI software to the manufacturing industry. The Tokyo-based startup created an original AI technology that operates with four types of inputs– image, video, sound, and sensors– for the detection of abnormalities. Some notable clients of Adacotech include DENSO Corporation, Honda Motor Co., Ltd., and Toyota Motor Corporation.

Evolany is the creator of Anybot, a development-free mini-application construction platform. It is an omnichannel for automatic customer service that integrates LINE, Messenger, telephone, and email to help businesses engage directly with their customers. 

LINKWIZ enables manufacturing companies to automate and digitalise inspections with its intelligent robot system software. L-Qualify is a 3D robot inspection system for in-line that replaces visual inspection and enables high-precision 100{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} inspection. LINKWIZ’s other product is L-Robot, a robot control system with automatic teaching data generation/ correction function.

Sensyn Robotics is a Japanese startup focused on the development, application, and deployment of industrial drone services. The company tackles pressing social challenges by leveraging industrial drones and robots with automation software to enable inspection, disaster countermeasures, security, and surveillance for enterprises and municipalities. Last January, Sensyn Robotics unveiled “Sensyn Explorer,” a small drone about the size of the palm of one’s hand, designed to operate within tight indoor spaces.

SORA provides an AI-powered pricing platform to help hotels and their customers find optimal prices.

The Japanese startups will undergo a 13-week virtual program wherein they get access to curated mentorship, SAP data, technology, and application programming interfaces (APIs). They are also given the opportunity to collaborate with SAP customers during the program.

The post SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo Selects Robotics and AI Technology Companies appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

PLDT Global Corporation (PGC), the international arm of Philippines’ leading telco and digital services provider PLDT, has partnered with Qualtrics, the world’s No.1 Experience Management (XM) platform and creator of the XM category to enhance the company’s capabilities in delivering enhanced customer experience and services to its 25 million customers worldwide.

PGC will be leveraging Qualtrics CustomerXM to standardise its Customer Experience (CX) program, addressing and understanding the distinctive needs of its clients in over 100 countries across Asia, Europe, and the Americas. Through one scalable, sustainable platform, PGC will be able to drive action throughout the organisation based on real-time customer experience data as well as automate workflows to resolve or escalate any issues.

Explaining the rationale in selecting the Qualtrics CustomerXM platform, Lea Garcia, Vice President for Experience at PGC, said:

“Our global customer base has diverse needs, which is why the capabilities provided by Qualtrics are central to PGC’s commitment to bring innovative, world-class services to our individual and enterprise customers all over the world.”

“We will be able to listen closely to the needs of our customers and rapidly respond, which will ensure PLDT Global continually brings to market the products and services our customers want and deserve,” Garcia added.

A Global Customer Experience Improvement Program

PGC has built its strong international presence by providing meaningful connectivity and data solutions to a growing network of partners for over two decades now.

The company continues to expand its presence in the Asia Pacific region as exemplified by the recent partnership with Chief Telecom, the leading brand of VPN service provider in Greater China and the operator of the largest Internet exchange center in Taiwan. Together, PGC and Chief Telecom will provide enterprise customers a one-stop-shop offering connectivity services across borders, for fast service delivery and competitive offerings via cloud connection, enhanced business continuity services, and security. 

PGC has also recently forged strategic partnerships with Hong Kong’s SmarTone and Japan’s SoftBank Corp.

These alliances, including the one with Qualtrics, reflect PGC’s brand of customer service– providing high-quality communications infrastructure and innovative platforms to its global network of carriers, enterprise customers, and distribution partners. 

The strategic partnership with Qualtrics brings value to its global customers and furthers PGC’s capabilities in delivering an enhanced customer experience. The Qualtrics CustomerXM empowers PGC to achieve deeper customer insights by integrating experience data from Qualtrics and operational data from the CRM platform. In a single platform, the company will be able to capture, analyse, and take appropriate action on experience data, and ultimately, enhance the customer experience.

Qualtrics Head of Southeast Asia Mao Gen Foo stated:

“Being able to listen, understand, and rapidly act on the changing needs of your customers is a key competitive advantage. By standardizing its CX program with Qualtrics, PLDT Global is well placed to unlock critical insights enabling the company to continually design and improve customer experiences that drive business outcomes.” 

The post PLDT Global Partners with Qualtrics for Customer Experience Improvement Program appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

Before September 2019 ended, NTT Data Asia Pacific has wholly acquired Bangkok CRM expert and prominent system integrator Locus Telecommunications. The acquisition is intended for NTT Data, a leading IT service provider and the parent company of NTT DATA Asia Pacific, to enhance its market position in Thailand while strengthening its capabilities in customer relationship management (CRM), customer experience (CX) and analytics solutions.

Ken Tsuchihashi, President and CEO of Asia Pacific, NTT Data has shared that the company is thrilled and welcomes the talented Locus team to NTT Data. He expressed:

 “I’m confident that they will accelerate our ability to support customers in their digital transformation journeys. Through collaboration with Locus and other NTT group entities, we expect to become a top provider of IT solutions and services in Thailand within a few years.”

Headquartered in Bangkok, Locus is a leading provider of systems integration (SI) services in the country with expertise in digital-enablement solutions for CRM/CX, loyalty program management, business intelligence, data analytics solutions, and enterprise mobility. Since 1999, the consulting firm with around 150 IT consultants has successfully served more than 100 clients across various industries such as banking, insurance, telecommunication, retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and utilities.

NTT Data President Tsuchihashi stated that the company would like to “create opportunities” with Locus’ market, cross-selling cross-selling to customers in fields such as banking, insurance, manufacturing, retail, and utilities. This is on top of the goal of accelerating the firm’s digital consulting and delivery capabilities in Thailand.

Andrew Yim, CEO of Locus, said:

“Access to NTT Data’s depth and breadth of service offerings and innovative global technologies will enable Locus to evolve from a niche player into a more comprehensive business solutions provider.” He added:

“NTT Data will both strengthen our core business and help us accelerate our expansion into big data, artificial intelligence and enterprise resource planning practices.”

NTT DATA is positioned as a Leader in the Gartner Magic Quadrant for CRM and CX Implementation Services worldwide and a Challenger for Data and Analytics Service Providers worldwide in a recent Gartner report. 

Now with the Locus’ expertise and solutions, NTT DATA becomes a stronger partner in helping its customers through their digital transformation journey with enhanced digital capabilities and services.

NTT Data has been ramping up its presence in Thailand with its recent acquisitions including those of its subsidiaries.

Just this July, itelligence AG, Global SAP specialist and part of the global NTT Data group, acquired ISS Consulting. As one of the leading SAP consulting firms across Thailand, ISS Consulting focuses on manufacturing, automotive, retail, and food and beverage industry sectors employing around 250 people. The company specializes in S/4HANA, C/4HANA, SAP SuccessFactors and SAP Ariba, in addition to SAP HANA Cloud, SAP Business By Design and help desk support.

The post NTT Data Acquires Bangkok CRM Expert Locus appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.