Technology enterprise SAP has been enabling many organisations of all sizes across industries to cushion the impact of COVID-19 with intelligent solutions and help them survive, thrive, and accelerate digital transformation. Internally, SAP has committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of its people and helping their lives run better together, especially during these uncertain times. 

Since the launch of SAP’s completely flexible and trust-based workplace approach in June last year, several offices in Asia Pacific have already embraced Pledge to Flex and the hybrid workplace design including SAP Thailand, SAP Southeast Asia (SAP SEA) in Singapore, and SAP Labs India. Most recently, SAP Malaysia has also announced that the company will be implementing the tech giant’s modern workplace framework.

“At SAP Malaysia, as with elsewhere in the world where SAP is represented, we are constantly thinking of ways to continuously position ourselves as an employer of choice, and this includes an employee-centred human resources (HR) work model focused on flexibility,” stated Hong Kok Cheong, SAP Malaysia Managing Director.

Championing Flexibility at Workplace 

As one of the long-standing key players in Malaysia’s IT sector as well as within the APAC region, SAP Malaysia has been at the forefront of modern workplace transformation and has been known to be one of the country’s employers of choice even before COVID-19. Pre-pandemic, the company received the “Best Employee Brand Award” from the Malaysian Institute of Human resources Management, the country’s first professional body promoting the practice of Human Resource Management. This recognition echoes SAP’s commendation as one of Asia’s Best Multinational Workplaces in 2018 by the Great Place to Work (GPTW) Institute.

Today, SAP Malaysia continues accelerating HR innovations anchored on safeguarding the workforce’s wellbeing, health, and safety. Embracing the Pledge to Flex initiative, the tech company’s new MidValley Kuala Lumpur office design covered considerations for a hybrid, flexible workplace to further enhance the employee experience. 

Hong explained that SAP is pursuing optimal talent recruitment and retention, leveraging a data-driven approach in its HR strategy. He emphasised that key factors in adopting modern HR practices are listening to employee feedback and valuing trust, flexibility, and inclusivity to enable the company to become resilient amidst the ever-changing business environment. 

The Pledge to Flex framework in Malaysia is underpinned by technology support from Qualtrics for appreciating employee feedback and SAP SuccessFactors for improving the employee experience. In addition, cloud platforms are also utilised to drive cost-efficient and delivery of quality services across HR operations. Implementing flexibility at workplace supported by the use of intelligent technology and rolling out of policies foresee a collaborative, focused, and inclusive and diverse Malaysian workforce.

“By investing in digital solutions to transform work environments across the company where people can thrive, we hope to create the blueprint for how agile teams can work seamlessly and efficiently in ways that will result in sustainable growth,” Hong commented.

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The office transformation in SAP Singapore came after a survey revealed that 88{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of employees spend less than half of their day at their workstations. This data, which is based on a utilisation study, influenced how the tech giant redesigned its very first hybrid office in South East Asia (SEA). Teaming up with ChangeWorq, an independent workplace strategy and change management consultancy, the project is aimed at boosting social interaction, increasing employee engagement, and fostering team collaboration.

Paul Marriott, President at SAP APJ, said that navigating the reality of hybrid work has taught leaders new approaches to focus on improving employee well-being and workplace conditions. He further explained in a LinkedIn post:

“When planning the space, we put our people first. The new office includes flexible spaces for active team collaboration, focused work, or downtime and is all about empowering our people to choose where to work and when.”

“As we slowly emerge from pandemic restrictions, I’m excited to see how this new hybrid and sustainable workspace inspires our employees to approach their work and personal lives in new ways,” he added.

Boosting Employee Experience in the SAP Workplace

Moreover, the new office in SAP Singapore is in line with the organisation’s Pledge to Flex initiative which was introduced in June. Pledge to Flex is a 100{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} flexible and trust-based global framework intended to support employees’ productivity and creativity, while at the same time, meeting business requirements and running operations responsibly.

Verena Siow, President and Managing Director at SAP SEA, shared in the press release:

“Coming into the workplace is no longer about the physical amenities, it is about the employee experience which revolves around the 3Es – employee engagement, environment, and education. Engagement means offering the best career experience to our employees through our diversity and inclusion initiatives where everyone has an equal opportunity to succeed.”

Centered on improving employee experience, the workplace now provides flexible spaces so people may choose the best location for their activities. Additionally, SAP also wants its remodeled office to facilitate in-person activities such as collaboration, brainstorming, and social interaction, which are absent when employees work from their own homes.

SAP SEA also advocates for mental health in the workplace through relaxation facilities and programs like Focus Friday. Throughout the year, the local employee engagement committees arrange a variety of in-person and digital initiatives to improve the physical, emotional, and social wellness of all employees and their families.

Reinforcing Sustainability at the New Hybrid SAP Office in SEA

On the other hand, Siow also stressed that the climate crisis necessitates collective action. She noted that protecting the environment is a crucial aspect where organisations can unite employees by implementing sustainable practices and reducing carbon footprint. In support of the Singapore Green Plan — a national push to promote the country’s climate agenda and attain net-zero emissions as soon as possible — the German enterprise software giant also dedicated 5{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of the total area of its office space to greeneries and eco-friendly technologies such as energy-efficient LED lights.

To emphasise its commitment to sustainability, SAP has also established a new SAP Sustainability Center within the SAP Experience Center where customers and partners collaborate through hands-on demonstrations that leverage technology to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

“In addition, empowering our employees for the future of work with digital skills and competencies in growing areas of demand such as data analytics and AI in the Fourth Industrial Revolution helps them thrive as their jobs evolve,” Siow stated.

Last month, SAP partnered with SkillsFuture Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic to advance the skills of mid-career professionals for the future of work. Under the SGUnited Mid-Career Pathways Programme-Company Training (SGUP-CT), SAP and Temasek Polytechnic launched four new SAP courses focused on developing market-relevant skills to improve the employability of 370 mid-career job seekers.

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