The SAP Business AI Experience Center serves as a hub for enterprises to explore the latest advancements in AI technology and its applications within various business domains. Through interactive demonstrations, visitors can witness firsthand how SAP’s Business AI can be seamlessly integrated into key processes such as sales, talent management, and marketing. The center’s focus is not only on showcasing technology but also on fostering collaboration and knowledge exchange among enterprises and partners. By doing so, SAP aims to create an environment where businesses can gain valuable insights, enhance their agility, and unlock new levels of creativity.

Esmond Tong, Managing Director of SAP Hong Kong and Macau, highlighted the strategic importance of the center in empowering businesses. He emphasized that SAP’s cloud platform, supported by over five decades of industry expertise, is designed to meet the diverse needs of businesses across all sectors. The center provides a platform where enterprises can explore the potential of AI and understand how it can be harnessed to drive business success. SAP’s solutions are tailored to accelerate growth and development, regardless of the size or stage of the enterprise.

SAP at the Forefront of Artificial Intelligence

SAP, a global leader in enterprise software, has been at the forefront of integrating AI into business processes. The company’s AI strategy is centered on enhancing the functionality of its cloud-based solutions, enabling enterprises to achieve greater efficiency and productivity. Earlier this year, SAP announced the integration of business AI into its cloud portfolios, along with the introduction of Joule, a generative AI copilot. Joule is expected to revolutionize business operations by managing the majority of routine tasks, thereby improving work quality and boosting productivity. With this innovation, SAP aims to make its products more accessible and effective for the 300 million end users worldwide.

SAP’s commitment to AI extends beyond its own solutions. The company has established strong collaborations with global technology giants such as Microsoft, AWS, Google Cloud, and NVIDIA. These partnerships are focused on advancing the enterprise application of generative AI, ensuring that SAP’s clients benefit from the latest technological advancements. By integrating AI into its offerings, SAP is enabling businesses to stay ahead in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.

Demonstrating Innovation at the SAP Business AI Experience Center

The SAP Business AI Experience Center in Hong Kong features four key demonstration scenarios that highlight the innovative applications of SAP’s AI technology. These scenarios provide a glimpse into how AI can be utilized to streamline operations, improve decision-making, and enhance customer engagement.

One of the highlighted demonstrations is “Joule in ERP,” which showcases how AI can automate and manage sales orders and related processes. This innovation is designed to significantly improve the efficiency of sales operations, allowing businesses to achieve better performance outcomes.

Another key feature is “Just Ask,” a conversational AI analysis tool that offers deep insights into sales data. This tool empowers businesses to make informed, data-driven decisions that drive sales performance and overall business success.

In the realm of human resources, the “Talent Writing Assistant” demonstrates how generative AI can assist managers with performance reviews, talent management, and compensation processes. By streamlining HR operations, this tool helps improve managerial effectiveness and enhances the overall employee experience.

Lastly, the “Joule in Customer Experience” scenario illustrates how AI can boost marketing efforts by enhancing customer engagement and satisfaction. This tool leverages AI to optimize social media posting and generate exploratory questions, thereby increasing brand visibility and impact.

The post SAP Business AI Experience Center Opens in Hong Kong appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

SAP, a global leader in business software, has a significant presence in Hong Kong. SAP Hong Kong’s journey has been marked by a commitment to innovation and a deep understanding of the unique business landscape in Asia. The company’s strategies have always been aligned with Hong Kong’s dynamic market needs, focusing on providing scalable and robust solutions to businesses of all sizes.

The foundation for this new venture was laid in June during the SAP NOW customer summit held at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel. Under the theme “Partner for The Next Leap,” the event showcased customer success stories, cutting-edge cloud technologies, and the announcement of the new experience center. This center signifies a major step in supporting enterprises, particularly mid-sized ones, in their transition to cloud-based solutions.

SAP Hong Kong Cloud ERP Experience Center: A Hub of Innovation

Located in the heart of the city at SAP’s Hong Kong office in Times Square, the Cloud ERP Experience Center is more than just a facility. It’s an innovation hub where enterprises can discover and learn about SAP’s next-generation cloud ERP solution, SAP S/4HANA Cloud, through expert guidance. This center is designed to be a collaborative space, fostering partnerships and learning among SAP’s ecosystem partners and clients.

A key feature of the center is the introduction of “GROW with SAP,” a comprehensive service solution specifically designed for medium-sized enterprises. It offers a packaged digital ERP solution – SAP S/4HANA Cloud – that manages critical business functions on a single platform equipped with embedded AI and automation. GROW with SAP services extend to include the SAP Business Technology Platform, integrating data, analytics, AI, automation, and application development, enabling users to develop enterprise applications and automate processes without the need for extensive coding.

Tang Leifeng, the General Manager of SAP Hong Kong, emphasizes the importance of speed, predictability, scalability, and continuous innovation for the success of mid-sized enterprises. Under his guidance, SAP has enhanced the AI and automation capabilities of SAP S/4HANA Cloud. The launch of GROW with SAP aims to help customers optimize operations, reduce data silos, and leverage AI-driven insights for smarter decision-making. Since its inception, GROW with SAP has significantly assisted numerous mid-sized companies globally and in Hong Kong, enabling them to transition from traditional ERP systems to SAP S/4HANA Cloud in a matter of weeks.

SAP S/4HANA Cloud: A Recognized Leader in Efficiency

SAP S/4HANA Cloud stands as an award-winning ERP solution, acclaimed for its efficiency and innovation. It has been consistently rated highly by TrustRadius, a renowned B2B technology decision-making platform. The accolades and positive customer feedback reflect the solution’s superiority over other market offerings, highlighting its effectiveness in meeting the diverse needs of businesses.

The SAP Hong Kong Cloud ERP Experience Center marks the beginning of a new era for mid-sized enterprises in the region. By offering a space for learning, collaboration, and innovation, SAP not only solidifies its position as a leader in business solutions but also demonstrates a commitment to the growth and evolution of Hong Kong’s business sector. With the support of SAP’s advanced cloud ERP solutions, local businesses are well-equipped to navigate the complexities of the digital age and emerge as competitive, sustainable, and future-ready enterprises.

The post SAP Introduces Cloud ERP Experience Center in Hong Kong appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

Before diving into Chow Tai Fook’s journey, it’s essential to understand the profound impact of SAP SuccessFactors on businesses worldwide. A cloud-based human experience management software, SAP SuccessFactors serves as a linchpin for organizations eager to transform their HR operations. The suite also encompasses a broad spectrum of HR facets – from core HR and payroll management to talent administration and workforce planning.

SAP SuccessFactors made its debut in 2001 and was swiftly integrated into the SAP family by 2012. Today, it caters to a vast global user base spanning over 200 countries. This mammoth adoption rate further echoes the suite’s commitment to fostering individualized experiences, ensuring employees remain engaged, productive, and content.

Empowering Chow Tai Fook’s HR Landscape with SAP SuccessFactors Solutions

Chow Tai Fook, headquartered in Hong Kong, isn’t merely a brand; it’s a legacy. The Group’s illustrious portfolio comprises a slew of iconic brands like CHOW TAI FOOK, CTF Watch, and HEARTS ON FIRE, resonating with its vast clientele’s tastes and preferences. With a robust omnichannel retail network, the Group has also consistently won the trust and admiration of its discerning customers.

To further its excellence, Chow Tai Fook has turned to SAP SuccessFactors for an HR overhaul:

1. Standardized HR Processes: By leveraging SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central, Chow Tai Fook endeavors to standardize its HR procedures across all operational areas. Additionally, the tool will centralize HR data and profiles while offering intuitive self-service options. Employees can also seamlessly manage their schedules, holidays, and leaves, ensuring a smooth work experience.
2. Insight-driven Decision Making: One of the standout features of the suite is its embedded analytics. These functionalities will also grant Chow Tai Fook a panoramic view of its organizational structure. The company can further refine its administrative efficiency and strategize workforce planning by extracting real-time insights.
3. Navigating Regulatory Labyrinths: Compliance is a persistent challenge for global businesses. However, SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central comes armed with updated compliance tools, enabling Chow Tai Fook to adapt to local business regulations effortlessly.
4. Revolutionizing Recruitment: SAP SuccessFactors Recruiting promises to overhaul Chow Tai Fook’s talent acquisition process. From mass recruiting to executive search, this tool will harness AI and ATS technologies to ensure the company attracts and retains the best talent.

Theresa Lui, the Chief People Officer of Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Group, underscores the company’s dedication to fostering a people-centric culture. By leveraging SAP SuccessFactors, the company hopes to unlock a new dimension in HR operations centered around streamlined processes, optimal recruitment strategies, and data-driven decision-making. The overarching goal? Empowering its workforce and ensuring Chow Tai Fook remains agile and adaptive to future growth trajectories.

In the words of Esmond Tong, Managing Director at SAP Hong Kong, the contemporary corporate ecosystem is emphasizing enhancing the employee experience. With digital tools like SAP SuccessFactors at the helm, businesses can cultivate an environment where employees feel more connected and motivated. The collaboration between SAP and Chow Tai Fook exemplifies this paradigm shift, marking a significant stride towards enriching employee performance and satisfaction.

The post SAP SuccessFactors Solutions Transform Chow Tai Fook’s HR appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

Customers and partners of SAP Hong Kong attended the in-person customer summit SAP NOW held on June 8 at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Marriott Hotel. SAP NOW Hong Kong 2023 themed “Partner for The Next Leap” featured inspiring customer success stories, innovative cloud technologies, and a new experience center that would help enterprises propel their sustainable journey to the cloud.

“It is our honor to host hundreds of delegates from SAP customers and partners in person at SAP NOW Hong Kong this year. In recent years, Hong Kong enterprises are now accelerating technology adoption to capture new growth,” expressed Esmond Tong, Managing Director of SAP Hong Kong. “Having supported local enterprises and industries for over 30 years, SAP Hong Kong understands the new challenges and opportunities that they are facing. With a strong commitment to Hong Kong and the most complete enterprise cloud solution portfolio, we are well-positioned to support enterprises in their digital transformation for years to come.”

Event Highlights

During the event, SAP and business leaders shared their expertise and insights on how businesses today can thrive and be future-ready leveraging the right technology along with a competent workforce. Andrew Ma, Chief Technology Officer of eLab Asia, A.S. Watson Group; Philip Wixon, HR Transformation Lead of Hong Kong Jockey Club; and Matthew TC Wong, Director, Commercial Analytics and Digital Solutions, SEAHKT, Swire Coca-Cola were among the keynote speakers who discussed macro-economic trends and insights to future-proof businesses for success.

A panel discussion led by Jungle Wong, Partner, Consulting, Deloitte China, talked about the significance of digital transformation with Mr. Alex Chan, General Manager, Digital Transformation, Hong Kong Productivity Council, and Mr. Simon Ng, CEO, Business Environment Council, referencing the recently published business outlook report “Thriving in Hong Kong, a City of Resilience and Opportunities” developed by Deloitte and commissioned by SAP.

One of the key highlights of the SAP NOW event was the announcement of the establishment of the SAP Hong Kong Cloud ERP Experience Center. The center intends to accelerate Hong Kong companies’, especially midsize enterprises’, move to the cloud with simplicity and predictability harnessing a cost-effective and scalable platform. The institution will be harnessing the power of SAP S/4HANA Cloud and SAP Business Technology Platform along with driving collaboration among SAP’s ecosystem partners.

Hong Kong Businesses Ready for the Future

Following the keynote, attendees of SAP NOW Hong Kong 2023 had the chance to pick and choose from three tracks such as Next Generation Platform for Digital Transformation, which highlighted AI, machine learning, and automation; Cloud ERP – Mission Critical for Growing Enterprises, which discussed Cloud-based ERP technology as a mission-critical asset to growing businesses; and Change Work for Good, which showcased the latest technology and strategies to support workplace and workforce transformation.

In the keynote of Dr. Chenhong Huang, SAP Global Executive Vice President and SAP Greater China President, he explained:

“Hong Kong enterprises are at the threshold of a new phase of growth. On the one hand, Hong Kong is a launchpad for global expansion with its demographic advantages, international business environment, and diversity of financial and professional services. But on the other hand, enterprises are accelerating digital transformation to address cost pressure, supply chain stability, talent shortage, and new expectations around environmental, social and governance (ESG) performance. SAP will elevate our support to enable customers to drive efficiency and build sustainability, working together with companies and partners.”

The SAP Environmental Sustainability Report released early this year reported that the majority (55%) of businesses in the country recognize how sustainability directly affects business success, competitiveness, and revenue growth of a company. According to the SAP report, Hong Kong enterprises are aware of the significant role of sustainability in their financials. More than 40% said that environmental issues are either already affecting business outcomes or will do within five years. Almost the same percentage of the companies (≈40%) have sustainability strategies in place to bolster revenue and profit growth and develop new products and services.

The post SAP NOW: On Future-Proofing Hong Kong Businesses  appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed unprecedented business challenges of massive proportions– from labor shortages to global supply chain disruption– proving some organizations to be more resilient than others. More than ever, enterprises have recognized the social, economic, and environmental impacts of embedding sustainability in business strategies to thrive and compete in the post-pandemic era.

Almost three years into the global health crisis, The SAP Environmental Sustainability Report, conducted by the SAP Insight Research Center in 2022, revealed that companies are on their way to becoming sustainability talents. Of the 6,600 business leaders across 40 countries and regions across 29 industries, 60% shared that sustainability has a significant impact on long-term competitiveness and profitability of their companies.

In Hong Kong, one of the countries included in the survey, the majority (55%) recognize how sustainability directly affects business success, competitiveness, and revenue growth of a company.

Recognizing Value Behind Sustainability Investments

Over 140 respondents from the country, including C-suite executives and sustainability leaders, shared how sustainability plays a part in their business strategy and the importance of collecting quality data to measure the impact of their sustainability efforts on the overall business.

According to the SAP report, Hong Kong enterprises are aware of the significant role of sustainability in their financials. More than 40% said that environmental issues are either already affecting business outcomes or will do within five years. Almost the same percentage of the companies (≈40%) have sustainability strategies in place to bolster revenue and profit growth and develop new products and services.

In addition, Hong Kong businesses’ heightened appreciation of sustainability investments also requires better visibility through high-quality accurate data to ensure business success. With regards to environmental data, the survey showed that only 11% of the respondents are completely satisfied with what they have due to three main reasons such as the infrequent collection of data, incomplete data, and the lack of transparency in data calculation.

SAP Hong Kong Managing Director, Esmond Tong, said:

“Enterprising business leaders in Hong Kong realize that sustainability is a contributing factor to drive business growth while supporting them to be more environmentally responsible. It is no longer just a cost implication. Embedding comprehensive sustainability data collection into their operations not only facilitates data-driven decision-making but also supports companies to future-proof their long-term success.”

The last SAP NOW Hong Kong conference held in July 2022 emphasized the tech giant’s focus on helping companies become “Intelligent Sustainable Enterprises” for a future anchored on data-driven operations. Among the solutions highlighted in the event was RISE with SAP, a cloud solution that has received massive adoption globally to support many organizations’ digital transformation and sustainability strategies.

SAP has a wide range of solutions under the SAP Cloud for Sustainable Enterprises portfolio to help businesses manage their carbon footprint, reduce material wastes and become socially responsible. One climate action solution is SAP Product Footprint Management which offers organizations insights on their products’ environmental impacts across their entire lifecycle for disclosure and internal product and process optimization.

Another sustainability solution from the software enterprise multinational is the SAP Sustainability Control Tower solution, which allows companies to enhance their environmental, social, and governance (ESG) transparency while improving business performance.

We, at InsideSAP, advocate sustainability practices into SAP projects through our own TRP (Talent Resource Planning) platform, InsideSAP Careers. Aside from championing contactless and paperless recruitment, we plant trees for every person hired, across every project, every month.

The post SAP Reports Hong Kong Enterprises’ Take on Sustainability Investments appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

With the business environment changing in an effort to stay ahead of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies are doing more to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives. It has become vital to remain resilient and responsive in order to compete with current and future competitors in the market. Recently, the subsidiary of the German enterprise software giant in Hong Kong invited esteemed leaders from the local business community — that has been at the forefront of transformational change — to share their best practices and insights into cloud deployment.

In the lead-up to the SAP NOW Hong Kong conference, the emphasis has been on preparing “Intelligent Sustainable Enterprises” for a future of data-driven operations. In honor of SAP’s global 50th anniversary and SAP Hong Kong’s 30th anniversary, it is an opportunity to reflect and reimagine how society can create organizations that are sustainable in every sense of the word – socially and environmentally but also financially.

During the event conference held this month, SAP Hong Kong Managing Director Rajni Sharma welcomed a diverse range of key business community stakeholders to the forum where she shared her insights on how the latest cutting-edge technologies can help companies transform. She said that the company launched the Business Transformation as a Service (BTaaS) offering RISE with SAP a year ago, bringing with it fifty years of experience in providing enterprise solutions.

Utilizing data management, artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), automation, and predictive analysis, Sharma said that the holistic service enables businesses to better facilitate collaboration among their clients, staff, vendors, and partners.

“SAP is also supporting companies to embed sustainability into their core processes to strengthen business continuity,” she further added.

Local Companies Share Transformation Stories at SAP NOW Hong Kong

In response to the growing importance of data in business, Tontec International Limited President Nelson Lam advised conference attendees at SAP NOW to begin their cloud journey by establishing a data culture within the company in which employees believe in the power of big data. Lam explained that this culture must be established before any other aspect of a cloud strategy is put into place, as it will serve as a foundation for key decisions related to large-scale data storage, analytics and more.

Tontec International Limited, a leading manufacturer of high-quality affordable injection molds that are used to mass-produce a wide variety of products, has recently adopted the signature cloud solution RISE with SAP with the goal of transforming the company’s manufacturing processes and powering its international expansion. Lam said that after successfully building a data culture inside an organization, they can then identify what type of product and process data to capture and utilize. He believes that this will provide a realistic understanding of what cloud computing brings as it pertains to specific data needs.

Meanwhile, Crystal International Group Limited — a global leader in apparel manufacturing and one of the best-known brands in high-quality fashion — has been able to buck the trend of being a company that is reliant on labor when they have instead embraced automation and AI. As a result, it has been able to bolster its transformation through a “One Team One Dream” slogan, empowering its workforce, technology partners and SAP departments, to work towards a shared objective.

Karl Ting, who is the General Manager of Corporate Information Services at the company, noted that companies that are venturing into a cloud transformation journey to establish clear goals and objectives should first begin on a roadmap that is well-defined and logical, with steps that are carefully planned out. However, he also said that organizations should be aware that continuous improvement is not a guarantee and that this can often involve taking risks in order to see the desired outcome.

Other local enterprises that also joined the SAP NOW Hong Kong forum are Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Company Limited and Chinachem Group. They are often seen as some of the most innovative companies in their respective industries, making them strong candidates for going out of their way to be a part of such an event.

The post SAP NOW Hong Kong Highlights Local Enterprises’ Transformation appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

During the release of the German tech giant’s Q4 and full-year results, SAP CEO Christian Klein highlighted the company’s momentum that is shown in the “tremendous success” of RISE with SAP. The BTaaS product, which is based on the software vendor’s flagship SAP S/4HANA ERP platform, is designed to assist organisations in transforming holistically into intelligent enterprises by leveraging the power of the cloud.

Meanwhile, SAP APJ President Paul Marriot said that the company’s business strategy to foster innovation and digital transformation is working, as shown in its cloud revenue that has increased by 20{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} at constant currencies during the fourth quarter. According to him, more than 140 customers in APJ have joined the signature cloud offering RISE with SAP in just the last three months.

“In 2021, we raised the bar to help our customers drive transformation and growth through automation and supply chain resilience to enable a sustainable enterprise – we achieved all this and more! I am so proud to work with our customers who continue to put their trust in SAP,” Marriot further expressed in a LinkedIn post.

Driven by a significant uptake from businesses across a wide range of sectors, SAP has recently added Hong Kong-based company Tontec International Limited (Tontec) to its growing list of customers who have endorsed the subscription-based solution. SAP Hong Kong Managing Director Rajni Sharma noted that forward-thinking companies such as Tontec have the vision and drive to expand the scope and depth of their business and reimagine their operations through cloud-based intelligent solutions. He explained in the announcement:

“RISE with SAP, powered by SAP S/4HANA at the core, is well-positioned to support them, managing all key cloud solutions, services, and infrastructure across all geographies under one roof.

“We look forward to supporting more enterprises to accelerate innovation, agility, and responsiveness towards smart manufacturing,” Sharma added.

Leveraging RISE with SAP for Digital Transformation

Tontec has a growing global footprint, serving top businesses in the aerospace, automotive, industrial appliances & equipment, office appliances, and medical devices industries. The company is now one of many Hong Kong businesses that have adopted SAP integration technologies to future-proof their operations and achieve agility in today’s digital economy. With 11 manufacturing facilities across the world, Tontec is adopting automation and networking solutions to enable improved product customisation, higher quality, and shorter delivery times.

As part of its wider transformation, Tontec will upgrade its current SAP SAP S/4HANA system to the Private Cloud Edition. The project is aimed at equipping the global plastics producer with capabilities to better manage their critical processes, such as financial reporting and disaster recovery, and respond to changing business conditions with greater speed and flexibility. Furthermore, Tontec will also implement SAP Integration Suite to unify its various operational and manufacturing systems in order to accelerate and simplify innovation.

Commenting on the announcement, Nelson Lam, President at Tontec International Limited, said:

“Tontec is forging ahead on our journey to Industry 4.0. RISE with SAP and SAP S/4HANA Cloud empower us to move even more quickly to create an optimized, highly digitalised system that unlocks innovation and efficiency around the world. This is true business transformation, encompassing both solutions and services in a single package that we can scale globally with SAP as our trusted partner every step of the way.”

Throughout Asia, Tontec has already linked the manufacturing execution and quality management systems at each of its seven manufacturing locations to SAP S/4HANA in order to maximise the effectiveness of production planning and cost accounting.

The post Tontec Selects RISE with SAP for Digital Transformation in the Cloud appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

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.”

The post SAP for Enterprise Initiative Fosters Digital Skills with HKCSS appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

The pandemic has caused disruptions in business and consumer behaviour on a massive scale. Many companies have been compelled to rethink their strategies, implement new technologies, and embrace digital transformation to create new value for customers.

SAP Hong Kong has been a key enabler for the business continuity of many organisations since the onset of COVID-19 last year. Specifically, SAP integration technologies have been used by local enterprises for their survival, success, and future-proofing.

At the SAPPHIRE NOW 2021 online conference, Fabian Padilla Crisol, Managing Director at SAP Hong Kong, said that the world has seen widespread adoption of new ways of working, an unprecedented supply chain disruption, and the rapid evolution of consumer behaviour in the last 18 months. Additionally, he noted that businesses are responding to these challenges by implementing cloud technologies that enable them to expand their operations to greater levels.

“While every company has its own unique challenges and objectives at this pivotal time, Hong Kong’s business leaders agree on one thing: the deadline for business transformation is already upon us,” he emphasised.

Padilla Crisol, who hosted the event, asked local business leaders about how their organisations are embracing digital transformation to respond to operational and market challenges. Applauding Hong Kong businesses for their readiness to be digital innovators, he stressed the importance for all companies to make flexible transformation a priority. With this, SAP recently launched its Business Transformation as a Service (BTaaS) offering RISE with SAP to help companies digitally transform holistically into an intelligent enterprise without a large upfront investment.

SAP Digital Solutions Enabling Business Transformation

Towngas, one of Hong Kong’s largest energy suppliers and oldest utility, launched a new online shopping platform and loyalty program called Towngas Fun to empower its customer-facing self-service capabilities during the height of the pandemic last year. With the help of SAP solutions, Towngas customers and their gas billing points were connected to the Towngas Fun platform.

Susanna Shen, Head of Corporate IT, The Hong Kong & China Gas Company Limited, noted that the company uses technology to accelerate its agility, in addition to deploying virtual desktop infrastructure to help reduce the pandemic’s impact on the business.

“We have also set up a powerful big data platform that allows us to extract insights from our data and perform predictive analytics. SAP solutions have rich functions and features. Going forward, we expect SAP technology can help support our future growth in achieving our smart energy initiative,” she further explained.

Meanwhile, GP Batteries, which sells a wide variety of products through a complex combination of traditional and online retail channels, has used SAP Intelligent Robotic Process Automation to optimise its core business processes. Leveraging an SAP platform with machine learning technologies, the organisation transforms its business operations from end to end and empowers its ecosystem. Data also aids in the company’s better understanding of its business and customers.

“As a next step, we look forward to leveraging our deep experience and industrial knowledge by making more use of artificial intelligence (AI)-driven automation in our e-commerce and manufacturing operations,” said Wilson Wong, Head of IT, Group Information Technology at GP Batteries.

For Signify, a world leader in connected LED lighting systems and energy efficient lighting products, supply chain visibility and better forecasting and responsiveness are crucial to address pandemic-related disruptions. Timothy Mak, Group General Manager of Signify Hong Kong Limited, stated:

“Traditional forecasting is no longer enough in such a volatile and complex environment. We are staying one step ahead with the help of SAP Integrated Business Planning.”

According to Mak, the solution gathers data from retailers and utilises other SAP integration technologies to help the company manufacture products on time and deliver them to local retailers and customers as required.

Helping Hong Kong Enterprises Run Best Using SAP Integration Technologies

Moreover, Hong Kong’s largest e-commerce platform HKTVmall has heavily relied on big data analytics, AI, and different technologies to efficiently operate the country’s largest residential-area courier service. Through intelligent analytics, the company was able to better capture evolving consumer demands and assist merchants in better understanding and targeting customers.

Jelly Zhou, CEO (Hong Kong) at HKTVmall, added that the company also uses SAP Commerce Cloud to help provide a simple and smooth shopping experience, with a customer-facing search feature that integrates with its backend ordering and transaction systems.

“The SAP solution also connects with our commerce channels to handle content, catalogues, and orders and help us keep our fulfilment costs to a minimum,” Zhou further detailed.

Lastly, the IT team of Ocean Park, Hong Kong’s homegrown theme park, has been prioritising the park’s digital presence to provide stable, secure, and hassle-free digital customer experiences. Eric Ho, Executive Director, Information Technology, Ocean Park Corporation, said that the challenge lies in integrating the physical and virtual experience in a seamless manner that improves the overall interaction.

“As IT professionals, we have to take the lead in the transformation process; drawing on the ideas of diverse in-house stakeholders and our technology partners to sustain the park experience for visitors within our grounds and beyond,” Ho concluded.

The post Transforming Hong Kong Businesses with SAP Integration Technologies appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.

Despite the pandemic causing disruption in business operations across numerous sectors, a GlobalData survey has found that businesses in Hong Kong remain focused on digital transformation. As the fifth biggest financial centre and tenth-largest trading power globally, enterprises in the country are prioritising automation, blockchain, and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies as part of their transformation efforts.

With the business landscape changing tremendously as a result of the tumult of the past year, organisations that utilise SAP solutions to run their operations are well-equipped to evolve in this fast-paced new world.

Recently, the German software giant introduced RISE with SAP to help Hong Kong companies address pressing challenges and navigate business uncertainties with subscription-based cloud technologies and services.

This follows the remarks of SAP Hong Kong Managing Director Fabian Padilla Crisol during the SAPPHIRE NOW 2021 event regarding the need for enterprises to transform and take advantage of digital technologies to tackle challenges in a post-pandemic era.

“Current challenges have made transformation a business imperative. Companies in Hong Kong are inherently enterprising and we are seeing them now rapidly reassessing their business models, recalibrating their operations and accelerating their transformation journeys,” Crisol said.

Additionally, the announcement coincides with the results from an SAP-commissioned research titled CXO Outlook Survey 2021. The study identified global economic uncertainties, talent empowerment, and customer engagement as the top three concerns facing Hong Kong businesses this year.

Over 100 senior executives from many industries — including retail, consumer products, manufacturing, wholesale, property management, engineering, and construction — shared their challenges and investment outlooks in the survey.

Navigating Business Uncertainties Through SAP’s RISE Solution

SAP Hong Kong’s portfolio of software and solutions has been a key enabler for many organisations’ business continuity since the outbreak of COVID-19 in 2020. This year, it has once again geared up to support companies in leveraging cloud technologies and platforms to accelerate transformation through SAP’s RISE offering.

“RISE with SAP offers Hong Kong companies a holistic approach to thriving amid change. It is specifically designed to deliver fast time-to-value and flexibility to help every enterprise navigate uncertainty and increase resilience,” Crisol emphasised.

Offered on a subscription basis, SAP’s milestone offering allows customers to manage service-level agreements (SLAs), operations, and issue management in a single contract with SAP — saving up to 20{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} in total cost of ownership (TCO) over five years using SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition.

Moreover, RISE with SAP is integrated with SAP Business Technology Platform, a suite of intelligent solutions and database management platforms that enables businesses to achieve better business outcomes and demystify uncertainties through data-driven insights.

According to the CXO Outlook Survey 2021, around 57{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of Hong Kong enterprises will prioritise improving customer engagement through digital tools and channels to overcome social distancing restrictions. Furthermore, 67{aa282f308afcc222aaa21b0478c79e01a8fedd01972e2180867097bd93930f22} of executives polled say they will try to make new and more flexible work arrangements for their Hong Kong employees this year.

Addressing the above-mentioned findings, SAP also offers the following solutions to cater to the ever-growing needs of businesses:

With integrated cloud solutions that provide a 360-degree perspective of customers, SAP Customer Experience solutions aim to effectively manage customer relationships. It allows organisations to personalise engagement and offer a consistent customer experience across all channels.

Meanwhile, SAP SuccessFactors empowers HR teams to make more confident data-driven choices, enables employees for remote work and reskilling initiatives, and creates an engaging employee experience by leveraging cloud technologies.

The post SAP’s RISE to Support Hong Kong Companies’ Business Transformation appeared first on InsideSAP Asia.