SAP Trends Podcast

In this final episode of the NTT DATA SAP podcast, Takumi Muda, an SCM and cloud expert at NTT DATA, discusses an SAP Ariba implementation for spend management at a renowned automobile manufacturing conglomerate and explains the keys to its success. NTT DATA had to successfully overcome two major challenges. First, the customer had multiple custom-developed systems for domestic procurement, which resulted in redundant and unstandardized processes. The second challenge was the customer wanted a new solution to be completed in one year. NTT DATA proposed SAP Ariba as the perfect solution as it seamlessly connects to the client’s core SAP S/4HANA system. To ensure the project could be delivered on time, three policies were adopted. The first policy emphasized a fit-to-standard implementation with minimal customization; the second policy involved adopting agile software development instead of classic waterfall methodologies; and the third policy, called Quality, Cost, and Delivery (QCD), prioritized the most important features and functions, allocating resources and time accordingly. This project benefited from NTT DATA’s LEAP initiative, which supports SAP projects in large enterprises that accelerate innovation and digital transformation. Thanks to LEAP, NTT DATA was able to show the customer the capabilities of SAP Ariba and how it could integrate with their existing systems and processes. This served as a foundation to build trust and confidence with the customer and demonstrate its commitment and value proposition. Just hit “play” to hear more about this fascinating use case.

In this episode of the NTT DATA SAP podcast, Ricardo Langa introduces experts Mario Daban and Simon Schwarze to discuss the topic of extensibility in the SAP world. The conversation explains the concepts of composability and extensibility, emphasizing their importance in adapting to changing business needs and opportunities. Simon explains composability as the ability to compose different components for various business processes, using the example of business partner management functionality which is common to almost every process. Extensibility, on the other hand, involves extending existing functionalities without modifying the core logic, allowing for innovation and customization. Both concepts play a vital role in achieving higher levels of agility and efficiency in a dynamic business environment. The discussion shifts to NTT DATA's methodologies for addressing composability and extensibility challenges and its strong strategic partnerships with SAP as well as additional collaborations with Microsoft and ServiceNow. Simon explains that the key pillars for success include applying best practices, having an overview of available solutions, and understanding customer requirements. Fit gap analyzers are employed to match requirements with available solutions, emphasizing the importance of methodologies for successful implementation. Simon then explains the methodology suite used by consultants, incorporating application lifecycle management, project management, change management, release management, design thinking, LEGO Serious Play, lean process management, and more. The approach involves driving projects with a deep understanding of enterprise components and best practices. Mario broadens the discussion to stress the key role played by SAP technology in driving innovation and explain NTT DATA's value proposition, focusing on co-innovation, expertise, quality, and the value delivered to customers. Using collaborative and iterative processes, and its broad industry experience ensures consistently high quality, back by the use of rigorous standards and frameworks. Just hit “play” to learn more about the topic of extensibility for SAP users.

In this episode of the NTT DATA SAP podcast, host Ricardo Langa introduces experts Hector Montalban and Adrian Kostrz, leaders of the AI practice in NTT DATA, who help demystify AI and look at some practical applications in business. Adrian says customers he talks to are eager to integrate AI into business processes for improved services and personalized experiences. However, concerns about data privacy, security, and ethical implications persist. Adrian underscores the importance of transparency, clear communication, and education to address these concerns. Hector then introduces a real-world use case that uses GenAI to help migrate ABAP code in an SAP S/4HANA environment. The work has been developed as a Proof of Concept (PoC) with a major client in Spain and he says initial results from the PoC are promising, with plans to increase the complexity of use cases and further enhance accuracy through additional training. Adrian stresses the importance of this use case as there are many SAP customers planning or starting their transitions to S/4HANA. Given the growing need to support them, an asset that can accelerate the completion of the various tasks involved in a conversion project will appeal to many customers. Finally, Adrian highlights the investment that NTT DATA has made in improving the capabilities and performance of AI for its clients as part of its long term vision and commitment to delivering the best possible outcomes for its customers. Just hit “play” to hear more about the fascinating topic of AI.

In this episode of the NTT DATA SAP podcast, George Jacob, leader of the SAP Human Experience Management practice in the US, presents a fascinating use case within the human resources management arena. The company, a global battery manufacturer was growing rapidly and its existing set of point solutions for various HR functions was not integrated, which made it difficult to gain comprehensive insights into employee data and recruit and onboard new hires. NTT DATA addressed these challenges by implementing SAP SuccessFactors, a centralized HCM platform, to streamline HR processes and enhance employee experience. George attributes the success of this project to three key factors: adoption of best practices, active involvement and partnership with the customer, and a robust Organizational Change Management (OCM) strategy. He emphasizes the importance of aligning HR and IT organizations with SAP best practices, ensuring customer participation throughout the project, and effective OCM to manage the human-centric nature of SuccessFactors. The successful roll-out of SuccessFactors was helped considerably by the use of HR 360, an accelerator developed by NTT DATA based on their extensive SAP HCM experience. HR360 incorporates pre-configured templates, global and local flavors, add-on packages, and documentation to fast-track and simplify SuccessFactors implementations. Just hit “play” to listen to learn more about how NTT DATA helped one client successfully transform its HCM practices using SAP SuccessFactors.

In this latest episode of the NTT DATA SAP podcast, Jeff Van Pelt, Consumer Industries Principal at NTT DATA Business Solutions in the US, discusses the current landscape of consumer industries and explains the importance of investing in new technologies to get closer to the consumer, grow sales and boost profitability. Some key trends he mentions include the rise of e-commerce and direct-to-consumer sales, the growing focus on sustainability, the increasing demand for personalized and customized products, the need for supply chain resilience in the post-COVID era, and the heightened emphasis on health and wellness products. The conversation then shifts to the role of SAP technology in addressing these challenges. Jeff emphasizes SAP's evolution from being an ERP company to its current comprehensive offering that spans supply chain management, product life cycle management, trade promotion management, analytics, business intelligence, and embedded AI and Machine Learning. Jeff explains the importance of understanding the total cost to deliver a product to a customer and introduces NTT DATA's Cost to Serve solution. This helps players in the retail sector gain transparency into costs, improve pricing decisions and so boost profitability. The podcast concludes with Jeff explaining why NTT DATA is particularly well positioned to help consumer industries, citing the company's singular focus on SAP, its industry-specific expertise, assets such as the Cost-to-Serve accelerator, and proprietary IP that contributes to project acceleration and effective delivery. Just hit “play” to listen to this fascinating conversation about how consumer industries can get the most out of new technologies.

In this latest NTT DATA SAP podcast, we discuss the technologies revolutionizing manufacturing, SAP’s bold move into this arena and the added value that NTT DATA brings to digital manufacturing initiatives. NTT DATA SAP Evangelist Javier Campins opens the discussion talking about Industry 4.0 and how this concept harnesses a range of advanced technologies— IoT, AI, and robotics — to forge smart factories. Automation spanning physical and process domains, and technologies such as autonomous guided vehicles, collaborative robots, and hyper-automated systems, promise to bring much greater efficiency and flexibility to the shop floor. Another equally interesting facet is the growing use of digital twins, BIMs, and AR/VR technologies to improve training and maintenance in complex technical environments. Javier argues that, these advances yield significant efficiency gains, optimizing resource usage, reducing waste, and enhancing overall operations. SAP's growing presence in this landscape following the introduction of SAP Digital Manufacturing Cloud (DMC) is then discussed. By seamlessly integrating with ERP systems, including SAP S/4HANA, SAP DMC is emerging as a market-leading MES solution. The conversation then turns to the diverse roles that NTT DATA can play in helping making the digital shop floor a reality. Methodologies like the Smart Factory Assessment offer a technical roadmap for digitalization. Programs such as LEAP and MFT, coupled with assets like magenta and NAKA, allow customers to extend their digital shopfloor projects into new and existing areas. With its global IT service capabilities, a transformational focus, and expertise in change management, NTT DATA is ideally placed to offer the complete range of business consulting, systems integration and technologies needed to help manufacturers successfully navigate the complex terrain of digital manufacturing, argues Javier. Just hit “play” to listen to this fascinating conversation about the digital shop floor with a particular focus on the SAP world.

In this podcast Ricardo Langa discusses the fascinating topic of artificial intelligence (AI) with Thomas Nørmark and Adil Mohammad, leaders of the AI practice at NTT DATA. The conversation begins by explaining how the most common type of AI, machine learning, works and how it has led to a boom in Generative AI applications, such as Chat GPT, which uses algorithms that learn from vast data sets to then identify patterns and generate creative content. The discussions then shifts to the significance of AI in the business landscape, highlighting its potential to enhance efficiency, streamline operations, and foster innovation. Thomas and Adil explore the evolving role of AI within SAP, emphasizing SAP's shift towards integrating AI seamlessly into their software and applications. They discuss the impact on SAP users and consultants, envisioning a future where conversational interfaces redefine user interactions, and generative AI automates complex tasks, allowing humans to focus on creative work. Just hit “play” to hear a fascinating exploration of AI's present and future uses with a particular focus on the SAP world.

Why do companies need to become an Intelligent Enterprise? Among other things, current events have had a significant impact on global delivery chains across the world and in several industries. For example, during the pandemic, while NTT DATA and other consulting companies were able to switch to alternative delivery models by implementing cloud solutions, other businesses from other industries had to completely pause their activity. According to our guest, Reymund Lips, NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for S/4HANA, the question isn’t around what the future brings but rather what companies can do today to prepare for the future. Incorporating advanced technologies like machine learning or digital native environments is a vital part of future-proofing an organization. Join us for the seventh and final episode of our podcast series dedicated to the latest market trends where we discuss what the core of an Intelligent Enterprise means, how it’s integrated, collaborative, adaptable and creative in everything it does, how companies can become an Intelligent Enterprise, and what role SAP plays in this transition. Guests: Reimund Lips - NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for S/4HANA Ricardo Langa - NTT DATA Global Co-lead for the LEAP Program

Logistics, transportation or travel companies, as well as countless others, rely on connectivity and critical infrastructure to function at an optimal level and in order to do so, they need to have information in real time. According to our guest, Pedro Mur, NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for Travel and Transportation, there are 2 paradigms that have to be adopted to ensure this data and accelerate the digital transformation of the companies in the travel and transportation industry: IoT and 5G. Join us for the sixth episode of our podcast series dedicated to the latest market trends where we discuss how these advanced technologies and many others are disrupting the industry, the main trends in the sector which are carbon reduction technologies, e-commerce growth and last mile delivery, and mobility as a service, or how important SAP technology is to the future of the industry. [Text Wrapping Break] Guests: Pedro Mur - NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for Travel and Transportation Ricardo Langa - NTT DATA SAP Global Co-lead for LEAP Program

The rapid rise of renewable energy, data management as a way to optimize operations, the pressure to transition to electric vehicles or how the markets have become liberalized and how regulations are different from one country to another, are just some of the factors that are redefining the utilities industry. Innovation is another essential factor that is contributing to this aspect. In fact, according to our guest, Álvaro Campo, NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for Utilities, innovation is key when it comes to one of the main challenges for any company today: lowering emissions quickly and efficiently by introducing renewables in the power generation, optimizing and adapting the supply chains, and reducing waste in operations. Join us for the fourth episode of our podcast series dedicated to the latest market trends where we discuss key trends in the utilities industry such as what can utilities companies do to improve the optimization of their operations, which are the major trends in innovation in this sector or how NTT DATA can help unlock value by leveraging advanced technologies. Guests: Álvaro Campo - NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for Utilities Ricardo Langa - NTT DATA SAP Global Co-lead for the LEAP Program

The COVID19 has had a major impact forcing many companies to rapidly adapt their operations to meet changing customer needs and remain competitive. This has led to an accelerated digital transformation across the entire industry. One of the most significant changes has been the increased adoption of automation and robotics which has enabled companies to reduce costs and increase efficiency. Additionally, many companies have adopted cloud-based technology to enable remote collaboration and communication as well as to enable data-driven decisions, and also other advanced technologies such as IoT, AI or machine learning. According to our guest, Marc Kreutzenbeck, NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for Manufacturing, one of the main strategies that manufacturing companies are adopting to combat the effects of the pandemic and the war in Ukraine, is optimizing supply chain management by leveraging digital technologies or bundling their products as digital capabilities and value-added services, which allows them to be more agile. Join us for the fourth episode of our podcast series dedicated to the latest market trends where we discuss how NTT DATA is helping the manufacturing industry face these challenges in their current environment to drive innovation, and understand what role SAP plays in this transition. Guests: Marc Kreutzenbeck - NTT DATA SAP Manufacturing Offering Lead Ricardo Langa - NTT DATA SAP Global Co-lead for the LEAP Program

While the volatility of the CPG industry has always been high, these past years have proven to be even more challenging than ever. To navigate these times, CPG companies need to adapt the way they operate in almost every aspect. In terms of marketing and sales, our guests believe they should maintain focus on the topline but also strive to constantly gain efficiency by centralizing services in the backend area, incorporate virtual assistance and automate both the backend and frontend. In the supply chain area, companies should incorporate control towers that oversee the entire supply chain and trigger reactions if any unforeseen changes occur. According to our guest, David Tapia, SAP global offering lead for Consumer Packaged Goods at NTT DATA, one of the main latest trends in the CPG industry is that consumers demand experiences and interactions with the products both physically and in the digital space. Nowadays, so many companies are now looking to integrate their distribution channels and point of sales to find more diverse ways for customers to interact with their products. Join us for the third episode of our podcast series dedicated to the latest market trends where we discuss key trends in the CPG industry such as new ways to build brand awareness, omnichannel strategies, and as a leading systems integrator, how NTT DATA can help CPG companies create and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage using technologies such as SAP. Guests: David Tapia - NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for Consumer Packaged Goods Ricardo Langa - NTT DATA SAP Global

The outburst of the COVID19 was a turning point in the life science industry that had a ripple effect in the pharmaceutical companies and are still struggling to catch up and adapt to the new context. This was a great factor in the technological advancements that happened in the last years. It’s safe to say that the pharmaceutical industry is going through a massive transformation on many levels. According to our guest Jan Ammann, SAP global offering lead for Life Science at NTT DATA the industry has changed both from a development perspective as well as a business point of view. In an effort to reduce healthcare costs for generic medicine and biosimilars, pharma companies are moving away from blockbuster pills and shifting more towards biological medicine. Our guest believes COVID19 played a key role in the development of genomics and fostered new business models such as cure-as-a-service where medical devices are combined with specific drugs for very targeted treatments. The pandemic has also enabled major alliances such as the one that brought mRNA vaccines, forged by biotech company BionTech who owned the mRNA technology, and pharma giant Pfizer who had the capability to bring the vaccine to the market. Join us for the second episode of our podcast series dedicated to the latest market trends where we discuss key trends in the pharmaceutical industry such as increased regulation and security, new business models, or how SAP technology can enable pharma companies to automate, optimize and transform their businesses to be able to face any unexpected developments in a very volatile market. Guests: Jan Ammann - NTT DATA SAP global offering lead for Life Science Ricardo Langa - NTT DATA SAP Global Co-lead for the LEAP Program

The automotive business model is being transformed by multiple factors from environmental concerns, cognitive data, ownership but also by emerging technologies causing shifts in customer behaviors. According to our guest Vadim Zimberg, NTT DATA Global SAP Automotive Offering Lead, smart cities are one of the most exciting current developments but their success depends on citizens’ organization and finding the right balance between existing transportation models: private, public and other modern models such as car sharing, flat rates or short term leasings. Another challenge smart cities are facing is that without 5G and advanced connectivity, they can’t reach their full potential. So, if smart cities are only a fraction of the solution, what else should car producers be taking into consideration when defining their long-term strategy? [Text Wrapping Break] Join our guests for the first episode of our podcast series dedicated to the latest market trends where we discuss the importance of SAP technology for the future of the automotive industry, the impact of data on connectivity and how NTT DATA can help automotive companies create and achieve a sustainable competitive advantage using technologies such as SAP. Guests: Vadim Zimberg - NTT DATA Global SAP Automotive Offering Lead Ricardo Langa - NTT DATA SAP Global Co-lead for the LEAP Program