Key takeaways from the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference with Approyo CEO Chris Carter

Another SAP SAPPHIRE NOW is in the books. As always this year featured lots of news and announcements in the SAP ecosystem. This year, our team hosted an incredible event at the Ice Bar with Worksoft. Over 200 people joined us for a fun night of SAP discussion, drinks and food. In addition, I was able to meet with multiple customers, partners and friends throughout the show. It was great to be able to really talk about the impact of new SAP technology and how the team at Approyo can help. Our team is growing and it really made quite the impact this year.

Here are a few of the key takeaways from my perspective:

Upgrades and Migrations
Everyone coming up to me all week wanted to know one thing. What is the easiest transition to HANA or S/4HANA? In previous years, the question was really "Why should I move to HANA" or "What are the true benefits of moving to HANA?" Now companies from every industry want to understand how they can move to HANA and the easiest path to get there.

The truth is there isn't one answer for all companies. Companies need to work with a partner that really understand the options for moving to HANA or S/4HANA. This can be a major upgrade or full migration. It's not something that companies should take lightly. A failed upgrade or migration can cost your company countless dollars. At the end of the day, you and your team need to understand all the steps and processes that will go into moving to HANA.

SAP Experience Management - X and O Data
The most talked about topic by SAP at the conference was the "new" SAP Experience Management. This is the big new offering from the Qualtrics acquestion last year. Basically SAP wants to the major player in the Experience Management area. They want to help companies truly understand thier data, how people are interacting with their product and services and improve upon the customer experience.

Here is how SAP breaks it down:

"Operational data (O) – like costs, revenues, and sales – show what is happening in your business. But you also need experience data (X) to understand the feelings of the people involved and why things are happening.

SAP Experience Management solutions combine X-data and O-data. By collecting experience data at every meaningful touchpoint, you can analyze and understand experience gaps – and determine what to do about them.

Your company can then automate actions across business functions to drive improvement in customer, employee, product, and brand experiences.

Sap wants to know why it's a part of the X and O data solution why is somebody doing something why are they taking me steps why did they back out of this transaction why are they doing this transaction if they can figure out the why that will be a game-changer but right now I'm not exactly sure how it's all going to melt together with the other tools that they have."

This is something that can truly be a game-changing solution for SAP, SAP customers and the entire SAP ecosystem. I'm not sure all the pieces are there yet but the overall vision is something that can help any organization in any business.

Connect with Approyo
We will be sharing out more thoughts and content from SAP SAPPHIRE NOW throughout the next few weeks. In the mean-time, we invite you to follow us on social media and connect with us. Now is the time to move to these new and exciting SAP solutions and our team has the experience to help you. Contact us today...

Top Highlights from the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference

Another SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference is in the books. 2019 will be remembered for a year of game-changing announcements and the Intelligent Enterprise continuing to grow momentum in the SAP ecosystem. We will have numerous blog posts over the next few weeks that will dive deeper into some of the key announcements and takeaways from our team of experts. For now, here are some of the major news announcements and highlights from the show.

SAP Paves the Path to Create Outcome-Based Intelligent Enterprises with Experience Management (XM)
Just three months after completing its acquisition of Qualtrics, SAP has rolled out 10 new offerings that combine experience data (X-data) with operational data (O-data) to measure and improve the four core experiences of business — customer, employee, product and brand. The rollout of this system sets a new standard in enterprise software

The combination enables organizations to continuously listen to the beliefs, emotions and intentions of customers, employees, suppliers, partners and other stakeholders. These new offerings — four for customer experience (CX), three for employee experience and three in market research — embed X-data directly into an enterprise’s applications, such as its CRM, ERP or HCM systems, to drive continuous action and improvement.

SAP Expands App Portfolio on Both iOS and Mac®
SAP and Apple announced that CORE ML®, Apple’s on-device machine learning technology, will be available for the first time as part of the SAP Cloud Platform SDK for iOS. The next version of the SAP Cloud Platform SDK, available later this month, enables businesses to create custom, intelligent iOS apps powered by SAP Leonardo. Machine learning models will automatically download to iPhone® and iPad® so apps can run offline, and then dynamically update while connected to SAP Cloud Platform.

Through the partnership with Apple, SAP has rebuilt its most popular mobile apps for SAP SuccessFactors and SAP Concur solutions, along with SAP Asset Manager, to run natively on iOS. These apps are fully integrated with iPhone and iPad, to maximize security, performance and the latest platform innovations from Apple. SAP today announced it will expand its native iOS experience across its broader applications portfolio, starting with SAP Ariba solutions.

Building on the success of its iOS efforts, SAP also announced it will expand its app offerings to the Mac, with new apps that match the power and ease of use of SAP iOS apps. The new native Mac apps will bring the richness of the SAP iOS experience to the desktop world.
Read more about SAP and Apple...

SAP Extends Its Leadership in AI-Powered Intelligent ERP with SAP S/4HANA
SAP announced a series of innovations to SAP S/4HANA to make it easier to add artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics, and to customize apps. This will help companies improve business results, automate business processes and make accurate predictions for better decisions.

With more than 100 out-of-the-box AI and robotic process automation–powered capabilities, the 1905 release of SAP S/4HANA Cloud solidifies its position as the most intelligent ERP on the market today. The new additions, being released in May 2019, cement our goal announced in 2018 to automate 50 percent of manual tasks in the ERP system over the following three years. Examples of new AI capabilities include:

• Intelligent accruals management: Allows closing books faster with automated conversion of purchase order data into posted accruals
• Defect code proposal: Speeds up quality checks and increases data quality simultaneously with automated categorization of defects based on free-text entry
• Financial journal entry with intelligent robotic process automation: Automates the collection, extraction and validation of financial journal data from e-mails, and mass uploads the data into SAP S/4HANA

Read more about this announcement on SAP.com...

Introducing SAP Data Warehouse Cloud
SAP is introducing SAP Data Warehouse Cloud, which brings the power of SAP HANA performance and flexible modeling along with SAP BW/4HANA structured modelling into one enterprise-class cloud data warehouse. With pre-built templates, integration to SAP, hybrid modes with SAP HANA and SAP BW/4HANA, and other data sources, as well as the power of SAP HANA, SAP Data Warehouse Cloud delivers faster results, simple cloud-based end-user analytics, and the flexibility to control costs and pay-for-what-you-use.

One of the capabilities of SAP Data Warehouse Cloud is powerful, integrated analytics-as-a-service with SAP Analytics Cloud.

SAP Analytics Cloud is continuing to build on existing augmented analytics capabilities that infuse artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning into business intelligence and enterprise planning workflows in order to help users go from insight to action in a fraction of the time. The latest innovations push conversational analytics to the next level, with the user’s search and natural-language processing (NLP) experience in SAP Analytics Cloud now expanded to understand and leverage semantics across all of your data.

SAP HANA Cloud Services
SAP HANA Cloud Services will be the gateway to a single source of truth for all data, including transactional and analytical data, as well as structured and unstructured data across on premise and cloud. SAP HANA Cloud Services aim to make data of any size and shape available to people, algorithms, and data-driven applications with online access, providing cloud qualities like low total cost of ownership (TCO), elasticity, serverless principles, high availability, resilience, and autonomous behavior.

With SAP HANA at the core, the new solution will be built on the fastest in-memory computing engine. By making this engine elastic, it will be possible to scale out indefinitely, enabling customers to add more resources as they require — and reduce them when they don’t need them anymore. Building on technologies such as SAP IQ, SAP HANA Cloud Services also will also offer an SQL data lake as a storage layer at minimum cost.

This is just a small sampling of some of the major news and announcements at the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference. Our CEO, Chris Carter and new CTO, Sean Gilmour will provide you with more updates throughout the next few days and week. Plus we will more videos and announcements from the show floor. 

What to do at the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference

The 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference is coming up in just a week away. You probably already started to fill out your agenda but we wanted to give you an idea about what our team is most looking forward to at SAP SAPPHIRE NOW.

Network with Experts
The adage “It’s not what you know, but who you know” has never been more important. Successful leaders rely on a strong network of experts, peers, and visionaries to create their success and grow. SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference presents an unparalleled event to grow your network in just three short days. It’s an opportunity to join a true community of experts, share your story, and gain new knowledge to pave your path forward. To help you, SAP added new networking zones and digital opportunities where you can make new connections and carry conversations forward.

Plus our team will be at the event! Follow us on social media for updates throughout the event.

Great Keynote speakers
We profiled some of our favorite keynote speakers in a different blog post. In addition to those great speakers, SAPPHIRE NOW features many different experts on the show floor and in various other sessions talking about everything SAP. Take some time to check these out.

Visit Approyo the "Coolest"SAP SAPPHIRE NOW Party on Tuesday, May 7
Approyo and Worksoft invite you to join us for an evening of fun, appetizers, drinks and more during the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW conference.

You're invited to the Ice Bar in Orlando on Tuesday May 7, just a few short blocks away from the convention center.

Explore the show floor
One of our favorite activities is to explore the show floor. Our team doesn't ahve a booth this year but we will spend most of our time during the week on the show floor talking to the exhibitors and checking out some of the latest and greatest technology. Also check out some of our partners on the floor including Worksoft!

See LADY GAGA Live on Thursday, May 9, 2019
No explanation needed for this one! rammy and Golden Globe winner and Academy Award-nominated Lady Gaga is a one-of-a kind artist and performer. She has amassed an outstanding 33 million global album sales and 229 million in song consumption, making her one of the best-selling musicians of all time.

Gaga is also one of the biggest living forces in social media with over 60 million likes on Facebook, over 77 million followers on Twitter and over 31 million followers on Instagram.

Her fifth studio album “Joanne” was released in October 2016 and debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, marking her 4th consecutive #1 album - the first female to do so in the 2010s. In 2015, Gaga starred in the fifth installment of the Ryan Murphy FX drama, “American Horror Story: Hotel.” The role earned her a 2016 Golden Globe award for Best Actress in a Mini-Series or TV Film. Gaga headlined the 2017 Pepsi Zero Sugar Super Bowl LI Half Time show. Her 13-minute solo performance amassed 117.5 million viewers. In September 2017, she released her Chris Moukarbel directed documentary “Lady Gaga: Five Foot Two” via Netflix.

Gaga most recently starred alongside Bradley Cooper in the Warner Brothers remake of the classic film, “A Star is Born,” released October 2018. Her performance so far has led her to a 2019 Golden Globe nomination and Critics’ Choice nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture. She won a Golden Globe for Best Original Song for “Shallow,” that she co-wrote and performed for the film, and has also received string of 2019 Grammy nominations including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, Best Pop Duo/Group performance and Best Song Written For Visual Media for “Shallow” as well.

Approyo to Showcase Growing SAP HANA and S/4HANA Expertise at the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference

We are pleased to announce our full presence at the 2019 SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference, the industry’s most important cloud and technology conference for SAP customers. The event takes place May 7th-9th at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando and is expected to draw more than 20,000 attendees.

As a leader in SAP managed services, migrations and hosting, Approyo will be attending the conference and hosting a networking event for attendees to consult with the company’s technology experts.

Key aspects of Approyo’s presence at this year’s show, include:

• SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference – The Approyo team, including CEO Chris Carter will be on the show floor talking with experts will be hosting meetings with customers, partners and prospects to discuss SAP Platform as a service, SAP HANA and S/4HANA migrations, digital transformations, and technical managed services. 
• SAP Global Partner Summit – The Approyo team will be on hand for the SAP Global Partner Summit on Monday, May 6. The team will be meeting with partners from around the world, discussing SAP HANA and S/4HANA migrations. 
• Ice Bar Networking Event – Approyo and Worksoft are hosting an exclusive cocktail reception and networking event at Ice Bar Orlando from 8 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7th.

“The SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Conference is a great opportunity to meet with clients, partners and experts from all over the world to discuss the latest in SAP,” said Chris Carter, CEO at Approyo. “Over the past few years, our company has taken many positive growth steps and we have helped several companies migrate to SAP HANA and S/4HANA in the cloud, we look forward to sharing those experiences.”

Top Keynote Speakers at the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference

Keynotes in the General Session Theater are the headline addresses where SAP and ASUG executives and their guests offer inspiration, their vision of the future, and unveil exciting new announcements and breakthrough innovations. Here are our top keynote speakers announced for the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference.

Tuesday, May 7 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Bill McDermott - Chief Executive Officer

Bill McDermott is the chief executive officer of SAP, the world’s business software market leader. He leads the company’s more than 96,000 employees and 2+ million-person ecosystem in executing SAP’s vision to help the world run better and improve peoples’ lives.

Since becoming CEO in 2010, Bill’s innovation-led strategy for SAP has resulted in expansive increases in customers, total revenue, market value, and profitable growth. One of the most popular leaders in business, Bill’s approval rating from SAP employees on the “Glassdoor” website hovers around 99%. As the only American in history to lead Europe’s most valuable technology company, Bill advises world leaders and policymakers on issues including youth unemployment, digital government, and international trade policy. He is a member of the European Roundtable of Industrialists and the U.S. Business Council.

Tuesday, May 7 4:30 p.m.–6:00 p.m. 

Bear Grylls - Outdoor Adventurist, Author, and TV Host

Bear Grylls has become known around the world as one of the most recognized faces of survival and outdoor adventure.

His journey to this acclaim started in the U.K. on the Isle of Wight, where his late father taught him to climb and sail. Trained from a young age in martial arts, Bear went on to spend three years as a soldier in the British Special Forces, serving with 21 Special Air Servce (SAS). It was here that he perfected many of the skills that his fans all over the world enjoy watching him pit against Mother Nature.

Despite a free-fall parachuting accident in Africa, where he broke his back in three places, and after enduring months in military rehabilitation, Bear succeeded in becoming one of the youngest ever climbers to reach the summit of Mount Everest.

Bear went on to star in Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated “Man vs. Wild” and “Born Survivor” TV series, which has become one of the most watched shows on the planet, reaching an estimated 1.2 billion viewers. 

Off screen, Bear has lead record-breaking expeditions, from Antarctica to the Arctic, which in turn have raised over $2.5 million for children around the world.
In recognition for his expertise and service, Bear was appointed as the youngest ever Chief Scout to over half a million brilliant scouts in the U.K., was awarded an honorary commission as a Lieutenant Commander in the Royal Navy and as a Colonel in the notoriously tough Royal Marines Commando.

Wednesday, May 8 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Hasso Plattner - Chairman of the Supervisory Board SAP SE

Prof. Dr. h.c. mult. Hasso Plattner is one of the founders of SAP and has been Chairman of the Supervisory Board since May 2003. In this role and as Chief Software Advisor he concentrates on defining the medium and long-term technology strategy of SAP. He also heads the Technology Committee of the SAP Supervisory Board. In 1972 Hasso Plattner and four colleagues left IBM in order to found SAP (Systems, Applications, Products). When SAP went public in 1988 Hasso was appointed Vice Chairman of the Executive Board. From 1997 to May 2003 he was Chairman of the Executive Board and CEO of SAP. In May 2003 he was elected to the SAP Supervisory Board and took over the chairmanship from co-founder Dietmar Hopp. Hasso received his Master‘s Degree in Communications Engineering from the University of Karlsruhe. In 1990 the University of Saarbruecken awarded him an honorary doctorate and in 1994 he was granted an honorary full professorship. In 1998 he founded the Hasso Plattner Institute (HPI) for IT Systems Engineering at the University of Potsdam with the largest single private contribution to a university ever made in Germany. He is a professor at the HPI for enterprise software systems.

Thursday, May 9 9:00 a.m.–10:30 a.m.

Sandra Bullock - Actress, Producer, and Philanthropist

Sandra Bullock is one of Hollywood’s most sought after leading ladies and has received universal acclaim for her work. Over the course of her career Bullock’s films have grossed over $5.3 billion worldwide and over $2.6 billion domestically. This past December, she starred in Netflix's post-apocalyptic thriller “Bird Box,” directed by Susanne Bier. The film instantly broke the record for the most-views for a film on Netflix to date with 45 million-plus streams in its first week. Earlier last year, she led an all-star cast of women including Cate Blanchett, Anne Hathaway, Rihanna, Helena Bonham Carter, Sarah Paulson, Mindy Kaling and Awkwafina in the heist comedy “Ocean’s 8.” The film, which was produced by Steven Soderbergh had the best opening weekend in franchise history.

In addition to her Oscar, Golden Globe, and SAG Awards, Bullock has received numerous awards and nominations for her acting, including four MTV Movie Awards, nine Teen Choice Awards, ten People’s Choice Awards, and three Critics’ Choice Awards. Bullock is also the only person to be named “Entertainer of the Year” twice by Entertainment Weekly, having gained the honor in 2009 and 2013.

Bullock has donated millions of dollars to support the work of the American Red Cross, including donations in response to the 2018 California wildfires, Hurricane Harvey in 2017 and the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunamis in 2004. In addition to the Red Cross, she donated to the California Humane Society to help the animals that were affected by the California wildfires. Bullock has continuously lent her support to New Orleans’ Warren Easton Charter School, the oldest public high school in the state of Louisiana following the devastation and damaged caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. In recognition of her on-going charitable efforts she was presented with the first ever People’s Choice Award for Favorite Humanitarian in 2013.

These are just a few of the great speakers planned for the 2019 SAP SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual Conference. View the complete list at