Cloud computing stands tall as the cornerstone of contemporary technology, a revolutionary force reshaping the landscape of data services and enterprise software applications distribution. Under the expansive umbrella of Everything-as-a-Service (XaaS), it has not only transformed the IT realm but also empowered businesses with scalable, adaptable infrastructure, platforms, and services.

Within the well-established domain of cloud computing, lies the fertile ground of the ‘modern cloud,’ where providers relentlessly expand their realms, enriching platforms, diversifying offerings, and sculpting data architectures anew. One such visionary in this arena is the esteemed German software juggernaut, SAP. In the bustling halls of the SAP Sapphire user event, held in the vibrant city of Orlando, Florida, the company unveiled its latest marvel: SAP Analytics Cloud.

This cloud analytics marvel isn’t merely a tool; it’s a beacon of innovation, a symphony of integrated analytics and planning capabilities. Its mission? To demystify data analysis for customers, empowering them to forge a path of data-driven decision-making. In a world propelled by data, SAP’s offering stands as a testament to their commitment to revolutionizing how businesses harness the power of information.

Brief of SAP

SAP, short for Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing, is a German multinational software corporation that specializes in enterprise software solutions. Founded in 1972, SAP has grown to become one of the world’s largest software companies, serving customers in various industries across the globe.

The company offers a wide range of software products and services designed to help businesses streamline their operations, improve efficiency, and make data-driven decisions. SAP’s solutions span multiple areas, including enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM), supply chain management (SCM), human capital management (HCM), and more. Their software suite, known as SAP Business Suite, integrates these various modules to provide a comprehensive solution for businesses of all sizes.

Natural Language Processing (NLP)

One of the key areas where SAP is focusing its efforts is cloud analytics, specifically leveraging Artificial Intelligence (AI) technologies such as Natural Language Processing (NLP). As the trend towards richer AI services across all enterprise software platforms continues to grow, SAP has revealed that they have developed AI-driven analytics using NLP technology from Askdata, a company they acquired in 2022. This technology is now integrated into SAP Analytics Cloud, enabling users to analyze data using natural language queries and extracting valuable insights.

SAP has recently incorporated Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology into its AI-driven analytics solution, SAP Analytics Cloud. This technology, acquired from Askdata in 2022, enables users to perform natural-language queries and obtain more accurate and consistent results compared to traditional search-driven offerings.

The integration of NLP technology enhances the search experience by providing better multilingual processing capabilities beyond English-language keywords. Users can access this feature from the home page of SAP Analytics Cloud and visualize query results in tables. The use of Large Language Models (LLM) further improves the accuracy of answers and ensures a more seamless user experience.

Looking ahead, SAP plans to introduce conversational and chatbot-like interaction capabilities in the third quarter of 2023. This enhancement will enable users to receive query results from certified knowledge material in addition to traditional databases, creating a more comprehensive and dynamic information retrieval experience.

In addition to NLP, SAP has also simplified the development, testing, and management of interconnected planning workflow tasks and processes. The company has introduced new application programming interfaces, enhanced data imports, and additional predictive model quality indicators to streamline planning scenarios. These improvements aim to increase customer productivity and save time during planning processes.

By leveraging AI technologies, such as NLP and predictive analytics, SAP continues to enhance its analytics offerings, providing users with advanced capabilities to analyze data, make data-driven decisions, and optimize planning workflows. With its ongoing commitment to innovation, SAP aims to empower businesses with powerful and user-friendly tools for efficient and effective data analysis and planning.

Planning the SAP HANA Cloud

SAP has recently incorporated Natural Language Processing (NLP) technology into its AI-driven analytics solution, SAP Analytics Cloud. This technology, acquired from Askdata in 2022, enables users to perform natural-language queries and obtain more accurate and consistent results compared to traditional search-driven offerings.

The integration of NLP technology enhances the search experience by providing better multilingual processing capabilities beyond English-language keywords. Users can access this feature from the home page of SAP Analytics Cloud and visualize query results in tables. The use of Large Language Models (LLM) further improves the accuracy of answers and ensures a more seamless user experience.

Looking ahead, SAP plans to introduce conversational and chatbot-like interaction capabilities in the third quarter of 2023. This enhancement will enable users to receive query results from certified knowledge material in addition to traditional databases, creating a more comprehensive and dynamic information retrieval experience.

In addition to NLP, SAP has also simplified the development, testing, and management of interconnected planning workflow tasks and processes. The company has introduced new application programming interfaces, enhanced data imports, and additional predictive model quality indicators to streamline planning scenarios. These improvements aim to increase customer productivity and save time during planning processes.

By leveraging AI technologies, such as NLP and predictive analytics, SAP continues to enhance its analytics offerings, providing users with advanced capabilities to analyze data, make data-driven decisions, and optimize planning workflows. With its ongoing commitment to innovation, SAP aims to empower businesses with powerful and user-friendly tools for efficient and effective data analysis and planning.

Fingers, toes, count ‘em up

In a newsreel that rivaled major tech events, SAP made numerous product announcements that would require both fingers and toes to count. Among the exciting unveilings was SAP’s combined solution strategy, enabling customers to deliver products as services, optimize resource mobilization for efficient delivery, and extend equipment life to reduce environmental impact. This comprehensive suite of solutions from SAP includes SAP Service Cloud, SAP S/4HANA Service, SAP Field Service Management, SAP Crowd Service, SAP Service and Asset Manager, and SAP Asset Performance Management. These solutions empower customers to adopt new business models, achieve operational precision, and enhance equipment performance.

Innovation took center stage with new integrations for end-to-end service processes across SAP’s service management suite. Notably, SAP introduced cutting-edge field service management capabilities such as mobile augmented reality for remote equipment diagnostics. This technology incorporates visual work instructions and leverages AI for predictive traffic route scheduling.

Furthermore, SAP demonstrated its commitment to monitoring customers’ equipment condition through IoT capabilities and automating predictive service processes.

“SAP solutions provide a comprehensive set of tools to meet and exceed customer expectations. With a single agent desktop offering a 360-degree view of customers, efficient ticketing and case management, and embedded knowledge management, SAP empowers AI-enabled service intelligence to automate ticket categorization, routing, and provide agents with automated recommendations for faster problem resolution,” stated SAP during a keynote speech in Orlando.

Overall Look & Feel

It’s worth noting that we’ve experienced a pandemic (did you notice?), and it has been a while since we attended an SAP Sapphire event. So, has SAP undergone significant changes? Is the event similar to previous editions? Are the news announcements aligned with our expectations? Has SAP transformed into a different company in some ways?

The simple answer is: SAP remains the same but has evolved even further.

As an event, SAP Sapphire continues to be massive (though it may seem to take longer to navigate the show floor for various reasons). The volume of news and announcements has reached unprecedented levels, which is only natural for the first post-pandemic In Real Life (IRL) iteration of the show. While not as technically focused as SAP TechEd, SAP Sapphire showcases the glitz and glamour befitting a customer-centric event. SAP HANA and the company’s cloud solutions took center stage with grandeur, accompanied by a range of enhancements and augmentations (some of which are outlined here). These developments align with our expectations for SAP’s annual gathering.

SAP’s collaboration with key platform partner Microsoft brought generative AI to its platform, reflecting the trend among enterprise software companies. Moreover, SAP has placed a renewed emphasis on sustainability, ticking almost all the boxes. SAP’s cloud-centric technology proposition has undergone significant modernization, positioning the company at the forefront of numerous current developments.

Final Thoughts

In conclusion, SAP’s endeavors to introduce modern cloud functionalities demonstrate their commitment to staying ahead of the curve in the cloud computing space. Through innovations in cloud analytics, such as NLP-powered capabilities, and comprehensive cloud solutions like SAP HANA Cloud, SAP is empowering businesses to simplify analysis, make data-driven decisions, and optimize their operations. With strategic partnerships and a focus on sustainability, SAP is truly embracing the potential of cloud computing and leading the way in several areas of current development. As the industry continues to evolve, SAP’s cloud vision and advancements are poised to shape the future of enterprise technology.