Whether you’re looking to develop new applications, monitor performance, or manage databases and runtimes, SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) provides all the essential tools and resources you need.
On a recent episode of our podcast, iT2 DX Talks, we had the honor of speaking with Laura Tibodeau, a distinguished expert in SAP implementations and strategic leadership.
Tibodeau’s career is a testament to her expertise, starting with high-tech roles at Compaq Computer and HP, where she led numerous SAP implementations and strategic initiatives. She then transitioned into the energy sector, working with America Styrenics and Ascend Performance Materials.
After accumulating extensive experience, Laura founded Tibodeau and Co-Executive Advisors, where she helps clients navigate brownfield, greenfield, and RISE strategies to optimize their SAP environments.
Let’s see what Tibodeau has to say about BTP, digital transformation, and the future of SAP.
Understanding SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP)
Let’s start with the essentials. SAP BTP is your go-to solution for everything technical in the SAP ecosystem. Think of BTP as an all-encompassing umbrella that covers various aspects essential for seamless integration and efficient operation.
At its core, BTP includes the CPI connector, a modern replacement for older systems like PI, XI, and EDI. This connector improves your messaging and communication strategies, ensuring smooth and efficient data flow across your enterprise.
Customizations are handled through BTP to maintain a “clean core”. This way, you can differentiate your environment without compromising the integrity of your SAP system.
Data Analytics is another critical component of BTP. With tools like Datasphere, you can connect to external data sources, unlocking the power of your data for more informed decision-making. BTP enables you to integrate various data points, providing a comprehensive view of your business operations.
Advantages of SAP BTP
Efficient data management is imperative for any business, and this is where SAP BTP shines. One of BTP’s foremost benefits is its ability to serve as a central hub, streamlining various processes and enhancing efficiency.
The core philosophy behind BTP is maintaining a “clean core”. This means keeping your SAP system as close to its out-of-the-box state as possible. Any necessary customizations, alterations, or optimizations are managed through BTP using the CPI connector or pre-built connections.
This approach not only simplifies maintenance, but also reduces risks and costs associated with upgrades.
Many businesses have heavily customized their systems over the years, which has led to complex, hard-to-maintain environments. These customizations can make upgrades challenging and expensive.
BTP addresses this by allowing you to manage customizations externally while keeping the core system clean. This strategy makes it easier to adopt new developments and innovations that SAP continually introduces.
By leveraging BTP, you can make sure that your SAP environment remains flexible, up-to-date, and efficient. The platform supports seamless integration of new technologies. Your business can quickly adapt to changing market conditions and technological advancements. This makes BTP not just a tool for today, but a foundation for future growth and innovation.
| Learn how SAP can simplify your digital transformation: What is SAP BTP? Why SAP Agile Methodology Works Best For Implementations Deliver Successful SAP Data Migration With These Best Practices |
Innovations in SAP BTP
The future of BTP is incredibly exciting, particularly with the advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) that are set to revolutionize how businesses operate. Here are three major AI innovations that will significantly impact SAP customers.
1. Embedded AI
SAP is embedding AI directly into its products—allowing you to ask business questions and receive sensible answers based on your SAP data structures. This embedded AI is trained on SAP data, making it highly effective at providing accurate, repeatable insights.
This feature is particularly beneficial for small and medium-sized businesses that may not have in-house AI experts, as it brings the power of AI directly to your fingertips in an easy-to-use format.
2. Joule for Specific Adjustments
Joule, SAP’s AI Co-pilot or ChatGPT function, allows you to make specific adjustments and ask additional questions tailored to your business. This customization ensures that you can fine-tune your AI interactions to get the most relevant and actionable insights.
The ability to ask targeted questions and receive precise answers improves your decision-making process, making your operations more efficient and data-driven.
3. Integration with Microsoft Co-Pilot
One of the most exciting developments is the integration of Joule with Microsoft’s Co-Pilot, which combines the strengths of SAP and Microsoft. This collaboration allows for seamless interaction across these two major enterprise applications, providing a unified approach to managing your business operations.
The ability to traverse between SAP and Microsoft environments unlocks new levels of efficiency and capability, and this makes it easier to leverage the full power of both platforms.
But, at the heart of all of this, remains the need for clean, accurate data.
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The Importance of Clean Data in BTP
Maintaining good, clean data is critical for leveraging the full potential of BTP. AI technologies within BTP unlock answers to your business problems faster than ever, but they rely heavily on the quality of your master data.
AI reads and analyzes your data to provide insights. If your master data isn’t maintained properly, this process can lead to inaccurate conclusions. This is why it’s critical to make sure your data is clean and well-managed. The opportunities unlocked by AI and automation in BTP are remarkable, but they depend on the integrity of your data.
Often, data issues are mistaken for technology problems. Many projects start with a data problem and evolve into broader technical challenges. This happens because most organizations struggle with data management.
The knowledge about master data is often stored in the minds of a few key individuals, and when they leave, that knowledge can be lost. This can cause data degradation over time, as new team members may not have the same level of understanding.
Effective data management is often overlooked, but it’s a fundamental part of maximizing the benefits of AI and machine learning. Ensuring that your data is accurate and consistently maintained will allow AI to operate effectively and deliver valuable insights.
Now is the perfect time to focus on cleaning and managing your data. The benefits of doing so are immense, from more accurate AI-driven insights to smoother operations and better decision-making.
Now, how does this fit in the context of the cloud?
You could be getting more from your SAP investment.
Discover the opportunities for optimization and growth.
Overcoming Obstacles to Cloud Adoption
Transitioning to the cloud, especially the public cloud, presents unique challenges for different industries. The complexity of cloud solutions varies, and while some industries find the transition smooth, others face more hurdles. Despite this, the landscape is rapidly evolving, making the cloud more accessible and beneficial for a wider range of sectors.
One of the most significant opportunities for cloud adoption lies in acquisitions. When a company acquires smaller entities, such as those in Mexico, India, China, or France, it’s an ideal time to leverage public cloud solutions like SAP Grow.
Historically, businesses might have used simpler solutions, but the modern approach is to jump straight into the cloud. With SAP’s pre-built templates, companies can transition to the cloud in just 12 to 16 weeks, reaping the benefits almost immediately.
Integrating SAP’s GROW with S4/HANA offers seamless content migration back to your primary system, maintaining consistency and efficiency across your enterprise. This integration not only accelerates the adoption process but also enhances operational synergy.
The mid-market and private equity (PE) entities are particularly well-positioned to benefit from GROW with SAP. For these organizations, speed is crucial. GROW with SAP provides the agility needed to quickly adapt and scale operations, making it an excellent choice for entities where rapid deployment and flexibility are paramount.
Technology within the SAP ecosystem has advanced significantly in recent years, offering unparalleled opportunities for innovation and efficiency. However, there remains a disparity between those still operating on older systems like ECC and the early adopters who have fully embraced cutting-edge solutions.
The State of SAP Solutions
SAP’s solutions have evolved significantly, offering businesses streamlined operations and enhanced efficiency. The more streamlined your operation, the faster you can adapt to changing business conditions. SAP’s integrated tools empower you to move swiftly and meet these demands head-on.
The real power of SAP lies in its ability to unlock extensive opportunities within a single platform. Whether you need robust data analytics, seamless integrations, or advanced automation, SAP provides the tools necessary to achieve exceptional results.
For smaller, financially-focused entities, GROW with SAP offers an excellent starting point, enabling rapid deployment and immediate benefits.
For industries requiring greater complexity, such as the energy sector, the private cloud environment with additional SAP modules can help you significantly improve operations. Advanced modules focusing on supply chain management and sustainability allow businesses to optimize their processes further, bringing a new level of efficiency and effectiveness.
Transform Your Business with Expert SAP Guidance
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