Foreword from Markus Schwarz

There can be no doubt that today’s marketplace and the broader economy are driven by massive digital trends. Whether its big data, in-memory, mobility, cloud computing, or others, business leaders must develop strategies for succeeding in a digital world. Digital transformation is happening across all industries, in companies of all sizes, in every geography. New market entrants and new business models proliferate, offering incredible opportunities for all participants. Market leaders—and those who hope to become market leaders—must adapt.

Companies that look to digital transformation as an enabler instead of a disruption to normal business stand to gain market share, profit share, and mind share. Even the largest enterprises can benefit. After all, they frequently have the resources that start-ups can only dream of. Companies that are nimble, that have the ability to execute quickly, will win in the digital economy.

With SAP S/4HANA, we have delivered a truly next-generation ERP suite, built specifically for in-memory computing, that goes beyond simple transaction management to become a digital core. It allows you to operate your business in real time, with intelligence, interconnected throughout your company and broader ecosystem. You can now easily deploy new business models or explore interesting ventures, knowing that you have the flexibility of a simplified IT landscape.

No longer bound by legacy database constraints, you can deliver greater customer value faster than ever. Designed to operate in a world full of data, including IOT streams, SAP S/4HANA simplifies and contextualizes data, allowing you go from insight to action in a single step. As you can see, gathering data and understanding it are only half the battle. Taking smart action in real time, supported by prediction and simulation on complete data, will set your company apart.

Let me close with two customer examples. For one European mill products company, SAP S/4HANA enabled a transformation from legacy processes into new, flexible, high-speed, customer insight-driven processes. Another customer—this one a large Indian manufacturer—now has real-time visibility across its entire value chain, from planning to inventory, which allows the firm to optimize sales performance and customer service. Furthermore, this manufacturer plans to incorporate IOT data streams to support entirely new business models.

What does the digital future hold for you? I encourage you to explore the power of a digital core and run live today.

Markus Schwarz
Senior Vice President and General Manager of SAP S/4HANA SAP SE