Top global brands unveiled cutting-edge technologies and transformative business initiatives at this year’s SAP Sapphire conference, held recently in Madrid, Spain. The event brought together SAP customers, partners, and industry leaders to explore the latest advancements in Business AI and digital transformation.
According to SAP, the 2025 edition of Sapphire spotlighted innovations designed to empower users through Business AI, fundamentally reshaping how work is performed across industries.
“Organisations are leveraging powerful new technologies and integrated business applications to drive innovation-fuelled growth,” said Nazia Pillay, Interim Managing Director for SAP South Africa. “The growing power of Business AI applications that draw on trusted business data is already proving to be a transformative force for companies seeking enhanced decision-making and greater efficiency.”
Heineken’s AI Chatbot Cuts Data Retrieval Time by 93%
Heineken, one of the world’s leading brewers, showcased Hoppy, an AI-driven chatbot powered by SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). Designed to simplify internal operations, Hoppy enables staff to retrieve and analyse business data in their preferred language — slashing information retrieval time from 15 minutes to just one minute.
The company noted that Hoppy is also being used to automate repetitive tasks, flag missing cost centre data in purchase orders, and offer a unified view across operations, increasing both efficiency and accuracy.
Team Liquid Turns to AI for Competitive Edge
In the fast-paced world of esports, competitive gaming organisation Team Liquid is utilising SAP Joule AI agents to gain real-time insights into player performance and strategy. Through a dashboard built on SAP BTP at the Next Level Esports Centre, coaches and analysts can access game statistics and strategic comparisons instantly using natural language commands.
“This partnership is changing the way we utilise our extensive database,” said Victor Goossens, co-CEO and founder of Team Liquid. “AI and data integration are becoming vital to our game preparation and competitive success.”
Global Transportation and Healthcare Firms Go All-In on SAP Cloud
CAF, a global leader in rail and urban transport systems, completed a seamless migration to SAP S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, moving from a heavily customised on-premise setup to a standardised cloud platform.
The transformation included modules such as master data management, procurement, finance, sales, and transport, with the company now better positioned for agility in a rapidly evolving market.
“Our new technology landscape allows us to better comply with business requirements in a complex and fast-changing environment,” said Guillermo Apellániz, CAF’s Digital Transformation Director.
Meanwhile, Siemens Healthineers adopted RISE with SAP to reduce complexity, standardise processes, and enhance its ability to pioneer breakthroughs in healthcare.
“By embracing SAP technology, we aim to simplify operations and deliver on our healthcare innovation promises,” said Stefan Henkel, CIO of Siemens Healthineers.
Xerox Embraces SAP for Enterprise-Wide Transformation
Global document technology leader Xerox also selected RISE with SAP to migrate to the cloud and adopt a clean core approach. The initiative aims to streamline global operations, reduce IT costs, and support new business models aligned with industry shifts.
“SAP is a strategic partner helping us meet the evolving needs of our clients and partners,” said Louie Pastor, Executive Vice President and Chief Transformation and Administrative Officer at Xerox. “We’re increasing our speed, agility, and cost-effectiveness while equipping our enterprise with modern tools and improved support.”
SAP’s Sapphire 2025 reinforced the company’s role as a catalyst for enterprise innovation, demonstrating how AI and cloud-based technologies are transforming industries — from brewing and esports to transport, healthcare, and IT services.
0 Comments