SAP SE and LeanIX GmbH have announced a significant agreement wherein SAP is set to acquire LeanIX, a prominent player in the field of enterprise architecture management (EAM) software. This strategic move is aimed at bolstering SAP's business transformation offerings, providing customers with a complete toolbox to facilitate ongoing business transformation and fostering AI-driven process optimization. LeanIX, a privately held company, has been a trusted strategic partner of SAP and SAP Signavio solutions for a decade. A multitude of CIOs has come to rely on LeanIX's solutions as an integral part of their digital transformation journey with the RISE with SAP solution. The transaction is anticipated to conclude in the fourth quarter of 2023, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals, with the specific financial terms remaining undisclosed.

This acquisition represents SAP's extension of its comprehensive transformation suite, designed to assist customers in navigating change more seamlessly and achieving sustained enhancements in their business operations. LeanIX will complement the transformation capabilities offered by SAP Signavio solutions, granting SAP customers unparalleled clarity into their IT landscapes, a vital aspect for maximizing the benefits of business transformation. The combined offering forms a robust foundation for AI-driven process optimization.

LeanIX's software-as-a-service (SaaS) platform currently empowers over 1,000 customers across the globe to visualize their entire IT application landscape. It aids in identifying applications at risk of becoming obsolete, facilitates the design of target states, and assists in devising new architectural roadmaps. Furthermore, LeanIX has recently introduced an AI assistant, harnessing the potential of generative AI for enterprise architecture management. This advancement enhances automation and paves the way for an intelligent recommendation engine for IT landscape transformation in the future.

Christian Klein, CEO and Member of the Executive Board of SAP SE, emphasized the interconnectedness of systems and processes, stating, "Together with LeanIX, we want to offer a first-of-its-kind transformation suite to provide holistic support to our customers on their business transformation journeys. Building on our decades of expertise, we’ll embed generative AI to offer self-optimizing applications and processes that can help businesses achieve key goals such as maximizing cash flow while minimizing their environmental impact."

SAP's forthcoming business transformation solution suite will furnish customers with a comprehensive understanding of their business processes and applications. This includes mapping process dependencies and assessing the impact of potential transformations on the IT landscape. By combining LeanIX's IT landscape transformation capabilities with SAP Signavio Process Transformation Suite, RISE with SAP, and SAP Business Technology Platform, SAP customers will have the tools to foster a culture of continuous adaptability and improvement. Furthermore, LeanIX will continue to serve non-SAP landscapes.

André Christ, CEO and co-founder of LeanIX, spoke of their customer-centric approach, commitment to superior usability, seamless ecosystem integration, and their leadership position in enterprise architecture management. He explained their strategy to empower organizations for continuous transformation in a rapidly evolving business environment. With an integrated, comprehensive view of IT applications and business processes, LeanIX accelerates modernization, reduces transformation risks, and ensures adaptability to technology shifts such as cloud and AI.

MADRID — In a significant development, SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) has announced the successful transition of Amadeus, one of the world's foremost technology companies in the travel and tourism sector, to the cloud through the RISE with SAP solution. This achievement represents a major milestone in Amadeus' digital transformation journey, aligning with their vision to enhance the travel experience for individuals worldwide.

Amadeus, renowned for its pioneering solutions in the travel and tourism industry, leveraged the power of SAP's RISE with SAP S/4HANA Cloud, private edition, to migrate its internal processes to the cloud, with Microsoft Azure as its chosen cloud platform. This strategic move aimed to bolster operational resilience and transition to a cloud operations-centric model. The simplified approach offered by RISE with SAP, encompassing a single commercial package for infrastructure, managed services, and licensing, has been instrumental in enhancing Amadeus' operational efficiency.

By embracing RISE with SAP, Amadeus gains exclusive access to the latest updates, enhancements, and industry-specific solutions. This shift empowers the company to scale, adapt, and operate more efficiently while driving innovation within its cloud-based operational model. With the added capability to swiftly adjust operational capacity in response to market dynamics and demand fluctuations, Amadeus is well-prepared to support further growth in the travel industry.

Santiago Franco, Chief Information Officer at Amadeus, emphasized the company's commitment to leveraging technology to enhance traveler experiences. Franco highlighted the decision to adopt RISE with SAP as a pivotal move toward delivering an elevated level of service. He expressed confidence that this decision will not only enhance operational efficiency but also foster innovation and improve internal processes.

Scott Russell, a member of the Executive Board of SAP SE and lead of Customer Success, commended Amadeus for its cloud migration journey. He underscored the strategic significance of this transition, which positions Amadeus to elevate its success to new heights. Russell expressed SAP's pride in supporting Amadeus in streamlining their internal business processes, thereby enhancing efficiency and productivity, ultimately accelerating growth and success.

Amadeus plays a pivotal role in empowering the travel and tourism industry with innovative solutions and booking systems, serving airlines, travel agencies, and other industry stakeholders in over 190 countries worldwide. Amadeus' open platform serves as a connecting force within the global travel and hospitality ecosystem, bridging startups, major industry players, and governments, reshaping the future of travel.

In the ever-evolving landscape of enterprise technology, SAP continues to be a linchpin for businesses worldwide. SAP solutions are pivotal in managing complex operations, driving efficiency, and facilitating digital transformation. However, the ever-growing SAP skills gap presents a significant challenge for organizations seeking to harness the full potential of this robust platform. In this article, we explore the challenges posed by the SAP skills gap and how contract engineers can help bridge this divide.

The SAP Skills Gap: A Growing Concern: The SAP skills gap is a well-documented issue in the tech industry. As SAP technologies evolve and new modules are introduced, the demand for skilled SAP professionals has surged. Unfortunately, the supply of SAP experts has not kept pace. Several factors contribute to the widening skills gap:

1. Rapid Technological Advancements: SAP is a dynamic platform with a continuous stream of updates and new functionalities. Staying current with the latest SAP innovations requires ongoing training and development, which many organizations struggle to provide.

2. Retirement of Experienced SAP Professionals: As veteran SAP professionals retire, their deep expertise leaves with them, creating a knowledge void that is challenging to fill.

3. High Competition: Organizations across industries are vying for the same limited pool of SAP talent, leading to fierce competition and often driving up labor costs.

4. Evolving Business Needs: Businesses' SAP requirements evolve over time, and finding professionals with the specific skill sets needed for each project can be challenging.

5. Cost of Hiring and Training: Hiring full-time SAP experts is a costly and time-consuming process. Training new hires or existing employees in SAP can also be resource-intensive.

Contract Engineers: A Solution to the SAP Skills Gap ?

Contract engineers, also known as SAP freelancers or consultants, have emerged as a valuable resource in navigating the SAP skills gap. Here's how they bridge the divide:

1. Flexibility: Contract engineers offer the flexibility to address specific project needs. Organizations can hire SAP experts with the precise skills required for a particular task, eliminating the need for long-term commitments.

2. Specialized Expertise: Contract SAP professionals often come with deep, specialized knowledge. They bring experience from working on a variety of projects and can quickly adapt to new challenges.

3. Cost-Effective: Contract engineers are cost-effective, as organizations pay for their services on a project or hourly basis. This can be more budget-friendly than hiring full-time staff, especially for short-term or intermittent projects.

4. Immediate Availability: Contract SAP consultants are readily available. This means organizations can quickly assemble a team of experts to address urgent needs or project timelines.

5. Reduced Training Overhead: Contract engineers require minimal training, if any, as they are already equipped with the necessary SAP skills and expertise. This saves organizations both time and resources.

6. Knowledge Transfer: In addition to their project-specific contributions, contract engineers can facilitate knowledge transfer. They can train existing employees, impart best practices, and help build internal SAP capabilities.

The SAP skills gap is a persistent challenge for organizations striving to leverage SAP solutions effectively. However, with the flexibility, specialized expertise, and cost-effectiveness that contract engineers bring to the table, businesses can bridge this gap and continue to harness the power of SAP for their digital transformation initiatives. As SAP technologies continue to advance, contract engineers will remain a vital resource for organizations looking to stay ahead in the ever-evolving world of enterprise technology.

In a groundbreaking announcement at Google Cloud Next, two tech giants, SAP SE and Google Cloud, unveiled an extended partnership aimed at revolutionizing how enterprises leverage data and generative artificial intelligence (AI) to drive innovation and growth. This strategic collaboration marks a significant step toward a future where data-driven decision-making and intelligent automation play a central role in business transformation.

Harnessing the Power of Data

Data is often referred to as the new currency of the digital economy, and for good reason. In today's fast-paced business landscape, organizations are generating vast amounts of data daily. However, the challenge lies in turning this data into valuable insights that can drive strategic decisions. This is where SAP and Google Cloud's partnership comes into play.

Data Integration and Accessibility

The expanded partnership between SAP and Google Cloud is set to deliver enhanced data integration and accessibility solutions. Enterprises will be able to seamlessly connect and extract insights from their data, regardless of where it resides – on-premises, in the cloud, or in hybrid environments. This is a game-changer for businesses seeking to leverage their data as a strategic asset.

Generative AI: A Path to Intelligent Automation

Generative AI, often referred to as GAI, is at the forefront of artificial intelligence advancements. It allows machines to generate content, automate complex tasks, and offer creative solutions by learning from vast datasets. This technology holds immense potential for businesses looking to automate repetitive tasks, optimize processes, and fuel innovation.

Transforming Business Operations

SAP and Google Cloud's partnership leverages generative AI to transform business operations significantly. By infusing GAI into SAP's intelligent suite of applications, enterprises can automate routine tasks, streamline workflows, and uncover valuable insights from their data. This enables organizations to focus on strategic activities that drive growth and innovation.

Enhanced Industry Solutions

The collaboration also extends to industry-specific solutions. SAP and Google Cloud are working together to develop and deliver tailored industry solutions powered by generative AI. Whether it's predictive maintenance in manufacturing, personalized patient care in healthcare, or demand forecasting in retail, these industry-specific solutions will provide organizations with a competitive edge.

A Future of Innovation and Growth

The partnership between SAP and Google Cloud represents a shared commitment to driving innovation and growth in the enterprise space. By harnessing the power of data and generative AI, organizations can stay agile, make data-driven decisions, and deliver exceptional experiences to their customers.

In Closing

The extended partnership between SAP SE and Google Cloud is poised to redefine the way enterprises harness data and generative AI. With the promise of enhanced data integration, accessibility, and intelligent automation, organizations across industries can embark on a transformative journey towards greater efficiency, innovation, and competitiveness. As we look ahead, this collaboration signifies a brighter, more data-driven future for businesses worldwide.