Industry executives and experts share their predictions for 2020. Read them in this 12th annual VMblog.com series exclusive.
By Jan Gilg, SVP and Head of SAP S/4 HANA
Intelligent Processes as a Service
The future of business is here and it's unevenly distributed
with industry boundaries blurring and markets separating. In 2020 there will
continue to be a digital disruption within organizations, and enterprise
resource planning (ERP) systems will need to offer flexibility to cope with
these circumstances. Not only will enterprises need to provide their customers
with flexibility, but also integrated processes. Ultimately, a new generation
of ERP is needed.
The next generation of ERP should have features that
include:
- Intelligent
insights to action
-
Real-time
steering
- Self-driving capabilities (co-pilot and automation)
Furthermore, machine learning capabilities also need to be built
into ERP systems. For example, with image-based buying, a technician can use
machine learning to take a photo of a part that needs to be repaired - from
there the system recognizes and orders the correct part in an efficient manner,
with no errors, and provides the correct cost.
Additionally, machine learning can positively impact handling
situations that may be sensitive. For example, if a customer is behind on their
payment the ERP system offers a way for the company to automatically alert the
customer that an invoice is past due without sending an awkward cautionary
message and instead turns it into a positive, upsell situation.
In summary, we'll continue to see additional business model
innovation and transformation in 2020, and we can expect machine learning to
play a bigger role in ERP systems.
##
About the Author
Jan Gilg is the SVP and Head of SAP S/4 HANA at SAP. He's an
IT professional with more than 18 years of experience in the enterprise
software industry in consulting, enterprise architecture, portfolio and product
strategy, strategic business development, and value management. Jan has strong
expertise in ERP, enterprise architecture, innovation, business process
excellence, agile transformation and SAP architecture.