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How Tech Makes Shopping Quick and Easy for Bosch Customers

Benefits of e-commerce include reaching new customers and better personalizing service. But what if your customers need – and have spent decades relying on – the in-store expertise of your associates? To find a very specific product? For use with another very specific product? To accomplish a very specific task?

“More and more of our users are coming online…[and] they still want to have the similar guidance and the systems they had in-store,” Ganna Lobachevska, the touchpoint owner of Product Finder and Product Guidance at Bosch Power Tools Accessories, told SAP at NRF 2023 for a new video. “Our overall goal is to make it easier for our users to find the right accessory for their job.”

Of course, making something easy to do on the front end is seldom easy to build on the back end. And that was Bosch’s challenge when helping online shoppers narrow their search for the perfect jigsaw blade, drill bit, or abrasive wheel from a truly massive accessory portfolio.

“Any company with a wide range of products has to think how they can simplify the user journey…and how they can make it easier for the customers to find the right product,” Lobachevska said. “With the Bosch Accessory Advisor, we provide a solution that makes it easier and faster.”

Building that easier, faster solution meant finding a high-tech way to satisfy a peculiar demand by online shoppers.

When Brick-and-Mortar Set the Bar (Almost) Too High

Selecting a specific power tool accessory for a specific job – and ensuring it’s compatible with your specific power tool – are big reasons that people historically shopped at brick-and-mortar stores, according to Lobachevska. It makes sense, right? You can consult with a knowledgeable human sales associate.

But Bosch’s e-commerce customers expect the same in-store-style expertise via a quick and painless online exchange, according to Lobachevska. And she doesn’t seem worried.

“The Accessory Advisor guides the user through a series of very simple questions,” Lobachevska said. “In the end, they have three perfect recommendations for the work they want to do.”

It’s pretty much an online conversation that yields the right product, according to Lobachevska. And Bosch found the right tech – and partners – to make these virtual dialogues happen.

Tech to the Rescue

“We realized that there is a need for a better user guidance,” Lobachevska said of Bosch’s decision to go with Zoovu, a Boston-based digital commerce search platform and partner solution in SAP’s industry cloud. “It offered us the best.”

Zoovu’s Semantic Studio translates technical jargon into e-commerce-friendly prose, which saves time for both Bosch data managers and shoppers. A few artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted questions later, and these accessory hunters have enjoyed a smooth, seamless customer experience.

“This means that our customers spend less time searching for a product,” Lobachevska said. “And when they purchase the product, it’s the right one and they are more satisfied.”

This increases efficiency, according to Lobachevska. It also cuts down on returns and poor online reviews.

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Mitigate Risk During Employment Separation with Onwards HR

Talent acquisition remains a focal point for most organizations in this dynamic and highly competitive corporate environment. Unfortunately, the pivotal process of offboarding often takes a back seat. An efficient employment separation process plays a key role in enhancing the employee experience, protecting the company’s reputation and mitigating potential legal and financial risks associated with employee separation. One solution that effectively addresses these complexities is Onwards HR, a platform that automates key portions of the separation process to ensure accuracy, compliance and a positive overall brand experience for those leaving the organization and those charged with executing what is often an emotional and stressful process.

Even under the best circumstances, employment separation is traditionally a labor-intensive and challenging process. It involves multiple stakeholders, including human resources representatives, line managers, legal counsel and executives, who must ensure a smooth and compliant transition while managing their primary job responsibilities. This dual responsibility often leads to overstretched staff and an increased risk of errors, creating a potential minefield of financial and legal implications for the organization. Examples include lawsuits resulting from unlawful terminations, potential violations of the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (or WARN) Act during mass layoffs, adverse impact on protected groups and the financial pitfalls due to clerical errors or improperly executed severance agreements. The stakes are higher than often appreciated, considering legal fees and the potential damage to the organization’s reputation. Plus, the emotionally charged nature of the circumstances surrounding these events further compounds stress, making it essential to manage with precision and sensitivity.

In light of these challenges, organizations are turning to technology to ensure a structured, automated separation process that safeguards accuracy and compliance. This is a natural extension of the ongoing movement to automation in HR technology, which is critical to achieving the best business outcomes. We assert that by 2025, three-quarters of organizations will identify use cases that specify human capital management system requirements for optimum agility. This critical business process is a perfect example of how technology brings structure and automation to a business-critical but sometimes highly risky process.

Enter Onwards HR: an innovative system that streamlines employee separation actions, minimizes financial and legal risks and saves time and costs typically incurred by a long and redundant process with the engagement of external legal counsel. Onwards HR is a comprehensive digital platform that seamlessly manages the most critical elements of the separation process. The technology ensures strict adherence to laws and regulations, minimizing the potential for costly litigation. For instance, Onwards HR has built-in compliance checks for WARN Act implications, flagging potential violations during large-scale layoffs. This preemptive risk mitigation is an invaluable asset for organizations navigating the complex legal landscape of offboarding.

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E3 SAP Startup Spotlight Series: Soley

E3 magazine has selected the most exciting companies to showcase in our SAP Startup Spotlight Series. In today’s installment, we’ll be looking at Soley, a product mining solution provider available on the SAP store.

Alexander Springer is an experienced Co-Founder and CEO in the software industry. With a strong background in business development, he has successfully led Soley, a product mining provider, since 2021. Under Alexander’s leadership, Soley continues to revolutionize the product management landscape, empowering businesses to make data-driven decisions and drive sustainable growth.

What is Soley and what do you offer?

Soley is a product mining solutions provider, based in Germany with services available initially in the DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland) market and expanding globally. We provide advanced software and analytics tools that help manufacturing companies optimize their product portfolios and improve operational efficiency. Our platform enables companies to analyze complex data sets, identify inefficiencies, and make data-driven decisions to drive business success.

Imagine a manufacturing company producing industrial components. Leveraging Soley’s product mining solution, they can thoroughly examine their product portfolio, identifying underperforming items while optimizing their offerings to prioritize high-margin, high-demand products. Consequently, this optimization strategy enables them to achieve substantial cost savings, increase profitability, and enhance customer satisfaction. This real-world example showcases how Soley’s solution can transform businesses and drive tangible results. Our solution is scalable, customizable, and has been successfully implemented in numerous companies across various industries worldwide.

How does your solution work?

Soley’s solution operates through a powerful combination of complexity analytics, value patterns, and decision intelligence. Our process begins with a comprehensive analysis of complex data. Through this analysis, we uncover valuable insights and patterns that may otherwise remain hidden.

Using these insights, we provide decision support tools that empower manufacturing companies to make informed and strategic decisions. Our solution aids in reducing complexity within the organization, streamlining processes, and optimizing product offerings. By leveraging our expertise in data analysis and decision-making, companies can effectively navigate the complexities of their operations and drive tangible business performance improvements.

Whether it’s identifying underperforming products, streamlining production processes, or maximizing profitability, Soley’s solution offers the necessary tools and intelligence to enable companies to achieve their goals. We strive to deliver actionable insights and decision support, helping businesses optimize their product portfolios, improve operational efficiency, and ultimately increase profitability.

Read More…

New Startup Solutions Available on SAP Store : June 2023

200+ SAP.iO startups deliver their apps, add-ins, and integration kits to SAP’s global customers through SAP Store. SAP Store is the online marketplace where customers around the world can discover, try, buy, and renew enterprise solutions from SAP and its trusted partners. We are excited to share with you the latest startup technologies to be added to the store! You can check out all of our portfolio technologies that integrate with SAP solutions on the SAP Store.

 


Morpheus.Network Brand Protection

By MN Consulting Services, Inc.

Protect your brand, reduce global counterfeiting, & improve consumer experiences

Counterfeit, grey, diverted, and stolen products erode revenues for brands worldwide. We help you protect your revenue and your customers by connecting to your purchase orders on SAP S/4HANA Cloud and using a digital twin with a verifiable identity and blockchain to protect your brand value. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


Gappify

By Gappify, Inc.

Powering completeness, accuracy, and compliance

Automate the entire accruals process, including vendor confirmations, PO and budget owner confirmations, historical calculations, and auto-posting JE’s into SAP S/4HANA. Automate over 500 hours of manual work, improve the accuracy of expense data, and drive tighter compliance controls. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


Drivin

By Drivin SPA

Drive logistic efficiency while improving your customer experience

Our dynamic pricing engine enables profitable growth by ensuring optimized pricing to influence shoppers’ buying decisions. The pricing decisions are put on autopilot to drive sales, margins, and loyalty and integrates seamless with SAP S/4HANA. This solution was incubated and/or funded by SAP.iO SAP S/4HANA. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


MaintainX – Maintenance & Asset Management

By MaintainX

Empower frontline teams to improve maintenance, safety, and operations

This mobile-first maintenance and asset management platform empowers frontline teams to add production hours by reducing equipment downtime. Enrich your ERP records with accurate data on work orders, assets, parts inventory, and purchase orders through SAP S/4HANA Cloud and on-premise. A partner that is a member of SAP’s curated startup ecosystem. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


Zerynth for SAP S/4HANA

By Zerynth S.p.A.

Easily connect any industrial machinery with your SAP S/4HANA system

Industrial IoT solution designed to extract data from any industrial machine in less than three hours, seamlessly integrated with SAP S/4HANA. Users can collect data from heterogenous assets on their shop floor and leverage SAP products to enhance process visibility. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


Pirika Technology to Eliminate Plastic Pollution

By Pirika.inc

Platform for visualizing the implementation status of environmental measures

This platform enables visualization of the status of environmental measures of municipalities. SAP Analytics Cloud and SAP Data Warehouse Cloud are used to integrate and visualize the status of municipalities’ environmental policy implementation. A partner that is a member of SAP’s curated startup ecosystem. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


Infiviz

By Infilect Technologies Private Limited

Advanced Image Recognition and Retail Execution Analytics for CPG

Infiviz provides CPG leaders with the most accurate and instant in-store execution analytics delivered to optimize retail execution and simplify decision making. With real-time instore insights on SOS, OSA etc., Sales leaders can boost in-store sales. Infiviz is integrated with SAP Sales Cloud. A partner that is a member of SAP’s curated startup ecosystem. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


goFlux Platform

By goFlux Technology Ltd

Leading B2B freight-trading platform for transportation-heavy users in Brazil

Our B2B freight-trading platform, integrated with SAP Business Network, provides comprehensive solutions for quoting, contracting, and managing freights. The main benefits we offer include compliance in the quoting process, which enhances cost savings and productivity. A partner that is a member of SAP’s curated startup ecosystem. Check a product video here and find them out on the SAP Store here.


CamCom Automotive Damage Assessment

By CamCom Technologies Private Limited

The most accurate automotive damage assessment AI platform in the world

With over 3 million inspections per annum, this intuitive AI-powered platform integrates with SAP S/4HANA and understands every type of vehicle damage, enabling 96% macro-level damage assessment accuracy, resulting in the creation of transparent and objective estimates. A partner that is a member of SAP’s curated startup ecosystem. Check a product video here and find them out on the SAP Store here.


GMetri

By GMETRI INC

Revolutionize employee onboarding with an immersive Metaverse platform

Revolutionize employee onboarding with an immersive, no-code Metaverse platform. Seamlessly integrating with SAP SuccessFactors, the platform accelerates learning and boosts engagement from day one. A partner that is a member of SAP’s curated startup ecosystem. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.


AI Bruna

By Altum Lab

Optimize your Agro production with an AI-powered solution

AI-powered solution integrated with SAP BTP to take the data available in the Intelligent Agriculture module and through its three modules, makes predictions of the quality of the raw material. Then, using those results, it suggests how to improve it and use it to satisfy commercial contracts. A partner that is a member of SAP’s curated startup ecosystem. Check out a product video here and find them on the SAP Store here.

Venture Activity June 2023

SAP.iO’s ecosystem of successful raises and exits

June 2023

SAP.iO has curated over 525 startups in SAP’s startup ecosystem. We’re proud that many of the startups from our programs continue to raise VC funding and have successful exits. This demonstrates that SAP startup technologies are addressing the rapidly changing requirements of the marketplace and have risen to the occasion of meeting customer needs. Here are the latest raises and exits you should know about!

Funding


Sparetech, a Stuttgart, Germany-based provider of a data platform for industrial spare parts, raised $10M in Series A funding. The company intends to use the funds to scale internationally. Sparetech has served more than 120 global manufacturing companies, such as Bosch, Nestlé, Porsche, Yanfeng, and Airbus Helicopters.

Humanly, a Seattle startup that helps companies automate their recruiting functions, raised $12 million to help fuel growth of its AI-powered software. Customers such as Microsoft, the Seattle Storm, and Moss Adams use Humanly to screen job candidates, schedule interviews, automate initial communication, run reference checks, and more.

SustainCERT, a Livange, Luxembourg-based climate impact verification company, raised $37M in Series B funding. The company intends to use the funds to invest in the acceleration of the commercial, organizational and technology scale up to support the growth of its recently launched value chain decarbonization impact solution for Scope 3 emissions and the soon to be launched digital verification solution for carbon markets.

Sust Global closed a $1.5M seed round on June 2nd from a Venture – Series Unknown round.

Exits


Ecoplant, which develops technology to increase energy efficiency and reduce air pollution in factories, was acquired by American industrial giant Ingersoll Rand. Industry sources estimate that the deal is valued at $40-50 million.

Sensire, a leading provider of medical and food safety software solutions, was acquired by Main Capital Partners.  Main will support Sensire in its continued organic growth journey both in Finland and internationally as well as supporting with a selective buy & build strategy.

Andjaro was acquired by Silae to tackle the issue of replacements. Since last September, Silae has further accelerated by buying 6 companies including a new one this June: Andjaro.

 

How GrainChain Is Leveling the Playing Field

GrainChain has been nominated in HackerNoon’s annual Startup of the Year awards in McAllen, Texas, USA.

Meet GrainChain

GrainChain is working to level the playing field for producers and all other participants along the global agricultural supply chain by directly addressing current pain points such as reliability of data, traceability, the speed of payments, and access to financing and insurance.

My Role

I am Tom DeRosa, Director of Marketing for GrainChain. I have the privilege of crafting GrainChain’s story and sharing it with the world, from what we do to how we do it and the impact we are making across the global agricultural supply chain.

I’m excited about our most recent campaign: interviews with the producers, lenders, and other supply chain participants that we work with. There are real people and real world success stories behind our impressive technological innovations.

How We’re Disrupting/Improving the Agricultural Industry

We’re bringing the technological tools that large-scale producers use and making them available to small to medium-sized producers.

GrainChain is working to take an industry that is still relying on paper and labor-intensive practices and move it toward a productive, sustainable future, helping producers, buyers, storage operators, lenders, and other supply chain participants around the world.

Our software ecosystem solves problems for all participants at every stage of the supply chain, providing better visibility, efficiency, and data. We are not merely aggregating data but generating it, and the reliability of this data allows us to open up new opportunities in the marketplace.

Standing Out from The Crowd

We are unique because we are not creating solutions in search of a problem.

We’re not building blockchain and IoT-driven solutions because that technology is popular and draws attention–we are constantly seeking out the best technology and approaches available to solve real-world problems faced along the agricultural supply chain.

More importantly, we are applying these technologies the right way.

Each solution we have built solves a specific problem that producers, buyers, lenders, storage operators, and other supply chain participants are facing in markets around the world.

We believe no one is really tackling supply chain efficiency, traceability, and liquidity in the holistic way we are, connecting all participants through a single point of truth.

Our Predictions/Thoughts on the Agricultural Industry in 2023

Automation and digitization of processes at each stage of the supply chain will continue to ramp up in 2023, meaning more reliable, real-time data can be captured, stored, and made available to all stakeholders.

This data is key to lowering risk and providing producers with more and better financial options from loans to insurance.

AI is going to be transformative in this industry as it is across all industries. AI can help supply chain participants identify anomalous data and solve problems more quickly.

It can enhance predictive analytics and forecasting so that producers can make their operations more efficient and get better prices in a highly volatile marketplace.

As with many industries, there will be a shift away from proprietary hardware and heavy investments in infrastructure toward cloud computing and mobile apps that allow producers, storage operators, and logistics providers to more quickly and easily integrate technology into their operations.

We’re in an age of amazing advancements in technology, but the key is applying the right technologies in the right way to truly impact the agricultural supply chain.

Read More…

SAP.iO Foundry Shanghai Launches Modern Energy Startup Program

July 12, 2023SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) launched a startup program focused on modern energy at SAP.iO Foundry Shanghai. Eight startups have been selected to join the program, which focuses on artificial intelligence (AI) and the internet of things (IoT) as well as robotics and environmental, social and governance (ESG) to lead the sustainable energy transition together with SAP.

The energy sector is at a pivotal moment as the world strives to address the urgent challenges of climate change and achieve a more sustainable future. Reducing carbon emissions and ensuring secure and affordable energy supplies will require a transition from fossil fuel-based energy systems to net-zero carbon sources.

The SAP.iO program aims to support this mission. During the next five months, the selected startups will build and develop long-term partnerships with SAP by defining joint use cases and exploring product integration and various business development opportunities. SAP customers will also be involved in the program by evaluating opportunities for proof of concepts.

The following startups are participating in the SAP.iO Foundry Shanghai cohort:

  1. Blue Tax connects government departments such as the tax bureau and corporate human resources to solve corporate tax calculation and social security issues, increasing collaboration efficiency by more than 80 times.
  2. Carbongram aims to create a reliable and auditable carbon accounting infrastructure to help customers manage their own carbon emissions and that of their suppliers.
  3. Fei Liu Tech applies AI in the fashion supply chain to provide digital solutions that cover the entire industry chain, including smart manufacturing, supply chain collaboration and smart marketing.
  4. Inkelink focuses on new energy resources, promotes the digital upgrading of the industry, and develops the overall solution of digital smart factory and the Inkelink Industrial Internet platform.
  5. Matterhorn provides companies with Industry 4.0 solutions, such as workshop-level cyber-physical systems, intelligent data collection, robots with machine vision and intelligent assembly.
  6. MHP develops digital and innovative solutions for automotive and related manufacturing industries.
  7. O-tech is a one-stop shop for trade compliance and customs consultancy services, foreign trade management system development and operation.
  8. Skyco2.com provides monitoring, reporting and verification services for carbon emission data and carbon asset operation management to industrial, transportation and construction enterprises.

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO curates a relevant and diverse startup ecosystem that extends the value of SAP solutions and meets the continuously evolving needs of our customers. Our programs provide dedicated support to the most promising startups as they launch and scale relationships with SAP and our global network of customers, partners, and employees. Since 2017, we have connected thousands of SAP customers with innovative enterprise software startups, helping them find solutions to their unique needs. For more information, visit http://sap.io/.

SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo Accelerates Startups To Help Companies Run Intelligent Sustainable Enterprises

July 10, 2023SAP SE (NYSE: SAP) today launched its B2B startup program at SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo to help companies become intelligent, sustainable enterprises. Five startups working in multiple domains and industries have been selected to join the program. The goal is to provide innovative solutions to domestic and global SAP customers by integrating with solutions across the SAP portfolio.

“In the drastically changing market environment, SAP supports companies to become agile and intelligent sustainable enterprises that leverage the latest technology and allow employees to focus on higher value-added tasks and realize sustainable management.” said Hirofumi Suzuki, SAP Japan President and Representative Director. “To realize this, we focus on expanding our important partner ecosystem including innovative startups.. This program will encourage our customers to utilize a variety of new solutions or technologies with SAP systems brought by cutting-edge startups.”

Over the next four months, the selected startups will have access to curated mentorship from SAP executives, exposure to SAP® technology and application programming interfaces (APIs), and opportunities to collaborate with SAP customers around the world.

The Intelligent Sustainable Enterprise cohort at SAP.iO Foundry Tokyo includes the following startups:

  1. ALGO ARTIS develops AI solutions to optimize complex operations in a short time with a single click.
  2. Inspiration Plus provides a platform for advanced disaster prevention using digital technology for local governments and corporate business continuity plans.
  3. Milk. offers manufacturing inspection software for industrial customers that is powered by AI-based hyperspectral technology.
  4. primeNumber Inc. optimizes the process of data utilization by helping build an environment where anyone can quickly and easily use data.
  5. SMITH&VISION uses image recognition technology to automatically capture information from packages for logistics.

About SAP.iO
SAP.iO curates a relevant and diverse startup ecosystem that extends the value of SAP solutions and meets the continuously evolving needs of our customers. Our programs provide dedicated support to the most promising startups as they launch and scale relationships with SAP and our global network of customers, partners, and employees. Since 2017, we have connected thousands of SAP customers with innovative enterprise software startups, helping them find solutions to their unique needs. For more information, visit http://sap.io/.

Leveraging SAP’s Industry Cloud, Going from Concept to Commercialization Can Be Fast and Fulfilling

 

As recently as late 2020, Cogniac was a little-known Silicon Valley startup with promising artificial intelligence (AI)-driven computer vision (CV) technology and a big-time opportunity to find new markets for that technology via the SAP.iO program.

Fast forward two-and-half years to the spring of 2023, and not only has Cogniac found a strong market for its technology, it has earned a place among the vanguard of enterprise-class CV software, having been recognized by analyst firm IDC as a leader in the field alongside the likes of AWS, Google, and Microsoft.

How does a company ascend so far, so fast? In the case of San Jose, California-based Cogniac, it couldn’t have happened without superior technology, a partnership-driven mindset, and an openness to work with SAP to develop an industry cloud solution that readily integrates with the SAP portfolio to bring more value to customers.

Cogniac’s Visual Operations Intelligence platform is one of more than 300 apps and integrated end-to-end solutions developed within SAP’s industry cloud and is available to customers across multiple industry verticals in SAP Store. Cogniac’s technology also has been integrated into the SAP Digital Manufacturing solution, providing AI-enabled visual inspection capabilities for the shop floor to customers in a range of industries.

Cogniac is among a wave of up-and-coming companies that are blazing a trail for other independent developers to follow, showing how to leverage the expertise and resources of SAP and system integrator partners to quickly scale up and monetize their intellectual property and technology. It’s all part of SAP’s “one-portfolio” approach, which is rooted in the belief that by working together, companies that are actively engaged in SAP’s industry cloud – including independent developers, global and regional services partners, and others – can create solutions that generate more value for customers and themselves than they otherwise would working individually. The one-portfolio approach is first and foremost about solving customers’ business problems, whether the solution comes from an SAP partner, SAP itself, or a combination of the two.

In Cogniac’s case, the solution was born from the SAP.iO program and, following a successful pilot project involving automotive parts production, it’s now fully commercialized for customers in travel and transportation, automotive manufacturing, mill and mining, industrial manufacturing, and other verticals seeking to upgrade and automate their visual inspection capabilities for quality management and maintenance.

Read More…

5 SAP.iO Startups Named to Sifted’s 2023 Report on Rising 100 B2B Startups in Europe & Israel

SAP.iO alumni Wandelbots, WorkMotion, Pecan, Explorium, and EasySend were named to Sifted’s “Europe’s Rising 100” list for 2023. Sifted’s in-depth reports investigate the most transformative trends shaping startup Europe, across essential sectors, themes and geographies.

100 B2B SaaS startups that are a few steps away from becoming unicorns.

You can access the report here.

KINEXON OS Now Integrates with SAP’s Supply Chain Portfolio – Database Trends and Applications

KINEXON Industries, a provider of innovative industrial IoT (IIoT) solutions, is partnering with SAP to bring KINEXON OS – Order Tracking and Process Management into the SAP supply chain solution portfolio, enabling customers to automate operations, improve efficiency, and drive sustainability.

KINEXON OS provides Order Tracking and Process Management, a comprehensive solution that enables businesses to streamline and automate shop floor processes, resulting in significant improvements in productivity. A particular focus of the cloud-based software is real-time tracking of all moving assets and the management of logistics and production orders.

“We are thrilled to have this partnership between KINEXON and SAP coming to the market and providing customers with end-to-end solutions,” Oliver Trinchera, CEO and co-founder, KINEXON. “The integration of our solution into SAP’s supply chain solution portfolio enables companies around the globe to gain a competitive advantage by automating their operations. Our solution is designed to help businesses meet the challenges of Industry 4.0 and sustainability.”

With this partnership, businesses can benefit from the best-in-class supply chain solutions of SAP, combined with the cutting-edge technology of KINEXON.

Read More…

5 companies leveraging startup innovation to improve their customer experience

To provide exceptional customer experiences, companies are turning to startup innovation. By partnering with startups, established organizations can tap into novel technologies, fresh perspectives, and agile methodologies to revolutionize how they engage and delight their customers.

SAP.iO simplifies the collaboration between SAP customers and cutting-edge enterprise software startups by facilitating seamless integration with SAP solutions. Our portfolio of 150+ enterprise-ready startup solutions integrated with SAP Customer Experience enables customers to drive innovation.

This roundup showcases five companies that have embraced startup solutions to elevate their customer experience.

 

Adverity & Ikea: How IKEA uses data to identify the best paths to success 

IKEA worked with Adverity’s data analytics platform to consolidate and analyze vast amounts of marketing data from various sources. By leveraging Adverity’s solution, IKEA gained valuable insights and improved the efficiency of their marketing campaigns, ultimately leading to better decision-making and enhanced marketing performance. 

Adverity works with SAP Industry Cloud, SAP Integration Suite, and SAP Marketing Cloud and is available on the SAP Store. 


Jebbit & NHL: How the NHL Scores Authentic Fan Engagement 

The NHL worked with Jebbit to improve its user acquisition and engagement strategies. The NHL used interactive experiences and personalized content powered by Jebbit’s platform to drive user engagement, increase fan loyalty, and ultimately grow their user base. 

Jebbit works with SAP Emarsys Customer Engagement and SAP Customer Data Platform and is available on the SAP Store 


LISNR & Jaguar Land Rover: Jaguar Land Rover Drives Connectivity with LISNR  

Jaguar Land Rover worked with LISNR to overcome connectivity challenges in linking passengers with their mobile devices and vehicles. By leveraging LISNR’s secure ultrasonic data transmission technology, they improved connectivity, enabled authentication, and delivered personalized in-car experiences, surpassing their implementation goals. 

LISNR works with SAP Customer Data Cloud and SAP Commerce Cloud and is available on the SAP Store.


Mercaux & Holland & Barrett: Launching a Digital Transformation Project  

Holland & Barrett collaborated with Mercaux to launch a new pilot digital transformation project. Using Mercaux’s digital retail solutions, Holland & Barrett aimed to enhance the in-store customer experience, improve product visibility, and drive sales through personalized recommendations and interactive features.  

Mercaux works with SAP Industry Cloud and SAP Commerce and is available on the SAP Store  


Yellow.ai & Sephora: Embracing Digital Experiences Powered by Conversational AI

Sephora wanted to adopt an omnichannel approach to providing a best-in-class retail experience across both offline and online channels to their customers at any hour of the day. They worked with Yellow.ai to introduce a virtual assistant that provides personalized beauty consultations and can help customers with checking product availability, reserving products, managing in-store pickup, and facilitating product returns.

Yellow.ai works with SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP CRM Sales, and SAP CRM Service Manager and is available on the SAP Store.

 

All trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Lilz brings its gauge-watching smart cameras to the US and raises $4M

When you run big real-life industrial operations, there’s always a gauge or readout somewhere deep in the facility that your engineers or field teams need to check in person. Lilz is a Japanese startup that builds devices you can set up to read these meters remotely, and the company just raised $4.1 million as they enter the North American market.

Lilz’s devices are basically battery-powered smart cameras that can last for years between charges, while monitoring something like a pressure gauge 24/7.

It may sound a little odd in this modern era — why not just have a smart steam gauge in the first place? The simple truth is much infrastructure and heavy industry doesn’t have that option, or retrofitting may be prohibitively expensive. Yet for safety or efficiency reasons, some simple readout needs to be looked at regularly.

Sending a human down is the simplest solution or was until Lilz made its devices available a couple years ago. Their robust but low-power computer vision stack analyzes images of the gauge and relays that information digitally.

Now the Okinawa-based company has about 3,500 active cameras at 500 locations and has raised 590 million yen (approximately $4.1 million today) to fuel the next phase of their business. Its investors include JIC Venture Growth Investments, Mitsubishi UFJ Capital, Tokyo Century, Dimension Fund, Okinawa Development Finance Corporation, Okinawa’s Science and Technology Development Center, and Dogan Beta. That’s a Series B round, about twice their $2.2 million Series A round in 2021.

The company has received FCC and ISED certification for its devices and is preparing to launch in the U.S. and Canada. They plan to double their camera deployments and then rapidly expand afterward.

Read More…

The SAP Store Now Offers yellow.ai’s Generative AI-powered ChatBots and VoiceBots for Employee and Customer Experience

Yellow.ai, a global leader in Conversational AI announced that its generative AI-powered ChatBots and VoiceBots solution for customer and employee experience automation are now available on SAP Store, the digital marketplace for SAP and partner offerings. Both solutions are built on SAP Business Technology Platform using SAP Integration Suite. While the customer experience (CX) solution integrates with SAP Commerce, SAP Commerce Cloud, SAP CRM Sales, and SAP CRM Service Manager, the employee experience (EX) solution integrates with SAP SuccessFactors Employee Central.

“Leveraging multi-LLM architecture, our generative AI-powered Dynamic Automation Platform is helping enterprises redefine how they connect with both customers and employees, giving them a competitive advantage and valuable ROI at scale,” said Raghu Ravinutala, CEO & Co-founder, Yellow.ai.

Available on SAP Store for a free trial.

Read More…

B2B payment fraudsters exploit security holes: Trustpair

Trustpair’s survey found that payment fraud is a growing concern for corporate financial professionals, with 56% of U.S. companies saying they were victims of a fraud attempt in 2022. About one in three respondents said the number of incidents has increased year over year.

Nearly a quarter of fraud victims said they lost more than $100,000, and 5% reported losing more than $1 million.

To combat the problem, companies have put a wide variety of measures in place, including manual reviews for payment change requests, according to Trustpair’s report. “These manual processes do not seem sufficient to fight fraud, especially considering the evolving nature of fraud,” it said, adding that technology can help finance teams “focus on where the risk really is and reduce low-value tasks.”

Last year, the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center received 21,832 complaints involving fraud attempts via “business email compromise” scams, with adjusted losses totaling over $2.7 billion, according to a report released in March.

With such scams, criminals send an email message with a payment request that appears to come from a known source. This can include an emailed invoice with an updated mailing address from an individual impersonating a vendor.

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