Fluid supplier onboarding - the new imperative Procurement now spans both indirect and direct materials, as well as product sourcing. Example: SAP has a spend management solutions page that centers on SAP Ariba, Fieldglass and Concur. Note: this slide doesn't name the products behind the networks. (published with express permission of SAP) I referred to SAP's Business Network assets. That led us to a deeper dive via video this summer - my chance to share some of this dialogue on the record. To be fair, I thought this year's keynotes finally nudged closer, including a strong Sapphire keynote debut by Etosha Thurman, Chief Marketing & Solutions Officer, Intelligent Spend and Business Network at SAP.īut my talk/debate with Alam at an SAP Sapphire reception really made me think. How many customers would say no? Does SAP not have a strong commitment to sustainability that could use more product teeth? I've never understood why SAP didn't connect the dots here. Do you want to easily screen suppliers based on ESG criteria, or find better localized options?.Do you want timely recommendations of potential suppliers/clients?.Do you want to be able to onboard suppliers easily? (Something I'd argue Ariba isn't ideal for I'll get to that).Isn't this about helping customers solve vexing supplier issues in volatile markets? Customers don't tell me " Jon, I really need a network of networks." But if you ask: I've always felt SAP's "business networks" messaging is off. I've poked fun at SAP's keynote catchphrase "network of networks" so many times, I'm at risk of becoming a Las Vegas lounge act. SAP has accumulated some formidable assets in the business network/spend management market - but I struggled with how it was presented. Sometimes the product is better than the messaging.
Sometimes the messaging over-reaches the product. SAP's business networks messaging - my stubborn takeĮnterprise software vendors have different kinds of weaknesses. It all started with a random-but-revealing SAP Sapphire Orlando run-in with Muhammad Alam, President & Chief Product Officer, Intelligent Spend and Business Network at SAP. These three factors are starting to change my views on SAP's business networks moves. (Notice I did not say "market the living heck out of the solution." That's not going to move my position - if anything, I'll dig my heels in).
Customer adoption and advocacy - use cases I can validate.New leadership team engages openly - and inspires confidence.Trusted colleague(s) challenge me to take another look.
Take my previously negative perceptions of SAP's business networks play - an opinion that is starting to change. My retired colleague Den Howlett spiced up his email correspondence with the tagline "strong opinions, loosely held." I need to work on the "loosely held" part, but it's a darn good mantra for covering the enterprise.
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