In a bid to accelerate customers’ modernisation of SAP business processes on-premise and in the cloud, the former IBM SAP International Competence Center (ISICC) has been upgraded and transformed into the new IBM Innovation Center for SAP Solutions.
The IBM Innovation Center for SAP Solutions came into fruition after SAP and IBM took the next step in their collaboration on-site for the first ISICC that was founded in 1993. Customers can use the new center to embark on their digital transformation journeys using IBM’s framework “Enterprise Design Thinking” based on hybrid cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) technologies for SAP applications.
With this significant event adding to IBM and SAP’s long list of collaborations in their almost 50-year alliance, the two tech giants continue to invest strategically in their Evolution partnership that was launched in June 2020.
Last April, they worked closely together to help customers across various sectors expand their digital transformation capabilities by delivering intelligent industry-specific offerings that utilise emerging technologies to transform data into business value.
Additionally, the long-standing partners have once again joined forces this month to develop the IBM Cognitive Enterprise solution that provides intelligent workflows built on IBM’s Essentials platform to support data-driven processes with embedded data intelligence and end-to-end process integration.
As part of their combined efforts, both teams design and deliver intelligent end-to-end industry solutions, according to Peter Maier, President at SAP Industries and Customer Advisory. Commenting on the new IBM Innovation Center for SAP Solutions, he stressed:
“This collaboration results in better data insights based on predictive capabilities and automation from both SAP and IBM. We at SAP appreciate the investments IBM has made in our partnership over many decades, and especially the local investment in the Innovation Center, which will accelerate the digital transformation efforts of our customers.”
SAP and IBM Experts to Help Modernise SAP Business Processes
Meanwhile, Tanja Scheller, Director of the IBM Innovation Centers for SAP Solutions, explained that customers and partners can get guidance from the center on how to modernise SAP business processes using IBM Cloud and AI to react better and faster to market opportunities.
From SAP S/4HANA migration to hybrid cloud deployment to establishing intelligent industry workflows, IBM and SAP experts collaborate closely to develop tailored solutions to meet customers’ specific business needs.
Moreover, the IBM Rapid Move Studio is a competence center located within the IBM Innovation Center for SAP Solutions where customers experience a hybrid migration approach for implementing SAP S/4HANA using their existing SAP investments.
Michael Eberhardt, CEO at SNP, said that the competence hub offers clients a central point of contact. As an IBM partner, SNP aims to move SAP customers to SAP S/4HANA and the cloud quickly and securely.
“By sharing and supplementing our knowledge, we are able to serve both current and future customer requirements. In this way, we pave the way for our customers to become intelligent and connected enterprises,” Eberhardt maintained.
Furthermore, the new center will act as an integration facility for IBM and Red Hat experts who will assist in the modernisation of SAP systems, laying the groundwork for digital transformation and future developments. Jochen Glaser, Global Head of SAP Business at Red Hat, said:
“Red Hat and SAP have been working together for 20 years and have built a strong partnership during this time. Our open, hybrid infrastructure solutions are certified for SAP and offer added value that goes far beyond migration and is clearly presented in the innovation center in Walldorf.”
Reinforcing the Almost 50-Year Alliance
Keith Costello, General Manager of Global SAP Business at IBM, emphasised in his blog that a partnership should not just revolve around press releases, joint offerings, or events. He said that any true relationship requires each party to invest their time, energy, and capital.
“That’s precisely what the IBM and SAP partnership is… deep, long-lasting and a true value differentiator for our clients,” he concluded.
IBM continues to work closely with SAP in enhancing solutions to complement its collaboration on cloud and RISE with SAP. Strengthening its commitment to driving digital transformation across various industries, IBM was one of the several partners that has expressed support for SAP’s holistic Business Transformation as a Service offering.