China meets German innovation culture at the SAP AppHaus in Heidelberg
While it is vital to remain aware of the latest technology trends to stay current, many mistake technology as the only ingredient necessary to drive innovation. However, sustainable business success also relies on the implementation of innovation in practice, which requires fostering innovation culture and using design for human-centered digital transformation.
Design-led innovation at SAP AppHaus Heidelberg
SAP’s customer facing AppHauses often host visitors who come to learn about doing just that! After visiting Hannover Messe to understand recent technological trends, a delegation of more than thirty key decision makers from prestigious Chinese companies in the manufacturing industry visited the SAP AppHaus in Heidelberg to learn more about SAP Design’s approach. The participants included influential companies, such as BOE Technology Group, Beiqi Foton Motor, and Han’s Laser Technology.
Their visit was kicked-off by a welcome speech from Michael Byczkowski, VP and Head of Customer Design Engagement at SAP Design. He introduced guests to SAP Design’s mission, the value of design and user experience, and the user-centric approach SAP uses to drive design-led innovation.
After emphasizing the importance of always putting the user in the center and understanding the real problems of end-users, Michael presented a few customer success stories, like the cervical cancer project with the Heidelberg University Hospital, to prove that the human factor is key to driving innovation. Inspired by these insights and the SAP Design team’s method, including their mindset and team culture, the Chinese delegates were enthusiastic about understanding the AppHaus as a creative space to drive innovation and collaboration, and to foster creativity.
The delegates tested workshop materials, took photos of the meeting rooms, and asked questions concerning SAP Design’s workshop procedures — they didn’t miss any opportunity to gather information, so they could return to China armed with new perspectives and ready to encourage companies to change the way they work.
Afterwards, SAP product experts from Walldorf provided the delegates with deeper insights and information about design and innovation. Bernhard Mayer, SAP Solution Manager IBU IM&C and Field Alliance Manager China, explained how SAP software helps to make business with the previously shown approaches and systems. He further demonstrated why companies must identify optimization possibilities within the production process, and how to properly react to market challenges and trends.
Stephan Leuze, VP SAP S/4 HANA Global Business, provided the participants with a detailed outlook on S/4HANA and gave them a feeling for the new Fiori Design by demonstrating a sales order fulfillment process step-by-step. Additionally, Jan Schneider, Head of Strategy Sports & Entertainment at SAP, convinced the visitors that SAP and sports are a great match. Sheexplained how SAP established a dedicated industry unit for sports covering three areas: fan, team, and operations. The wide range of possibilities for analyzing a football team’s performance and producing statistics visibly impressed the guests, who immediately discussed how they could transfer these insights to their own business.
Back at the SAP Headquarters, Walldorf
Lunch was served at the SAP headquarters in Walldorf, which offered opportunities to network and exchange knowledge and opinions. In the afternoon, Jürgen Hagedorn, Solution Manager HANA Analytics, provided the delegates with a more comprehensive picture of how SAP can further help them to manage their business. He discussed SAP Digital Boardroom based on SAP Business Objects Cloud and demonstrated how to get an overview of all company numbers from different perspectives, such as financial performance, customer count, workforce, and supplier spends.
For the Chinese guests, their visit to the AppHaus in Heidelberg and the SAP headquarters in Walldorf was a day full of information, new impressions, and insights. During the guided walk through the SAP Inspiration Pavilion, the delegates experienced how to deal with Big Data most effectively using SAP HANA, without losing sight of the big picture.
Before the Chinese delegation left the next morning, they spent their last hours exploring Heidelberg. They joyfully reviewed insights from their day with SAP experts from Germany and key account managers from China. They got a feel for German culture during the joint dinner at Kulturbrauerei Heidelberg and expressed their gratitude. Some even expressed their wishes to have design thinking workshops in China. Thus, the SAP Design team continues to do what they do best, humanizing business software through design, in tandem with guests from across the globe.
