My Five Favorite Digital Predictions for 2019
Fall 2018 is nearly in the books, with all the usual traditions upheld: Oktoberfest in Germany, Thanksgiving in the United States, and dozens of 2019 digital transformation prediction pieces written by industry analysts.
But instead of writing yet another 2019 digital predictions piece, I am going to pick my five favorite 2019 digital predictions from veteran analysts. I’ve done the leg work, so you don’t have to. After all, the holidays are nearly here, and this is my gift to you. So, sit back, relax, and enjoy my favorite digital predictions for 2019!
1. Data to Analytics to Machine Learning to AI (Dan Newman, Forbes)
Dan Newman writes: “At the center of all of these technological trends and in the center of this list falls the linchpin to so many of these trends and to digital transformation as a whole. Data is key to companies being able to make good decisions about products, services, employees, strategy and more. We won’t see a slowdown anytime soon.” I couldn’t agree more.
At SAP, we are unifying the buying process on SAP.com — the digital door to SAP, if you will. And analytics and data are front and center of this effort. It demonstrates our goal to create simple and connected digital customer experiences for finding, trying, buying, and consuming SAP and partner solutions. Recently, SAP Analytics Cloud, including the latest AWS-enabled versions of SAP Analytics Cloud BI, SAP Analytics Hub and SAP Digital Boardroom, were launched on SAP.com for no-touch digital transactability.
Machine Learning/AI is also a big part of SAP’s future. SAP CoPilot is a digital assistant and bot integration hub that allows users to chat, just as if they were talking to a human being. SAP CoPilot helps customers make decisions based on complex data analysis that’s done in real-time. Machine Learning and AI underpins all of this, and SAP is making this a top priority in 2019.
2. Consumption-Based IT Services for the Win (Dan Newman, Forbes)
Dan Newman adds in the same predictions piece: “With the as-a-Service industry growing, companies are becoming more sophisticated in choosing “a la carte” IT services to fit their needs. This allows for … scalability, the latest technology (without the latest tech price tag), shorter procurement cycles, and increased agility.” Amen, Dan!
The development pace is accelerating in 2019, and customers require the flexibility to use any and all available technical or business services without the need to place orders for specific services. It’s our goal to bring instant use and adoption, which is why we unveiled SAP Cloud Platform with consumption-based pricing in 2018. SAP Cloud Platform offers a simplified cloud engagement experience with one service catalog to explore, configure and price with SAP Cloud Platform services — all based on a simple contracting model and transparency into consumption levels. Customers get flexibility by picking and choosing the services they need knowing they have investment security in the cloud credits for SAP Cloud Platform. Pay for what is used and manage it via self-service. It’s already become the default model for SAP Cloud Platform deals in Q4 and I’m confident that trend will carry into 2019.
3. Delivering on Digital Customer Experience Faster and Better (Dion Hinchcliffe, ZDNet)
Dion Hinchcliffe of ZDNet writes: “Perhaps the topmost priority of most major digital transformation efforts is to improve the customer experience, which is the leading discriminator today when it comes to successful growth and customer retention. However, organizations have a long way to go when it comes to scaling up their digital experience factories.” This is absolutely true!
Customer experience is a driving force behind SAP’s own digital transformation efforts and is one of the highest priorities for success in building a seamless digital journey for our customers. It is the true north of all we are aiming for: designing and running a commercially and technically simple experience for our customers to purchase and consume SAP products in over 150 countries. And this is true whether the customer uses sap.com, in-app, or a 3rd party market place, or wants to buy, upsell or renew, or even if it is cloud, on-premise or consumption-based offerings.
4. The rise of B2B platform and commerce (Clint Boulton, CIO)
Clint Boulton, in a piece for CIO, notes: “The enterprise sector has long known that the economy is becoming platform-centric, thanks to the proliferation of APIs and cloud technologies … companies will double down here, looking to scale platforms.” Again, this rings true to me.
I think this also shows that non-technology companies are essentially becoming “platform companies,” too. This means that all successful companies are now unifying all the assets beyond the actual limits of the organization so that a customer can solve a problem and making this easy and simple as possible.
The scaling of platform and commerce is vitally important in 2019 as well. For example, the ability to represent our ecosystem offerings side-by-side with related SAP IP on sap.com is powered by the SAP App Center. We have over 1,600+ applications from 1,100+ partners that provide the type of open marketplace where our customers can find the solutions they are looking for. We’re providing a true omnichannel experience for our customers and changing not only what we sell but how we sell it.
5. A Renewed Focus on Change Management to Ensure Scalability and Sustainability (AIM Consulting)
AIM Consulting writes that: “Companies are becoming more aware of the need to focus on the critical role that their people play in implementing their digital vision …[and] to complicate matters, rapid technological advances are forcing large companies to adapt quickly.”
This seems almost too obvious to include, but I think it’s worth mentioning anyway. To drive true change, companies need great ideas, but they also need great people. Digital transformation requires buy-in from top down with executives and from the bottom-up. Companies can only scale when they get complete buy-in from everyone within an org. And to do that, companies need talent and great employees.
These types of digital predictions have never been more relevant to our SAP colleagues, customers, partners. I hope my favorite predictions offer a starting point on your digital journey and help prioritize what matters most in 2019.
Have a happy and healthy holiday season!
