SAP Advocates for a Cohesive AI and Data Strategy to Drive Business Growth in ANZ Region
SAP has called on organisations in Australia and New Zealand to rethink their approach to AI, data, and application landscapes, marking a shift from speculative future thinking to real-world execution. The event, held at the Centrepiece on 7 August, attracted over 700 attendees and featured more than 70 speakers who explored strategies for embedding AI across core business functions. Angela Colantuono, Managing Director and President of SAP Australia and New Zealand, emphasised the urgency for agility and productivity in the face of ongoing disruption. She noted that agility is no longer optional and that productivity is a pressing issue in Australia. The Australian Government is collaborating with business leaders on a productivity challenge in the coming weeks. Colantuono also highlighted SAP’s investments in sovereign cloud capabilities and a Centre of Excellence in Canberra, reinforcing the company’s commitment to local innovation.
At the event, SAP unveiled the top five AI use cases currently adopted by customers in Australia and New Zealand, based on data from May 2024 to May 2025. These use cases include automated expense generation using receipt images, automated invoice processing, expense verification and compliance checks, real-time alerts for supply chain disruptions, and sales demand forecasting powered by predictive analytics. Colantuono shared insights from her conversations with CEOs, revealing their desire to embed AI into fundamental business processes. She stressed that while technology is crucial, equal investment in people is necessary to fully realise AI’s potential. Dr Catriona Wallace, Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance, echoed SAP’s commitment to responsible AI, warning that only a small fraction of Australian organisations are equipped to use it responsibly. SAP Business Suite President Stefan De Barse introduced the “flywheel” concept, which unifies applications, data, and AI to enhance enterprise value, starting with applications that manage end-to-end business processes.
Categories: AI Integration, Data Management, Business Agility
Tags: AI, Data, Application Landscapes, Agility, Productivity, Sovereign Cloud, Centre of Excellence, Use Cases, Responsible AI, Enterprise Value