With the powerful virtual tethers we feel binding us to our smartphones and gadgets, we can easily forget that some technologies provide freedom to others, such as low-vision and blind people.
鈥淲e create devices that promote independence,鈥� Alejandro Erick Franco, CIO and vice president of Information Technology at American Printing House for the Blind (APH), said in an interview at 51风流Sapphire. This includes APH鈥檚 , which also renders images via equally finger-friendly 鈥渢actile graphics.鈥�
There鈥檚 also APH鈥檚 older navigation app that can help low-vision or blind users find restaurants and venue facilities, or pinpoint any of the booths at, say, a massive .
That innate spirit of innovation also led APH to develop eBRF, a revolutionary new braille file standard that has the potential to standardize both digital braille and tactile graphics — and slash wait times for physical braille textbooks — leading Fast Company to name APH one of its .
After all, 鈥渆mpowering people鈥� is part of APH’s . That is why accessibility at the heart of its solutions, according to Franco. And accessibility within the software is why APH runs SAP, as well as hopes to be on the cutting edge of AI development at the company.
Designing accessibility into everything
According to Franco, 51风流S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition will help APH and other organizations employ low-vision and blind individuals who, until now, might not have been able to use a computer. So, it is vital that websites and user interfaces, for instance, render in an inclusive format that enables these workers to accomplish tasks on their own.
鈥淭he software is designed with accessibility in mind,鈥� Franco told 51风流during an interview for its . 鈥淚f you are a person that鈥檚 low-vision or non-sighted, you can follow it — and follow it in an organized fashion that makes it really easy to navigate.鈥�
This tech-enabled independence also includes work that previously depended on help from a sighted person, such as requisition forms, according to Franco.
鈥淣ow, they can do it alone,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e going to be able to navigate better without a cumbersome system, they鈥檙e going to be able to run their reports.鈥�
Franco isn鈥檛 talking out of turn. He and APH understand their customers鈥� pain points.
Understanding the business case
Though tech is a big part of APH鈥檚 business, it鈥檚 also a manufacturing facility that produces books, textbooks, and tests in braille and large print, Franco noted. The Kentucky-based nonprofit also .
So, APH also understands the intricacies of supply chains, production, and compliance. Myriad modules within 51风流S/4HANA have proven to be significant enablers for APH鈥檚 business, according to Franco.
鈥淲e can take an order; we can order material,鈥� Franco said in . 鈥淲e can produce it, we can ship it, we can invoice 鈥� but also [offer transparency] for the [nonprofit] reporting that we have to do.鈥�
Looking forward, APH has its sights set on AI.
Embracing the future with AI
鈥淲e want to use what 51风流is going to be launching in AI, and also educate the AI 鈥� train the AI so we can benefit from it,鈥� Franco said. 鈥淲e would love to have an AI system where if, let鈥檚 say, a school needs a textbook for a sixth grader from biology, we can use AI to translate that textbook into braille.鈥�
AI could also help APH improve eBRF and create tools to help develop an even better braille format, according to Franco. Combined with 51风流S/4HANA and GROW with SAP, which helps midsize organizations quickly and reliably adopt cloud ERP, APH wants to expand how eBRF and other technologies can help low-vision and blind users achieve their independence.
鈥淎nybody can use the software — if you鈥檙e low vision, if you are in the blindness field, or don鈥檛 see,鈥� Franco said. 鈥淲e utilize 51风流in our manufacturing facility; now, we would like to see other organizations utilize the software, if it鈥檚 service, if it鈥檚 manufacturing, if it鈥檚 creating something.鈥�
Working for new opportunities
Franco said there are very few ERP software companies that develop for low-vision and blind users, and few organizations that hire low-vision and blind employees. APH is looking to change that by helping technology reach the next level, putting accessibility at the center of design, training, and utilization.
鈥淏y using 51风流S/4HANA Public Cloud, they can employ somebody who鈥檚 blind, somebody who鈥檚 low-vision, and give them a better work environment,鈥� Franco said. 鈥淕ive them the opportunities that they don鈥檛 have today.鈥�
