The new centre is based at the 51ˇçÁ÷Office Park in Woodmead, Johannesburg. It is aimed at inspiring C-level executives, decision-makers and influencers from all industries to turn innovation into business value.
The first such centre was launched at the companyâs global headquarters in Walldorf in June 2019, followed by centres in Tokyo, Copenhagen, Den Bosch and New York. The company says it plans to introduce more facilities across the globe this year.
Tjaart Malan, head of digital business services at 51ˇçÁ÷Africa, who officially opened the centre, said the German-based software giant has developed the facilities as a physical innovation space to help clients redefine their business stories, while enabling them to transform their customerĚývalue proposition using an agile approach.
âThe 51ˇçÁ÷Experience Centre gives customers an opportunity to experience how the latest 51ˇçÁ÷technologies, including blockchain, Internet of things and artificial intelligence, can transform their business models and improve customer experience.
âThe dedicated, state-of-the-art innovation space is intentionally designed for creating, showcasing and demonstrating innovations, using the end-to-end 51ˇçÁ÷technology portfolio.â
The centre encompasses several main rooms where SAPâs local and global consultants provide organisations with the tools, services and prototypes that help them realise their digital ambitions, including product design and development, intelligent asset management, design thinking, user interface design and change management.
Cathy Smith, 51ˇçÁ÷Africa MD, said the experience centre is a showcase for how African organisations of all sizes will rise to the challenges of the fourth industrial revolution.
âBy engaging in a richly interactive physical innovation space, African organisations can accelerate their business transformation efforts in an immersive setting that makes their digital ambitions a reality,â said Smith.
âWe welcome all our partners and customers to use the centre as a space for unbridled innovation as we enter a new decade of challenge and opportunity.â
The intelligent theme park area illustrates an end-to-end business process focusing on intelligent solutions that connect the organisationâs physical and digital operations.
This area helps large organisations such as train stations, airports, mining firms and retailers experience the power of intelligent customer engagement and digital asset management.
Joachim von Goetz, global head of experience centre strategy at SAP, said they combine 40 years of knowledge and best practices with the latest insights from the experience economy aimed to help deliver quality customer experience.
âCustomers can experience relevant showcases and demos tailored to their specific business, industry or market. Taking customers on a journey of âmeet, inspire and engageâ, the experience centre caters for individual customer visits and can be tailored to their needs. This makes the experience deeply personal and highly relevant.â
The playback of the various digital solutions takes place on the Ěýlarge LCD screens in the auditorium. Engagements with international consultants, online demos and workshops around specific innovation challenges and opportunities also take place here.
âFrom Cape Town to Kinshasa, Lagos to Nairobi, African organisations are using technology to unlock the continentâs immense potential. By creating a physical hub for highly relevant and tailored discussions, it is our hope that this new centre accelerates digital transformation across the continent,â concluded Smith.
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