According to a new report launched in partnership with research consultancy Earth Action, business that fail to scale their plastic data management could face corporate liabilities of more than $20-billion globally by 2030.

鈥淕overnments are implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes, plastic taxes and reporting requirements to turn the tide on unchecked plastic production and use,鈥� says Director: Global Government Affairs & CSR Africa and Global Sustainability Lead for Africa at SAP. 鈥淏usinesses need to prepare for the incoming plastic legislation by enhancing their data management and compliance efforts to ensure they gain a clear, accurate picture of their plastic material flows and minimise the environmental impact of plastic products in their supply chains.鈥�

Global effort at minimising plastic waste

March 18th is , an annual initiative that aims to raise awareness of the importance of plastics recycling among business leaders and citizens alike. An attempt at a UN-led Global Plastic Treaty failed last year, with a new round of negotiations planned for August later this year. The proposed treaty includes a cap on plastic production, better management of plastic products and chemicals of concern, and financing to support implementation of the treaty in developing countries.

鈥淏usinesses wishing to mitigate risks regarding plastic products in their supply chain need to implement robust data management to improve compliance and advance their sustainability and circular economy goals,鈥� says Geness. 鈥淪outh African companies also face increasing pressure from government regulations to minimise plastic waste and enhance their recycling efforts, adding further pressure on business leaders.鈥�

South Africa鈥檚 require that companies increase the percentage of post-consumer recyclate to 75% by 2025, and 100% by 2027. Non-compliance can result in fines of up to R5-million or imprisonment for up to five years.

The African Circular Economy Alliance, founded by the UN Environment Programme, includes South Africa as a founding member. The country has also begun implementation of its National Waste Management Plan, which supports .

Technology as enabler

鈥淭echnology can play a leading role in supporting company efforts at circular economy initiatives, including improved management of plastics-related processes and compliance,鈥� says Geness. 鈥淒igital technologies can support waste management and monitoring processes, mitigate pollution, and enhance the efficiency and sustainability of the plastics value chain.鈥�

Due to the complexities of adhering to various regulations and the breadth of modern enterprises鈥� supply chains, Geness recommends implementing a technology platform such as SAP鈥檚 Responsible Design and Production (RDP) to help build a full, accurate picture of plastic material flows.

鈥淭he platform enables the aggregation of plastic and materiality data, helps to meet Extended Producer Responsibility requirements, and identify areas for potential improvement. This can save businesses millions in costs associated with compliance and administration, while unlocking opportunities for strengthening sustainability efforts.鈥�

Geness notes that emerging technologies can deliver circular economy benefits across the plastic lifecycle. 鈥淎I and IoT enhance efficiency during manufacturing, while blockchain ensures transparency throughout supply chains through immutable and transparent records of plastic materials. IoT-enabled smart packaging can engage consumers any providing recycling information and incentives, while tech-powered advanced recycling technologies can convert waste into valuable resources, closing the loop in circular economy efforts.鈥�

鈥淪outh African companies have an opportunity to go beyond compliance and leverage technology for immense sustainability and circular economy gains, to the benefit not only of our planet but also people and our shared future.鈥�

The post SA Companies Urged to Fast-track Compliance to Incoming Plastics Legislation appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.

By examining innovative solutions, such as and the concept of a data fabric, we uncover how organisations can transcend traditional barriers, harness the full potential of their data assets, and pave the way for enhanced efficiency and competitiveness.

has seamlessly implemented Datasphere at clients and a highly-effective data-driven strategy, which has already demonstrated its immense impact and power.

As businesses aim to implement data-driven strategies, it is crucial to break down the silos that exist between different data sources. Doing so will unlock the full potential of their data assets and give them a competitive advantage in today鈥檚 digital world. With the plethora of tools available today, it is easier than ever to extract valuable insights from your own data.

For clients with multiple data hubs on heterogeneous cloud environments, including investments, the business data fabric can now help eliminate silos and lead to more significant efficiency gains.

The business data fabric provides great value to customers by simplifying the delivery of accurate data in business terms, even when dealing with highly-distributed data landscapes. This means that business innovation is no longer limited by the location of data, slowed down by the creation of new data staging plans, or hindered by incomplete business context.

A data fabric is an advanced data management architecture that allows organisations to integrate large volumes of data from various sources. It provides a consistent and reliable way to access, analyse and share data across the organisation.

With a data fabric, users of all skill levels can easily access and make sense of complex data sets, enabling them to make informed decisions based on accurate and relevant information. This can lead to improved business outcomes, increased productivity and gain a competitive advantage in the market.

Integrating AI in business operations will undoubtedly prove to be a game-changer. By offering rapid insights and enabling prompt decision-making, AI has the potential to revolutionise the way businesses operate.

The power of AI in the world of data warehousing is truly awe-inspiring, as it offers unparalleled insights on the fly. Think of it as a copilot that can assist you in determining, guiding and achieving your goals.

The new AI copilot, , in and , as well as the , enables users to find hidden insights and patterns in complex data.

It is a platform designed to be open and flexible, allowing for seamless integration with a diverse range of sources and technologies. 51风流has announced partnerships with , , , and to simplify customers鈥� data landscapes.

By integrating their data and AI platforms with 51风流Datasphere, organisations can now access their mission-critical business data across any cloud infrastructure in an open data ecosystem.

51风流Datasphere is a comprehensive data management platform that provides a centralised solution for all your data-related needs. With 51风流Datasphere, you can easily access, integrate and analyse your data in a single location, without the need for managing multiple silos. This means that you no longer need to spend countless hours tracking down information from disparate sources, but instead can focus on deriving insights and making data-driven decisions.

The ability to access data in real-time, integrated across various business functions, has been a crucial development in advancing global business innovation. Our clients can now work seamlessly with 51风流Datasphere and make the most of our existing portfolio of data platforms, business intelligence, and planning analysis solutions. This enables them to move beyond manual and siloed analysis processes and optimise their target revenue and GP, sales goals, and operational capacity requirements. With this approach, they can effectively harness their data to achieve their business objectives.

Contact Decision Inc. today to explore how the 51风流Datasphere Platform can empower your organisation’s growth journey.

The post Paving the Way for Data Management Through 51风流Datasphere appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.

Tracy Bolton, chief operating officer at 51风流Africa, says organisations face a number of barriers to realising the broader value of their sustainability initiatives. “Issues such as lack of engagement from company executives, ineffective use of data, siloed technologies, and a lack of collaboration undermine the impact of sustainability initiatives on a company’s operations and bottom line. Closing the so-called Green Gap requires that organisations reach across their business ecosystems to bring suppliers, regulators, employees and board leadership into their sustainability efforts.”

According to the report by Oxford Economics and SAP, so-called ‘Sustainability Leaders’ – those organisations that have embraced comprehensive sustainability programs and have achieved great outcomes as a result – account for only 9% of study respondents.

Leading sustainability efforts

“Sustainability Leaders set clear expectations of their sustainability goals and communicate those effectively to the broader organisation. Technology and data management is applied in key areas, and core audiences, such as supply chain partners, are regularly engaged. This creates a system of accountability that ensures sustainability efforts go beyond pure talk into action.”

The report found that, among nearly 2000 global executives, the most common sustainability efforts included waste reduction (65% of organisations surveyed), emissions tracking (53%) and minimising energy use (47%). “To unleash the true potential and impact of sustainability, organisations need to harness the network effect by developing policies and processes that enable partners and vendors to work sustainably with the business,” says Bolton.

The pay-offs for closing the green gap are significant. The report found that executives identified sustainability initiatives as driving benefits across the organisation, with 58% citing increased efficiency, 46% enjoying improved brand reputation, and 44% being better able to meet customer needs.

Sustainability Leaders that are leveraging the strength of their networks are also better positioned to reap the rewards of the circular economy.

“The circular economy depends on the strength of networks including customers, manufacturers, competitors, employees and regulators who are all aligned to sustainability goals,” says Bolton. “The organisations that lead with their circular economy efforts unlock a range of business benefits that include increased customer loyalty (74%) and innovation (79%), better brand reputation (80%), new revenue streams (70%) and reduced costs (59%).”

Bringing profitability and sustainability closer

Bolton adds that organisations can close the gap between sustainability and profitability by enhancing the impact of their sustainability efforts. “Research show five key areas of focus for organisations that want to overcome sustainability challenges and move into the Leaders category.”

The five key areas of focus include:

1. Driving sustainability from the top down through executive sponsorship. “Effective sustainability efforts start with an explicit plan driven from the top down and clearly communicated by company leadership,” says Bolton.
2. Providing clear, consistent communication that permeates every layer of the organisation. “Sustainability efforts may start at the top, but for any such effort to succeed, it needs to be adopted and driven by employees throughout the organisation. Establishing clear goals can also drive better sustainability performance among teams.”
3. Integrating processes, technology and data to provide a unified view of the organisation’s total sustainability performance. “Most businesses have not put sustainability at the centre of their strategies, which leads to disconnected or siloed processes that can hamper strategic planning and create discord between financial and non-financial information. By unifying these assets, organisations gain greater visibility into their sustainability performance and progress.”
4. Putting data at the centre of sustainability. “Data is critical,” says Bolton. “Organisations gain vital insight into resources and efficiency by capturing and analysing data. In addition, data helps measure sustainability outcomes and can point to areas for improvement.”
5. Extending sustainable practices to customers, partners and suppliers. “Sustainability is a team sport that requires participation across the entire supply chain,” says Bolton. “For example, more than a third (36%) of executives don’t view using sustainable energy providers as important to their carbon-reduction goals, despite the enormous impact energy providers have on overall sustainability practices. Getting internal and external stakeholders aligned around core sustainability goals can unlock the network effect and greatly enhance sustainability outcomes.”

The post How to Close the Gap Between Sustainability and Profitability appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.

听The massive increase in online activity due to the coronavirus pandemic has created a customer data gold mine that advertisers and marketers can leverage to better tailor their campaigns. But as of 1 July 2021, accessing, and making use of, this personal information is set to get a little bit more complicated. Why? Because that鈥檚 when businesses need to start complying with South Africa鈥檚 Protection of Personal Privacy Act (POPIA), which sets out various conditions that must be followed in order to lawfully process personal information.

Global and local privacy legislation like the General Data Protection Regulation听(GDPR) and the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA) dictates that for brands to use this personal data, there needs to be an element of customer consent. With the power now sitting in the customer鈥檚 hands, individuals have greater control over how their data is collected and used. But what does this mean for brands and advertisers who have predominantly been using third party cookie data to identify consumers and track their online activity?

While POPIA does not explicitly regulate the use of cookies, these 鈥渙nline identifiers鈥� do fall under the definition of personal information. As such, how we use cookie data is set to fundamentally change; particularly relating to the collection of third-party data.

Third-party cookies听allow advertisers to track users as they move across the Internet and target advertising at these individuals wherever they go. 鈥淲ith global privacy legislation gaining traction, the likes of Google and other providers are fundamentally changing how they use cookie data to collect customer related information. Subsequently, third party cookie data becomes less relevant and first party data 鈥� rich data around an individual鈥檚 behaviours; actions and interests demonstrated across online properties – becomes significantly more powerful,鈥� explains Marc Emert, Customer Experience Sale Lead for 51风流Africa.

Add a dash of customer data management

Privacy legislation like POPIA doesn鈥檛 prevent you from collecting customer data, continues Emert. But it does mean that any data collection must be done in a GDPR/POPIA aligned manner. 鈥淕oing forward, while you鈥檙e collecting this rich, contextual data that can be used for marketing engagements and targeted advertising, you need to also make sure that you鈥檙e collecting the consent directly from the customer. If a marketer or brand is sending something to a consumer, they鈥檙e sending it because that person has opted in to receive it.鈥�

SAP鈥檚 Customer Data Cloud (CDC) solution makes the process of gaining this consent easier, he adds. 鈥淲ith CDC, marketers and brands can gather first party data from customers across various digital channels and make sure that they are also securing consent throughout the engagement process. Customer provided consent is then integrated into an existing automated marketing solution, which delivers one-to-one personalisation at scale and is based on trust.鈥�

CDC also makes progressive profiling possible, adds Emert. As a customer engages with a brand, they鈥檙e being asked to provide different pockets of information about themselves, he says. So, while I鈥檓 selling a mother a certain type of baby formula for her new-born, I鈥檓 gaining insights that allow me to market other products to this mom as her baby grows up.听 鈥淏asically, you鈥檙e progressively collating more and more first party data that can be used to engage with customers broadly and through different stages of their lives.鈥� And the results speak for themselves.

SAP鈥檚 CDC has helped a global academic and educational publisher manage the data of over 4.5 million users and achieve 100% GDPR compliance in 40 countries. And in just four months, a German supermarket chain got up and running on the 51风流CDC system, centralising omnichannel customer data to GDPR standards and boosting membership to their loyalty programme by 25%.

鈥淪imilarly, for three years the Technology Centre of Excellence team in Wunderman Thompson South Africa has been using SAP鈥檚 CDC solution to do just that鈥�, notes Niel Mouton, MD of Wunderman Thompson Technology SA. 鈥淗ome to over 4,000 technology specialists across the globe with 54 technology centres in 33 countries, we support forward thinking businesses to design, build, run and operate digital programmes wherever they are.鈥�

鈥淲ith the onus in a cookieless world now falling on brands to collect and build their own first party data, Wunderman Thompson has used SAPS鈥檚 CDC solution across 30 implementations for brands like Nestle Purina, Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Colgate and the International Olympic Committee (IOC). 听Our teams used 51风流CDC to create customised solutions for their clients, allowing these businesses to collect first party data, while protecting privacy and complying with personal information legislation,鈥� he continues.

According to Mouton, conversations around privacy, data collection and POPIA/GDPR centre around trust, which is fitting because the Wunderman Thompson partnership with 51风流is also about trust. 鈥淲ith SAP, we can trust the quality and standard of the product. There are no teething issues on a product as mature as this. All we have to do is understand the client鈥檚 business need and adapt the 51风流product to their requirements.鈥�

While Mouton admits that it would be possible to be compliant without a solution like CDC, it鈥檚 near impossible for enterprise businesses like banks or pharmaceutical companies to manage the scale of personal data they鈥檙e dealing with, while keeping their customers and their business safe, without an automated offering.

Customer experience has become a major market differentiator. The following white paper highlights why modern businesses need to understand the importance of customer identity. to find out more.

The post And That鈥檚 How the Marketing Cookie Crumbles appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.

There鈥檚 no substitute for just getting on with the task at hand, whether training for the first leg of the Tour Du France or crossing the actual finish line. But getting on with it also requires preparation and planning, including the benefit of advice, insight, and experience. It is the same when plotting a digital transformation journey.

Like any multi-stage event, each of us will take our own route, change gears at our own pace, and make pit stops along the way based on our own specific circumstances and environments.

In the same way that there are multiple stages and routes to get each of us across our own finish line, the multi-stage journey to 51风流S/4HANA is unique to each company.

This is why 51风流has been running a comprehensive , outlining the step-by-step map for transitioning to the modern digital platform of 51风流S/4HANA 听at your own pace.

Leading authorities on making the move to 51风流S/4HANA came together to help ensure each transition is as straight-forward as possible, regardless of IT landscape or legacy overheads. This five-part series shows how to make the transition with less risk and at a higher speed, as well as the best ways to tackle common issues around data quality and data migration, carrying over custom code and business partner conversion 鈥� all within budget and timeline constraints.

The data transformation requirements that help get data clean 鈥� including data preparation, quality, and migration 鈥� before you go live with 51风流S/4HANA are explained in depth, as well as how to keep data clean in day-to-day activities and operations through master data management once live.

Protecting and moving customizations, integrating the landscape, and managing extensions and innovations in the cloud with low code development are all looked at. And the series shows how to modernize a data strategy and platform, factoring in the data lake, as well as reporting directly from within applications.

To grease the digital wheels of business automation, new ways of integrating enterprise data with disparate types of Big Data across different data stores are mapped out, while preserving data security, integrity, and consistency.

But 51风流knows there is no substitute for customer experience. So three customers 鈥� all at different stages of their own digital journey toward 51风流S/4 HANA 鈥� share their experiences, tips, and advice.

• Tetra Pak outlined its successful data Transformation journey around mastering automation and data efficiencies, which is now the foundation for the next stage.
• Neste discussed how it is becoming an intelligent enterprise through real-time analytics and automated business processes.
• Vinci Energies showed how it has embraced data-driven innovations in 51风流S/4HANA, such as robotic process automation, next-generation analytics, and mobile business processes.

The response from customers who have watched the webinars and implemented the advice has been hugely positive. If you did not catch the full series the first time, you can .

In addition to how-to steps from 51风流experts, partners, and customers, you can also see just how easy it is to create intelligent, mobile-ready applications to better serve customers, modernize business processes, and compete more effectively.

When the world is busy transforming around you, it鈥檚 never too late to start but it鈥檚 always too late to wait. Have a great journey!

Gerd Danner is vice president of the EMEA Center of Excellence for Information Management and Intelligent Suite Surround lead at SAP.

This article first appeared on the 51风流News Center.

The post Move to 51风流S/4HANA: Never Too Late to Start appeared first on 51风流Africa News Center.