Corporate Archives - 51��Africa News Center

51��Africa Partner Awards Recognise Outstanding Contributions to Continent’s Digital Transformation, AI Ambitions

51��News — Mon, 09 Mar 2026 07:11:36 +0000

CAPE TOWN, South Africa — March 3rd, 2026 — 51��today revealed the winners of this year’s at an event held in Stellenbosch.

, Managing Director for Southern Africa at SAP, says the role of partners has never been more critical. “Organisations across the continent are redesigning processes, embedding intelligence into core systems, and reimagining how value is created. Success requires deep industry expertise, AI capabilities and the ability to translate innovation into measurable business outcomes. As a partner-led organisation, 51��is proud to work alongside a thriving ecosystem of expert partners who help bring Business AI, clean core ERP and intelligent automation to life, enabling our customers to become more resilient, more profitable and better prepared for the future.”

The 51��Africa Partner Awards recognise excellence within SAP’s partner ecosystem across eight distinct categories. Winners are evaluated according to strict criteria, with a focus on partner organisations that help clients throughout Africa transform their capabilities and smooth the way to the adoption of powerful new technologies such as AI.

According to , Chief Partner Officer for MEA South at SAP, the winners at this year’s 51��Africa Partner Award represent the highest standards of excellence, innovation and commitment in advancing the technology ambitions of organisations across the continent. “Our partners play a vital role in translating strategy into execution and innovation into measurable business value. We are proud to work alongside such a strong and trusted ecosystem as we collectively support Africa’s ongoing digital transformation journey.”

The winning companies at the 2026 51��Africa Partner Awards include:

and, winners of the Customer Transformation: Corporate category, which recognises sales excellence in the corporate segment that fosters ambitious business planning, in their respective regions.
, winner of the Customer Transformation: Large Enterprise category for its excellence in amplifying SAP’s large enterprise strategy by offering 51��Business Suite and helping deliver large-scale transformation.
Tano Digital Solutions (Southern Africa) and, winners in the Customer Transformation: Partner-Led Territories category which recognises partners that actively invests and creates value by focusing on customer lifetime value across the customer value journey.
, winner in the Customer Success Management category, for partners that exceed in consistently delivering value to customers and helping ensure customers achieved the desired outcomes while using 51��products and services.
and (Emerging Africa), winners in the 51��Cloud ERP: New Customer Acquisition category which recognises partners that have successfully brought in net-new-name customers to begin an innovation journey with 51��Cloud ERP solutions.
, winner in the 51��Business AI: Customer Adoption category which recognises leaders in SAP’s partner ecosystem based on the activation and consumption of embedded AI features in cloud solutions from 51��in their customer base.
, winner in the Managed Service Provider: Top Performance category, awarded to top-performing managed service providers based on deals closed and growth in annual contract value.
in the Partner Solution Success category, which recognises a partner solution that successfully delivers ongoing customer value by extending the 51��solution portfolio, as evidenced by customer demand and solution sales.

��Pillay adds: “In an era defined by embedded AI and autonomous enterprise architectures, no organisation can transform in isolation. We look forward to continuing our vital work with our partner ecosystem as African organisations build the capabilities they’ll need to compete and succeed in the years ahead.”

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What Digital Sovereignty Really Means in a Fragmented World

51��News — Tue, 24 Feb 2026 07:08:47 +0000

In today’s climate of geopolitical uncertainty and technological competition, it is both natural and necessary for nations to seek greater control over their digital futures.

The real issue is not whether countries should pursue digital sovereignty in critical sectors, but how best to achieve it, says Christian Klein, CEO of 51��SE.

Digital sovereignty is now a fundamental national security capability worldwide. In Europe, secure data, resilient operations and legal control form the backbone of stability and crisis preparedness.

From Klein’s perspective, digital sovereignty is understood across four dimensions: data, operational, technical and legal, supported by verifiable governance and transparency over critical operations. However, a lack of agreement on how to define sovereignty is impeding Europe’s ability to deploy secure digital systems and is slowing digital transformation across public services and regulated industries.

“Across Europe, and increasingly across the global technology landscape, digital sovereignty is interpreted in different and sometimes conflicting ways. This lack of alignment creates uncertainty for public authorities, regulated industries and technology providers. It directly undermines the adoption of cloud, AI and mission-critical digital services.”

Regulatory complexity and lack of harmonisation risk turning sovereignty into a barrier instead of an enabler of innovation, particularly when each country defines its own implementation model. AI adoption depends on trust, and if governments and regulated industries cannot use AI securely, they risk falling behind in an increasingly competitive global environment.

Klein emphasises that integrating global technologies ― within European legal and operational frameworks ― can boost AI adoption and strengthen Europe’s position in responsible innovation that is both competitive and compliant.

“From my perspective, digital sovereignty means the ability to exercise choice, control and governance across data, operational, technical and legal layers,” he says.

“This is not about technological isolation or excluding global partners. Europe must remain open to innovation and international cooperation.

“However, openness must be anchored in enforceable European law, clear accountability and auditable operational control. In practical terms, credible sovereignty means public authorities can verify where data is processed, who operates critical systems, which legal framework applies and who is accountable at every level.

“Without this clarity, sovereignty risks remaining a political concept rather than a reliable basis for trust, compliance and innovation, especially for AI-driven solutions.”

When we talk about digital sovereignty, he says too often the focus is on where the infrastructure is located. The reality is that digital sovereignty goes far beyond that. Infrastructure alone does not address the full risk profile.

Security and resilience depend equally on governance: who controls the software stack, who operates the platforms, and who bears legal and operational responsibility. If these questions are not clearly resolved, risks persist even when the infrastructure is physically located in a given jurisdiction.

“Sovereignty washing” ― where compliance claims are not supported by verifiable controls ― creates false assurance and weakens public trust. Sovereignty must be demonstrated in practice, through auditability, effective supervision and clearly assigned responsibilities across the entire digital value chain from data generation to AI inference.

From a governance perspective, the priority is to shift the focus from infrastructure alone to transparency, accountability and enforceable oversight.

Klein says European innovation needs a supportive environment to thrive, with legislation that encourages progress rather than holding it back. Such an environment includes one unified definition of technological sovereignty in the European Single Market, ensuring harmonized and practical implementation of EU law, such as the AI Act and Data Act, and building out clear, sector-specific requirements��that industry and public authorities can implement at scale.

Europe has established strong regulatory foundations, notably through GDPR and the AI Act. The central challenge now lies in consistent implementation and deployment at scale. Public administrations and regulated sectors require sovereign cloud and AI solutions that are operational, compliant and ready for use.

Experience from public services and critical industries shows that AI can be deployed at scale while remaining fully aligned with EU law, including data protection, operational control and security requirements.

This can be achieved through partnerships that provide sovereign cloud environments where customers retain control over data access, operations and legal jurisdiction. AI is essential to improving efficiency, quality and responsiveness in public services, but adoption depends on trust.

If public authorities cannot deploy AI in a secure and lawful manner, innovation will stall. Sovereign cloud and AI are therefore essential enablers for translating Europe’s regulatory leadership into tangible economic and societal outcomes.

Europe’s competitive advantage lies in applied innovation, not in replicating global hyperscale infrastructure. Attempting to rebuild complete technology stacks domestically would be costly, inefficient and would slow down digital transformation. A more effective policy approach is to integrate global technologies within European legal, operational and accountability frameworks.

This enables Europe to benefit from global innovation while ensuring control under EU law. This model combines global technology partnerships with European governance, compliance and operational transparency. Europe should support and scale such integration models, rather than encourage technological isolation. When properly designed, this kind of openness and control would reinforce Europe’s long-term competitiveness and resilience.

How can Europe integrate global technology while retaining control?

Public institutions and regulated organisations across Europe are operating in a context of geopolitical uncertainty, increasing cyber risk and rapid technological change. They need trusted partners that combine technological scale with regulatory expertise and long-term stability.

51��contributes to this shift by delivering sovereignty across data, operational, technical and legal dimensions. We support public administrations and regulated industries in modernizing core systems, migrating securely to the cloud and deploying AI responsibly.

This includes clear audit trails, operational transparency, and contractual safeguards that give customers confidence in who controls their systems and data.

Because 51��underpins many of Europe’s most critical public- and private-sector processes, we recognize that sovereignty cannot be added retrospectively. It must be designed into digital systems from the outset.

This is where SAP’s experience and long-standing engagement with European institutions provide value.

At SAP, we support interoperable, partnership-based approaches governed by clear rules and accountability. These models enable faster adoption, reduce fragmentation and enhance resilience. For policymakers, fostering such ecosystems is more effective than prescribing specific technologies.

Digital sovereignty cannot be achieved by individual actors alone. It depends on ecosystems, cooperation and shared responsibility.

Sovereignty and innovation are complementary objectives. Without secure and accountable frameworks, AI adoption will remain constrained. But if Europe gets digital sovereignty right, it strengthens resilience, competitiveness and public trust simultaneously.

It accelerates the responsible use of AI across health care, government, manufacturing, and financial services.

Achieving this balance positions Europe as a credible model and leader for applied, responsible innovation. It demonstrates that advanced technologies can scale without compromising legal certainty or societal trust.

This article first appeared on .

The post What Digital Sovereignty Really Means in a Fragmented World appeared first on 51��Africa News Center.

51��Young Professionals Program Botswana 2026

51��News — Wed, 21 Jan 2026 10:48:01 +0000

The 51��Young Professionals Program

The 51��Young Professionals Program is a free initiative delivered by the Digital Skills Center of SAP. The program, which lasts for 2 months, is designed to give recent graduates the certifications and soft skills required to begin a career as an 51��Associate Consultant. At the end of the training, 51��will work very closely with the program graduates to introduce them to a host of opportunities with 51��customers and partners to work as an 51��Consultant.

51��Consultants

The role of an 51��Consultant can be divided into two functions: Functional and Technical.

The consultant will contribute to blueprinting, design, implementation, operation, optimization, and upgrade phase of a S/4 HANA project, and provide business process as well as functional expertise, and project guidance to our clients to ensure their investment in 51��software and consulting services will make their business the best run business.

The Consultant is also responsible for maintaining a high degree of customer satisfaction in each of their accounts in addition to growing and developing referenceable customers through their investigation, analysis, consulting, coaching, knowledge transfer, and relationship-building efforts.

Certificate Information

SAP’s End-to-End (E2E) Business Processes��represent the complete journey of a business function, ensuring seamless interaction between different departments without fragmentation. These processes integrate sales, supply chain, finance, procurement, and HR into one continuous and intelligent workflow—eliminating data silos, inefficiencies, and bottlenecks.

How You Benefit

Start your journey to become an 51��Consultant;
Gain globally-recognised associate-level 51��Certifications;
Learn directly from 51��experts;
Experience classroom and workshop-based training in 51��Technologies;
Develop the soft skills needed to prepare you for successful job applications;
Benefit from introductions to job opportunities within the 51��Ecosystem to help secure a position after the training. Please note this program does not guarantee you a job at the end of it.

What We Require From a Candidate

Candidates must have the legal right to work in Botswana.
Candidates must be currently unemployed or employed in a part time/non-permanent role not related to career aspirations;
Candidates must be educated to at least Bachelor level in a field related��to��Business Administration / Management Information Systems / Engineering /��Data Science / AI
Candidates will preferably have graduated within the last 3 years with a GPA in the top quartile – proof of this may be requested.
Candidates must have a keen interest in starting an SAP-related career involving travel;
Candidates should be fluent in English, both written and spoken;
The program will commence by 12 February 2026��and full-time availability from 9am – 6pm from��Monday – Friday��throughout the training period is essential. The Program will last for 2 months.
This training will take place online in a virtual live classroom format. Please ensure you have strong enough internet at home to be able to participate in this program.

Please share an English version of your resume while applying for this program.

Bring out your best

51��innovations help more than four hundred thousand customers worldwide work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively. Originally known for leadership in enterprise resource planning (ERP) software, 51��has evolved to become a market leader in end-to-end business application software and related services for database, analytics, intelligent technologies, and experience management. As a cloud company with two hundred million users and more than one hundred thousand employees worldwide, we are purpose-driven and future-focused, with a highly collaborative team ethic and commitment to personal development. Whether connecting global industries, people, or platforms, we help ensure every challenge gets the solution it deserves. At SAP, you can bring out your best.

We win with inclusion

SAP’s culture of inclusion, focus on health and well-being, and flexible working models help ensure that everyone – regardless of background – feels included and can run at their best. At SAP, we believe we are made stronger by the unique capabilities and qualities that each person brings to our company, and we invest in our employees to inspire confidence and help everyone realize their full potential. We ultimately believe in unleashing all talent and creating a better world.

51��is committed to the values of Equal Employment Opportunity and provides accessibility accommodations to applicants with physical and/or mental disabilities. If you are interested in applying for employment with 51��and are in need of accommodation or special assistance to navigate our website or to complete your application, please send an e-mail with your request to Recruiting Operations Team: Careers@sap.com.

For 51��employees: Only permanent roles are eligible for the��, according to the eligibility rules set in the 51��Referral Policy. Specific conditions may apply for roles in Vocational Training.

Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to their age, race, religion, national origin, ethnicity,�� gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, et al), sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, protected veteran status, or disability, in compliance with applicable federal, state, and local legal requirements.

Successful candidates might be required to undergo a background verification with an external vendor.

AI Usage in the Recruitment Process

For information on the responsible use of AI in our recruitment process, please refer to our��.

Please note that any violation of these guidelines may result in disqualification from the hiring process.

Job Segment:��ERP, SAP, Compliance, Cloud, Supply Chain, Technology, Legal, Operations

For more information on how to apply, .

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Urgent Need for AI Skills Development Accelerates Across Africa

Ashley Lechman — Mon, 05 Jan 2026 07:20:59 +0000

As Africa stands at the crossroads of AI innovation and workforce development, organisations face a pivotal moment. Will they rise to the occasion and rally their resources to cultivate the necessary skills, or risk falling behind? As businesses and youth alike embrace the potential of AI, the call to action has never been clearer.

In a rapidly evolving technological landscape, African organisations are recognising the necessity to enhance their traditional IT skills amidst the accelerating adoption of artificial intelligence (AI).

A new report by 51��indicated that two-thirds of organisations in Africa are proactively introducing career development initiatives with AI specialisation aimed at upskilling or reskilling their current workforce.

This initiative is viewed as a crucial response to the looming demands of the AI era.

Genevieve Koolen, HR Director at 51��Africa, emphasised the urgency for AI-related skills among companies operating on the continent.

“There is a near-universal need for AI-related skills among African companies this year,” she stated.

As companies navigate the dual challenges of attracting and retaining traditional tech talent while simultaneously fostering AI capabilities, career development opportunities have become paramount.

With traditional IT skills in high demand, particularly in cloud and cybersecurity, it’s clear why most organisations are focusing on enhancing their workforce’s capabilities in AI.

The ‘Africa’s AI Skills Readiness Revealed’ report released by 51��highlights that surveyed companies anticipate a significant spike in demand for AI skills by 2025.

Nearly half of the participants expect a noteworthy increase, underscoring the frenetic pace of digital transformation within the continent.

With Africa boasting a burgeoning youth population, the urgency for policymakers and educational institutions to fast-track AI skills development is more pronounced than ever. Koolen points out that “38% of companies surveyed consider the reskilling of employees a top skills-related challenge for them in 2025, while nearly half echo the same sentiment regarding upskilling.”

This sentiment is echoed by two-thirds of organisations that prioritise helping employees understand the necessity of reskilling.

Wide-reaching impacts of skills shortages

The implications of a skilled workforce in AI could be monumental, with some forecasts suggesting that AI could inject $1.5 trillion into Africa’s economy by 2030, provided the continent can secure 10% of the global AI market.

Companies are beginning to grasp the myriad possibilities stemming from AI innovations.

They cite perceived benefits including improved decision-making (64%), enhanced marketing capabilities (51%), and spurred innovation (47%).

Nevertheless, the undercurrent of skills scarcity is already manifesting in detrimental ways, leading to failed innovation initiatives, delayed project completions, heightened team pressure, and an inability to pursue new client projects. In response, organizations are increasing training frequency, with 94% now offering training at least monthly.

However, despite this training push, concerns are rising regarding declining budgets for skills development.

A stark observation from SAP’s research reveals that no organisation surveyed in 2023 allocated more than 10% of their HR or IT budgets to skills development—a decrease from the previous year’s quarter of organisations that spent over 15%.

Strategies for building an AI-capable workforce

While the full impact of AI on Africa’s workforce remains speculative, Koolen outlines several practical measures companies can adopt:

Be prepared:��Companies must ready themselves for an imminent shortage of critical AI-related skills. A pragmatic approach that melds long-term reskilling and upskilling strategies with immediate, short-term measures is essential to successfully navigate this transitional phase.
Prioritise training:��The shrinking budget for training is concerning. Koolen warns that insufficient investment in skills development could lead to failed digital transformation initiatives, eroding competitiveness and ultimately affecting the bottom line.
Partner well:��With systemic challenges surfacing in equipping youth with work-ready skills, collaborative public-private partnerships can accelerate the pace of skills availability. Moreover, collaboration with technology vendors can enhance organisations’ capacity to support AI-led innovations.

In a world where technological prowess can dictate economic success, it is paramount for African organisations to take informed, decisive steps towards fostering an AI-ready workforce.

The message is clear: investing in skills now is not just an option, it’s a necessity for future resilience and growth.

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Future Founder SA Celebrates Young Innovators on a Day Honouring Nelson Mandela’s Legacy

51��News — Wed, 10 Dec 2025 11:41:35 +0000

On 5 December, 51��hosted the , a youth entrepreneurship initiative supported by , ’s and . The event took place on the anniversary of Nelson Mandela’s passing in 2013, a fitting reminder of his belief that “The youth of today are the leaders of tomorrow.”

In recent months, young entrepreneurs from across South Africa have taken part in the Future Founder SA Programme, gaining real-world experience, mentorship and start-up capital. The finalists presented ventures shaped by lived experience and a commitment to solving meaningful community and industry challenges. A total of R400 000 in equity-free funding was awarded: R250 000 from 51��and R150 000 from FNB.

2025 Winners
• 1^ST Percy Maphologela, EquiXToken
• 2^ND Shantel Tafara, RapidCool
• 3^RD Thando Mzimela, Univio

“Nelson Mandela taught us that the soul of a society is revealed in how it treats its young people,” said , Director of Government Relations and CSR at 51��Africa. “By investing in youth innovation, we build a stronger and more hopeful future.”

The showcase also highlighted the leadership of and from Yoma, whose commitment and vision have shaped the programme. They have poured their hearts, energy, and vision into shaping Future Founder SA. Their belief in young people isn’t theoretical, it’s lived, practical, and courageous. Their work reminds us that when young people lead, others follow. They represent something rare and truly inspiring: youth advocating for youth.

“This is what happens when young people lead. They build, they create and they define the future,” said , Global Revenue Office Operational Excellence Lead and 51��Educate to Employ Africa Lead.

Nonkululeko added: “Young founders are not asking for charity. They are asking for a fair chance. Their courage reminds us that possibility grows wherever young people are trusted and supported.”

The programme is delivered by Yoma in partnership with Goodwall, ALX Ventures and RLabs, with strategic support from 51��and Generation Unlimited. It offers structured skills development, expert-led masterclasses and access to funding, fully online and accessible nationwide.

A special acknowledgement was given to FNB and , Marketing Executive Head: Commercial Segment, for their partnership. Over and above the R150 000 donation towards the capital. On the 4^th of December , the Future Founder SA finalists shared the stage with some of the country’s most recognised digital innovators, including Checkers Sixty60 and D6 along with the ultimate winner, Vula Medical, stands as a powerful example of purpose at scale.

FNB continues to demonstrate its commitment to youth innovation. Following the 2025 T20 Future of Jobs Summit, 51��and FNB began a series of meaningful engagements which led to this moment. Their collaboration is a reminder that when institutions unite behind young people, progress not only happens, it accelerates.

As South Africa continues to face high youth unemployment, the Future Founder SA Showcase stands as a powerful testament to collaboration, innovation and the impact of investing in the country’s young entrepreneurs.

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Africa’s Social Enterprises Generate $96bn and 12 Million Jobs, WEF-backed Report Reveals

Siphelele Dludla — Thu, 20 Nov 2025 06:59:56 +0000

Africa’s social enterprises are emerging as one of the continent’s most powerful engines for inclusive growth, job creation and community development.

This is according to a landmark report released by the in partnership with the , the , , the and .

The report, , provides the most comprehensive mapping of the continent’s social enterprise landscape to date.

The study aims to generate robust evidence on the size, scope and characteristics of social enterprises across Africa, examine the contribution of social enterprises to inclusive and sustainable development, strengthen the evidence base on social enterprise, and provide actionable recommendations to build stronger social enterprise ecosystems and support mechanisms to deepen their impact.

It estimates that Africa is home to 2.18 million social enterprises, representing 17% of all businesses with employees. Collectively, these enterprises generate at least $96 billion in annual revenue, equivalent to 3.2% of Africa’s GDP, and support 12 million jobs directly.

Social enterprises, mission-driven businesses using commercial tools to address social or environmental challenges, are increasingly filling gaps left by shrinking development aid, sluggish economic growth and persistent inequalities.

The data reveals a surge of women and youth at the helm of Africa’s purpose-driven economy. More than 55% of social enterprises surveyed are women-led, far above the 15–30% seen in traditional business sectors.

Youth leadership is equally prominent, with one in three social enterprises led by founders under 35.

“These findings show a profound shift in how African women and young people are redefining entrepreneurship,” the report notes. “They are using business not just to earn income, but to solve the continent’s most pressing challenges.”

Social enterprises create jobs that are both meaningful and inclusive. More than 91% employ youth, 82% employ women and 23% employ people with disabilities. Many operate in rural and peri-urban areas where formal employment is scarce.

Sectors with the highest concentration of social enterprises include education (21%), agriculture (15%) and health and well-being (12%)—areas closely linked to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Although 64% of social enterprises turned a profit or surplus last year, the report warns that access to finance remains the single biggest barrier to growth.

Nearly half of all surveyed enterprises sought external funding, but only a third succeeded. Grants remain the most accessible capital, while bank loans and impact investment remain out of reach for many, especially informal businesses.

Across the continent, one in two social enterprises report low solvency, highlighting the urgency for better financial instruments, policy support and ecosystem strengthening.

The release of the report follows a major milestone earlier this year: the African Union’s adoption of the first-ever 10-Year Social and Solidarity Economy Strategy, which aims to position social enterprises as central to Africa’s development architecture.

Countries such as Cameroon, Senegal, Morocco and Tunisia have already enacted national SSE laws, while South Africa and Ghana have draft policies underway.

The report recommends five priorities to unlock the sector’s full potential: create enabling ecosystems, expand access to capital, invest in skills, forge cross-sector partnerships and improve data collection.

At a time when global aid is shrinking and development challenges are deepening, the authors argue that social enterprises offer Africa a pathway that is both locally led and economically sustainable.

“Social enterprises are demonstrating that the future of business lies in purpose – in the ability to solve problems that markets and governments alone cannot,” writes Motsepe Foundation CEO in the foreword.

“Across the continent, social entrepreneurs are creating new pathways for shared prosperity, rooted in local knowledge, community solidarity and a deep sense of shared responsibility. Their work shows that development can be both self-determined and globally relevant.”

This article first appeared in .

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AP Empowers Developers to Drive the Business AI Revolution

51��News — Wed, 05 Nov 2025 07:01:19 +0000

Innovations and partnerships including a new collaboration with Snowflake equip developers to turn business data and AI into real business outcomes.

BERLIN��— At 51��TechEd in 2025,�� (NYSE: SAP) brings AI deep into the development process to level up how developers build.

New AI-driven capabilities in the 51��Build solution, an expanding data ecosystem and powerful Joule Agents empower developers to move from idea to impact with unprecedented speed and confidence. As AI transforms the nature of professional work, 51��also pledges to equip 12 million people worldwide with AI-ready skills by 2030.

“SAP’s announcements today give developers the tools they need to deliver at the speed of AI,” said Muhammad Alam, member of the Executive Board of 51��SE. “Innovations across SAP’s unique flywheel of applications, data and AI put developers in the driver’s seat — where they belong.”

Opening the Developer Ecosystem

51��Build, the company’s flagship solution for enterprise application development and automation, now gives developers more freedom to build, extend and automate using the tools they love most.

For instance, developers who prefer agentic development solutions like Cursor, Claude Code, Cline and Windsurf can now use 51��development frameworks with new 51��Build local Model Context Protocol Servers. Visual Studio Code users will be able to access 51��Build capabilities directly in their development environment with a new 51��Build extension. This extension will also be made available later on Open VSX Registry for other development environments. 51��and n8n also announced plans for an integration so Joule Studio agents and n8n agents can work together.

And with new agent building capabilities in Joule Studio, developers have the tools they need to extend SAP’s ready-to-use agents and build new agents grounded in 51��business data and context that can act autonomously based on changing business conditions.

Putting Data to Work

Every intelligent application starts with trusted data. 51��is giving developers more ways to put that data to work through 51��Business Data Cloud.

The solution now connects with more of the data and AI platforms developers use every day. A new 51��Snowflake solution extension for 51��Business Data Cloud brings Snowflake’s fully managed data and AI capabilities directly to 51��customers, giving them the flexibility to choose the right compute and storage for each data and AI workload, while maintaining governance, interoperability and business context. 51��also announced a new 51��Business Data Cloud Connect partnership with Snowflake. This complements existing integrations with Databricks and Google Cloud, giving developers more freedom to choose how they work with 51��data.

With a new data product studio capability in 51��Business Data Cloud, developers can turn raw data into ready-to-use assets known as data products that support analytics, AI and application development.

An expanded capability in the 51��HANA Cloud knowledge graph engine can automatically generate knowledge graphs. This capability maps relationships across 51��database tables, columns and data models, revealing how data fits together and why it matters. Developers will be able to see how their data connects across systems and uncover underlying business insights.

Bringing AI Autonomy to Life

51��is evolving its AI portfolio to give developers the intelligence and orchestration power they need to take��AI from insight to action.

51��introduced its first enterprise relational foundation model, a new class of AI that predicts business outcomes rather than the next word in a sentence. SAP-RPT-1, or the first-generation Relational Pre-trained Transformer, can make fast and accurate predictions for common business scenarios like delivery delays, payment risk or sales order completion. 51��launched a free playground environment for developers today.

New AI assistants in Joule coordinate multiple agents across workflows, departments and applications, bringing automation and autonomy to life. These assistants plan, initiate and complete complex tasks spanning finance, supply chain, HR and beyond. Today, 51��introduces new agents built for technical users. For example, an agent for business process analysis will help teams understand how processes run, identify inefficiencies and uncover opportunities to optimize workflows and drive measurable improvements.

Lastly, as AI changes the nature of work for everyone, 51��is pledging to equip 12 million people worldwide with AI-ready skills by 2030. 51��will expand hands-on training and certification programs that integrate practical AI-ready tools, including through its partnership with online learning platform Coursera.

Visit the��. Get 51��news via��and��.

About SAP

As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 51��(NYSE:SAP) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted 51��to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit .

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United States Only: 1 (800) 872-151��(1-800-872-1727)

For more information, press only:
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This document contains forward-looking statements, which are predictions, projections, or other statements about future events. These statements are based on current expectations, forecasts, and assumptions that are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results and outcomes to materially differ. Additional information regarding these risks and uncertainties may be found in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to the risk factors section of SAP’s 2024 Annual Report on Form 20-F.
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AI Is the Growth Engine Leaders Are Betting On

Manos Raptopoulos — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 07:42:04 +0000

Growth, simplification, and artificial intelligence (AI) are no longer optional. That is the unmistakable signal from SAP’s Global Business Priorities Study, which surveyed nearly 12,000 executives across 20 markets and 31 industries. The results capture both urgency and possibility.

Across the world, 95 percent of companies say growth is a priority for the year ahead. Their top focus areas—including expanding market presence, broadening distribution through partners, and scaling operations—speak to leaders’ determination to create value in a climate of uncertainty and change.

In my engagements with customers, I see this reality every day. Companies everywhere want to grow, but they want to grow with confidence. They are looking for partners who understand their unique challenges, who support them with their long-term ambitions, and who can help them keep pace with rapid change.

Technology is central to this ambition. Nearly all respondents in the study rank simplifying work and improving processes alongside growth. Here, artificial intelligence stands out. Nine in 10 organizations have already made generative or agent-based AI a priority, and more than 70 percent have some form of AI in use. While concerns about data quality and talent remain, the message is clear: AI has moved beyond experimentation into the mainstream of how companies operate and unleash value.

From Frankfurt to Dubai to Singapore: How regional differences shape opportunities and risks

Regional differences tell a powerful story. In Europe, AI adoption comes with caution. Large enterprises put compliance, privacy, and transparency first, while many mid-market firms are still piloting solutions. In Asia-Pacific, the pace is different. Mid-market companies there already report strong AI use above global averages, and growth expectations run high. For them, AI is a way to seize advantage quickly in a fast-moving market.

These contrasts show why cultural intelligence matters so much for global leaders. Whether in Frankfurt, Singapore, or Dubai, I see how local realities, regulations, and expectations shape both risks and opportunities. In Europe, energy costs and geopolitical uncertainty drive supply chain strategies. In Asia-Pacific, digital adoption and market dynamism set a different pace.

Sustainability is another area where nuance matters. European companies place it near the top of their priorities, tracking or slightly exceeding global benchmarks. Asia-Pacific firms value sustainability but often rank it lower than growth and speed to market. Each is weighing trade-offs in its own context, creating exciting opportunities for 51��to bring the most relevant technology, data, and practices to each region to help organizations achieve both economic and environmental goals.

The through-line in all of this is agility. Supply chain fragility, geopolitical conflict, inflation, and regulation continue to test even the best-run organizations. Technology can enable agility, but only if leaders embrace change themselves, rethinking processes, investing in skills, and building cultures of continuous learning and exploration. Security and ethical standards must also be the cornerstones of every AI conversation.

Turning AI potential into outcomes by centering value creation and integration

I believe this is a time for grounded optimism. The appetite for growth is real and the technology to achieve it is more advanced than ever. Innovation is accelerating at an extraordinary pace, with daily breakthroughs showcasing the expanding potential of AI.

There is a recent example that demonstrates AI’s ability to process multi-step tasks for over 30 hours. This achievement highlights not only the rapid evolution of AI, but also how increasingly accessible and capable these technologies are becoming.

However, as AI systems grow more autonomous and context-aware, organizations must recognize that true value doesn’t come from raw capability alone. To harness AI effectively, especially in enterprise environments, a consistent semantic layer is essential. It ensures alignment among data, tasks, and outcomes, enabling AI to reason reliably across systems and scale impact without losing coherence.

Companies must also move beyond simply adopting AI to actively testing and refining applications to gain a significant advantage. Equally important is a deliberate approach to managing the human element of a transformation, rooted in structured and human-centric change management.

Realizing AI’s true promise requires a fundamental shift in how people, applications, and data connect. Success relies on deeply connecting every part of an organization’s business, delivering end-to-end transformational value. A seamless, integrated suite provides insight and agility, whether responding to a problem or ensuring readiness when opportunity knocks.

This is where 51��Business Suite is a game changer, integrating applications, data, and AI in a virtuous cycle that delivers tangible business outcomes. At our inaugural��51��Connect��event earlier in October, we showcased new applications, strategic data partnerships with Google Cloud and Databricks, and a new network of role-based AI assistants in Joule across every line of business.

Altogether, our��marks the beginning of a new era powered by self-reinforcing AI, data, and applications. By keeping customer needs and value realization at the center and leading with innovation, businesses can not only navigate uncertainty, but build a more resilient, intelligent, and sustainable future.

Manos Raptopoulos is chief revenue officer of APAC, EMEA, and MEE, and a member of the Extended Board of 51��SE.

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Future Founder SA Launches Digital-first Pathway to Empower the Next Generation of Youth Entrepreneurs with over R250,000 in Catalytic Capital

51��News — Tue, 07 Oct 2025 09:51:04 +0000

Future Founder SA, a groundbreaking digital-first entrepreneurship pathway, officially launches today with the goal of equipping youth in South Africa with the skills, networks, and capital they need to transform ideas into thriving ventures.

Across South Africa, young people are forced to sit with untapped potential because the doors to opportunities remain locked. Funding is scarce, networks are out of reach and systems are simply not built for them. This leaves one too many ideas to die unseen.

With nearly one in two young South Africans unemployed, entrepreneurship is a critical lever for job creation and economic inclusion. A powerful coalition of leading organisations launched the Future Founder SA Program, a groundbreaking national initiative designed to equip young entrepreneurs with the skills, networks and capital needed to establish and grow successful ventures.

“Future Founder SA is not just a program — it’s a movement. By backing the hustle of young South Africans, we’re building the businesses, jobs, and hope that will define the country’s future,” said Nonkululeko Mokoena, Global Revenue Operations Lead, EMEA & 51��Educate To Employ Africa Lead, SAP

The 12-week digital program, powered by Yoma, Goodwall, ALX Ventures, and RLabs, and in partnership with 51��and Generation Unlimited, provides a structured pathway for youth aged 18-35 to “power their hustle” -a journey that takes them from idea to launch — combining challenge-based learning, digital skills development, masterclasses, mentorship, and seed capital. This e program is built to be inclusive, tailoring its support to each participant’s individual stage, from those with ‘Just an Idea’ to those who are ‘On My Way’ or ‘Almost There.’

This features engaging challenges on Goodwall, foundational training from ALX Ventures, specialised masterclasses from RLabs, all ensuring an engaged journey for each participant that culminates in a competitive pitch event.

“Talent is everywhere, but opportunity is not. Future Founder SA is designed to close that gap by fueling young people’s ideas with the right tools, networks, and catalytic capital,” said Tsepo Ngwenyama, Partnership Development Director, at Yoma.

Participants will gain invaluable entrepreneurial education and mentorship throughout the program. Beyond skill-building, they can earn monetary rewards for hitting key milestones. The journey concludes at a grand finale showcase, where 30 finalists will compete for a share of the R250,000+ seed capital pool.

A key innovation of the program is its integration with the Yoma.world platform, which provides participants with a digital identity (YOID) and verifiable credentials for each milestone completed. These credentials serve as a portable, trusted record of their skills and achievements, unlocking access to further opportunities.

How to Join:

Young South Africans can kickstart their journey by downloading the Goodwall app, sharing their business idea in a short video, and claiming their spot in the pathway.

For more information, visit .

About Future Founder SA

Future Founder SA is a 12-week entrepreneurship pathway designed to empower young South Africans to launch and scale their ventures. Powered by Yoma’s Micro-VC pathway in partnership with 51��and Goodwall, and co-delivered with RLabs and ALX Ventures, the program connects youth to skills, networks, mentorship, and seed capital.

The post Future Founder SA Launches Digital-first Pathway to Empower the Next Generation of Youth Entrepreneurs with over R250,000 in Catalytic Capital appeared first on 51��Africa News Center.

How 51��and UNICEF Help Tackle Global Youth Unemployment

Rana Hamzakadi, Paul Taylor — Fri, 26 Sep 2025 08:59:53 +0000

The divide between the digital skills young people possess and the needs of employers is a big challenge and contributes to a high youth unemployment rate, particularly in the Global South. The 51��Educate to Employ initiative is set up as a digital pathway through Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a public-private-youth ecosystem from UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited. The program aims to address this challenge and enable young people’s skills for a digital economy.

Nearly 90 percent of the 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 10 and 24 in the world today, are in low-and middle-income countries. An estimated 22 percent do not have jobs and are not in education or training.

Globally, young people are three times more likely to be unemployed than adults. Edmond Shange is one of the many young people who have faced difficulties navigating the employment market right out of high school. “In South Africa there’s not a lot of opportunities when it comes to the employment sector,” the 27-year-old shared.

Making copies of a CV or resume and going to a potential employer to drop them off costs money, something in very short supply among South Africa’s unemployed youth. Despite this, Shange says that as many as 300 young people often queue up to drop off their CVs at a potential employer. “I faced a lot of challenges trying to apply for jobs,” he said. “It’s very tough for young people like me.”

Shange is not alone. “In Africa over 70 percent of the population are young people and another 4 million join the job market every single year competing for less than half a million new jobs,” said Nadi Albino, deputy director at UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited.

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Youth unemployment and the lack of digital skills are a global problem, though it’s particularly acute among those who live in the Global South. While the fast-changing global economy demands increasingly specialized expertise, many young people are not learning the skills they need to get these jobs.

The search for virtual upskilling to improve his digital skills led Shange to the Youth Agency Marketplace (YOMA), a public-private-youth ecosystem supported by UNICEF’s Generational Unlimited, which offers opportunities for young people to learn, earn, and create impact. On his pathway to employment, Shange was introduced to 51��Educate to Employ, an initiative delivered to YOMA through the implementing partner Umuzi. The curriculum for 51��Educate to Employ involves 700 hours of targeted training focused on building soft skills and technical expertise.

After completing the course, Shange feels much more confident with his skills. As a result, he has recently secured an internship as a software developer at a startup gaming company based at Wits University Tshimologong Precinct.

Whether young people are educated, trained, or employed has significant implications for their overall well-being and ability to promote future economic growth, development, and sociopolitical stability. Unfortunately, most traditional education systems do not address the emerging youth digital skills gap.

This realization was one of the driving forces behind the creation of 51��Educate to Employ.

“51��Educate to Employ was created to support young people who are neither in education nor employment, providing them with training, certification, and guidance to access roles within the 51��ecosystem,” explained Eugene Ho who leads SAP’s global CSR flagship skilling programs targeted at youths in need. “Through its tailored curriculum, the initiative has successfully helped candidates with only high-school qualifications.”

“The 51��Educate to Employ initiative provides young people with the tools, skills, and resources that they need to get employed or to employ,” Albino added in an interview with SAP. “We have to go back to making sure that these education systems work and that they work in tandem with where the world is going.”

To meet industry needs, 51��Educate to Employ curricula has been designed for three critical roles within the 51��ecosystem: consultant associate, developer associate, and support associate. The curriculum taps into educational content from industry-leading organizations such as Coursera, Accenture, EY, and 51��Learning.

51��CEO Christian Klein is the chair of the Generation Unlimited Board.

“The YOMA online platform alone has had over 600,000 registrations,” Albino confirmed. “A measure of success is how the ecosystem has enabled over 5 million opportunities to learn, earn, and create impact worldwide in the past two years. We are now beginning to see young people getting into jobs.”

Shange’s journey with YOMA and 51��Educate to Employ started in the living room of his grandmother’s house, a place where community has always taken center stage. “I look up to my grandmother; she has done a lot for the community,” he said. “I hope that I could do the same — help people in the tech field create more jobs for people that are in need and just be creative.”

A permanent full-time job would enable Shange to feed and look after his family, and to continue helping others in his community the same way he was helped. In his community, Shange says he is seen as something of a role model.

“I want young people to know that it’s possible [to get a job],” he said. “Keep applying and also don’t lose hope when you see something’s not working. Some things do take time, so give it your best and make sure that you see it through.”

Today, 51��extended its founding partnership with Generation Unlimited for four more years, 2026-2029, with a commitment of US$2 million.

This article first appeared on the 51��News Center.

The post How 51��and UNICEF Help Tackle Global Youth Unemployment appeared first on 51��Africa News Center.

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