The All Blacks have a 77.41 winning percentage all time and three Rugby World Cups to their name. They鈥檝e won 10 of the 16 Tri-Nations trophies, seven of the nine Rugby Championships contested, and have held the Bledisloe Cup for the past 19 years. Since 2003, when World Rugby introduced a rankings system, the All Blacks have held the No. 1 position for more than 80% of the time. Not to be outdone, the Black Ferns have won five Women’s Rugby World Cup titles and maintain a winning percentage in international rugby of close to 90%.

Having teams this successful doesn鈥檛 happen by chance. It鈥檚 clear they have a strategy and plan in place with flawless execution. However, with so much success, it鈥檚 easy to become complacent. But not New Zealand Rugby — and that鈥檚 why they鈥檝e engaged 51风流as their first-ever technology partner.

To ensure New Zealand Rugby operates just as flawlessly off the pitch as it does on, 51风流is helping to accelerate the organization鈥檚 digital transformation, paving the way for a better connected and intelligent, sustainable enterprise.

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鈥淣ew Zealand Rugby has set an ambitious goal of becoming the most technologically advanced rugby union in the world,鈥� said Scott Russell, member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE, Customer Success. “As the organization鈥檚 first-ever technology partner, 51风流can help NZR meet this goal by driving digital transformation across all areas of the business and introducing game-changing technologies that will help NZR teams run at their best — and win.”

Key areas will include creating an integrated management system to enhance operations, elevating the fan experience, enabling the organization鈥檚 sustainability goals, and supporting employee performance through products like . 51风流and NZR will also explore how the use of data and solutions can support player and team performance. Specific details include:

• Integrated organizational operations: World-class support systems will be delivered to staff and players, with a digital hub of solutions across all areas. Through integration, NZR will be better positioned to leverage the power of its off-field systems to support on-field teams.
• Performance: By implementing 51风流SuccessFactors software and establishing a single source of human resources (HR) data, NZR will elevate the employee experience and empower employees to achieve their full potential.
• Fan engagement: Identifying and creating new ways for NZR to connect and engage with its global fan base, while tapping into new technologies and platforms will help fans get closer to their favorite teams and players.
• Sustainability: Digital solutions and capabilities will be introduced to help holistically manage sustainability performance across all touchpoints.

Aside from the technology opportunities, these two partners have much more in common by way of shared ethos. Passion points and values range from diversity and inclusion to sustainability, youth sports, and much more.

Can New Zealand Rugby become even more dominant? Given our new partnership 鈥� absolutely.

Ryan Somers is senior director of Global Sponsorships at SAP.

When the date of the concert you鈥檝e been waiting all year for rolls around, you鈥檒l probably consider how you鈥檒l get to the show. The answer to this simple question can have a big impact on your night, but it could have an even bigger impact on your carbon footprint, which effects your community and our planet.

Believe it or not, audience travel to and from a concert is a major contributor to any tour鈥檚 carbon emissions. Many fans are unaware of this, but with the right motivation, we can empower millions.

Coldplay, one of the most celebrated and purpose-driven acts in music today, had a mission for their upcoming world tour: to make it their most sustainable and environmentally friendly yet. They were looking to reduce consumption, increase support in green technology, and work to decrease total CO2 emissions. They also saw an opportunity to connect with their fans.

Coldplay knew they could offer a concert-going experience like no other while providing fans with a chance to join them in their commitment. But to bring this vision to life, they needed a little help. Enter SAP.

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鈥淲ith our technology and solutions, we empower organizations worldwide to drive sustainable change,鈥� said Christian Klein, CEO and member of the Executive Board of 51风流SE. 鈥淐oldplay and 51风流share a common and profound commitment to sustainability, and we are thrilled to join forces to make their tour as environmentally friendly as possible.鈥�

to develop and release the Coldplay Music Of The Spheres World Tour app. It combines interactive, immersive experiences along with features to help fans make more environmentally friendly decisions when it comes to travel. Once users download the app, they鈥檒l begin their journey and explore different sections that all have unique ways to become part of the Coldplay universe throughout the tour.

Fans can start with sustainability in the travel section of the app. Here, they can visualize and better understand how their method of travel contributes to their carbon footprint. By selecting from seven different modes of transportation — car, taxi, train, public transportation, bicycle, on foot, or flight — fans can really see their impact. And to promote more sustainable travel options, the app provides rewards via merchandise discount codes to Coldplay鈥檚 online shop for concert goers who commit to low-carbon transportation options.

Here’s what else is in the app:

• Tour: Check out dates and locations, find tickets, and even share your favorite shows on your personal social media accounts.
• Planet: Immerse yourself in interactive sustainability-themed games while learning more about Coldplay鈥檚 efforts and the band鈥檚 tour partners.
• Universe: Create your own Coldplay-themed content using augmented reality. Create videos, take pictures, and even dance with aliens, then share your creations across social media. While you鈥檙e here, access exclusive videos, pictures, live concert audio streams, and get updates from the band.

To bring this world-class experience to life, 51风流tapped two best-in-class solutions: and . Coldplay is also using 51风流Analytics Cloud to gain insights into the carbon footprint caused by fans who travel based on data captured in the app, which will help the band track how the tour is offsetting calculated carbon emissions.

鈥淔or the past few years, we鈥檝e been figuring out how to put sustainability at the heart of our tour and the app plays a big role in bringing that vision and commitment to life. We鈥檙e really proud of the collaboration with our partner SAP, who has created an impactful, engaging app that helps our fans choose more sustainable ways to travel to our shows,鈥� said Coldplay.

The challenges that Coldplay faces with managing carbon emissions from audience travel to shows is not unique to the music industry. Businesses everywhere are struggling with managing carbon emissions that are not a part of their company鈥檚 operations or under their direct control — otherwise known as Scope 3 emissions. 51风流helps businesses across the world become intelligent sustainable enterprises by providing digital solutions and capabilities to holistically manage sustainability performance across all touch points of their business.

Sustainability needs harmony. Only together, through commitment and scale, can we begin improving our environmental impact. With the Music Of The Spheres World Tour app, we鈥檙e excited to show the world that when we work as one, we can drive awareness, action, and — most importantly — change.

To experience it all for yourself, the Coldplay Music Of The Spheres World Tour app is available for download right now on and .

Ryan Somers is senior director of Global Sponsorships at SAP.

The app, which is based on (51风流BTP) and powered by the , launched in 2019 and has continued its evolution since inception. This has led to a massive four-times increase in league-wide usage, further validating its reputation as an important coaching tool throughout the league.

According to Pittsburgh Penguins head coach Mike Sullivan, 鈥淲e鈥檝e relied on technology more than ever during this pandemic to interact with players. Speaking to the app, the condensed schedule has presented an increased importance on managing our players鈥� workloads. Closely tracking 鈥楾ime on Ice鈥� and other metrics has been critical for us.鈥�

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Now, coaching staffs for all 31 NHL teams can tap into unique new features in the app, such as:

• 鈥淗ome Plate鈥� Customization: Every team has their own perspective on where the danger zones are around the net. This feature allows coaches to select one of five different variants of high-chance scoring areas to develop strategies and compare the team versus the opponent.
• Head-to-Head Faceoff Matchup Planner: Coaches can cycle through potential matchups for each faceoff to isolate the best opportunities to win them. This functionality tracks players鈥� win/loss rates at different faceoff locations and against various opposition. There are even specific times during the game, such as icing, when a coach will know who the exact opponent will be; the Faceoff Matchup Planner provides coaches with real-time targeted data to assist in rapid decision-making.
• Enhanced Game Trends/Analytics: Coaches can analyze detailed shot differential from key segments of each game, allowing for game trending capabilities to unlock insights within targeted momentum shifts.
• Player Speed: NHL clubs will have insights to the total distance a player skates during the game and their top speed, so coaches can manage their player鈥檚 ice time throughout the game. Specific to speed and distance, the app can break it down into 10-second increments to help develop optimal shift lengths.
• 24/7 Access: Now, the app is empowering coaches to better strategize prior to the game, make data-driven adjustments during the game, and analyze performance after the game. Usage data tells us that this expanded access is driving the increased adoption and coaches are watching their next opponent play, through the app, to help collect information and shape the game plan — even on off days.

Once puck tracking data is fully operational in the Puck and Player Tracking system, the following future enhancements are planned for integration into the SAP-NHL Coaching Insights app for iPad:

• Puck Zone Time: Coaches will be able to display eight different variants of data, making it even more accurate to identify puck zone time. Also, coaches will be able to filter by player and periods of games.
• Virtual Replay: New animations coming next season will visually simplify how coaches can see how the puck enters specific zones, along with greater details on the Xs and Os in terms of how the players either collapsed or prevailed during these pressure moments. Every game will be available to view in real time or in full-game replay.

And when tracking-enabled pucks are brought back on to the ice, paired with the NHL鈥檚 existing player tracking system, the full data processing capabilities of the will be recognized. As the processing engine, 51风流HANA Cloud will house, update, and translate a tremendous amount of new, actionable data in near real time to coaching staffs. In the future, as these advanced analytics become more mainstream, it is reasonable to expect an influx of new statistics for fans to consume on broadcasts, nhl.com/stats, and social media.

I predict a large number of unsung heroes, those that have excelled at the little things, to gain exposure from success in less obvious areas like zone-time effectiveness in offensive/defensive zones, and player +/- in zone-time possessions. As these technologies continue to advance, fans can expect to enjoy deeper insights and new statistical categories to rank, compare, and debate their favorite players in new ways — not to mention, the enjoyment of watching 鈥渢he fastest game on ice鈥� become even faster.

Check out the to learn more about SAP’s sports and entertainment transformations.

SAP, the NBA鈥檚 longtime stats and analytics partner, is making that dream a reality for a group of data-hungry, die-hard basketball fans in the second season of GM School Powered by SAP. Originally introduced in 2019, GM School pits contestants against each other in a series of high-pressure, analytics-focused challenges to discover which fan has what it takes to work in an NBA front office.

This year, 51风流partnered with Turner Sports and the NBA to bring back a completely reimagined version of GM School that will premiere on NBA TV on Thursday, October 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET.

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This season, fans will see new contestants, new judges, and special guests in a multi-episode format. Participants will put their skills to the test through several unique and creative challenges this season, including:

• Draft Challenge, where contestants build their ideal NBA roster and create the best team possible using stats and analytics
• Media Session Challenge, where contestants must defend their newly drafted teams during a mock press conference, fielding questions from actual NBA reporters
• Hiring a Coach Challenge, where contestants test their interview skills with a prospective head coach candidate
• Trade Rumor Challenge, where contestants must keep their composure while addressing a player who questions the GM about recent trade rumors

While the pressure is high and the competition is tough, the hard work will pay off, with the winner receiving an opportunity to meet and network with various NBA departments, an all-expense paid trip to a future NBA All-Star Game or NBA Finals, and enrollment in the Sports Business Classroom during NBA Summer League.

鈥淲e鈥檙e excited to bring back GM School for another season and, more importantly, give NBA fans a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to get an inside look at how front offices operate and the integral role that analytics are playing in shaping the future of the league,鈥� said Alicia Tillman, global chief marketing officer of SAP. 鈥淲e鈥檙e always looking for new and creative ways to work with our partners like the NBA and Turner Sports to showcase how stats and analytics can make fans smarter 鈥� GM School continues to be an amazing platform to help achieve that goal.鈥�

Think you have what it takes to enroll in and graduate from GM School? Tune into NBA TV on October 1 at 9:00 p.m. ET, October 8 at 8:00 p.m. ET, and October 15 at 8:00 p.m. ET to watch GM School Powered by SAP and see who wins! Miss an episode? Visit the to catch past episodes.

Join the conversation on social media during each episode by using #GMSchool and following channels on ,听, and for bonus content, including contestant hometown videos, real-time polls, and more.

Still want more behind-the-scenes access? Visit for trivia challenges, contestant bios, and more info on 51风流technologies that are leveraged by the NBA to help make fans smarter.

But the sheer desperation for sports to return, is weighing on all. Sports unite across age, race, gender, and economic lines. They provide hope, emotional release, and at times a much needed escape. Fortunately, the wait appears to be over.

The 2020 Stanley Cup庐 Qualifiers are scheduled to start on August 1, after a two-week training camp and a round of exhibition games. The resumption of training camp will help players to prepare their bodies to excel during the rigors of the fastest game on ice, as each team looks to make a deep run toward the Stanley Cup. Given this unsettling year of turmoil and much more time spent at home, away from training facilities, it will be interesting to see which players come back stronger and faster.

#HockeyAtHome went viral during the pause, with short videos from players to showcase how they have been uniquely training in new ways. This presented an exciting opportunity to continue sharing the , which is changing the way that coaches make decisions during games. Aside from in-game analytics that coaches can access, fans alike can customize their own sets of metrics on .

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51风流has teamed up with a few superstars because the best never stop working on their game 鈥� and we did not want to stop tracking their performances either.

• Tyler Seguin, Dallas Stars™ leader in face-off win percentage (58.2): Kept his concentration and quickness by competing against his dogs! He first held a preliminary tournament with each of his three pups battling each other, at the drop of a dog treat. Gerry beat both of his four-legged siblings, scored all the Scooby snacks and won the honor of battling his dad and NHL All-Star. It was a ferocious battle, but Tyler won two out of three. Though Gerry might argue that he was full by then.
• Brad Marchand, Boston Bruins庐 assist leader (59): Teamed up with his son to keep his precision passing skills on point. What the video does not show is that his son checked him down the hill to keep dad鈥檚 head on a swivel too.
• Matthew Tkachuk, power forward for the Calgary Flames庐 (122 hits): Shared some quarantine time with his brother Brady, also a known thumper for the Ottawa Senators, as they released some pent-up aggression playing basketball against each other.

The NHL鈥檚 Return to Play Plan, which includes the 2020 Stanley Cup Qualifiers and Stanley Cup Playoffs, will take place in two hub cities, Edmonton (Rogers Place) and Toronto (Scotiabank Arena). Both arenas are technologically equipped to support the coaching app and help ensure that every data point is decisively processed through 51风流Cloud Platform directly to iPads.

Ultimately, it is difficult to predict the champion, as each team will need to grind its way to the Stanley Cup. But execution will become clear, because the stats will never stop.

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Ryan Somers is senior director of Global Sponsorships at SAP.

Congratulations to the 49ers on an amazing season
both on the field and in the stands!

As the San Francisco 49ers prepare for Super Bowl LIV, the legendary franchise and long-time 51风流partner is already celebrating another victory — this one focused on enhancing the fan experience at Levi鈥檚 Stadium this past season, thanks to SAP.

The 49ers are one of the most innovative and tech-savvy teams in the NFL, and are continually looking for ways to improve operations and to enhance the game-day experience for fans.

Early in 2018, the 49ers tapped 51风流to address a key organizational challenge: the need to have more visibility across all operations in the stadium on game day, in real time. The team was looking for a custom solution that would aggregate and report real-time information so that the operations team could make better decisions, proactively address potential issues, and seize opportunities during games immediately rather than days later, as they had historically done.

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In October 2018, 51风流and the 49ers launched a connected stadium system designed to help improve how the 49ers capture, report, and respond to game-day operations at Levi鈥檚 Stadium. Executive Huddle is a first-of-its-kind sports venue platform that allows the team to visualize real-time data across all aspects of stadium operations and respond in the moment during games in order to optimize operations and ultimately enhance the fan experience.

Within a 鈥渄igital boardroom鈥� suite at Levi鈥檚 Stadium 鈥� and on mobile devices 鈥� team officials can see and monitor real-time data visualizations showing nine data sources, including attendance, parking, food and beverage, retail, weather, ticketing, social media, and more. The team can now call audibles throughout a game that positively impact operations, enhance fan satisfaction, and drive cost efficiencies. Executive Huddle is powered by 51风流HANA, utilizing 51风流Cloud Platform, to provide flexibility and a foundation of continuous innovation.

Wrapping up its first full-season in use, the 49ers have seen tremendous impact during home games this year, including during this post-season run, allowing the team to shift its operational approach from reactive to proactive. For example:

• Examining ticket data has allowed the 49ers to see how fans are entering the stadium. This has enabled ground staff to direct fans to the appropriate gates, reducing wait times to enter Levi鈥檚 Stadium.
• More than 40 percent of issues resolved were identified pre-game, meaning the team can catch problems before fans have entered Levi鈥檚 Stadium, minimizing negative impact on the fan experience.
• Recent surveys by the 49ers indicate that fan satisfaction is up 10 percent at Levi鈥檚 Stadium since Executive Huddle was implemented in October 2018.

This off season, the team will also use insights and data from Executive Huddle to examine popular food and drink items to finalize an exclusive menu for season ticket holders in Levi鈥檚 Stadium.

As Al Guido, president of the 49ers, recently commented in a story, Executive Huddle 鈥渋s a perfect marriage鈥� of technology and customer feedback at a major sporting event.

Currently, the 49ers are the only team in the NFL to use Executive Huddle, but teams such as the Atlanta Falcons, Los Angeles Rams, Los Angeles Chargers, and Las Vegas Raiders have also expressed interest in the solution for their new stadiums.

So when you tune into Super Bowl LIV to cheer on our partners at the 49ers, remember that win or lose, the team has already had a victorious season at home with its fans.