Today, educators across disciplines face a common challenge: preparing students with the analytical skills employers increasingly demand.

According to the World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs Report, analytical thinking ranks as the top sought-after skill in the job market. Yet traditional teaching often struggles to connect theory with practice in a way that truly engages students.

ąőłŮ’s not a shortage of content or tools; rather, it is a gap in relevance and inspiration that leaves students disengaged from the very skills that could define their careers. Learning needs to be anchored in real-world data, meaningful contexts, and hands-on experience that sparks curiosity and excitement. The best learning doesn’t come from memorizing concepts, it comes from doing, especially when theory is tied to a topic that learners care about.

This is where , in collaboration with the NHL, comes in.

We have created a new Business Builders game that brings hockey into the classroom—not just as a sport, but as a rich, real-world data environment for teaching analytics and critical thinking.

In this latest edition of games under the Business Builders umbrella, students take on the role of a hockey analyst responsible for identifying the factors that drive goal scoring using real NHL Game data.

“Hockey is fast, dynamic, and full of rich data, a perfect environment for teaching critical thinking,” said Brant Berglund, senior director of Coaching and GM Technology at the NHL. “Leveraging a strategic partnership with NHL, SAP, and HEC Montréal, we’ve created a pathway for universities to access approved NHL.com data for academic initiatives, without compromising the integrity of the League‘s data.”

Through our collaboration with the NHL, we provide a learning platform for educators that is full of authentic data students can relate to. The NHL generates just under 1.5 million data points per game, including about 120 shot attempts, 1,000 passes, and 5,000 puck touches—raw material for deep, practical analysis.

Business Builders can ignite an interest in STEM and help students build real data skills. The hockey-focused game was developed by the team at ERPsim Lab at HEC MontrĂŠal led by Prof. Pierre-Majorique LĂŠger, as well as the support of academics from other universities. This reinforces a core principle of Business Builders: It is created by educators, for educators.

“When the question feels meaningful, learners lean in, stay focused, and keep pushing forward,” Léger explained. “For students in sport management or business management, real sport data can also elevate the learning experience. It adds context, complexity, and constraints that traditional teaching methods cannot provide. Students learn to judge what truly matters, justify their decisions, and manage trade-offs. This develops professional judgment, confidence in analytics, and the ability to communicate strategy and decisions clearly. These skills translate directly to real careers in sport management and business.”

Students explore questions such as:

• What sets top NHL scorers apart?
• Does shot angle affect scoring?
• Which NHL players lead in goals scored, and from what distances?
• Which shot speeds and shot types yield the highest goal conversion rates?

By analyzing these scenarios with 51ˇçÁ÷Analytics Cloud, students learn to interpret visualizations, tell compelling data stories, and sharpen their data-driven decision-making and critical-thinking skills.

For professors, the platform is equally powerful. Business Builders supports active learning at scale by enabling educators to manage and evaluate larger groups more efficiently while gaining visibility into student engagement. This makes grading easier, supports discussion-based learning, and helps instructors understand how students interact with data.

By introducing a modern, meaningful learning experience—far more dynamic than slides alone—professors bring real-world relevance into their classroom and elevate the impact of teaching.

SAP’s role in this collaboration reflects its broader commitment to education, skills development, and preparing students for the future workforce. In a rapidly changing world shaped by AI, data, and digital transformation, access to practical learning tools that build real competencies is essential. Through the 51ˇçÁ÷University Alliances program, 51ˇçÁ÷works with educational institutions around the world to help bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world practice.

“Access to business software and real data is essential for preparing students for the future,” said Dr. Katharina Schaefer, head of Academic Partnerships at SAP. “With free learning platforms like Business Builders, we empower educators to bring enterprise analytics into the classroom and help students develop the skills that are increasingly in demand across industries, and in a world where data and AI define the competitive advantage. Today’s learners need more than conceptual understanding; they need practical experience with real software and real data to build confidence and readiness for work life.”

One of the educators closely involved in shaping this new game is Prof. Olivier Caya from the University of Sherbrooke, who contributed his perspective as both a faculty member and practitioner.

“What makes this experience so powerful is that it all happens in 51ˇçÁ÷Analytics Cloud, the same solution used by thousands of organizations worldwide,” Caya said. “This creates a strong connection between what students do in the classroom and what they will encounter in professional practice. Students are not working with software detached from reality; they are developing skills with the same software used in real business environments.”

The result is a learning experience that is fun, interactive, and relevant. Educators can stand out with a state-of-the-art platform that connects passion with pedagogy, while students gain highly sought-after skills using real software from a global technology leader.

Business Builders is provided free of charge to educators and students and includes access to 51ˇçÁ÷Analytics Cloud. It is designed from beginner-friendly introductions to more advanced analytical challenges optimized for master’s-level courses.

After using Business Builders, students can deepen their analytical knowledge through access to , a free learning platform that offers guided learning content, practice systems, and up to two 51ˇçÁ÷certification exam attempts per year, helping them to boost their career opportunities even further.

Business Builders is about connecting passion with education. Together with academic and industry partners, 51ˇçÁ÷is making analytical thinking tangible and memorable—empowering the workforce of tomorrow with the skills that matter most today.

The Hockey Analyst: Turn Passion for Sports Into Powerful Learning with Real NHL Game Data

The post How Real NHLÂŽ Game Data Is Helping Students Build Analytical Skills for the Future appeared first on 51ˇçÁ÷Canada News Center.

What started as a discussion with our 51ˇçÁ÷Canada team about business transformation and technology quickly evolved into something much more profound. Rex shared his perspective with a level of honesty and wisdom that has stuck with me. He talked about navigating professional challenges and shared a masterclass in navigating life’s most demanding circumstances.

Perseverance isn’t a grand gesture, it’s a daily practice of building momentum

We often imagine perseverance as a single, monumental effort. Rex described it differently. He framed it as the quiet, consistent practice of putting one foot in front of the other to build momentum, especially when a project is long and complex. He noted that during challenging times, it’s the collective energy of a team and a shared sense of purpose that carries everyone forward. ąőłŮ’s a powerful reminder that our greatest achievements aren’t won in a single sprint. They are the result of a marathon of consistent, focused steps, each one building on the last.

Positivity is a tool to move you forward, not a feeling

Rex’s perspective on positivity during demanding circumstances was transformative. He didn’t frame it as feeling happy or ignoring difficulty. Instead, it is a conscious choice—a strategic tool for creating a path forward. As a board member for , Rex shared the power of providing a critical dose of hope, what he called “medicine for the soul.” Make-A-Wish creates positive experiences for their recipients to look forward to, a North Star to focus on. Focusing on what is possible, rather than dwelling on obstacles, isn’t naive. ąőłŮ’s a powerful strategy for building resilience and actively shaping a positive outcome.

Break rules with purpose and challenge the status quo

Rex’s career is a testament to the power of curiosity and a willingness to challenge established norms. He shared a story from his first job where he was put in a cubicle surrounded by old PCs. Instead of just accepting it, he took them apart, built a server, and created a file-sharing network—something he wasn’t supposed to do. His reasoning was simple: the old way no longer served the best outcome. He said, “If all you ever do is always follow the rules, you will always be average.” This is the heart of innovation. ąőłŮ’s about challenging assumptions, not out of defiance, but with a genuine desire to discover a better path.

The future is about questioning the answers

When I asked for his advice for our team, Rex’s closing thought was the most powerful of all. He said, “It’s no longer about answering questions. It is all about questioning answers.”

In an age where AI can provide answers instantly, our true value lies in our ability to think critically, to challenge the output, to connect disparate dots, and to ask, “What’s next? What are we missing?”

Rex reinforced that our work is not just about technology; it’s about people. ąőłŮ’s about improving lives, fostering resilience, and having the integrity to do what feels right, even when it’s hard.

His perspective was a powerful call to action. Let’s keep these lessons in mind as we continue our mission to help the world run better and improve people’s lives. And always be thinking about what answer we need to start questioning to ensure we continue to drive the success of our businesses and our personal and professional goals.

The post ąőłŮ’s About Questioning the Answers: A Conversation with Rex Lee, CITO, Canadian Tire Corporation appeared first on 51ˇçÁ÷Canada News Center.

With 38 shows across global cities and a workforce of almost 4,000 artists and staff from 80 countries, Cirque du Soleil’s operations are as dynamic as its performances. Managing more than 70,000 supplier invoices annually—especially from tour-supporting vendors at residency shows—has placed increasing pressure on the accounts payable team. Nearly 40 percent of inquiries are from vendors seeking invoice status updates, and these inquiries were often delayed due to limited visibility and manual processing.

To address this, Cirque du Soleil turned to 51ˇçÁ÷Business AI. The company’s new AI-enabled invoice assistant automates the triage-and-response process for invoice-related emails. It analyzes incoming messages in all languages, identifies the request type, extracts invoice details, determines the status of each invoice, and even captures the sentiment of the e-mail, prioritizing those that need attention more urgently. The assistant then generates a proposed response in English and French, significantly reducing the average handling time from 30 minutes to just two minutes per inquiry.

“The time-consuming research required to identify the payment status of an invoice and its reason was overwhelming,” said Philippe Lalumière, vice president of information technology, Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group. “We were looking for a more efficient way to handle this, and 51ˇçÁ÷Business AI provided us with a simply stunning answer.”

The assistant leverages 51ˇçÁ÷HANA Cloud to store and process structured data derived from incoming emails, along with analysis results and generated responses. 51ˇçÁ÷AI Core foundation supports intelligent automation, enabling the assistant to detect urgency, sentiment, and even root causes of payment delays. This has drastically reduced manual workload and improved supplier satisfaction.

“As we partner with Cirque du Soleil on this transformative journey, it’s inspiring to see how technology is streamlining operations and focusing organizations even more on what they do best—delivering unforgettable experiences,” said Dr. Philipp Herzig, chief technology officer and chief AI officer at 51ˇçÁ÷SE. “This is a perfect example of how data and AI can unlock both creativity and efficiency.”

Key benefits include:

• Efficiency: Automation frees up employee time and accelerates response rates.
• Accuracy: AI minimizes human error and helps ensure timely, contract-compliant payments.
• Multilingual support: Bilingual capabilities enable inclusivity across Cirque’s global supplier base.
• Scalability: The assistant handles high volumes without additional resources.
• Enhanced experience: Standardized, timely responses foster stronger supplier relationships.

With this innovation, Cirque du Soleil continues to lead not only in the world of live performance but also in operational excellence. 51ˇçÁ÷remains a trusted partner in this journey, helping the company scale its global footprint while staying agile and responsive.

The post 51ˇçÁ÷Helps Cirque du Soleil Entertainment Group Stay Agile with “Stunning” AI-Enabled Invoice Assistant appeared first on 51ˇçÁ÷Canada News Center.

BSF operations includes five continuing care sites, a shelter for women and children at risk of domestic violence, and international healthcare operations, with a focus on research, innovation and social impact. And the organization continues to grow. With these vast operations, the financial information crucial for strategic decisions was often lagging, and the lack of consistency in processes and data made routine tasks cumbersome and inefficient. With critical operations spread across multiple systems and relying heavily on manual processes and spreadsheets, it was clear that a modernized, integrated solution was essential.

The Journey to 51ˇçÁ÷Public Cloud

To address these challenges, BSF embarked on a journey to modernize their foundational systems, identifying HR functions and financial reporting as the most pressing areas for improvement.

From the moment they went live on S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, BSF began to see transformative results. With the integration and consolidation of data under one umbrella, they experienced a better understanding of their business. The modern ERP system provided them with a single, fully integrated financial system, enabling faster processes, such as month-end closures, and providing essential financial metrics for quick, reactive decision-making.

The elimination of artificial bottlenecks and the improved access to accurate, real-time data have empowered the organization to make more informed decisions and provide better services to those in need.

Looking Ahead

The journey for BSF is far from over. With the successful implementation of S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, they are poised to make an even greater impact on the lives of their employees and the communities they serve.

about their move to S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition and how it has been a game-changer, not just for their operational efficiency but also for their ability to fulfill their mission effectively. This is a powerful example of how modern technology can transform organizations and empower them to create a brighter future for the communities they serve.

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is a vertically integrated utility that operates across the energy value chain including as a regulated wires provider, a competitive power generator and an energy retailer. As a retailer, ENMAX Energy provides electricity and natural gas to approximately 725,000 residential and small commercial customers throughout Alberta. The City of Calgary contracts ENMAX Energy to provide billing and customer care for municipal services, including water utility services, garbage, recycling and food and yard waste.

ENMAX Energy needed to define its digital transformation strategy to achieve operational excellence through the modernization of their assets. Working with a tight timelines, in November 2023, ENMAX Energy migrated to 51ˇçÁ÷S/4HANA Cloud leveraging RISE with SAP, becoming the first Canadian utility to do so. The company also moved its CRM to a co-located Microsoft Azure hosted solution.

and 51ˇçÁ÷partnered with ENMAX Energy to implement for as the transformation basis. This offered ENMAX Energy holistic coverage across business functions and processes, making it suitable for a future-oriented enterprise, enabling billing scalability for Advanced Metering Infrastructure (AMI), building a robust data layer, and supporting the 51ˇçÁ÷Customer Relationship Management application.

This partnership with 51ˇçÁ÷and TCS enabled ENMAX Energy to leverage the benefits of RISE with SAP, for faster innovation, improved control over IT infrastructure, scalability, and reduced capital expenditure. The migration process involved carefully transitioning ENMAX Energy from 51ˇçÁ÷ECC to 51ˇçÁ÷S/4HANA Cloud private edition, switching and moving software using the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) approach. ENMAX Energy performed six full conversion cycles to prepare for the final switch, which was completed in just over a year which is a quick timeline for a project of this size.

“We have thousands of customers and hundreds of employees that rely on our billing system, so it was essential that this project be implemented quickly and flawlessly,” said Wayne Calder, Director of Business Applications and Project Delivery, ENMAX Energy. “We brought two teams together, 51ˇçÁ÷and TCS, to deliver this migration, seamlessly, transparently, collaboratively and on-time, operating as one-team.”

The completion of this project has enabled ENMAX Energy to modernize its billing with 51ˇçÁ÷S/4HANA Cloud private edition for Utilities, improve system resiliency, reduce hardware and license IT costs, and streamline its application suite. ENMAX Energy has enhanced its user experience through improved training software, better performance and optimization of processes using 51ˇçÁ÷Fiori applications. The project also successfully reduced its data footprint by reducing reports by one third and data through improved data management and compression.

“Customers are at the core of everything we do, and our people are the key to enabling an excellent experience for them,” said ENMAX Energy’s Vice President, Retail Mass Market and Customer Experience, Corry Poole. “This transformation was a critical step in the alignment of our strategic cloud foundation to ensure ENMAX Energy can support future innovation to remain resilient and competitive.”

The post ENMAX Energy’s Digital Transformation Journey to Enhance Customer Experience appeared first on 51ˇçÁ÷Canada News Center.

The journey to becoming a digital first bank

BMO was determined to invest more in strengthening their finance technology infrastructure and modernizing legacy finance systems to adapt to rapidly changing business and regulatory requirements. With the help of 51ˇçÁ÷solutions, BMO was able to quickly gain efficiency and speed capabilities that benefit their business and customers.

Now, S/4HANA and 51ˇçÁ÷Fiori solutions are helping BMO to reduce complexity of transactional processes by replacing their general ledger technology, redesigning processes, reducing operational risks, and providing more real-time data. This enabled BMO finance teams to spend less time on data validation and accuracy verification and invest time in higher value work such as analysis and developing insights.

ąőłŮ’s about creating value

Driving speed, innovation, and efficiency by modernizing its technology platforms is how BMO is competing to win. Simplifying finance, reducing operational risk and complexity, and driving business performance continues to drive BMO’s need for transformation.

Through the 51ˇçÁ÷partnership, BMO’s simplified Finance Technology landscape has reduced Finance IT support costs and costs associated with business events and projects. In total, 85 downstream interfaces were eliminated, resulting in technology support cost reduction of approximately $1.4M.

BMO has adapted a digital first mindset and is engraining digital in the way they operate every part of their business by driving efficiencies, simplifying their businesses, delivering best-in-class customer experiences, and adopting new ways of working. Living this mindset and leveraging partnerships that help drive digital transformation is key to digital innovation and success in this everchanging world.

Learn more:

The post BMO: Powering Progress for Customers and Communities Through Digital Innovation appeared first on 51ˇçÁ÷Canada News Center.

“Transitioning the foundation to 51ˇçÁ÷and working with 51ˇçÁ÷partner VistaVu Solutions means finalizing accounts faster and improving operational efficiencies,” said Karyn Golem, BSF vice president of corporate services and CFO. “By investing in technology, we’re able to shift our focus to other priorities – like releasing administrative time to provide more person-centered care and services or supporting research and innovation that drives impact and supports our mission to optimize well-being and enrich lives.”

The charitable organization, founded in 1975 by Dr. Barrie I. Strafford, owns and operates five long-term care and assisted-living communities in Calgary and Okotoks, Alberta. Its local programs serve victims of domestic violence and families at risk of homelessness in Calgary and provides health services in underserved regions of the Caribbean including Haiti, Jamaica, and Dominica. BSF supports several innovative projects for seniors’ health and wellness, with a strategic goal to expand its work in quality, research and innovation to address the needs vulnerable populations.

“The Brenda Strafford Foundation provides a critical service to those in need, and we want to ensure it can continue to do that for years to come in the most efficient and effective way possible,” said Greg Petraetis, 51ˇçÁ÷senior vice president and managing director, Midmarket and Partner Ecosystem, North America. “GROW with 51ˇçÁ÷is designed for growing companies like BSF – who are looking for built-in industry best practices to get up and running quickly and predictably.”

As a first step in its digital transformation journey, BSF will implement the full suite of SAPÂŽ SuccessFactorsÂŽ solutions, beginning with the 51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors Employee Central, 51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors Performance & Goals and 51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors Learning solutions.  51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors Employee Central Payroll, 51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors Compensation and 51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors Employee Central Global Benefits solutions then will go live with 51ˇçÁ÷S/4HANAÂŽ Cloud, public edition. The 51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors solutions implementation is being done in conjunction with , a global implementation and reselling partner specializing in 51ˇçÁ÷SuccessFactors solutions and human experience management solutions from SAP.

BSF also is using software from . Running on 51ˇçÁ÷Business Technology Platform, MakeShift software helps to optimize scheduling and time management to ensure efficient operations.

“Through our collaboration, we aim to enhance the foundation’s operational efficiency, effectiveness and overall impact. The Brenda Strafford Foundation will have the opportunity to optimize processes, streamline workflows and enable the foundation to focus more on its core objectives of providing care and support to those in need,” VistaVu CEO Jory Lamb said. “We believe BSF has brought tremendous foresight in positioning themselves for further growth and scale with the single fully integrated system from SAP.”

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Media Contact:
Natalie Sauve, +1 (613) 898-0988, natalie.sauve@sap.com, ET

51ˇçÁ÷Press Room; press@sap.com

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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 2022 Annual Report on Form 20-F.

Š 2023 51ˇçÁ÷SE. All rights reserved.
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