Commenting on��the customer momentum,��Verena Siow, Regional Business Suite Leader,��51����Asia Pacific,��said, “SAP’s��Q3��growth underpins how��APAC��customers are��moving decisively and swiftly to��bring together��enterprise applications, relevant data, and embedded AI.��According to��,��businesses��are already achieving��16% ROI from AI globally.��But economic volatility, shifting regulations, and a global skills crunch��mean��organizations face a critical challenge: how to connect their people and their business in ways that drive agility, resilience,��and growth.��This��isn’t��just a��moment of change;��it’s��a moment of unprecedented��opportunity.”��

APAC customers embrace AI��

In Q3, 51����announced new Business AI customers in Asia Pacific.��

In Southeast Asia,��ofi��(Olam Food Ingredients)��is transforming its business with 51����Business AI,��51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, SAP��Signavio,��WalkMe, 51����Business Technology Platform,��and��51����Digital Supply Chain.��

The company said,��“ofi��has embarked on a significant transformation and sought the best platform to adopt across all functions, aiming to bring innovations and technology to support its business effectively. With this evolution underway,��ofi��…��worked diligently to assess technologies that could enable innovation. ERP transformation was identified as a central focus, and the team collaborated closely with 51����to��establish��the value proposition for RISE with SAP, which will help empower��ofi��to accelerate innovation, drive sustainable growth and safeguard its project outcomes.”��

In India,��Tata Consultancy Services��is looking to��benefit��from��51����Joule for Consultants��and��51����Learning Hub, while in South Korea,��SK AX��has chosen��51����Business AI, 51����Business Technology Platform,��and��51����Enterprise Service Management.����

��Japan Aviation Electronics Industry Ltd.��purchased��a range of 51����solutions including��51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition,��51����Business AI,��51����Business Data Cloud, 51����Business Technology Platform, OpenText,��Tricentis,��and��WalkMe.��

Asia Pacific customers move to 51����public cloud��

Q3 also saw APAC customers increasingly embracing public cloud models to empower their transformation��in preparation for realising the value of business AI.����

La Trobe University,��a��leading��higher education establishment in Australia,��went live with��51����S/4HANA Public Cloud Edition, noting��“La Trobe University has successfully implemented 51����S/4HANA with a clean core public cloud architecture, reinforcing its commitment to digital excellence. This milestone underpins the University’s AI-first strategy—enabling intelligent automation, streamlined operations, and scalable innovation across research and education in partnership with SAP.”��

��The��Victorian��Country Fire Authority��is��a volunteer and community-based fire and emergency services organization for the state of Victoria, Australia. It is one of the world’s largest volunteer emergency services, protecting millions of��people��and their homes from fire, rescues, and other hazards. The CFA��chose 51����S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, 51����Concur, 51����Analytics Cloud, SAP��Signavio,��and��LeanIX. Also in Australia,��Mitsui Resources Pty��Ltd.��purchased��51����S/4HANA Public Cloud.����

Other companies finalising deals for public cloud ERP solutions from 51����include��NYK Line��and��Rio Holdings Co. Ltd.��in Japan,��HLS Honour Lane Shipping Ltd.��in��Greater China, and��Manorama Industries Ltd.��in India.��

World-leading companies choose 51����cloud innovation��

A range of��high-profile��companies��selected��51����to drive their transformation.��

World-leading digital payment company��Visa��has chosen 51����to support its global technology infrastructure.����

“Visa��seeks��to streamline and simplify business-to-business (B2B) payments for corporates of all sizes. The Visa B2B Integrated Payments solution, built on SAP’s Business Technology Platform, allows corporates to use a Visa Commercial Card to make payments to both card accepting and non-card accepting suppliers, all within their 51����ERP system. This embedded finance solution allows corporates to capitalise on the benefits of using a Visa Commercial Card such as working capital optimisation and reconciliation functions, all through Visa’s secure payments �Ա�ٷɴǰ���.”��

The��Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA)��noted, “In September CBA successfully went live with an upgraded 51����Core Banking solution. ��This 51����and SAP��Fioneer��solution now supports 90% of CBA customer accounts and almost one in two payments nationally.” ��

In Japan,��All Nippon Airways (ANA Holdings Inc.),��chose��51����S/4HANA Private Cloud Edition��and��51����Business Data Cloud, while 51����also inked new deals with��Nippon Express Holdings Inc.,��Enessance��Holdings Co. Ltd, and��Panasonic Operational Excellence.��

Greater China��saw a range of customers embracing 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, including��Anhui��Jianghuai��Automobile Co. Ltd��and��ZCZL Industry Technology Group Co. Ltd,��while��Xin’ao��(Tianjin) Energy Investment Co.��Ltd.����Chose��51����Multi-Bank Connectivity.����

In India, 51����saw growth in RISE with 51����at��Jubilant��Pharmova��Limited��and��JK Tyre & Industries Ltd,��while��L&T Technology Services��chose a range of 51����solutions including ERP,��51����SuccessFactors, 51����Ariba,��and��51����Business Technology Platform.��

Companies who choose to innovate choose SAP��

Remarking on��a��successful��third quarter,��Siow��concluded, “While��customers are experiencing a period of profound change, one thing��remains��consistent. Alongside SAP, organisations across APAC are using Business AI and the public cloud to expand, empower, and excel��– and create��real business��value.”������

The post Business AI and public cloud customer drives 51����Asia Pacific growth in Q3 appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

Companies like Singapore Airlines are increasingly seeing the value of Business AI across their organisations. Based on analysis of all 51����customers in Southeast Asia (SEA) between May 2024 to May 2025, the most popular AI use cases in SEA are:��

• AI to generate expenses using pictures of receipts��

• AI to verify expenses to ensure compliance with company policy​��

• ​Generative AI to help employees write clear, concise copy in HR applications��

• Generative AI to create performance goals��

• Integrating key business documents into co-pilots to improve Q&A responses��

“AI isn’t confined to niche use cases anymore, it’s being embedded in some of the most fundamental parts of business,” said Liher Urbizu, President and Managing Director, 51����Southeast Asia. “Organisations across Southeast Asia are adopting AI, fast. And, by bringing together enterprise apps and mission critical data, they are realising tangible business benefits in terms of efficiency, growth, and revenue.”��

Optimising contract digitization with 51����Document AI  ��

Supported by Digital Industry Singapore (DISG), 51����has recently concluded a successful Proof of Concept (PoC) with Singapore Airlines (SIA), aimed at addressing the complex challenge of digitizing procurement contracts.  ��

The initiative sought to automate the extraction of contractual rates from PDF-based contracts and migrate them to the Ariba procurement platform. This significantly reduces the reliance on time-consuming and error-prone manual processes. One of the key hurdles in the previous automation efforts was the unstructured, multilingual, and highly varied nature of the contract formats. ��

The PoC delivered promising results, achieving 100% accuracy and completeness for less complex contracts, and over 70% for contracts with greater complexity. It also demonstrated multilingual adaptability for non-English contracts, offering greater efficiencies through optimised translation processes.  ��

The collaboration with SIA was instrumental in refining 51����Document AI models to meet evolving business needs. ��

Partners and customers across Southeast Asia show AI momentum��

51����partners and customers also showcased strong momentum in AI and cloud transformation during 51����Now AI Southeast Asia.��

Amazon Web Services (AWS), a 51����partner since 2008, continues collaborating with 51����to support business transformation in Southeast Asia. Customers like BIG Caring Group in Malaysia and Unilab in the Philippines are leveraging RISE with 51����on AWS to integrate multi-store retail operations, modernize pharmaceutical supply chains, and implement AI-powered enterprise applications. AWS and SAP’s previously announced AI Co-Innovation Program helps partners build generative AI applications and agents that help customers solve real-time business challenges.

“Our long-standing collaboration with 51����helps businesses eliminate technology silos by bringing separate systems together on AWS’s secure and scalable cloud infrastructure,” said Kirsten Gilbertson, Partner Organization Leader, AWS ASEAN. “By connecting SAP’s business applications with AWS’s generative AI services like Amazon Bedrock in SAP’s GenAI Hub, we’re enabling our customers to transform years of accumulated business data into actionable insights.”��

(“Yinson”), a global energy infrastructure company headquartered in Malaysia, is advancing its people management capabilities as part of a broader effort to support sustainable global growth. With operations spanning multiple countries and subsidiaries – each operating with distinct HR processes – Yinson identified the need to improve consistency, efficiency and strategic alignment across its workforce.��

As part of the digitalisation transformation journey that begun in 2020, Yinson introduced a more unified approach by rolling out Employee Central globally within six months, supported by strong change management and local engagement. The Group expanded in phases by adding key modules; performance, recruitment, onboarding, and compensation throughout 2022 and 2023, and further enhanced efficiency with Generative AI features as part of its global HRIS roadmap. Leveraging digital tools and AI capabilities, Yinson began automating routine tasks such as drafting performance reviews, generating job descriptions, and developing role-specific interview questions. These changes are helping Yinson improve its ability in people analytics by streamlining HR workflows, improving the candidate experience, and supporting more consistent and professional employee feedback.��

“Our goal is to be a future-ready employer of choice,” said Louisa Brady, Yinson Group Chief Human Resources Officer. “Partnering with 51����throughout the years has supported our ongoing transformation by helping us streamline HR processes, embrace and embed AI tools which drive greater efficiency and effectiveness. This enables our teams to focus on strategic initiatives that drive value and support Yinson’s global growth.”��

Investing in people AI as the foundation of SEA’s AI future��

As part of its ongoing commitment to empowering SEA’s workforce, 51����has also announced an update to its 51����Skills University to include .��

51����Skills University is a joint initiative with SkillsFuture Singapore and Temasek Polytechnic to design specialised training programmes that equip fresh graduates and mid-career professionals with hands-on learning in key technology skills.��

The refreshed 51����Skills University program will empower students with skills in critical emerging innovations, including cloud, data analytics, Business AI, and emerging
51����technologies.��

“The future of Southeast Asia will be shaped not just by technology, but by the people who bring it to life. As AI fundamentally changes the way businesses operate and the requirements of employees, it is crucial that we foster both innovative technical skills and agile mindsets. Looking on display at our 51����NOW AI Tour, I’m confident that Southeast Asia’s future is in capable hands” concluded Urbizu.����

The post 51����helps SEA organizations unleash their future with Business AI appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

Commenting on the AI momentum, President of 51����Asia Pacific, Simon Davies, said, “SAP’s Q2 financial results confirm APAC organizations are quick to understand and seize the advantages offered by agentic and embedded AI. SAP’s powerful combination of enterprise applications, relevant data, and embedded AI is creating tangible business value and outcomes for our customers and partners. We’re excited to see organizations across Asia Pacific recognizing the benefits of this flywheel effect and investing in their transformation to create resilient supply chains, new efficiencies, and innovation that sparks differentiation.”

APAC customers embrace AI

In Q2, 51����announced a range of new Business AI customers globally, and in Asia Pacific.

Alibaba Group, the Chinese multinational technology company focused on e-commerce and cloud computing, has chosen multiple 51����solutions that include 51����Cloud ERP Private, 51����Business AI, 51����Business Technology Platform, 51����Ariba, 51����Integrated Business Planning, 51����SuccessFactors, 51����Concur, and 51����Emarsys. The group will leverage 51����Business Suite for faster maintenance, smooth upgrades and easier integration of AI capabilities into core business processes. As part of the collaboration, initially focused on the China market and with rollout planned for Southeast Asia and the Middle East and Africa, Alibaba Group and 51����will have a joint go-to-market strategy to allow enterprises to implement 51����Integrated Business Planning and embark on RISE with 51����and GROW with 51����journeys.

In Japan, Electric Power Development Co. Ltd. (J-POWER) chose a range of 51����solutions including RISE with SAP, 51����Business Data Cloud, 51����Business AI, 51����Business Technology Platform, 51����Ariba, WalkMe for SAP. Commenting on the news, the company said, “J-POWER has adopted 51����S/4HANA Cloud to implement a system that involves business process transformation, promotes data integration and visualization, and aims to enhance the sophistication of data utilization.”

���ǰ���’s Lotte Chemical, one of the world’s largest chemical companies, has also chosen RISE with 51����and 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition as part of its digital transformation, incorporating a range of other solutions including 51����Business AI and 51����Learning Hub.

APAC is also seeing demand for 51����Joule for Consultants, a conversational AI solution that accelerates 51����cloud transformations with guidance from SAP’s most comprehensive and expertly curated knowledge base.�� Global IT services and technology consulting company LTIMindtree Limited and Infosys, a global leader in next-generation digital services and consulting, are empowering their staff with 51����Joule for Consultants.

And global consulting company Westernacher Consulting��is embracing 51����Joule for Consultants to empower its global teams with cutting-edge AI. The company said, “By integrating 51����Joule for Consultants our team gains instant access to precise implementation guidance, technical insights, and code-level explanations – enabling faster, smarter solution design and more impactful client outcomes. This accelerates project delivery, streamlines proposals, and improves analysis quality, helping clients realize value sooner. As a leader in supply chain, logistics, and digital transformation, we’re committed to staying ahead of the curve and turning complexity into competitive advantage through continuous innovation.”

World-leading companies choose 51����cloud innovation

In addition to Business AI customers, 51����has also announced a range of new customers who are adopting its technology to drive their cloud transformation.

Synapxe, Singapore’s national HealthTech agency, has chosen RISE with 51����and 51����Billing and Revenue Innovation Management to underpin its mission to create intelligent technology solutions to improve the health of millions of people every day. Discussing the announcement, the organisation said, “Synapxe has selected RISE with 51����to host Singapore’s National Healthcare Billing Solution. This will support billing across all of Singapore’s public sector care providers and provide a common, harmonised and consolidated platform and replaces 10 disparate legacy billing applications.”

Partnering with Infosys, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) will deploy a suite of 51����solutions, including 51����S/4HANA Cloud, 51����SuccessFactors, and other advanced solutions like identity and access management and master data management. These integrations aim to move MACS’ core ERP systems to the cloud and streamline its operations across its network of about 300 schools, enhancing efficiency, user experience, and scalability for future innovations.

Asia Pacific’s largest privately-owned logistics company, Linfox, has selected 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition and 51����SuccessFactors. And in Southeast Asia, Techcombank, one of the leading banks in Vietnam, has also chosen 51����SuccessFactors to transform its human capital management.

In New Zealand, Zespri International, the largest marketer of kiwifruit in the world, has chosen a range of 51����solutions including RISE with SAP, 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, 51����Integrated Business Planning, 51����Sustainability Control Tower, and 51����SuccessFactors.

Discussing the news, Zespri noted, “To lead in sustainable agribusiness, we need more than good intentions—we need data-driven insights that guide every decision from orchard to market. 51����Sustainability Control Tower unleashes the potential to empower us with end-to-end visibility, enabling us to align performance with purpose and drive measurable impact across our global value chain.”

Companies in Greater China are also choosing SAP. Tofflon Science and Technology Group Co. Ltd. will transform with RISE with 51����and 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, and leading food and research and development company Grobest Group has also chosen 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition.

Indian organisations continued to choose RISE with 51����to support their cloud journeys. Alivus Life Sciences selected RISE with SAP, 51����SuccessFactors, 51����Datasphere, and OpenText, while Walter Bushnell also chose RISE with SAP. Meanwhile RICO Auto Industries Limited went live with its implementation of RISE with 51����and 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition.

Part of Sumitomo Group, Sumitomo Rubber Industries Ltd is a global tire and rubber company based in Japan. The company has chosen a range of 51����solutions, including RISE with SAP, 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, 51����Ariba, 51����Business Network, and 51����Preferred Success.

In Indonesia, Bukit Kencana Eka Sakti, a business unit under the Sinar Mas Mining Group, went live with RISE with 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition with support from 51����Customer Services & Delivery. Based on SAP’s seamless end-to-end processes and best practices, the company aims to achieve process efficiency, enabling faster data access, improved collaboration, and real-time insights that contribute to quicker response times and better resource management.

Finally, Daou Data Corp, one of South ���ǰ���’s leading IT partner organisations, chose GROW with SAP, 51����S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition, and 51����Sales Cloud.

Companies who choose to innovate choose SAP

Remarking on continued success across Asia Pacific in the second quarter, Davies concluded, “Organisations across Asia are navigating a world that is changing every day. Regulations, tariffs, new innovations, and more are creating uncertainty and unpredictability. Amid those circumstances, I’m proud so many Asia Pacific customers are choosing 51����and 51����Business AI, because no other company has the breadth and depth of experience to help mitigate challenges and realise opportunities with the speed, agility, and scale that 51����is positioned to do.”

The post New Asia Pacific Business AI customers underpin 51����Q2 momentum appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

Commenting on the customer momentum, President of 51����Asia Pacific, Simon Davies, said, “While the world is managing uncertainty, businesses around Asia continue to choose 51����to innovate and transform to create resilient supply chains, drive tangible value, and realise the opportunities Business AI offers. 51����already offers 210 AI use cases to customers, and we will total more than 400 by the end of 2025, ultimately boosting users’ efficiency by 30% this year alone.”��

��2025 is the year of AI adoption��

��In Q1, 51����revealed a range of Business AI customers.��

��In Southeast Asia, leading chemicals and food distributor and provider DKSH Performance Materials chose 51����S/4HANA and 51����Business AI to enhance its eCommerce journey for customers, enabling personalization, efficiency, and a more seamless B2B experience.��

��In Korea, LG Energy Solutions chose RISE with 51����and 51����Business Technology Platform (BTP) to help meet the growing demand for batteries in electric vehicles, mobility, IT, and energy storage systems. Process standardization and the integrated AI platform w������ increase the productivity of customers in manufacturing, supply chain, HR and finance.  ��

Wipro Limited, a leading technology services and consulting company based in India, chose 51����Joule for Consultants to continue to bring the power of generative AI to empower its clients around the globe to build a more resilient, secure, and sustainable future. It has also gone-live with 51����SuccessFactors.��

“Our clients around the world are digitally transforming in the cloud,” said Srinivas Sai Nidadhavolu, Vice President and Global Practice Head of 51����at Wipro. “As leaders in tech and consulting we have a rich legacy in both data and AI. But even for our internal teams we can embed generative AI to increase productivity through insights, drive more efficiencies by aligning with best practice, and ultimately make customer transformations simpler, quicker, and more effective. By using 51����Joule for Consultants, we’re able to showcase the power of 51����Business AI to our customers even while we work with them to make their transformation journeys successful.”����

And in Greater China, GIGA Image Technology chose RISE with 51����and 51����Business AI.��

Business across Asia transform in the cloud����

��Q1 also saw significant cloud momentum, with a raft of go-lives and new customers across every Asia Pacific market.����

In Australia and New Zealand, beverage company Lion chose 51����S/4 HANA Cloud, 51����Commerce Cloud, 51����Signavio, 51����SuccessFactors, and 51����Ariba to continue its cloud transformation. Meanwhile, utilities company Energy Queensland chose RISE with 51����and mining and infrastructure company Orica Ltd chose 51����Global Trade Services.��

��In Greater China, leading intelligent vehicle company Auto Link chose RISE with SAP, smart energy company Greengrid chose GROW with SAP, and manufacturing and retail group Foremost Worldwide chose 51����Business Technology Platform to drive its innovation roadmap.��

��A range of Indian companies also chose RISE with 51����to boost organisational resilience and performance. Leading food companies Parle Biscuits and Patanjali Foods chose RISE with 51����and 51����S/4 HANA to drive their transformations. Leading pharmaceutical company Piramal Pharma also chose RISE with SAP, while one of India’s most respected media organisations, Times Group, chose RISE with SAP, 51����SuccessFactors, and 51����Ariba.��

Consulting company VFS Global also selected several 51����solutions including 51����S/4HANA Public Cloud Edition, 51����Business Technology Platform, 51����Business Data Cloud, 51����Signavio and LeanIX, to fast-track visa processing in a secure manner for governments around the world. ��

��In Japan, East Japan Railway Company (JR East) decided to use RISE with 51����to standardise accounting operations and make use of the latest technologies such as AI. Global leader NEC Corporation chose 51����SuccessFactors for its human capital management solution, while automobile company Mazda Motor Corporation and printing company TOPPAN Holdings both chose RISE with SAP. Utilities company OKI Electric Industry Co. chose GROW With 51����alongside 51����Business Technology Platform and 51����Signavio.��

��Korean companies continued to benefit from 51����innovation, with Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation choosing RISE with 51����for its cloud journey. Container and shipping company HMM Co. also chose RISE with SAP, as did globally leading ramen and food manufacturer Samyang Foods. S-OIL Corporation also chose 51����S/4 HANA Cloud as part of its digital transformation.��

��Finally, in Southeast Asia, Indonesia’s Amman Mineral chose RISE with SAP, 51����Business Technology Platform, 51����SuccessFactors, and 51����Ariba.����

��Organisations choose 51����across Asia Pacific��

Remarking on a successful first quarter, Davies concluded, “It’s clear that organisations in every market in Asia understand the value of cloud transformation and artificial intelligence to future-proof their business. 51����solutions help these customers truly maximise the value from their data, leading to tangible business results that make a real difference.”����

��

The post 51����showcases new Q1 cloud and Business AI customers across Asia Pacific appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

25-year 51����veteran Liher Urbizu appointed as new President and Managing Director for Southeast Asia, as Verena Siow transitions to take on the new Regional Business Suite Leader for Asia Pacific role

SINGAPORE — April 23, 2025 — today announced the appointment of Liher Urbizu as President and Managing Director for 51����Southeast Asia (SEA). Liher succeeds Verena Siow, who will take on a new role as Regional Business Suite Leader for SAP, Asia Pacific (APAC). Both leaders bring decades of experience to their positions, strengthening SAP’s continued commitment to delivering customer success and driving forward its cloud and AI innovation strategy.

In his new role, Liher will be responsible for overseeing strategy, operations, and customer success across SAP’s Southeast Asia market unit, encompassing Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Vietnam, Thailand and emerging countries within Indochina. He will focus on helping organizations in the region drive continued innovation and sustainable growth in the digital economy, underpinned by data, AI, and the cloud.

Liher has served in multiple leadership roles at SAP, most recently as Chief Business Officer, APAC. Over his 25 years in the 51����ecosystem, he has been a customer, a partner, and an 51����executive. Highlights of his tenure include serving as Global Head of Partner Success Services, Head of Services Asia Pacific & Japan, Chief Operating Officer Japan, and Managing Director for 51����Indochina, where he led the team to several significant achievements and accolades.

Commenting on his new appointment, Liher said, “Southeast Asia was the launchpad of my career within the 51����ecosystem. I am energized by the opportunity to return and lead this dynamic market unit, with a focus on delivering tangible business outcomes for our customers by harnessing AI and SAP’s industry-leading business software solutions. I firmly believe that by aligning our technology with the region’s growth ambitions, we will help businesses of all sizes and industries innovate and thrive in the digital-first era.”

Simon Davies, President, 51����Asia Pacific, said, “Southeast Asia is leading the world in this new era of AI adoption. Verena Siow’s contribution to 51����SEA over the past several years has been significant, and I am confident that her outstanding leadership will help us execute on our strategy and achieve tangible cloud momentum for 51����and our customers across the APAC region. Liher’s extensive leadership experience in Asia will also serve the SEA team well in its next phase of growth. Liher combines a deep understanding of our customers’ evolving business needs with a proven track record of leading high-impact teams. As the new President and Managing Director of Southeast Asia, he will play a critical role in accelerating our cloud and AI initiatives, ensuring that organizations in SEA can fully leverage SAP’s innovation to solve their most pressing business challenges.”

Having served 51����for over 13 years, Verena Siow transitions from her role as President and Managing Director of Southeast Asia to take on the new role of Regional Business Suite Leader for SAP, Asia Pacific (APAC). In her new position, she will drive cloud growth and strategic business development across Asia Pacific. She will focus on creating a seamless experience for SAP’s cloud customers, from demand generation to renewals, in support of the company’s broader vision of delivering consistent and exceptional outcomes across all markets.

Verena said, “Over the past five years, the Southeast Asia team has demonstrated remarkable resilience and consistent success, anchored by our customers’ trust in SAP’s solutions and innovation. I’m excited to bring my experience to the whole of APAC, as 51����continues to deliver next-generation cloud solutions and expand our footprint across Asia. I look forward to helping customers, both in Southeast Asia and across APAC, continue to Accelerate to Innovate and unlock further value on their transformation journeys.”

The post 51����Announces New Leadership: Liher Urbizu to head 51����Southeast Asia as Verena Siow takes new Asia Pacific role appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

Scales Momentum of Almost Three-Times Team Growth and Numerous Patents Filed

SINGAPORE — March 19, 2025 — 51����Labs Singapore today announced its collaboration with National University of Singapore (NUS) under the Industrial Postgraduate Programme (IPP). Supported by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB), the IPP is designed to enable globally-leading companies to nurture postgraduate talent with critical research skills. Through this program, 51����Labs Singapore will hire and complete training for nine researchers in its AI team in Singapore by end-2030, adding to the continued growth of the lab.

Since its establishment in 2022, 51����Labs Singapore has not only achieved its commitment to hire 200 AI engineers in Singapore but has also almost tripled its total headcount over the past three years to 420 – hired mostly from local universities and institutions of higher learning, including the NUS and Nanyang Technological University (NTU). 51����Labs Singapore today plays a pivotal role in driving innovation, with numerous AI-related patents filed by inventors based locally. New researchers hired through the IPP will also be recruited from NUS, and will work on new research areas, complementing the work done by incumbent team, to accelerate AI adoption in the industry.

The rapid scaling and achievement of its hiring and innovation targets have been pivotal to enable 51����Labs Singapore to test, refine, and deploy AI advancements that offer tangible ROI across core 51����solutions including HR, finance, and supply chain software.

“Our vision for 51����Labs Singapore was to become a vibrant engine of innovation in Asia, creating cutting-edge solutions for our customers worldwide,” said Manik Saha, Managing Director, 51����Labs Singapore & Vietnam. “Today, that vision has turned into a reality: not only have we nearly tripled our staff while continuing to nurture future talent, we’ve also pushed the boundaries of what AI can do for enterprises, going beyond experiments to deliver AI solutions that truly make a difference in people’s day-to-day work.”

Agentic AI: Leading the Next Wave Beyond Generative AI

SAP’s engineering teams in 51����Labs Singapore are already playing a central role in driving Agentic AI, an evolution that moves from basic automation and predictive models to autonomous agents capable of managing entire workflows.

By harnessing Agentic AI, such as , enterprises can turn AI investment into real business outcomes, including:

• End-to-End Process Automation: From procurement requests to invoice management, entire sequences become self-driving.
• Smarter Decision-Making: AI agents collaborating across end-to-end processes to help businesses make better decisions in real time.
• Scalable ROI: With applications, data and processes harmonized, organizations see faster time-to-value compared to traditional AI pilots.

“Our team at 51����Labs Singapore has co-created numerous client features, from one-click, guided, employee development goals creation in 51����SuccessFactors, to embedded analytical capabilities in finance. And the next step will be new agentic innovation, demonstrating that AI can transform traditional business challenges into opportunities,” said Saha.

The success of Agentic AI is underpinned by a unified data foundation. The newly launched 51����Business Data Cloud brings together large-scale datasets from multiple sources, ensuring that AI agents have the context they need to drive more intelligent automation.

“Data is the fuel that feeds AI, and we’ve made it our mission to deliver a seamless way to connect disparate data,” said Verena Siow, President and Managing Director, Southeast Asia, SAP. “As 51����Business Data Cloud breaks down silos and scales AI capabilities across lines of businesses, regions and industries, 51����Labs Singapore serves as an innovation engine to translate AI investments into tangible, measurable ROI for customers so that they can continue to Accelerate to Innovate and achieve their business ambitions.”

The rapid growth at 51����Labs Singapore spotlights how Asia, with Singapore at its epicenter, is becoming a magnet for advanced digital technologies.

“Companies in Southeast Asia aren’t just catching up—they’re often leapfrogging into the most sophisticated AI use cases,” added Siow. “Our success at 51����Labs Singapore is proof that, when you combine visionary public policy with forward-thinking R&D investments, you can fast-track innovation that resonates around the globe. More and more customers in the region, such as Olam Agri, Bank Danamon, and Darussalam Assets, are already incorporating 51����Business AI capabilities into their business processes.”

“The expansion of 51����Labs Singapore and the addition of a new R&D team exemplifies how companies can leverage Singapore’s world-class AI talent to solve complex enterprise challenges,” said Mr. Chan Ih-ming, Executive Vice President, Singapore Economic Development Board. “SAP’s collaboration with NUS through the Industrial Postgraduate Programme will further strengthen the pipeline of AI talent in Singapore. It is a tangible example of an industry-academia partnership that equips our researchers with deep research capabilities to develop innovative AI solutions that are enterprise-centric.”

Visit the 51����News Center. Follow 51����at .

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 .

Note to editors:
To preview and download broadcast-standard stock footage and press photos digitally, please visit . On this platform, you can find high resolution material for your media channels.

For more information, press only:
Celest Lim, celest.lim@sap.com, SGT (GMT +8)
Eastwest PR for SAP, sap@eastwestpr.com, SGT (GMT +8)

51����Press Room; press@sap.com

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 2023 Annual Report on Form 20-F.

© 2025 51����SE. All rights reserved.
51����and other 51����products and services mentioned herein as well as their respective logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of 51����SE in Germany and other countries. Please see for additional trademark information and notices.

The post 51����Labs Singapore Drives Next-Gen AI Innovation with Local R&D Talent appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

With 51����market units operating in Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Greater China, India, Japan, Korea, and Southeast Asia, Davies will be responsible for overseeing more than 31,000 employees across 78 offices. Across the APAC region, 51����services leading customers including��NEC Corporation,��Coles Group,��Wipro,��Fujitsu Limited,��Shiseido,��Hyundai Motor Company,��Kia Corporation, Himalaya, Cochlear, and Japan Airlines.

Prior to this appointment, Davies has spent��25 years building, selling, and implementing IT solutions in Asia Pacific, working with some of the world’s leading software companies, including Microsoft, Salesforce, and Oracle. Most recently, he was Senior Vice President and General Manager of Asia Pacific and Japan at Splunk, a position he held for over three years. Davies also serves on the board of several pre-IPO technology companies, and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD).

Manos Raptopoulos, Chief Revenue Officer for APAC, EMEA, and MEE, said “Our next chapter is being fuelled by accelerated cloud and AI innovation, underpinned by our purpose, our people, and our partnerships. Simon combines experience in Asia’s fast-growth, innovation-hungry markets with proven expertise in building high-performance, diverse, and inclusive teams. I’m confident that, under Simon, 51����APAC will build on the tremendous��momentum��established during��Paul’s leadership��and continue to be a catalyst for innovation and supporting customer success.”

Simon Davies said “I’m very excited for this new chapter to begin. Across Asia Pacific and Japan, we see forward-thinking businesses accelerating strategic transformation supported by SAP. Establishing a solid foundation in the cloud and leveraging business data is the gateway to exploring new avenues of growth in areas like artificial intelligence, data analytics, and sustainability.”

The post Simon Davies announced as new 51����Regional President, Asia Pacific appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

That was the clear message following Deputy Prime Minister Heng Swee Keat’s recent visit to SAP’s Berlin offices marking the 60th anniversary of ties between Singapore and Germany.��

During the , the delegation took in a tour of the 51����Experience Centre, where Mr. Heng experienced cutting-edge AI innovation, before a range of discussions and insights sessions with Business AI and public sector experts.����

Singapore is already at the forefront of digital transformation thanks to strong government initiatives, future-proofing the workforce and strengthening the nation’s competitiveness. And investment continues.

As Mr. Heng noted at the WELT Economic Summit,

“In Singapore, we spend about 1% of GDP on research and innovation … and have committed S$28 billion for the period 2021-25. We are investing in 4 key areas: advanced manufacturing, human health and potential, digitalisation including AI and quantum computing, and sustainability and urban solutions. We are a small city state, but if we succeed the solutions can be exported to thousands of cities around the world.”��

This is important given the Mr. Heng notes Singapore faces.��

But there are exciting solutions at hand. I believe a focus on SEA is the key to turbo-charge our future. Let me explain.��

Skilling the future��

Singapore and Southeast Asia are young, vibrant markets. We are blessed with more than aged between 15 and 34, creating a generation of digital natives.��

Our nations and our businesses will need them. The skills needed for jobs in Southeast Asia are expected to change by with the introduction of new AI innovations.����

During the visit I was excited to hear about the progressive and pragmatic approach Singapore is taking to speed up AI adoption across the entire economy.����

And 51����is committed to developing AI talent.����

Over the past five years, we have collaborated closely with the Singapore Government under the SkillsFuture programme to upskill more than 1,000 mid-career professionals to teach practical and hands-on digital skills. ��

51����has also invested in and launched and plans to introduce certification courses on Business AI later this year. And our 51����Labs in Singapore has hired more than 140 AI engineers who are actively contributing to realizing SAP’s product and technology strategy. ��

Together with government, we can upskill a generation of Southeast Asians to maximise the enormous opportunities digital and AI hold.��

Economic growth through innovation��

These opportunities are not only important for business, but for our nations themselves.��

Generative AI is expected to add to the global economy, while in Singapore if AI-powered products and solutions are adopted it could result in US$147.6 billion of economic benefits.��

Today, we’re moving past AI hype to begin looking at practical steps forward to implement AI in real world scenarios.  ��

As the Infocomm Media Development Agency notes, “In 2023, 44% of larger enterprises implemented AI-enabled solutions, more than double the 16.7% in 2018. SMEs also improved their adoption rate, growing from 3.5% in 2018 to 4.2% in 2023.”��

Even government is benefiting from this innovation. For example, the Hamburg Ministry of Finance is using generative AI to reduce manual processing of benefits by up to 33,000 hours per year. The NATO Procurement Agency uses AI to identify suppliers and generate contracts in up to 20% less time. And the Serbian Ministry of Finance is using AI to make budget projections and reduce budget projections by €50 million.��

Investing in AI for Singapore – and Southeast Asia’s future��

Businesses like 51����have an enormous responsibility to enhance research, develop talent, and prepare industries for the holistic adoption of AI solutions.��

From a technology perspective, we are ready. We saw more than 130 new AI features launched last year alone, and we have more than 34,000 customers using AI today.����

We also have to ensure our use of AI is safe and ethical. 51����is among only six companies worldwide to meet all criteria in the Ethical AI Indicator by the World Benchmarking Alliance.����

But we also understand we have to invest in Singapore – and in our wider region.����

Since 2019, 51����has committed almost S$300 million to developing Business AI and other deep tech in Singapore, including establishing Southeast Asia’s first 51����Labs in 2022 and Asia’s first innovation centre for experience management (XM) in 2023.  ��

Following a long-standing partnership with the Economic Development Board, that culminated in a recent investment of S$12 million in it the Digital Industry Singapore Innovation Accelerator to boost adoption of Business AI in industry-specific scenarios in Singapore. ��

SEA is the key to accelerate to innovate across Southeast Asia��

As Deputy Prime Minister Heng rightly noted, Singapore and Southeast Asia have incredible strengths and, “By building on these strengths and building new capabilities in digital and green technologies, new competitive strengths will emerge.”��

To achieve such opportunities, I believe we must focus at a national and organisational level on skills, economic growth, and artificial intelligence – or SEA.��

Through greater collaboration and investment, in Singapore and beyond, public sector and enterprises like 51����can achieve our joint mission of ensuring AI not only benefits businesses, but also empowers Singapore and Southeast Asia to accelerate to innovate in the future.��

��

The post How Singapore can drive the future of an AI-enabled Southeast Asia appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

Commenting on the customer momentum, President of 51����Asia Pacific and Japan, Paul Marriott, said, “2024 was the year that artificial intelligence moved from hype to reality for 51����customers across Asia Pacific and Japan. This will only accelerate in 2025, as we target a total of 400 embedded AI use cases which will boost productivity by up to 30% for the top personas in our applications. This level of adoption underlines the value organisations across Asia are realising from Business AI right now.”

Value from Business AI

NTT DATA Inc, one of the world’s leading technology and business services companies, chose RISE with 51����alongside 51����Business AI, 51����Business Technology Platform, and 51����Signavio to transform its business.

Commenting on the news, the company stated: “NTT DATA Inc., a global leader in digital business and IT services, has selected RISE with 51����to replace its existing ERP landscape legacy which includes 51����and non-51����ERP systems. RISE with 51����will provide NTT Data Inc. a unified, consolidated approach that will help streamline operations, enhance efficiency across business processes and embrace innovation.”

In India, automotive parts manufacturer Premium Transmission Limited chose GROW with 51����and 51����Business AI. Ashok Leyland India, one of the biggest manufacturers of commercial vehicles in India, chose 51����Business AI, 51����Datasphere, and 51����Analytics Cloud as part of its RISE with 51����journey.

ITC Limited, a leading Indian conglomerate with focuses in FMCG, paper, packaging, and IT, complemented 51����S/4HANA with 51����Business AI, 51����Business Technology Platform, and 51����SuccessFactors. And in Australia, SA Power Networks chose RISE with 51����with 51����Business AI and 51����SuccessFactors.

Business across APJ go-live with cloud transformation

Q4 also saw continued evidence of cloud momentum across Asia Pacific and Japan, with a range of go-lives and new customers.

One of Australia’s leading retailers with more than 120,000 staff, Coles went lives with RISE with 51����in Q4. The company said, “We are happy to announce Coles Supermarkets went live on RISE with SAP, setting the foundation for an enhanced digital transformation agenda in 2025.

Trent Limited, one of India’s leading retail businesses operating six fashion brands, noted, “The migration to 51����RISE is just the beginning. We are excited about the future possibilities that this platform offers. By leveraging the advanced analytics and automation capabilities, we can further optimise our business operations and drive growth. 51����Cloud Success Services further helps in seamless migration and adoption from first use to full use.”

Additional RISE with 51����wins and go-lives included Hyundai Glovis, Roy Hill, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Limited, Hokkaido Electric Power Co., Sterlite Power Transmission, NTPC Limited, Ventia, and Daewoong Pharmaceuticals Co.

51����also announced Japan’s Tosoh Corporation and the Korean social ecosystem, Underdogs, chose 51����S/4HANA Cloud in Q4.

Sustainable innovation

51����has also seen ongoing growth for its sustainability solutions.

In India, Vedanta Limited chose 51����Sustainability Footprint Management and 51����Business Technology Platform to drive sustainability goals.

And in Thailand, one of the world’s leading food and agro-industrial businesses, Charoen Pokphand Foods Ltd (CPF), has gone-live with 51����sustainability solutions. The company said, “In October 2024, CPF successfully went live with 51����Environment Management, 51����Sustainability Footprint Management, 51����Sustainability Control Tower, and 51����Analytics Cloud. This platform enables all CPF operations to trace, track, and report materials from its source to the factory. The platform also transparently collects data and calculates Scope 1, 2, and 3 GHG emissions under the SBTi standard, ensuring compliance with future audits.”

Remarking on a successful year, Marriott concluded, “From AI to cloud to sustainability, it’s clear that companies across Asia Pacific continue to choose 51����to drive true business value. As we enter 2025, 51����will continue to put our customers at the centre by focusing on an AI-first, suite-first strategy to empower resilience, innovation, and new revenues.”

The post 51����unveils new Q4 cloud and Business AI customers across Asia Pacific and Japan appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.

• Cloud revenue in Asia Pacific and Japan (APJ) grew to €566M in Q2 2024, an increase of 38% over same period 2023 at constant currency, with India and Korea showing particular momentum. Globally, SAP’s cloud revenue was up 25% at constant currency, with cloud backlog up 28% at constant currency.
• Total APJ Q2 2024 revenue grew to €1.17B
• New RISE with 51����customers included Shiseido; Auckland Council; Powerlink Queensland; Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance; Parle Biscuits; Tigaraksa Satria; PGP Glass; PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) – Pelindo Group.
• RISE with 51����go-lives included Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation.
• Additional deals were recorded at Bank Danamon and La Trobe University.
• Japanese chemical company UBE Corporation completed a migration program to 51����S/4HANA Cloud, integrating and consolidating core functions across the organisation to enhance business efficiency, stability, and quality through digital transformation.

APJ companies continued to adopt RISE with SAP to power their cloud transformations, take advantage of new Business AI capabilities, and build agility for changing market requirements.

New RISE with 51����wins and expansions in Q2 include Shiseido; Auckland Council; Powerlink Queensland; Tokio Marine and Nichido Fire Insurance; Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd; Tigaraksa Satria; PT Pelabuhan Indonesia (Persero) – Pelindo Group; and PGP Glass. Go-lives this quarter were successfully completed at Hyundai Motor Company and Kia Corporation, among others.

Powerlink Queensland: We decided to expedite the decision to move to RISE with 51����to take advantage of the enormous productivity gains from new innovations including 51����AI. With many of our critical business systems already running on SAP, the ability to leverage AI capabilities within those systems will deliver tremendous value to our people through high-value natural intelligence.

Shiseido decided to adopt RISE with 51����to further its business transformation. This strategic move supports Shiseido’s FOCUS program, which aims to standardise business processes and data in one connected solution globally across the entire value chain, enabling new ways of working. By integrating 51����S/4HANA, 51����Integrated Business Planning (IBP), and 51����Ariba in the RISE platform with 51����Business Technology Platform (BTP), Shiseido seeks to create a resilient and data-driven organisation capable of responding to global supply chain and finance challenges. This decision is a significant step towards achieving seamless global operations and improving overall business efficiency and agility.

Parle Biscuits Pvt Ltd: The decision to move from 51����ECC to 51����S/4HANA on RISE with 51����as part of our digital transformation journey is a significant step. This move will allow us to leverage the advanced capabilities of 51����S/4HANA and 51����Business Technology Platform (BTP), which includes features like Automation, Integration Suite, Datasphere with 51����Analytics Cloud (SAC), and the inclusion of AI/GEN AI.

Richard Jarrett, Director Group Shared Services at Auckland Council, said��“Our new commercial construct with 51����gives us the freedom to make the right choices of fit for purpose technologies. This will mobilise the council’s Group Shared Services approach and reflects the commitment we have made to Aucklanders in our long-term plan.”

The small and medium enterprise sector is also embracing cloud. La Trobe University, which was the first organisation globally to switch on 51����S/4HANA in the cloud in 2015, is now adopting GROW with SAP, a��complete offering of solutions, adoption acceleration services, community, and learning��to help��any size company successfully adopt cloud ERP.

Paul Marriott, President of 51����APJ, said “51����customer experience is being transformed by the infusion of Business AI across our portfolio, embedding cutting-edge technologies into enterprise-ready business applications. The benefits of Business AI can only be accessed through the cloud, and we are working with our customers across APJ to help them drive AI benefits unique to their needs.”

More Q2 APJ Customers

51����SuccessFactors was chosen by PT Bank Danamon Indonesia Tbk, which operates a network of 856 branch offices, and more than 60,000 ATMs across 34 provinces in Indonesia. Bank Danamon went live with Joule and Premium AI features in 51����SuccessFactors, as well as a suite of 51����SuccessFactors HCM solutions. By integrating SAP’s AI copilot into its HR processes, the bank expects to drive enhanced employee engagement through AI-generated insights, and more personalised candidate matching in its recruitment process.

Established in 1988, PT Tigaraksa Satria Tbk operates a nation-wide, sales and distribution business in Indonesia. Company activities across its business units and subsidiaries include consumer products, direct selling of educational products, gas refill and appliances, and dry milk manufacturing, providing Indonesians with the access to life essentials. With 1,700 employees across 33 branches in the country today, Tigaraksa Satria now also provides avenues for growth to its trade channels and principal subsidiaries, including household names such as Mars Symbioscience Indonesia, Colgate-Palmolive Indonesia, Yupi Indo Jelly Gum. To scale more efficiently, Tigaraksa Satria selected the premium edition for RISE with 51����with 51����S/4HANA Cloud Private Edition, and 51����Datasphere, to unify fragmented data and processes through a cloud-based ERP solution. By consolidating its core business and financial systems to the cloud, the company expects to drive better real-time visibility and data analysis across its supply chain and distribution networks, and improved agility to adapt to market changes.

UBE Corporation has revamped its core system by implementing 51����S/4HANA Cloud. Leveraging the assets of the existing system, UBE completed the migration project in a short period of about 18 months, significantly faster than a new implementation. To build a foundation for operational standardization, UBE integrated and consolidated functions while utilising the new features of 51����S/4HANA Cloud to drive data-driven operations. This initiative aims to accelerate Digital Transformation, achieve efficient migration using existing assets, and standardise global operations. UBE continues to enhance business efficiency, stability, and quality through its Digital Transformation efforts.

The post 51����Announces Q2 2024 Results: Asia Pacific and Japan View appeared first on 51����Southeast Asia News Center.