Episode #207
Introduction
In episode 207 of our SAP on Azure video podcast we talk about talk with the CEO of ASUG, Geoff Scott. As you might know I am a product manager for SAP integration here at Microsoft. In this role, I always try to connect with customers, listen to them, learn from their feedback and then obviously get this back into our products. Obviously, I do this a lot with individual customers, but SAP user groups, like the Americas SAP User Group, ASUG, are the perfect place to get a consolidated few what SAP customers and partners think. So today I am again super happy to have Geoff Scott, the CEO of ASUG with us today.
Find all the links mentioned here: https://www.saponazurepodcast.de/episode207
Reach out to us for any feedback / questions:
- Robert Boban: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rboban/
- Goran Condric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorancondric/
- Holger Bruchelt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holger-bruchelt/
#Microsoft #SAP #Azure #SAPonAzure #ASUG #Community
Summary created by AI
- Introduction and Guest Speaker:
- Holger introduced the podcast episode and welcomed Geoff Scott, CEO of ASUG, to discuss SAP and Microsoft integration. Geoff provided a brief introduction about himself and his role at ASUG.
- Guest Introduction: Geoff Scott, CEO of ASUG, introduced himself and shared his excitement about the fall season and his morning coffee routine. He spoke from Chicago, anticipating a busy end to the year and reflecting on the rapid pace of the year so far.
- Role and Experience: Geoff detailed his decade-long experience as ASUG CEO and his previous roles as CIO at various organizations, emphasizing his extensive involvement in the SAP ecosystem.
- Meeting Frequency: Geoff mentioned it had been a year since his last appearance on the podcast, expressing surprise at being invited back and appreciating the insightful discussions with Holger at various SAP events.
- Importance of User Groups:
- Holger and Geoff discussed the significance of SAP user groups like ASUG and DSAG in providing valuable feedback and collaboration opportunities for customers and partners. They emphasized the importance of being part of these communities for long-term success.
- User Group Value: Geoff highlighted the value of SAP user groups, such as ASUG and DSAG, in consolidating customer and partner feedback and the importance of being an active member for success in the SAP professional community.
- Collaboration Among Groups: Geoff and Holger discussed the collaborative efforts between different user groups, including joint surveys and close working relationships, to benefit the broader SAP community.
- Global User Community: Geoff emphasized the role of global user communities as essential connectors within the SAP ecosystem, comprising customers, partners like Microsoft, and SAP itself, all working together to derive value from SAP software.
- AI and Innovation Curve:
- Geoff highlighted the importance of being on the right side of the innovation curve, particularly with AI. He stressed the need for organizations to be in the cloud, minimize customizations, and adopt SaaS solutions to take advantage of AI tools and innovations.
- AI-Enabled Future: Geoff discussed the AI-enabled future and the excitement around generative AI, acknowledging the need for technology professionals to understand and embrace AI advancements.
- Innovation Curve Positioning: Geoff described the innovation curve as a bell curve, advocating for organizations to position themselves on the right side to leverage innovation, efficiency, and quality through technology.
- Essential Elements for Innovation: Geoff outlined three essential elements for innovation: being in the cloud for scalability, viewing SAP as a SaaS investment, and minimizing software customizations to enable rapid adoption of AI tools.
- SAP and Microsoft Integration:
- Holger shared the successful integration of Microsoft Copilot with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, emphasizing the speed and efficiency of innovation when using SaaS solutions. He mentioned the collaboration with SAP’s team in Bangalore and the positive feedback from early adopters.
- Integration Success: Holger discussed the integration of Microsoft Copilot with SAP S/4HANA Public Cloud, highlighting the seamless collaboration with SAP’s Bangalore team and the rapid development enabled by SaaS platforms.
- Early Adopter Feedback: Holger shared that the early adopter care program received positive feedback from customers, demonstrating the benefits of leveraging cloud solutions for innovation.
- Future Adoption: Holger anticipated that the Copilot integration would eventually extend to private cloud customers, despite the expected delay compared to SaaS solution implementations.
- Challenges of Moving to S/4HANA:
- Geoff and Holger discussed the challenges customers face in moving to S/4HANA, especially for those with long-standing ECC implementations. They acknowledged the significant effort required and the need for SAP to understand the pace at which customers can transition.
- Transition Challenges: Geoff acknowledged the difficulties customers encounter when transitioning from ECC to S/4HANA, citing the extensive customizations and the need for SAP to recognize the realistic pace of customer migration.
- Customer Project Priorities: Geoff pointed out that customers often have a long list of projects, and moving to S/4HANA may not be at the top, requiring SAP professionals to advocate for its prioritization.
- Technical Debt Perspective: Geoff discussed the concept of technical debt, suggesting that past decisions made by customers were based on the best options available at the time, rather than intentional creation of long-term challenges.
- ASUG Tech Connect:
- Geoff announced the upcoming ASUG Tech Connect event in November, highlighting its importance for peer-to-peer learning and collaboration. He emphasized the value of face-to-face interactions and the opportunity to prepare for 2025.
- Event Announcement: Geoff announced the ASUG Tech Connect event, emphasizing its focus on peer-to-peer learning and the importance of in-person interactions for effective collaboration and knowledge exchange.
- Event Goals: Geoff described Tech Connect as an opportunity to wrap up the year and prepare for the upcoming year, with a focus on BTP, clean core, and S/4HANA topics.
- Collaborative Learning: Geoff stressed the value of collaborative learning environments like Tech Connect, where SAP community members can engage in discussions and hands-on sessions to address complex enterprise architecture challenges.
- Complexity of Enterprise Architecture:
- Geoff and Holger discussed the increasing complexity of enterprise architecture and the need for integration between various tools and solutions. They highlighted the importance of understanding how to leverage the best parts of different technologies, such as Microsoft Copilot and SAP Jewel.
- Architectural Complexity: Geoff and Holger addressed the growing complexity of enterprise architecture, emphasizing the need for strategic integration of diverse tools and solutions to optimize business processes.
- Leveraging Multiple Technologies: Geoff discussed the challenges enterprise architects face in leveraging the strengths of various technologies, such as Microsoft Copilot and SAP Jewel, to create cohesive and efficient systems.
- Integration Strategies: Geoff highlighted the importance of developing integration strategies that maximize the benefits of different enterprise tools, ensuring seamless operation and innovation within the organization.
- Closing Remarks: Holger and Geoff concluded the discussion by expressing their enthusiasm for future developments in SAP and Microsoft integration. They looked forward to seeing how generative AI and other innovations would shape the industry in the coming year.