Episode #256
Introduction
In episode 256 of our SAP on Azure video podcast we talk about Community.
When I was still at SAP over 10 years ago, I loved working with DSAG, the German Speaking SAP User Group. For me – in my last role as the product manager for SAP API Management – it was always great to get direct consolidated customer feedback. To present the latest features and listen to what was resonating well and what not. So for me it was clear that I wanted to continue to work with DSAG in my role SAP product manager for SAP integration at Microsoft.
So today I am happy to have Sebastian Westphal the Executive Board Member for Technology at DSAG with us.
Find all the links mentioned here: https://www.saponazurepodcast.de/episode256
Reach out to us for any feedback / questions:
- Goran Condric: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gorancondric/
- Holger Bruchelt: https://www.linkedin.com/in/holger-bruchelt/
#Microsoft #SAP #Azure #SAPonAzure #DSAG #Community #Identity #Data #AI #Joule #Copilot
Summary created by AI
- SAP and Microsoft Partnership Dynamics:
- Holger and Sebastian discussed the evolving partnership between SAP and Microsoft, highlighting both collaborative successes and ongoing challenges, with Sebastian emphasizing the importance of a joint strategy for enterprise IT and the need for harmonized solutions for customers.
- Dual Vendor Strategies: Holger noted that many customers maintain dual vendor strategies involving SAP and Microsoft, with Sebastian agreeing that both companies form the backbone of enterprise IT but acknowledging that the partnership is sometimes competitive and not always straightforward.
- Identity Management Collaboration: Sebastian described a clear common strategy in identity management, where SAP is stepping out of on-premise solutions and Microsoft is stepping in with Entra ID, but also pointed out that migration for customers remains complex and requires significant resources.
- Data Management Challenges: Sebastian highlighted a gap between SAP and Microsoft data solutions, stressing the need for a common path forward and joint strategy, as IT departments often have to bridge these gaps themselves, which is resource-intensive.
- DSAG Tech Exchange Event and Community Impact:
- Sebastian and Holger reviewed the DSAG Tech Exchange event, detailing its hands-on format, strong attendance, and positive feedback, with Sebastian explaining the motivation behind the event and its role in fostering collaboration among SAP, Microsoft, and partners.
- Event Format and Goals: Sebastian explained that the Tech Exchange was designed to provide hands-on experience and expert exchange, addressing the need for practical solutions and real-world use cases rather than just conceptual discussions.
- Collaboration and Attendance: The event featured experts from SAP, Microsoft, and other partners, with over 500 attendees participating in sessions that included innovative demonstrations such as PlayStation connectivity with SAP BTP for IoT data analysis.
- Feedback and Future Plans: Both Holger and Sebastian reported overwhelmingly positive feedback from attendees and partners, with plans to expand the format, include more critical topics, and maintain the event’s in-person, interactive nature.
- Identity Management Transition and Working Group Initiatives:
- Holger and Sebastian discussed the transition from SAP’s on-premise identity management to Microsoft Entra ID, describing collaborative efforts among SAP, Microsoft, and DSAG working groups to address customer needs and ensure feature parity in usage and integration.
- Transition to Entra ID: SAP announced the deprecation of its on-premise identity management solution, recommending customers migrate to Microsoft Entra ID, prompting extensive discussions and collaborative whiteboarding to address migration challenges.
- Working Group Collaboration: A DSAG security working group, including members from SAP, Microsoft, and DSAG, was formed to tackle issues, gather feedback, and influence the direction of identity management solutions, focusing on critical needs such as roles and authorizations.
- Feature Parity and Roadmap Certainty: Sebastian emphasized the importance of achieving parity in usage and integration, not necessarily in technology, and ensuring that roadmaps cover all critical items so customers have certainty about future solutions.
- Expert Involvement and Solution Development: Sebastian described the process of bringing together experts from various organizations to collaboratively identify gaps, develop solutions, and ensure that customer requirements are addressed in future releases.
- AI Integration and Agent Collaboration:
- Holger and Sebastian explored the integration of AI agents such as SAP Joule and Microsoft Copilot, detailing DSAG’s role in organizing webinars, working groups, and driving agent-to-agent integration to address customer questions and promote open standards.
- Webinars and Knowledge Sharing: DSAG organized multiple webinars and info sessions on AI topics, including SAP Joule and Microsoft Copilot, to educate members and address the rapid evolution and hype surrounding AI technologies.
- Agent-to-Agent Integration: In response to customer questions about choosing between Joule and Copilot, SAP and Microsoft collaborated to enable agent-to-agent integration, allowing users to access both agents interchangeably and enhancing the overall user experience.
- Enterprise Needs and Standardization: Sebastian stressed the importance of solutions and target architectures that serve enterprise needs, advocating for open standards and integration hubs that allow companies to adopt and customize AI models from different vendors.
- Collaboration on Open Protocols: Holger highlighted ongoing work on open protocols such as MCP and OData, with SAP and Microsoft collaborating to break proprietary barriers and adopt open standards, benefiting the broader enterprise community.
- Data Management Integration and Commercial Challenges:
- Holger and Sebastian addressed the complexities of integrating SAP and Microsoft data management solutions, discussing technical and commercial barriers, the need for standardization, and the importance of partner solutions in bridging gaps for customers.
- Technical Integration Barriers: Sebastian described difficulties in exchanging data between SAP and Microsoft platforms, citing the lack of standard connectors and architectures, and the need for easier adoption and integration for customers.
- Commercial Considerations: Sebastian raised concerns about commercial challenges such as double charging and unclear leading software roles when using AI models and data exchange between SAP and Microsoft, calling for improved commercial frameworks.
- Partner Solutions and Success Stories: Holger noted that many partners offer strong solutions for integrating SAP data with Microsoft Fabric and other hyperscaler data lakes, and that DSAG events often feature customer success stories demonstrating effective integrations.
- Community Pressure and Advocacy: Both participants agreed that DSAG’s role in representing over 4000 companies helps keep pressure on SAP and Microsoft to address integration gaps, with the community actively advocating for better solutions and sharing reference architectures.
- DSAG Community Role and Future Outlook:
- Sebastian and Holger reflected on DSAG’s role as a platform for exchanging success stories, reference architectures, and expert knowledge, emphasizing ongoing engagement, adaptation to new technologies, and the importance of community-driven advocacy for better solutions.
- Community Engagement: Sebastian described DSAG as a large platform for daily exchange among working groups, facilitating the sharing of success stories and reference architectures to help companies adopt new technologies.
- Adapting to Technological Change: Both participants noted the rapid evolution of technologies such as S/4HANA and AI, with DSAG helping members keep up with changes and avoid the pitfalls of being early adopters.