SAP to expand IoT operations

SAP APJ President Adaire Fox-Martin answers questions in a press conference to celebrate the company’s 25-year in the Asia-Pacific region, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, Friday. / Courtesy of SAP Korea

By Kim Yoo-chul

SINGAPORE ― A leading enterprise application software firm SAP said it will expand its business related to the Internet of Things (IoT).

"The Asia-Pacific region is a fast-growing region. We are now entering the era of IoT with the rapid growth of smart and connected devices to meet the changing demands of today's consumers. We will focus on accelerating industry growth in healthcare, financial services and retail," said Adaire Fox-Martin, president of SAP Asia-Pacific Japan (APJ).

Fox-Martin made the remarks at a press conference to mark the celebration of the company's 25 years in the region, at the Shangri-La Hotel, here, Friday.

With so-called big data reshaping relations between industries and consumers amid today's convergence trend, SAP said the emerging mega technology will provide new business opportunities for Korean companies especially those in the healthcare, sports and finance industries.

Stressing its latest "Match Insights" platform, a big data-driven product, which improves the performance of athletes and helps them do better in their next matches, SAP said it is in the process of developing talks with Korean professional football clubs and some others in the sector, though the company declined to name its new Korean partners.

SAP will supply the Insights platform to the Women’s Tennis Association.

Rod Tolbot, general manager who is handling the retail business of SAP APJ, said the retail sector is one of the segments that would benefit with the usage of Big Data platform.

SAP recently signed a deal with an unidentified leading Korean retailer for the program.

In the retail sector, a combination of product and customer data will give customers a personalized shopping experience and retailers can send product recommendations, providing customized offers directly to customers.

Entrepreneurship Program

During the conference, SAP said it will introduce a "Student Entrepreneurship Program" in Korea later this year as part of its corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities.

SAP will join other technology giants such as Google and Microsoft to operate programs for undergraduates and high-school students in Korea to help them improve their skills in the information and technology (IT) industry.

"This program will help college students who have an idea for startups. SAP will provide our platform to undergraduates in Korea. This program is designed to help them access ideas not just a technological point of view. SAP will do more for the Korean market," Fox-Martin said.

In line with the strategy, SAP also plans to unveil "young thinkers programs" for Korean high-school students.

"Building on our 25-year presence in Asia, we look forward to continued commitment and close collaboration with partners, governments and universities throughout Asia-Pacific, to drive innovation and skills development," she said.