EDITOR ’ S QUESTION
SERGIO MACCOTTA , SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT , SAP AFRICA ,
MIDDLE EAST SOUTH
With rapid advancements in technological capabilities over recent years , the role of the company CIO has transitioned from that of a technology provider to operating as a strategic advisor , business partner , and enabler of new business models . investment . Last year , SAP found the highest priority for executives was increasing process efficiency and visibility , as it had been in the previous year . However , lowering the cost of IT operations saw a significant rise in prioritisation , rising from 36 % in the previous year to being a priority for 50 % of respondents .
It makes sense for CIOs to expand their cloud presence and concentrate on the integration of systems so that they can operate as an intelligent enterprise .
Given this focus on increasing efficiency and visibility , combined with the imperative of lowering costs , it makes sense for CIOs to expand their cloud presence and concentrate on the integration of systems so that they can operate as an intelligent enterprise . Better integration helps with processes and data visibility , while cloud computing , AI , and machine learning can assist with priorities around lowering IT costs and supporting new business models .
Recent changes in companies ’ operational circumstances and IT investment priorities are also significantly impacting this role . With supply chains facing unprecedented disruptions , employees working flexibly , and the pandemic having radically altered the commerce landscape , businesses are focusing on IT solutions that increase visibility and efficiency . SAP research has shown that business priorities include leveraging IT solutions to cut operational costs while simultaneously lowering the cost of IT
The shift from the capital expenditure model to an operational expenditure model has proven to provide greater flexibility and scalability . For this reason , we are seeing more adoption of cloud-based solutions and managed services to reduce upfront costs and manage ongoing expenses .
In the case of SAP , customers are transitioning to the cloud with SAP S4HANA as their enterprise resource planning solution . SAP supports CIOs to transition mission-critical systems to cloud computing with minimal risk , regardless of size , industry , cloud readiness , customisation , volume , or departure point . RISE with SAP and GROW with SAP , help companies accelerate their end-to-end cloud transformation with all necessary tools and products in one package , under one contract , and with built-in industry best practices .
Existing SAP on-premises ERP customers who wish to move to the cloud over time , modernise their processes and take advantage of cloud qualities are prime candidates for RISE with SAP . GROW with SAP is designed for mid-market customers who want to adopt the benefits of cloud ERP and industry best practices . p
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