In today’s rapidly changing world, the call for sustainability has grown louder than ever before. Organizations are no longer content with merely ticking off regulatory checkboxes; they are now wholeheartedly embracing sustainability as a core business imperative. This evolution isn’t just about compliance; it’s about creating an ecosystem that attracts employees, consumers, investors, and partners, and fervently pursuing ambitious targets in emissions reduction, while simultaneously minimizing waste, reducing costs, and promoting social equality. This transformative journey doesn’t just enhance a company’s brand image; it bestows upon them a compelling competitive edge in the market. Sustainability has evolved from a noble aspiration to a critical necessity, one that not only safeguards our planet but also drives business growth and resilience in an increasingly uncertain world.
In an era where sustainability is no longer a choice but an imperative, SAP stands as a committed partner in the journey towards a more sustainable future. SAP envisions sustainability as an integral part of every business operation. SAP Sustainability solutions delivers company-wide functionality and industry-specific features covering ESG reporting, climate action, circular economy, and social responsibility.
Partner Innovations Across SAP’s Three Pillars of Sustainability
With a vast network of highly skilled and innovative partners, SAP embarked on a mission to support partners to create repeatable solutions that empower customers to build an Intelligent and Sustainable Enterprise with the three key pillars of sustainability: Zero Emission, Zero Waste, and Zero Inequality.
Recently, SAP extended an invitation to partners from the Asia Pacific and Japan region to participate in the #Hack2Build initiative. This initiative, which took place from August 16 to 23, is a testament to SAP’s commitment to sustainability in the region. It complements SAP’s extensive Sustainability portfolio and leverages the market-leading SAP Business Technology Platform. Hack2Build provides SAP partners with a unique opportunity to develop repeatable solutions that address real business challenges. In just seven days, they create solution prototypes that, when fully developed, have the potential to be commercialized.
A Diverse Array of Innovative Sustainable Solutions by Partners
The #Hack2Build initiative brought forth a diverse array of innovative solutions that directly address the urgent sustainability needs of businesses. These solutions cater to various industries and concerns, reflecting the richness of ideas from SAP Partners dedicated to the sustainability theme. Some notable solutions include: CO2e footprint visibility for Utilities, addressing environmental concerns during Construction projects, automotive battery recycling, sustainable land use management, and to comply with various sustainability standards for interoperable reporting, the International Sustainability Standards Board (ISSB) and the Business Responsibility and Sustainability Reporting (BRSR).
Spotlight: The Three Winning Solutions
This section, spotlights on the three winning solutions from the #Hack2Build initiative. These solutions not only exemplify innovation and sustainability but also demonstrate how businesses can lead the charge in creating a greener, more equitable world.
Winner: PwC Consulting LLC
PwC showcased their solution tentatively named ‘Omakase Package’, a service which aims to reduce food waste based on their learnings in the Japan market, by enabling the consumption of food on a recurring and long-term basis. The service platform facilitates the connection between end customers and food retailers such as supermarkets, convenience stores, specialty food shops and restaurants, with a mobile app empowered by SAP’s Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) technology and a backend system based on SAP Billing and Revenue Innovation Management (SAP S/4 HANA BRIM). The platform enables food suppliers to offer food items that are scheduled for disposal. This is beneficial to vulnerable groups such as low-income households who need food. The solution addresses many SDG-related goals such as zero food waste, which is related to the goals of SDG No. 12, 14 and 15, and contributing to store sales, which is related to the goal of SDG No. 8, as well as providing near real-time feedback to food suppliers.
SAP Build Apps, SAP Build Process Automation and SAP Analytics Cloud were used to build the Omakase Package.”
Solution ‘Omakase Package’ (tentative name) to reduce food waste by PwC
1st Runner Up: TATA Consultancy Services
TCS created NetZero planner, a sustainability simulation solution to help business with scenario planning required to drive sustainable business transformation. With the NetZero planner, TCS tries to address challenges to plan and prioritize initiatives to meet mid-term and long-term sustainability targets. The solution helps to track planned initiative progress with the actual Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) data from SAP Sustainability Control Tower (SCT), enable Industry specific emission reduction simulation use case scenarios, do What if analysis simulation with view of carbon reduction percentage in real time. For the prototype version, TCS showcased Scope 3 emissions from purchased goods and services. It showed the current carbon and how to change supplier sourcing percentage for different items and see the impact on the scope 3 data. The components leveraged for the solution include SAP Build Apps, SAP Build Work Zone, SAP Business Application Studio, SAP Integration Suite, SAP Sustainability Control Tower and SAP S/4HANA.
TCS NetZero Planner
2nd Runner Up: EY Technology Solutions Sdn Bhd
Sustainable Land Use Management by EY enables companies to monitor and maintain ecosystem and biodiversity of their operating land area. This is to align with upcoming Taskforce for Nature related Financial Disclosure (TNFD) requirement and meet the Global Biodiversity Framework targets. Elevating sustainable practices, the platform, powered by SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), uses SAP Datasphere that integrates with EY Space Tech’s satellite technology to capture land use images and data; and uses SAP Analytics Cloud to establish management KPIs and scores on ecosystem and biodiversity impacts such as protected and rehabilitated area, vegetation coverage and habitat disturbance. To facilitate strategic decisions, the platform is equipped with predictive analysis solution of the impacts using SAP AI Core and SAP AI Launchpad. And to empower the company to take necessary actions, a user application is developed for site inspection and maintenance using SAP Build Apps that can integrate with SAP S/4HANA. EY’s target market is for extractive industry such as Mining and Minerals, Oil and Gas, and Agriculture.
Sustainable Land Use Management by EY
We extend our heartfelt appreciation to the distinguished panel of judges, for their invaluable time and commitment, to evaluate the sustainability ideas presented by our partners and offer constructive feedback:
- Anil Bhaskaran – Vice President, Architecture & Platform Advisory, APJ
- Gabriele Goertz – Vice President, Global Head of Sustainability Ecosystem
- John Singelmann – Vice President, Global Head of Partner Co-Innovation
- Susanna Hasenoehrl – Vice President, Head of Sustainability, APJ
The success of this initiative is a testament to the collective efforts of numerous SAP experts across various critical domains. We extend our sincere gratitude to the dedicated experts from SAP Co-Innovation Lab, SAP Sustainability Customer Advisory-APJ, SAP BTP Solution Architects, SAP Architecture & Platform Advisory-APJ, SAP Global Centre of Excellence, and SAP Sustainability product management teams.
During the demo jam, we were truly inspired by the enthusiasm and innovative spirit displayed by all our participating partners. Their expressed commitment to take their prototypes ‘beyond the hackathon’ and into the realm of customer adoption underscores the real-world impact of these solutions.
As SAP, we are fully committed to supporting our partners in realizing the full scope of these initiatives in the coming weeks and beyond. Together, we are poised to drive meaningful change, advancing sustainability and innovation in tandem.