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SAP Trends For 2021

If you are in the SAP sector, 2021 will surely be an interesting year for new and sector-changing trends.

2020 has been an unprecedented year, one with many hardships. However, it was also one that has proven the ability for people to come together during difficult periods, help one another and, innovate and adapt. That's why 2021 is sure to be an exciting year; it looks set to introduce hyper-innovation in the face of the hurdles set forth by the pandemic.

The ERP sector especially will have crucial trends ahead that look to increase efficiency and lead more towards a more digitised world. Based on 2020, these are some of the leading SAP trends to watch for in 2021.

SAP S/4HANA Will No Longer Be An Option

As we have all seen from the result of the pandemic, quarantines and lockdowns, digitisation is no longer some arbitrary notion that will only impact the future of a small member of a business's staff. Digitisation is now the norm when it comes to how companies operate. This affects everything from the daily operations of a brand's supply chain to automation and data organisation.

Automation especially will be critical in sectors where lockdowns will have more of an impact on day-to-day business success and operations. Thus it is no longer the state that one has to make a case for the use of S/4HANA but rather knowing whom to hire, or potentially to upskill their current staff.

A Deeper Understanding of SAP for Retail & E-Commerce

For brands that depend on online interaction from their customers, understanding the ins and outs of their CRM system will be vital to maintaining high customer interactions and sales. That's why retail brands will have to better understand how to interact with their SAP strategy. Companies will have to analyse their supply chains and how the digital and physical interact with one another and make potential changes.

AI and robotics, for example, will likely become ever-more essential to supporting automation for warehouses and delivery services. Additionally, client bookings will be crucial to maintaining a fluid stream of clients while continuing to engage in the personalised e-commerce/shopping experience.

SAP ERP Platforms Will Be The Norm

Businesses across the globe that are new to SAP, they have seen that disruptions in ineffective supply chain management can be detrimental to not only their long-term business objectives but also their daily operations. In this respect, the pandemic has opened many businesses to consider SAP solutions in their operations.

That's why having seen the impact of the COVID crisis; companies are starting to incorporate core ERP technologies such as SAP Ariba Discovery. The result is that these businesses are better prepared to overcome challenges and handle unexpected setbacks in their daily and quarterly goals (i.e. lockdowns, employees working from home, etc.)

Statistics Will Become Even More Vital

The Global Analytics Cloud market was estimated to be valued at USD 808.03 Million in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 1,878.02 Million by 2025. This goes to show the importance and effectiveness that accurate and relevant statistics have for business across all sectors. Being able to not only effectively gather and store but easily access and interpret the data will be vital for brands in the future.

This is especially true for UK brands as we are prepping to go into another lockdown in November 2020. Features such as consumer segmentation by behaviour will be especially paramount so that business can strategise how to reach their audiences best.

Mobile Interactions Will Increase Mobile Demands

As smartphones and UX have gathered relevance in the workplace following the early stages of the COVID pandemic, SAP has created the Lumira and Fiori UX Screen Personas. This was designed to offer customers a more robust and easily manoeuvrable experience on their iOS and Android devices. As online purchases and interactions increase, more businesses are sure to consider mobile features such as Fiori UX and Lumira to offer more options to their mobile audiences.

While no one holds a crystal ball, the past six months have all but ensured that 2021 will be more digitised and mobile than 2020 was. As we go into the new year with optimism and hope for safer, better times, it's best to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. That will ensure that brands keep reaching their business objectives and effectively connecting with their consumers.