Cloud Wars CEO Outlook 2025 with SAP's Christian Klein

Generative AI and Business Transformation
(00:57)


Klein discusses the increasing adoption of GenAI among SAP's
customers. They see it as a way to improve productivity and
business processes. Additionally, SAP software now integrates
human language capabilities, enhancing user experience and
efficiency. Customers' focus for 2025 and beyond is using GenAI
and SAP Business AI to solve complex business challenges and
orchestrate end-to-end business processes.


Technology Investments and Business Outcomes
(02:37)


Among customers, there's been a shift from reconciling past
actions to optimizing future planning and growth opportunities.
"Now we are talking about business model transformation but also,
how can agentic AI and Joule . . . help me to orchestrate my new
business model." He explains how SAP's offerings help customers
bring all business elements to the table for comprehensive
transformation.


AI's Tangible Benefits (04:10)


Proving the outcomes of AI investments is critical in times of
financial pressure. SAP's Business AI offerings are designed to
demonstrate tangible business benefits, such as improving the
quote-to-cash process. "We make sure that you can quote more
intelligent, that you can sell more, that you can price more
effectively, and that you can run all the fulfillment processes
in the back end way more productive. Then the customers [says],
'Absolutely, I'm all in for buying more AI units from SAP'."


End-to-End Processes and Customer-Centric
Approach (06:39)


Klein discusses the cultural shift towards end-to-end processes
that meet customer needs and explains how SAP's AI Foundation and
tools are agnostic to various large language models. SAP's suite
of offerings provides a unified approach, avoiding the silos
created by working with multiple tech companies.


The Rise of Agents (08:24)


Agents are ascendant and playing a significant role in driving
better business outcomes. Klein provides a concrete example of
how agents will collaborate in demand, supply chain, and
procurement processes. He explains how agents collaborate, to
"[make] sure the customer gets an extremely valuable output end
to end."
 


Orchestration and Collaboration of Agents
(10:59)


Klein describes how SAP's generative AI assistant, Joule, can
help orchestrate agents across different end-to-end processes.
"Joule can help you to predict demand with our sales agent and
Joule orchestrates to work with the supply chain agents on the
inventory side, and then Joule helps, you know, to orchestrate
the work, you know, with the procurement agent."


SAP's Growth and Future Vision (12:44)


SAP has had significant growth in applications, outpacing
competitors. Klein attributes this to SAP's suite approach, which
provides a comprehensive solution for core business processes. He
talks about the importance of integration and extensibility,
allowing customers to choose the best solutions for their needs.


Under Klein's leadership, SAP has transformed into a cloud and
AI-focused company. Klein discusses SAP's vision as an end-to-end
solution provider, delivering continuous innovation and enabling
holistic business transformation. He explains, "The perception is
yes, SAP is really delivering end-to-end solutions to me, but
they [are] also helping me because they have a ton of industry
knowledge, they have a ton of business process knowledge, and
they are by far more than only a technology partner, they are
also helping me with RISE and GROW, a kind of a methodology on
how to transform my business."


SAP Management Team and Final Thoughts (19:56)


SAP has a strong management team, including new executives from
Microsoft and other top companies. Klein expresses confidence in
SAP's ability to continue delivering value to customers and
partners. The conversation concludes with his encouraging
everyone to embrace the new year with enthusiasm in particular
for the opportunities of agentic AI and Joule to drive business
outcomes.


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