Unlocking the Business Value of Sustainability: Find Out at SAPPHIRE NOW how SCE, Walmart, and Siemens are Getting it Done

Everyone’s for sustainability, right?  Wait a minute!  What exactly is sustainability, and what does it mean for business?   For the thousands of SAP customers who will gather next week in Orlando (and online) for SAPPHIRE NOW 2014, one good definition of sustainability is:

“Balance short and long-term profitability by holistically managing economic, social, and environmental risks and opportunities.”   (Source: SAP online course “Sustainability and Business Innovation”, 2014)

Sustainability is part of the business, not something done to it

Done right, sustainability initiatives support key business initiatives, and are embedded in core business operations.  To maximize investments in sustainability, they should be woven into the fabric of the business, and deliver tangible value. Next week in Orlando, there will be dozens of presentations, demos, and discussions focused how SAP solutions enable organizations to run more sustainably by supporting key business strategies such as sustainable innovation and operational excellence.

How industry leaders are harnessing sustainability for business advantage

Here are three must-see sessions at SAPPHIRE NOW that will showcase how customers in diverse industries are getting a competitive advantage by improving sustainability across their value chains:

Strategy 1-  Protect Revenue and Brand.   In session LB14425, find out how Walmart and its suppliers are streamlining the exchange of product sustainability data using SAP Product Stewardship Network, a cloud-based business network.  This session is a must for retailers and their suppliers.   Add it to your agenda here.

Strategy 2-  Proactively Mitigate Operational Risks.  Safety and reliability are foundational to operational excellence especially in the asset-intensive industries.  Attend session LB14421 and hear how Southern California Edison, one of the largest utilities in the U.S., is transforming its EHS management processes to improve compliance and operational efficiency.  Rapid implementation of an incident management system for 15,000 employees in 12 weeks will be highlighted.  Add it to your agenda here.

Strategy 3-   Reduce Energy Costs and Environmental Footprint-   For organizations that manage a portfolio of real estate, facilities, and infrastructure, there is a strong business case for improving operational efficiency by better managing energy-related data for smart decision-making.  Attend session LB16288 to learn about an Innovative solution from Siemens and SAP that helps to optimize building performance management, lower energy costs, and improve environmental performance. Add it to your agenda here.

Whether you will be in Orlando, or participating online, make plans to attend these sessions and learn how SAP solutions for sustainability can drive operational excellence and competitive advantage.

And share this with colleagues and networks:  short URL for this page: http://goo.gl/PEir6G  (use for Twitter).

For more information on any of these sessions or other sustainability content at SAPPHIRE, leave your question or comment at http://goo.gl/PEir6G , or email me.

See (some of) you in Orlando!

Pete