In 2016, Saudi Arabia launched Vision 2030, a bold initiative to diversify its economy, reduce its dependence on oil, and transform the nation into a global hub for trade, tourism and innovation. This ambitious road map crucially depends on leveraging technology and partnerships, making SAP a significant player in achieving these national objectives.
“SAP’s purpose is to help the world run better and improve people’s lives,” says Mohammed Alromaizan, Vice President of SAP Saudi Arabia. “This aligns seamlessly with Vision 2030’s goal of fostering a vibrant society, ambitious nation and a thriving economy.
“With solutions tailored for 25 diverse industries, SAP is uniquely equipped to help organizations accelerate their journey toward realizing this vision.”
Support and investment
SAP’s reputation as a global technology leader stems from its comprehensive portfolio, blending cutting-edge innovation with localized expertise.
“We’ve made significant investments to ensure Saudi organizations can harness the latest technologies, from AI-driven solutions to sustainability focused tools,” Alromaizan explains.
This commitment is demonstrated by its US$76 million investment in cloud services within Saudi Arabia in 2017, marking a pivotal step in the nation’s digital transformation.
In collaboration with
NTT DATA
In 2024, SAP took its commitment to the next level by establishing its first regional SAP Innovation Hub in Khobar. The hub is designed to empower individuals and organizations to collectively tackle operational challenges and develop solutions specific to the Saudi market.
This will be achieved by bringing together SAP global and regional experts, local businesses, startups and partners in a collaborative environment.
“The SAP Innovation Hub enables our clients to address ongoing business problems using advanced technology, while fostering the creation of new use cases,” Alromaizan says.
“The primary goal of the hub is to develop innovative use cases that address business challenges and we are already working toward achieving this with our customers.”
Advancing sustainability
Sustainability remains integral to the company’s core values and Vision 2030’s emphasis on green energy and environmental preservation. Through initiatives like the Green Ledger, SAP helps organizations monitor their carbon footprints and integrate sustainability into core enterprise operations.
This is part of a wider range of sustainability related services it provides, which integrate robust, auditable sustainability data into core enterprise resource planning processes.
“Sustainability is embedded in our core values and aligns seamlessly with Vision 2030’s emphasis on green energy and environmental preservation,” Alromaizan notes.
AI-driven transformation
In addition to working with prominent organizations, SAP also supports small and medium-sized businesses with big ambitions through its Grow with SAP service. This comprehensive offering includes tailored solutions, adoption of acceleration services, community engagements and learning resources.
By simplifying cloud adoption and providing tailored digital transformation pathways, the company ensures scalability for organizations at all stages of development.
It is also harnessing the power of AI to transform its business applications and services. By embedding AI across its suite, SAP aims to enhance decision-making, streamline operations and improve user experiences. Its AI initiatives include predictive analytics, intelligent automation and process optimization, which are integrated into SAP S/4HANA and other applications.
“Sustainability is embedded in our core values.”
One of the company’s standout AI innovations is Joule, an AI copilot that assists users in executing tasks more efficiently. Joule can help users complete transactional tasks up to 90 percent faster and access help content 95 percent quicker. This AI-driven approach not only boosts productivity but also ensures that businesses can make more informed decisions based on real-time data and insights.
For customers, these AI capabilities mean more agile and responsive business processes, reduced manual effort and enhanced operational efficiency. This leads to better resource management, cost savings and a competitive edge in the market.
“SAP ERP runs the mission-critical systems of many organizations including HR, finance and procurement, meaning the company’s most relevant data and accurate data,” Alromaizan says.
“By applying AI to this data, we can provide incredible insights to generate new value for organizations both big and small.”
Powerful partnerships
A hallmark of SAP’s success is its robust partner ecosystem. Globally, it collaborates with 25,000 partners, over 50 of whom operate in Saudi Arabia. These partnerships range from global giants like NTT Data and KPMG to local organizations.
“Our partners are our extended arm, ensuring customer satisfaction and scalability,” Alromaizan says. “Our job is to empower our partners to deliver tailored solutions and innovations that meet the unique needs of our customers.”
“Our job is to empower our partners to deliver tailored solutions and innovations that meet the unique needs of our customers.”
These partnerships contribute to Saudi Arabia’s national goals, such as enabling local talent. For example, SAP also provides ongoing training and certification for its partners, equipping them to deliver high-quality solutions.
The company also supports workforce development through initiatives like the Young Professional Program and dual-study programs with universities. This creates a pipeline of skilled professionals equipped to manage advanced technology ecosystems.
“The demand for SAP’s advanced solutions in Saudi Arabia is growing very fast, and in order for us to cater to the growth, we have to maintain and develop a robust ecosystem that supports our teams to be very close to our customers,” Alromaizan notes. “That’s why our partnerships foster innovation and growth, creating a connected ecosystem.”
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SAP’s collaboration-first approach underscores its role as a catalyst for progress, helping Saudi Arabia embrace a future where technology and innovation drive economic prosperity. This strategy not only strengthens the company’s market leadership but also demonstrates its commitment to long-term, sustainable growth in the region.
“We are here at the right time, with the right technology and the right team,” Alromaizan concludes. “Together with our partners, we aim to make Vision 2030 a reality by fostering innovation, enabling growth and improving lives.”
