Why SAP Want Leaders to bet big on Themselves in 2025
The theme of this year's SAP Spend Connect Live was "Bet Big on Yourself". The event in Las Vegas brought together close to 1,400 customers and partners who came together to witness the power of SAP's spend management and business network solutions at SAP Spend Connect Live.
Etosha Thurman, Chief Marketing Officer for SAP Intelligent Spend and Business Network, was central to the event and has subsequently published a new blog post on SAP's website.
The crucial bets
At the event, Etosha spoke about five crucial bets spend management professionals should place on themselves to ensure success and agility of their organisations, especially against a backdrop of economic and political uncertainty.
Her SAP colleague, Jeff Collier, Chief Revenue Officer for Intelligent Spend and Business Network at SAP, recently highlighted how these insights resonated strongly with attendees and are more relevant than ever as we approach 2025.
As Etosha spoke on the potential of more change, it is vital to keep these bets in mind to prepare for potential challenges head-on. With 2024 being a transformative year for spend management professionals, staying confident and betting big to achieve remarkable results.
Figures from the 2024 Economist Impact report show that C-suite confidence in the procurement function has increased by 14% in just one year, with 84% of executives now agreeing that procurement is essential for organisational strategy.
As we gear up for 2025 and beyond, Etosha explored five bets that will solidify spend management's role as an indispensable part of an organisation.
Bet 1: Strategic collaboration
Etosha believes the first bet that spend management professionals should place is on strategic collaboration. "As procurement becomes increasingly integrated with other critical business functions, it is up to procurement professionals to lead these collaborative efforts," she says.
"Your colleagues are looking to you to take the initiative and ensure that procurement is involved in strategic initiatives that keep your organisation agile in the face of uncertainty.
"Whether you are partnering with HR to manage the external workforce or implementing a category management strategy in partnership with supply chain, SAP is here to support you. Our solutions are designed with collaboration at the forefront, working to minimise miscommunication and simplify business processes so you can focus on what truly matters."
Bet 2: Effortless compliance
The second wager is concerning compliance, which Etosha believes can evoke stress and worry in anyone who has ever worked in spend management: "Ensuring every detail is accounted for can be nerve-racking, especially when considering local regulations and sustainability goals.
"At SAP, we believe that compliance should not just be simple; it should be truly effortless.
"SAP Ariba Invoice Management with SAP Business Network helps you understand and comply with evolving tax regulations. From complex tax requirements to travel policies, SAP can help you eliminate these points of concern before they cause issues."
Bet 3: Seamless integration
The third bet focuses on strategic collaboration, which is key for an efficient operating model.
Etosha says that software must be seamlessly integrated to maximise SAP's connected solutions: "Fragmented processes and tools won't get you where you need to go, which is why SAP is committed to a suite-first strategy that aims to reduce the number of systems used to manage spend.
"Whether you are an all-SAP customer or use third-party technology, we can offer a seamless experience regardless of where you are in your SAP journey.
"From SAP Spend Control Tower, your single source of truth for all spend data, to SAP Ariba solutions for source-to-pay that can streamline all your procurement processes, our out-of-the-box solutions help deliver powerful business outcomes across the entire spend management process."
Bet 4: Increased productivity
The next bet to place is on increased productivity. In recent years, Etosha has seen firsthand how productivity gaps can be detrimental to an organisation. With the addition of unexpected geopolitical and economic events, there is a "recipe for disaster", according to Etosha.
"As the procurement landscape evolves, it is imperative to upskill your workforce to meet evolving demands.
"SAP's newest innovations, like SAP Business AI, can help automate mundane tasks, freeing up bandwidth for making strategic decisions that really count. And increased productivity is not just reserved for key decision-makers – it benefits every employee at every level."
Bet 5: Informed decision-making
Finally, spend management professionals should bet big on informed decision-making, according to Etosha: "More than ever, it is essential to make choices quickly and confidently, knowing that your decisions are supported by data. That's where SAP comes in – solutions like SAP Business Network Discovery and the intelligent audit service can deliver the best recommendations for you, helping to take the guesswork out of decisions amid timeline pressure.
"With data-informed reports and suggestions, you can be confident that your choices are backed by best-in-class insights. SAP helps reduce complexity and can deliver only the insights needed to make the best choices for your business."
New ways to streamline critical business processes
"I say it every year, but there is something truly special about spending time with our incredible customers, hearing transformation stories and tales of success across so many organisations," Etosha says.
"The SAP community's resilience, drive and commitment to excellence inspire me greatly.
"When it comes to the right tools, best integrations and data-driven insights, SAP is your go-to partner. Our solutions, informed by your feedback, are here to help you win big. As you close out this year and head into a new one, remember that SAP is here for you. When you rely on SAP, you secure the future success of not just your business function, but your entire organisation."
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