Innovation Uncovered at SAP SAPPHIRE NOW + TechEd From Madrid

Innovation is a term that has become slightly overused, to put it kindly. Yet amid all of the innovation misnomers, there’s still plenty of reason to believe innovation can help transform your business processes. Greg Chase gets the innovation conversation back on track in his excellent blog, Three Obvious, Forgotten Axioms of Business Innovation. My colleague Susan Galer also provides food for thought with Grabbing Innovation by the Long Tail.  And of course, there’s plenty of innovation to uncover at SAP SAPPHIRE NOW + TechEd from Madrid. Here are a few agenda highlights to consider.

TUESDAY NOVEMBER 11

Energize Your SAP Software Investments with Database Innovations (#EXP 126)

Regardless of whether you are an SAP and DB2 veteran, or you are exploring superior alternatives to your incumbent non-DB2 database, this Expert Networking Session at TechEd session covers new and exciting technologies for everyone. Speaker Guersad Kuecuek IT Architect at IBM will also show you how innovations can help you to make tangible dollar savings.

Innovate and Deliver Better Solutions for Industries and Lines of Business (#IL1393)

In this 20-minute presentation, you’ll walk away with a better understanding of how SAP works closely with customers to co-innovate and deliver solutions that are tailored to specific industries and lines of business. Learn how the solutions combine relevant components across the portfolio and are delivered on a unified platform with the latest innovations.

Explore Technology Innovations to Improve Governance and Compliance (#BA3343)

Located on the Analytics campus, this discussion explores technology advances that can improve the performance of your governance, risk, and compliance (GRC) programs. Learn how enterprise mobility, in-memory and cloud computing, as well as collaboration can extend the scope of SAP solutions for GRC.

WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 12

Remove the Barriers to Innovation (#AGS283)

This micro forum discussion details how to accelerate the adoption of Innovative technology, such as SAP HANA and mobile solutions from SAP. Explore how a unique combination of embedded support and engineering services can help you maximize the use of these innovations.

Sustainable IT – Innovation by Managing Cost, Risk and Energy of Your IT (#EXP046)

Are you looking for new ways to manage increasing complexity and higher energy costs?  If so, where can you find the budget to support innovation? How do you meet the needs of tomorrow while continuing to provide your company with IT operations services today? This expert networking session will show you the way.

SAP Enhancement Packages and Beyond: What You Need to Know (#ALM820)

This TechEd session is actually a Q&A follow-up to #ALM103. It will demonstrate how to efficiently manage the technical enhancement package installation process with a focus on SAP Business Suite 7 innovations 2011. Additional insight will be served up on how to bring software innovations more frequently to market.

THURSDAY NOVEMBER 13

Understand the Business Value of Innovation (#IL1658)

Retailers might find this microforum discussion useful. It aims to provide insight on how to add value to your business through innovation. Find out how one major retailer took a close look at its background, ambitions, and current situation to discover opportunities for growth.

Drive Innovation Through Analytics and SAP HANA (#BA3639)

See how innovation not only leads to new functions for business users, but also helps find ways to lower total cost of ownership. Get an overview from SAP Services of how analytics solutions powered by SAP HANA are being used to help solve today’s business challenges by bridging gaps in analytical capabilities.

Create a Case for Innovation in Travel and Transportation Companies (#IL1399)

This discussion examines how service providers are impacted by the digital revolution. Discover new design-thinking and value-based approaches that take advantage of innovations, such as real-time connectivity, social networking, and in-memory databases. Professional Services, Telecommunications, Transportation and Logistics

One final note before I go: Did you know that Biz Bash ranked SAP SAPPHIRE NOW as the most… wait for it … innovative event of 2012? It’s a distinction that shouldn’t be taken lightly especially when the likes of Oracle OpenWorld and TED were also in the running. Read more about it here.

For more innovation goodness stay tuned to this space and feel free to follow me @TClark01 where the innovation tweets are a’ plenty.