SAP Race Smart – 2015 Singapore Grand Prix (You won’t want to miss this!)
“Vroom! Vroom!”
My senses are enveloped by the thunderous sounds of revving engines. Just two stories below me, I could see racing cars in their team colors getting ready to take off. I am overwhelmed by the whole situation. I could not believe that all this is happening right before my eyes!
(Alonso was getting ready to take off)
Yes, I was lucky enough to be invited as one of the SAP Social and Brand Ambassadors for the 2015 Singapore Grand Prix. Though initially not really a big fan of the Formula One, I was honored to be invited, and it piqued my interest to find out just how SAP as a Technology Partner of the McLaren Honda Formula One team is contributing to one of the world’s most watched sporting events. On top of that, I just could not let go, the opportunity to experience the “behind-the-scenes tour” of the McLaren Honda team garage!
(The drivers and me =D)
It was definitely a once-in-a-life-time experience taking in the exhilaration of Formula One racing and world-class hospitality. Our guide Amanda, gave us a warm welcome as she walked us through the agenda as we headed to the VIP McLaren Honda Hospitality Suite, which was located within the Formula One Paddock Club hospitality area.
Turns out, the Suite was really big and classy, being able to accommodate up to a hundred people with ease. We were seated at the SAP table located by a huge glass window. Here we had a clear view of the Formula One pit, making it the perfect location to experience the thrill of the race and the sheer excitement of watching the action as it unfolds! Being there, I was finally able to understand the sheer speed of the cars as they sped through in the blink of an eye.
We had a full agenda and my personal favorites were the pit lane walk and behind-the-scenes tour of the McLaren Honda team garage. Walking down the pit lane was amazing as we witnessed how organized the garage teams were preparing the ultimate racing machines. As guests of the McLaren Honda VIP Club, we were given the opportunity to have a closer look at the McLaren Honda garage. Here we learned from a team member about how SAP technology is being integrated into the logistics of the team, helping to improve their performance both on and off the track. By utilizing the sports-specific cloud solution powered by the SAP HANA platform, they had access to real time data on a holistic level. By analyzing this data, the team was able to have better insight to make judgment calls based on faster and personalized advice. I found the technology of predictive analytics truly fascinating and powerful. It was also truly impressive to realize the tremendous amount of efforts and manpower put in behind the scenes to ensure the best 2-hour performance on the track.
The teamwork within the McLaren Honda team was seamless and really reminded me of SAP’s How We Run (HWR) behaviors of Build Bridges, Not Silos. By combining their knowledge and expertise, they were able to maximize their potential as a team. My participation in this event also reinforced my belief of another HWR behavior which was to Stay Curious. After this event, I was left with the determination to find out more about Formula One.
All in all, it was a really magical and wonderful day for me. Not only was I given the opportunity to bear witness to one of the coolest sports in the world, I was able to see what actually went on behind the scenes and educate myself with how the SAP solutions are leveraged to maximize the potential of the McLaren racing team. As a bonus, it was a great networking session for me to meet other SAP Millennials. This was one of the best examples of why SAP is the Employer of Choice for Millennials. It offers world-class technology solutions and provides its younger employees numerous opportunities to grow to be the future leaders. I can proudly say that it is awesome to work at SAP!
(Yay group picture of SAP Millennial “reporters” of 2015 Singapore Grand Prix!)