IDC predicted as early as next year, at least 55 percent of organizations will transform markets and reimagine the future through new business models and digitally enabled products and services. But they can’t accomplish anything without help from cloud-based software developers. In fact, the next wave of digitalization is washing away traditional ecosystems to bring in new communities of co-innovation. In this
VIDEO interview, Tom Zeuss, SAP Digital, general manager of SAP Cloud Platform Adoption, shared an example of what developers need most right now.
“Developers tell us they want to build applications that help their companies innovate faster,” he said. “The explosion of AI, machine learning, analytics, IoT and other innovations are central to every company’s ability to manage everything from people and finance to manufacturing and supply chains through the customer experience. Developers need to expand their skills so they can help bring these innovations to their companies with laser-focused speed and efficiency.”
Platform for fast-paced change
Zeuss showed me how the
SAP Cloud Platform Enterprise Agreement gave developers the flexibility and agility for faster innovation. Essentially, it’s a path for developers to find, purchase and build applications on the
SAP Cloud Platform based on their actual usage.
“Sometimes a developer wants to explore what software is available to address their specific challenges. Our consumption-based model allows them to explore a proof of concept, quickly trial it, and pay per use if they decide it’s the way to go,” said Zeuss. “If they aren’t sure where to start, they can look at the existing use cases. If they already know what they need, they can go directly to those specific capabilities.”
Launched in 49 countries to date, the consumption-based approach has seen tremendous uptake. Zeuss said SAP designed it to accelerate development of cloud applications for the intelligent enterprise.
“People like the flexibility of going to one place where they can access eligible SAP Cloud Platform services, and pay only for what they use,” he said. “This experience is ideally suited for today’s digital business where the ability for fast-paced change separates the winners from everyone else.”
Transparency future-proofs cloud investments
Once a developer finds services with the features they’re interested in, they can scope out the cost based on project specifics like size and location. Over time, a dashboard provides consumption-level rates in real-time, including available balances. Developers can apply cloud credits towards existing services, as well as future elements as they become available.
“This is where the industry is going. Developers like the fact that buying a single line item gives them access to other solutions,” said Zeuss. “Developers also want ideas on how to use software. That’s why we’ve pulled together the building blocks with the use cases that explain what components they need, including cost estimates. They can provision services, see what they’ve used, and add new functionality in just a few clicks, evolving projects with business demands.”
In many ways, the SAP Cloud Platform is a microcosm of what’s happening across the co-innovation landscape. Developers are stretching their skill sets with strategic clicks that are reshaping ecosystems and the digital businesses they support.
Follow me @smgaler
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This blog also appeared on the
SAP News Center.
