Additional Blogs by SAP
cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 
KatiNonhebel
Advisor
Advisor
0 Kudos

A New Discovery at SAPPHIRE NOW for Partners

By Kati Fischer, SAP Ecosystem & Channels Event Programs

SAPPHIRE NOW 2014 in Orlando will be here before you know it. We all want to know more about what this year’s event would offer SAP Partners, customers and prospects, so I am composing a series of articles to cover the upcoming action and to give you exclusive insights into the planning.

In this first part of this series I sat down with my colleagues Suzanne Monteferrante (SAP Ecosystem & Channels Event Programs) who is coordinating SAP Ecosystem & Channels’ presence on the show floor, and Gary Erickson (SAP Global Partner Enablement) who is driving a brand new element called the “SAP Partner Discovery Center”. Hear below what they say about the offerings. You’ll like it. 

Kati:          What’s new in 2014 for SAP Partners and SME Customers?
Suzanne:   This year SAPPHIRE NOW’s mantra is simplification. We're making it easier for attendees to discover what's new in SAP solutions by focusing content in three, redesigned campuses – Industry, Lines-of-Business, and Technology. The campuses have been simplified so that attendees get an experience that is unique to their role within their organization. That’s fewer campuses and forums although we still have about 1200 sessions that translate into a 15 % reduction from last year.
In each campus you’ll find out how our applications, analytics, mobile, cloud, SAP HANA, services, and support together with the SAP  ecosystem create a unique and integrated end-to-end solution that helps drive competitive advantage.  It’s all about the customer experience as our SAP Ecosystem offers the best in market choice, deployment choice and technology choice. We will have a Partner Expert Area in each of the 3 campuses that will include scheduled activities such as demos, discussions, whiteboard sessions, customer journeys, tours and clinics. Be sure to check out the schedule listed at each Partner Expert Area as well as at the Partner Discovery Center. The Partner Discovery Center is new this year and located in the exhibitor area of the show floor. It is your one-stop-shop for questions about your SAP relationship, products, solutions or enablement.  In addition to this SAP Ecosystem presence on the show floor we also have the Partner Theater in the Multiplex where you will be able to hear the best stories from SAP’s partners and customers as well as the Exhibitor area.

Kati:       Gary, I would like to know more about it! What is the PDC and what’s in it for SAPPHIRE NOW attendees?

Gary:     The Partner Discovery Center is designed to answer questions and support activities at SAPPHIRE NOW around pipeline acceleration, deal expansion and awareness. All Partners, customers and even SAP employees are invited to stop by the Partner Discovery Center and find the answers to topics such as Partnering with SAP, SAP Partner Listing by Supported Solution, Key partner contacts, Partner Industry Package Offerings, Market Expansion information, SAP PartnerEdge Support, SAP Store listing, Qualification and Certification, Roadmaps, and much more.

Kati:       So what would be typical questions that attendees might ask?

Gary:     A typical question from a partner or SAP employee might be, “Which partners are providing a consumer industry solution?” The most common questions from partners last year were, “How can I expand my partner relationship with SAP?”  Or, “Where can I find the most recent enablement materials on SAP products and solutions”? Customers will likely ask about activities at the industry, LOB and technology campuses that are relevant to address their business challenges.

Kati:       Are there specific partner activities happening in the Partner Discovery Center?

Gary:     The center is mostly a place for open discussion and exploration, rather than planned activities. However we will be ready to provide general information you might need about show floor activities. For example, we can help you find and understand the benefit of events happening each day such as Meet Our Customers, Meet our Exhibitors, or List of Scheduled Daily Activities at the Partner Expert Table in each Campus, and other partner sessions that are planned.

Kati:       Who is the team behind the Partner Discovery Center?

Gary:     SAP’s Ecosystem & Channels Team will staff the center and will be ready to cover topics ranging from business development, marketing and enablement, to partner service delivery support. Every day of the show these experts will be on hand to answer your questions, and those of your customers. A list of local expert contacts will be managed to provide secondary support for the PARTNER DISCOVERY CENTER.

Thanks Gary and Suzanne Join me next week for more information on “What’s happening at SAPPHIRE NOW”

Next Steps:

  • Attend/Exhibit at SAPPHIRE NOW http://www.sapandasug.com/
  • Stop by the north end of the exhibitor area to find the Partner Discovery Center
  • Use the mobile app available at SAPPHIRE NOW to help you to navigate and improve your show floor experience.
  • Stay tuned for upcoming information from SAP in the next coming weeks.
  • Follow me on SCN to get the next articles in this series
  • Questions? Contact us under SAP_PartnerEdge_Events@sap.com