As we have moved to virtual briefings, I have increasingly been excerpting short video segments (with permission), as part of my Analyst Cam series.
I have invited SAP to present updates on various verticals as I discussed here
This time it is Natasha Pergl, Director - Global Circular Economy Lead at SAP.
Under CEO Christian Klein, SAP is re-emphasizing sustainability and has a broad agenda focused on "zero emissions, zero waste and zero inequality". The first is going to be difficult in a world where emissions are closely tied to energy usage and are being opportunistically defined as I wrote here recently. The third is noble but SAP risks being accused of "virtue signaling". I think their best opportunity is around reducing waste in what the WEF calls our “take-make-dispose” approach.
So, it is encouraging to see Natasha focus on the second and discuss how SAP is starting to help customers reduce waste in plastics, textiles, batteries and food. As I point out during the conversation, it is a good start, and should continue to improve as SAP focuses more on operational expertise and process support - more of an OT, not just an IT, emphasis.
I commented last year "SAP tried its sustainability message a decade ago under Peter Graf. Back then, it mostly focused on SAP's internal efforts not much about how SAP was helping customers reduce their carbon footprint. Hopefully, this time it will focus on operational systems and helping customers monitor as an example, methane leaks or wind turbine performance not just on broad carbon reporting."
