Cognizant's SAP Capabilities and Market Leadership

Jenny

Welcome, everyone, to today's episode of our podcast, where we dive deep into the world of SAP and the unique capabilities of Cognizant. Today is the incredible Maria your host, and with her is Manfred Oppitz, Cognizant's SAP Lead in Switzerland. Today, we're going to explore how Cognizant is leading the market with its SAP solutions.

Maria

Hi, Manfred! I'm thrilled to be here. I think the most exciting part is understanding how Cognizant's SAP capabilities are setting new standards in the industry. From their strong testing team to their comprehensive application managed services, there's so much to uncover. Let's start with the basics. Can you give us an overview of Cognizant's SAP capabilities and how they stand out?

Manfred Oppitz

Absolutely, Maria. Cognizant's SAP capabilities are indeed exceptional. They offer a full suite of services, from initial consulting and implementation to ongoing support and maintenance. What sets them apart is their deep industry expertise and cutting-edge technology. For example, in the Swiss market, Cognizant has successfully implemented SAP S/4HANA in various industries, including manufacturing, finance, and Life Science. They also excel in change management, ensuring that the transition to new systems is smooth and efficient. But let's dive a bit deeper into their unique selling points.

Maria

Hmm, that's really interesting. So, what exactly are Cognizant's unique selling points in the SAP market? I know you mentioned their testing team, but can you elaborate on that and any other key differentiators?

Manfred Oppitz

One of Cognizant's key differentiators is their strong testing team. They have a dedicated team of experts who ensure that every SAP implementation is thoroughly tested for performance, security, and compatibility. This helps minimize risks and ensures that the final product meets the highest standards. Additionally, Cognizant offers comprehensive application managed services, which means they provide ongoing support and maintenance, ensuring that the systems run smoothly and efficiently. They also have a strong focus on innovation, particularly with the SAP AI tool Joule, which we can discuss in more detail later.

Maria

Wow, that's impressive. Can you give us some examples of how Cognizant has implemented SAP S/4HANA and provided change management support in specific projects? I think real-world case studies would really help illustrate the impact of their services.

Manfred Oppitz

Sure thing, Maria. One great example is a large manufacturing company in Switzerland. Cognizant helped them migrate from their legacy SAP system to SAP S/4HANA. They provided a detailed roadmap, conducted extensive testing, and offered comprehensive support throughout the transition. The result was a more efficient, modern system that improved their operational processes and reduced costs. In another case, a financial institution needed to update their systems to comply with new regulations. Cognizant not only implemented the new SAP S/4HANA system but also provided extensive change management support to ensure that all employees were trained and comfortable with the new system. These examples show the breadth and depth of Cognizant's capabilities.

Maria

Those are fantastic examples, Manfred. I'm curious about the role of the testing team. You mentioned they ensure thorough testing, but can you give us a specific example of how they handle a complex testing scenario? And how does this impact the project's success?

Manfred Oppitz

Of course. In a complex testing scenario, the Cognizant testing team follows a multi-layered approach. They start with unit testing to ensure that individual components work correctly. Then, they move on to integration testing to verify that all components work together seamlessly. They also conduct performance testing to ensure the system can handle high volumes of transactions without slowing down. Finally, they perform security testing to identify and mitigate any vulnerabilities. For instance, in a recent project for a life science client, the testing team identified a critical performance issue during the integration testing phase. They quickly resolved it, which prevented potential downtime and ensured the system was ready for launch. This level of thorough testing is crucial for the success of any SAP project.

Maria

That's really reassuring to hear. Now, let's talk about application managed services. How does Cognizant's approach to these services differ from other providers, and what are some of the benefits for clients?

Manfred Oppitz

Cognizant's approach to application managed services is holistic and client-centric. They offer a range of services, from 24/7 monitoring and maintenance to performance optimization and security management. What sets them apart is their proactive approach. They don't just react to issues; they anticipate and prevent them. For example, they use advanced analytics to monitor system performance and identify potential issues before they become problems. This proactive approach ensures that the systems are always running at their best, which translates to higher productivity and reduced downtime for clients. Additionally, Cognizant's managed services are highly customizable, allowing clients to choose the level of support that best fits their needs.

Maria

That sounds like a very robust and flexible approach. Moving on, can you tell us more about the SAP AI tool Joule? How does it fit into Cognizant's services, and what are some of the benefits for clients using this tool?

Manfred Oppitz

Joule is a game-changer in the SAP ecosystem. It's an AI tool that leverages machine learning and natural language processing to automate and optimize various SAP processes. For example, Joule can automate data entry, predict maintenance needs, and even provide insights for better decision-making. Cognizant integrates Joule into their SAP solutions to enhance the overall value for clients. One of the key benefits is increased efficiency. By automating routine tasks, Joule allows employees to focus on more strategic and creative work. It also improves accuracy and reduces the risk of errors. For instance, we've discussed with a large retail client to use Joule for automation. The potential for their inventory management process is high, which should end up in a 30% reduction in inventory costs and a 20% increase in order accuracy.

Maria

That's amazing. It sounds like Joule is really revolutionizing the way businesses operate. Now, let's shift our focus to the Swiss market. How does Cognizant's presence in Switzerland contribute to their success, and what are some of the key industries they serve in this region?

Manfred Oppitz

Cognizant's presence in Switzerland is a strategic advantage. Success in this market is depending on the visibility, network and at all with deep industry expertise, which allows them to understand the unique needs and challenges of Swiss businesses. They serve a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, insurance, life science, and retail. For example, in the manufacturing sector, Cognizant has worked with a large company to implement a global SAP pricing solution. In life science we are proving a global SAP S/4 roll-out. In insurance, we delivered the first migration to a Microsoft Azure environment in DACH Region and they helped to modernize their systems to comply with regulatory requirements. I think we come later to this story again. Innovation, down-to-earth solutions and a strong delivery capability are a success factor. Our strong industry-specific solutions have made them a trusted partner for many Swiss enterprises.

Maria

It's clear that Cognizant has a strong foothold in the Swiss market. Can you share some success stories of clients in Switzerland that have benefited from Cognizant's SAP services? I think these stories would really highlight the value they bring.

Manfred Oppitz

Honestly, the Swiss footprint for SAP services is in progress and needs the full power from our client partners, CRMs, Marketing and SAP practice. We need a high visibility, best solutions, references in the marketed and comprehensive project approach for our clients. We should have a clear statement why a client should move forward with Cognizant. But back to your question to our success stories. One success story is a leading pharmaceutical company in Switzerland. Cognizant provide the largest SAP BW instance in Europe, this helps to streamline their global reporting as well services for research and development processes. The very large system improved data accuracy and helped them speed up their internal reporting, month end closing as so on. Another example is a large insurance institution that needed to update their legacy systems to comply with new regulatory requirements. Cognizant not only moved their SAP S/4HANA system to Microsoft Azure but also provided extensive technical change management support to ensure a smooth transition. The result was a more secure, compliant, and efficient system. These success stories demonstrate Cognizant's ability to deliver tangible results and drive business growth.

Maria

Those are truly inspiring stories. Finally, Manfred, what do you see as the future trends and innovations in the SAP space, and how is Cognizant positioned to lead in these areas?

Manfred Oppitz

The future of SAP is bright, and there are several exciting trends to watch. One is the continued integration of AI and machine learning into SAP solutions, which will further automate and optimize business processes. Another trend is the move towards cloud-based solutions, which offer greater flexibility and scalability. Cognizant is well-positioned to lead in these areas. They have a strong focus on innovation and are constantly investing in new technologies and solutions. For example, they are already leading the way with the SAP AI tool Joule and are exploring new ways to leverage cloud technology. They are also committed to building strong partnerships and ecosystems to bring the best solutions to their clients. As the SAP landscape continues to evolve, Cognizant is poised to remain at the forefront, driving innovation and delivering value to their clients.

Maria

That's a fantastic note to end on, Manfred. Thank you so much for sharing all this valuable information with us today. It's clear that Cognizant is a leader in the SAP space, and their commitment to innovation and client success is truly inspiring. Thanks again, and we look forward to more exciting discussions in the future!

Manfred Oppitz

Thank you, Maria. It was a pleasure to be here, and I'm excited to continue exploring more topics with you all. Until next time.