SAP accelerates Africa’s cloud and AI adoption

SYSTEMS Applications and Products (SAP) says digital platforms are becoming central to economic growth and improved public sector performance across Africa, as organisations confront supply chain volatility, regulatory pressure and rising citizen expectations.

In an engagement with CAJ News Africa, SAP Africa Market Development & Customer Officer Wayne Meisel outlined how the company’s technology portfolio is supporting enterprises, small businesses and governments to modernise operations and strengthen service delivery.

At the heart of this strategy is SAP Business Network, which Meisel described as a critical enabler of transparency and resilience.

“SAP Business Network is the world’s largest B2B trading platform, connecting buyers, suppliers and logistics partners in real time and facilitating more than six trillion dollars in commerce annually,” he said.

The platform provides end-to-end visibility across supply chains, enabling organisations to anticipate disruptions, improve procurement planning and reduce the administrative burden associated with complex supplier ecosystems.

Digitisation and automation, according to SAP, are essential for driving efficiency across industries such as manufacturing, retail, energy, healthcare and the public sector.

By standardising processes and creating a single source of truth, organisations can reduce costs while strengthening compliance and governance.

Access to a global ecosystem of vetted trading partners also supports adherence to environmental, social and governance requirements, which are increasingly shaping investment and regulatory decisions.

Meisel said SAP is tailoring its platforms to address Africa’s unique operating conditions, including fragmented supply chains and uneven digital infrastructure.

“Our cloud-based, mobile-first solutions are designed to work in diverse environments, allowing organisations to remain compliant with local regulations while operating efficiently, even in low-connectivity areas,” he said.

He added that SAP continues to collaborate with governments, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and local partners to expand digital access and build sustainable technology capacity.

Small and medium-sized enterprises are another major focus for SAP’s growth strategy on the continent.

With scalable cloud solutions such as SAP Cloud ERP, Small and medium enterprises (SMEs) can adopt enterprise-grade systems without heavy upfront investment.

These tools provide real-time insight into finance, supply chains and operations, helping smaller firms identify inefficiencies, respond faster to market changes and compete more effectively in a digital economy.

Data protection remains a foundational principle across SAP’s platforms.

“Security and data privacy are embedded into our solutions by design, supported by global standards and continuous monitoring to address emerging threats,” Meisel said.

SAP’s approach combines secure infrastructure with advanced tools that help customers manage risk, ensure regulatory compliance and protect sensitive business and citizen information.

Sustainability is also moving from a reporting obligation to a strategic priority. SAP’s ESG solutions integrate directly with core systems, enabling organisations to track emissions, monitor social impact and generate auditable reports aligned with regulatory frameworks.

By embedding sustainability metrics into daily operations, organisations can improve transparency while driving long-term value creation.

Looking ahead, SAP sees artificial intelligence, machine learning and advanced analytics transforming enterprise systems.

“By embedding AI across our portfolio, we are helping organisations shift from reactive operations to proactive, insight-driven decision-making,” Meisel said.

He believes this evolution positions ERP as a strategic enabler of innovation and resilience.