SAP SE announced the initial companies participating in its blockchain co-innovation initiative and plans to make the digital ledger system an integrated part of Internet of Things (IoT), manufacturing and digital supply chain solutions using the SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain service.
Companies including Capgemini, Deloitte, GrainCorp, HCL Technologies, HERE Technologies, Moog Inc., Natura Cosméticos S.A., NetApp and PeerNova are collaborating with SAP to validate use cases and business models for blockchain usage for product and asset lifecycle management solutions from SAP. This announcement was made at the SAP TechEd conference taking place September 25–29 in Las Vegas.
“In the digital economy, an iterative, fast-paced approach in close collaboration with our customers and partners is imperative,” said Dr. Juergen Mueller, chief innovation officer, SAP. “With the blockchain service as part of the SAP Leonardo digital innovation system we are enabling an open collaboration around distributed business processes in peer-to-peer networks.”
The SAP Leonardo Blockchain Co-Innovation program gives SAP customers and partners the opportunity to explore applications including registering events to blockchain from product inception and design to manufacturing and logistics phases for product track and trace. The program also addresses parts serialisation and order validation for inventory management and for product providence and authenticity. SAP is also exploring digital supply chain scenarios where different suppliers submit offers directly to blockchain to improve effectiveness across their business networks.
“At Moog, we can see that distributed ledger technology will be a key enabler for more digital, connected and leaner workflows within the industrial, medical and aerospace businesses,” said George Small, chief technology officer, Moog Inc. “We believe that shared, distributed legers are all about collaboration and openness. Our collaboration with SAP will accelerate the development of distributed ledger tools and infrastructure needed to realise our vision of the future.”
SAP also opened registration for the SAP Leonardo Blockchain Early Access program, which provides customers and partners access to standard SAP products that have been enhanced and augmented with blockchain functionality. Participants can gain first-hand knowledge about how SAP Leonardo Blockchain capabilities can enable companies and their business partners to access the same information without the need for central control and management.
The early access program is open for customers and partners to register until early Q1 2018. Customers can learn more about the program and how to participate by visiting SAP’s blockchain website.
“Our increasingly connected and automated world relies on the flow of secure and validated data across parties,” said Leon van de Pas, head of IoT at HERE Technologies. “The data expertise of SAP, particularly on blockchain as an innovative data security technology, and the unique perspective HERE provides as a location data company serving customers across all industries will be a very strong combination to enable the autonomous world.”
In its early access blockchain program, SAP is focusing on industries including automotive, aerospace and defense, discrete manufacturing and utilities, with additional participation across the broader supply chain and business networks, including logistics network providers. SAP is collaborating with multiple system integrator companies to help ensure the accelerated adoption and rollout of blockchain-enabled IoT and digital supply chain solutions from SAP, running on SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain.
“Blockchain is a transformative technology that can simplify multiparty transactions and open new possibilities for digital innovation in many industries,” said Dr. Tanja Rueckert, president of IoT & Digital Supply Chain at SAP. “Our early access customers and partners can join SAP to get a first-mover advantage innovating and scaling blockchain as a core part of their Internet of Things strategies.”
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