Ask Approyo: How can SAP S/4HANA impact the automotive industry?

The automotive world is driven by strong customer demand for hyperconnected products and services. The interconnectedness of people, places, and things is creating new and bigger business models as digital technology permeates not only the driving experience but also creates unique ways to engage customers.

Connected manufacturing is extremely relevant for automotive companies. Sensors, robotics, 3D printing, and artificial intelligence are becoming the new normal. Being connected helps to manufacture, monitor, and repair vehicles remotely. Critical components will be made on demand at the location, and predictive models will optimize the digital automotive network.

Leading automotive OEMs and suppliers prepare to use technologies to find new answers to such questions as:

• What are the changes that shift consumer demand?

• What are new business models and the associated services relevant for fleet customers and consumers?

• Which trends and technologies from adjacent industries are influencing the automotive market; for example, cybersecurity, embedded software, hybrid technology, and travel-related, value-added services?

• Who are the potential partners in the digital automotive network?

In working with leading companies across the globe, we see investments and energy around five strategic priorities:

• Digital smart products

• Digital supply chain and connected manufacturing

• Customer centricity

• Engaging a changing workforce

• Connected car and mobility services

To execute on these priorities, companies will have to evaluate if they have the right technology platform that can support these priorities.This right platform requires a bi-modal IT architecture that provides scalability and reliability for core enterprise processes with agility to adapt to changes.