Smaller, more intimate, and simpler than SAPPHIRE NOW, SAP Select opened its doors last week for the first time to an exclusive group of customer executives in Berlin.
The Ritz-Carlton at Potsdamer Platz handed over the keys of its property for SAP Select to take over November 12-13. A customer appreciation opportunity for targeted accounts, the event gave guests from MEE and EMEA the opportunity to network with peers and meet SAP Board members in person. Moreover, SAP Select invites account executives to take the lead in inviting their customers, building an agenda together, and hosting them personally at the event.
Nearly 500 customer representatives attended the event and were joined by the entire SAP Managing Board as well as Chairman of the Supervisory Board Hasso Plattner. Highlights included an entertaining discussion between CEO Bill McDermott and German Vice-Chancellor Sigmar Gabriel moderated by former TV presenter Sabine Christiansen. Describing Berlin as a “vibrant city,” Bill said, “We need heroes in Germany and it starts with young people.” Gabriel touched on Germany’s digital agenda, saying that one problem on the way to what he calls the “next economy” is the lack of venture capital. The themes in their discussion included the power of young people, students, and entrepreneurs and startups to create jobs and combat unemployment.
Day two featured keynotes with Hasso Plattner and Clay Christensen, author of “The Innovator’s Dilemma,” as well as Bernd Leukert, Member of the Executive Board, SAP SE, Products & Innovation.
Piloted in November in Berlin for customers from the EMEA and MEE regions, the concept will be adjusted and rolled out in other regions in 2015.