The top 10 SAP priorities for 2011 according to Tony de Thomasis are: 1) addressing the needs and expectations of Generation Y users, 2) the growing importance of mobile devices, 3) developing a social media strategy, 4) addressing the analytics explosion, 5) changes to business units, 6) the importance of people not just technology, 7) intelligent IT spending, 8) acquiring technical skills, 9) increasing speed and agility, and 10) shrinking the private data center.

1. Top 10 SAP priorities for 2011Tony de ThomasisNetWeaver Practice LeadAcclimation

2. Priorities according to who?Based on feedback from Australian customer visits Based on my daily interaction with SAP thought leaders and tech vendorsBased on my active participation in the SAP ecosystemThese are my observations based on the latest industry developments

3. 1. The Generation Y ImpactLong response times are not acceptableThe users interface is everythingHave device – will connectData must be fast and accuratePowerPoint sale is dead – show me!

4. 2. Mobile devices come of ageA new dimension of businessExtending the reach of Backend systemsCombining mobile apps, devices, and content will drive the enterpriseOne-app, one-device model is impracticalMobility promotes inclusiveness and opens opportunities and markets

5. 3. Social Media StrategyLow-cost platform to build your personal brand, communicating who you areEngage rapidly with peers, employees, customers, and the broader publicLearn from instant unvarnished feedbackIf you don't engage your customers, you are missing the conversation

6. 4. The Analytics explosionReporting using BW and multiple datamarts is too expensive to maintainBOBJ gives the business better visibility of sales, financials, risk and productionIn Memory computing enables more informed and timely decisions

7. 5. The changing business unitInnovation is now key for the CIOSAP professionals more aligned with individual business unitsNo more Teams of IT Architects SAP Technical roles will be outsourced to local specialists as companies stick to core competenciesCompanies will multi-source to achieve 24/7/365 specialist support

8. 6. It’s not just the TechnologyThe best Technology needs the best people to implement it properlyBetter consultants deliver better resultsKeep good people and supplement with skilled resourcesIntelligent pay grades need to balanced

9. 7. IT SpendCompanies are spending intelligentlyTo increase production or reduce costsSpend on innovation as a differentiatorSafest spend areasMobilitySolution ManagerSAP Enhancement PacksAnalyticsStrategic roadmaps

10. 8. Technical Skill acquisitionEducation cost cutting is commonplaceEmployees are left to fend for themselvesSAP has reacted positivelySDN WeblogsLearning on DemandRamp-up Knowledge TransferYouTube learning channelsExpert Guided Implementation sessionsSAP Mentor Webinars

11. 9. Speed and Agility IT must be able to quickly implement technologies that support the businessTaking a product to market faster than competitorsOptimising the supply chainBetter service through a web channel, tracking and workflow until completionSAP Rapid Deployment solutions and SAP predefined services

12. 10. Shrinking the private data centrePrivate Clouds for cost effective Training, archiving or support pack testing systemsSoftware as a Service offerings Public Clouds for cost effective Sandpit systems SAP will certify outsourcing providersSAP will provide orchestration tools

13. Honourable mentionsReal-time dashboards Data storage explosion Enterprise searchSustainabilityDisaster Recovery

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