We welcome the new year with a heavyweight cover story focusing on the transformation efforts of market leading multinational software…

We welcome the new year with a heavyweight cover story focusing on the transformation efforts of market leading multinational software giant SAP

Welcome to the latest issue of Interface magazine!

Read the latest issue here!

SAP: Transformation Made Simple

“Turning transformation into a non-event is our North Star,” explains Thorsten Spihlmann, Head of Business Development for Transformation in the Cloud Lifecycle Management department at SAP. The evolution of SAP’s Business Transformation Centre (BTC) is future proofing customer experience. “The BTC is a comprehensive solution that helps users streamline the process of migration to S/4HANA,” says Spihlmann. “In the end, it’s one central platform – one central orchestration layer – which guides you through all phases of the project. The BTC enables users to access source systems, profile data for insights, enhance and transform data, provision it to target systems, and validate data integrity… Our customers’ interests are always top of mind.”

Nestlé: A CIO Leading by Example

Nestlé‘s Oceania’s CIO, Rosalie Adriano, dives deep into how her breadth of experience in transformational change led to her becoming one of 2024’s top 50 CIOs in Australia. “I want ideas to be freely shared. Innovation is encouraged. This approach breaks down silos and creates a sense of unity and purpose.”

Poundland & Dealz: The Value of Digital

Dean Underwood, IT Director at Poundland & Dealz, talks challenges, cultural shift and the company’s digitally transformation… “We must prove that spending on technology is as impactful as investing in product pricing,” he says. “For example, my request to fund a new data warehouse competes with the Commercial Director’s goal to maintain affordable prices. The customer always comes first, but investing in supply chain efficiencies lowers operating costs, helping us keep prices down. It’s our responsibility to demonstrate the value of every investment.”

Schenectady County Government: Delivering Critical and Secure Infrastructure

Schenectady County’s CIO Gabriel A. Benitez discusses the role of IT as a steward for citizens, leadership and the power of teams, and why security is crucial to the organisation… “We support and serve to keep Schenectady County running. That covers a broad remit, but some of the key departments we work with include Finance, Law Enforcement, Emergency Management, Public Health, Glendale Nursing Home, County Clerk, District Attorneys, Public Defender, Conflict Defender, Probation, Social Services, Veteran’s Affairs, Engineering & Public Works, and Department of Motor Vehicles.”

Read the latest issue here!

  • Digital Strategy

Standard Bank CIO Bessy Mahopo on the challenges of operating in a fractured market and how the company overcomes them

This month’s cover story highlights how technology is helping Standard Bank overcome the challenges of a fractured market to both drive business growth and improve services for customers.

Welcome to the latest issue of Interface magazine!

“Time may change me, but I can’t trace time…” sang David Bowie. Changes can be challenging to manage with the path to positive disruption not always a smooth change management journey.

Interface dives deep for insights on understanding, planning, implementing and communicating change across industries.

Read the latest issue here!

Standard Bank: driving Africa’s growth

Standard Bank CIO (CIB – Transactional Banking) Bessy Mahopo explains how one of South Africa’s largest banks is using its own digital transformation successes as a template to support the country’s ongoing technological evolution by overhauling IT from the inside out. “I believe that once we start moving the curve to fifth and sixth generation technology, we’re going to become even more of a value-producer.”

The art of change management with SAP

Maria Villar, Head of Enterprise Data Strategy and Transformation at SAP, talks about the importance of driving change in the technology space and helping businesses thrive with data from the perspective of one of the world’s leading enterprise resource planning software vendors. “My job is about finding out what a good data strategy looks like and continuing to spend time with customers to look ahead…”

Talent transformation journeys with TUI

We caught up with Cerstin Lang, Director for HR Group IT at TUI. She reveals how it’s global For:ward program is driving digital transformation as the travel giant works with training partner Udacity to upskill IT talent. “Our IT goals are focused on developing a structure that supports new ways of working with the right balance to innovate and grow in the future.”

How TransUnion is enabling consumer trust

Alejandro Reskala, CIO Canada, LATAM, Caribbean at TransUnion, about technology transformation at a leading consumer credit reporting agency, its dedication to people, and how it makes trust possible. “TransUnion has always blazed a trail to use technology and data to generate insights that help support financial inclusion.”

Also in this issue, we ask what the birth of ChatGPT means for businesses leveraging tech and learn from Rivery why organisations need to rethink their data strategy with robust operational analytics.

Enjoy the issue!

Dan Brightmore, Editor