SAP to now dribble with sports vertical

ORLANDO, USA: SAP AG has spotlighted new solutions that are expected to transform the sports and entertainment industry, the company's 25th and newest vertical industry market.

As per a release, the foray paves the way for SAP and its key technology drivers - big data analytics, the SAP HANA platform, mobile computing and cloud applications - to help the sports and entertainment industry run better from the fans, athletes, performers and the media to venues, teams, leagues and entertainment companies.

The announcement was made at SAPPHIRE NOW, being held May 14-16 in Orlando, Florida. The SAP for Sports & Entertainment solution portfolio is designed to add value and new experiences for everyone, from ardent concert fans to the most intense sports fanatics, as it added.

Examples include professional sports franchises can enhance their talent selection process through innovative scouting solutions; leagues can engage fan bases through enhanced statistical insights and fantasy initiatives etc. Fans can be immersed in the game-day experience and hold a two-way dialogue with their teams.

At SAPPHIRE NOW, SAP Co-CEO Bill McDermott was joined on stage by Kevin Plank, founder and CEO of Under Armour, Inc.; Adam Silver, incoming commissioner and former chief operating officer of the National Basketball Association; and Jed York, CEO of the San Francisco 49ers.

"The sports and entertainment industry understands what it takes to turn consumers into passionate fans of the brand," said McDermott. "The world-class organizations represented on stage at SAPPHIRE NOW today - and many more across the world - are embracing the value that breakthrough technologies such as SAP HANA, the SAP Cloud portfolio and advanced CRM and ticketing can bring to the fan experience. We expect that our 25th and newest industry vertical will touch literally billions of people who love concerts, entertainment and sports, and help give them an unprecedented level of enjoyment and attachment."