Produced by:
Automating
SAP Operations
How Avantra is changing
the SAP operational landscape
through the power of Artificial Intelligence
and Machine Learning
Produced by:
Automating
SAP Operations
How Avantra is changing
the SAP operational landscape
through the power of Artificial Intelligence
and Machine Learning
TechPros.io
Interview with
John Appleby
Chief Executive Officer, Avantra
Avantra's CEO, John Appleby, discusses the company's journey into SAP operations management and its unique software automation offering which reduces downtime and frees up human resources. To maintain their leading position, John explains how Avantra prioritizes exceptional customer experiences whilst embracing technological advancements and emphasizes their commitment to caring for employees and their families during challenging times.
🎙️ Listen to the full interview in the Enterprise Thought Leadership podcast, powered by TechPros.io
Can you tell us about Avantra and how you became the CEO?
My journey in the technology industry started in the SAP domain back in 2004. I gained valuable experience through consulting and working at SAP, which led me to discover Avantra. Originally a services business, Avantra recognized the increasing demand for efficient SAP operations management and decided to develop a specialized software product based on their intellectual property. This resulted in a unique offering designed to automate and manage SAP environments effectively. In 2020, I had the exciting opportunity to lead Avantra, which I saw as a chance to drive software innovation and make a significant impact within the SAP ecosystem. As the CEO, I've developed a deep appreciation for the software space and the value Avantra brings to organizations relying on SAP for their critical business operations.
What sets Avantra apart in SAP operations management?
Avantra distinguishes itself in the software market through its focus on SAP operations management, catering to organizations heavily reliant on on-premise SAP systems. While many software products have shifted towards cloud services and web-based applications, Avantra recognizes the criticality of managing the underlying infrastructure for on-premise SAP. By providing tools and expertise to automate and streamline SAP operations, Avantra ensures smooth and efficient performance for its customers. Moreover, Avantra's platform stands out due to its versatility, as it can run on various platforms like hyper scalars, VMware, and bare metal, accommodating diverse customer infrastructures. The wide range of supported database versions and platforms further enhances its adaptability to customers' specific needs. Avantra's comprehensive support for the complex SAP ecosystem and its cost-effective automation, which streamlines routine tasks and allows technical teams to focus on more strategic initiatives, make it a compelling and go-to solution for SAP operations management.
Can you provide examples of how Avantra's software delivers value to organizations relying on SAP for critical business operations?
Avantra's software plays a pivotal role for organizations depending on SAP for their crucial business processes. Let me share two examples to illustrate its impact. One leading tech company, heavily reliant on SAP for inventory management and backend processes during product launches, benefits from Avantra's proactive notifications and alerts. This allows them to address potential issues before they escalate, ensuring uninterrupted operations and a seamless customer experience during critical events. Additionally, a prominent consumer goods company faced frequent priority one issues with their SAP system, leading to significant downtime and customer complaints. Through Avantra's software, they achieved an impressive 95% reduction in such issues by identifying root causes, receiving proactive notifications, and optimizing processes. This remarkable improvement in reliability greatly enhanced customer satisfaction and overall business performance. These real-world examples demonstrate how Avantra's tailored solutions empower organizations to optimize SAP operations, maintain reliability, and drive operational excellence while addressing their unique challenges.
How does Avantra plan to maintain its position as a leading solution for SAP operations management and automation?
Avantra's primary goal is to continue growing and solidify its position as the premier platform for SAP operations management and automation. To achieve this, the company has implemented key strategies: leveraging advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to enhance product capabilities, prioritizing exceptional customer experiences by understanding unique needs and challenges, expanding the global customer base through strong relationships, and staying at the forefront of technological advancements. Avantra's specialized focus on SAP operations management uniquely positions it in the market, with a comprehensive platform to automate and optimize these complex operations, empowering organizations to maximize their SAP investments and ensure reliable, efficient operations. The company's vision for the future entails continued leadership in SAP operations management, driving innovation, and delivering exceptional value to customers while contributing to the overall success of the ever evolving SAP ecosystem.
Avantra's
Key Strategies
▲
Leverage advanced technologies like AI and machine learning to enhance product capabilities
▲
Prioritize exceptional customer experiences by understanding unique needs and challenges
▲
Expand the global customer base through strong relationships
▲
Stay at the forefront of technological advancements
What impact have the tumultuous events we've experienced in the world recently had on Avantra’s business?
If we think about the Iran, Iraq War and the Afghanistan War, they were localized to that region and didn't have a day to day impact on the average person. However, with the Ukraine-Russia war, it directly affected our employees and their families. We had to deal with it hands on and figure out how to support them according to their needs. From a company perspective, we didn't want people to be in Ukraine due to the risks involved. But some employees chose to stay, and we had to respect their decision and provide support accordingly. It has challenged us in terms of managing people, and we had to rethink our approach. It has definitely brought a different dimension to the forefront. As a company, one of our values is to be caring, and that takes on a whole new meaning during wartime. It's not just about small gestures; it's about ensuring the safety of their families.
What is most important in terms of attracting and retaining the kind of talent you want at Avantra?
I believe it's two things. First, you have to be clear about who you are as an organization, your values, and what truly matters to you. You need to have a specific understanding of the type of talent you want to attract. Once you know your identity and what you're hiring for, it becomes straightforward. You aim to hire people who bring racial, cultural, and linguistic diversity while sharing a core sense of purpose and values. That makes the hiring process much easier. We have found that as we understood ourselves better, we were able to attract people who align with us in terms of how they think about life. That's what we focus on, and people self select to work for us. I personally interview everyone who joins the business, and we occasionally have conversations where it becomes clear that it isn't the right fit for them, and they self select out of the process. The stronger you are about your value system and the clearer you are in explaining it during the recruitment process, the easier it is for people to self select and say, "This is who I am, and this organization aligns with my values. This is the kind of place I want to work for."
Unlock the Next Phase
of SAP Operations
Inspired by John Appleby's insights? Don't miss the Avantra Global Summit on September 14th, 2023. Join in-person or virtually to discover Avantra's innovative strides in SAP automation. Hear from industry experts, engage in discussions, and be part of the future of SAP operations management.
🔗 Register Now and be at the forefront
of SAP advancements.
Engage in Thought Leadership
Beyond the Summit
Elevate your ERP modernization by joining exclusive virtual roundtables hosted by TechPros.io and co-produced with Avantra. Dive deep into challenges and solutions in "SAP operations excellence and the journey to ERP modernization"
🔗 Join the Challenge Forum today.
One hybrid AIOps platform,