SAP CEO Bill McDermott was the surprise guest at this week’s SAP Australian User Group (SAUG) National Summit in Sydney.
Making an appearance during a keynote by Constellation Research chairman, founder and principal analyst Ray Wang, McDermott took the opportunity to address concerns about the company’s relationship with its customers, as well as issues in the local market.
“Arrogance is the first step to demise. We have to be empathetic with our customers. I don’t want you to feel like you’re in between a terms and condition relationship with SAP,” McDermott said.
“I want you to feel like the dream box is coming to a theatre near you, and we are going to sit down with you like a partner and get this right.
“We have had some changes in the leadership level here in Australia. I am aware of that. I am also aware of the fact that the relationship has been too sales and not enough innovation-led. I am going to change that.”
McDermott added that Jennifer Morgan, now president of global customer operations for the Americas and Asia Pacific Japan, will redouble efforts to work together with SAP customers in the region.
This year’s SAUG Summit posted significant growth, with more than 640 attendees to the two-day event, an increase of 25{db8ca4bbfe57dc8f9b6df9233a3a6c04f4968125edf9bb330d4f787c3a87cd09} on 2016.
