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SAP and New Zealand Rugby Collaborate in Digital Transformation Project

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SAP and New Zealand Rugby’s recently unveiled global partnership is aimed at expediting the organisation’s digital transformation through co-innovation across major business functions.

A number of sports institutions all over the world use SAP’s enterprise software, tools, and technologies to develop a sports-specific line of solutions. In 2018, SAP and the German Football Association (DFB) also partnered on the development of technological innovations for the SAP Sports One solution. Utilising SAP’s data analytics capabilities, the advancements were intended to provide the DFB with a competitive advantage during the FIFA World Cup in Russia. 

Last year, the National Basketball Association (NBA) selected RISE with SAP — the tech giant’s Business Transformation as a Service (BTaaS) offering — for its cloud transformation efforts which include the migration of SAP S/4HANA Cloud to Microsoft Azure. The solution consolidated mission-critical processes within the business and supported the league’s global growth strategy.

Fast forward to 2022, SAP has yet again clinched a major multi-year deal with New Zealand Rugby (NZR). NZR Chief Information and Technology Officer Angela Nash stated that the organisation is currently in the process of undergoing a significant digital transformation. She explained that in order to realise its goal of becoming the most technologically advanced rugby union in the world, NZR requires the assistance and expertise of a multinational tech partner.

“SAP is at the forefront of digital enablement globally and have the tools to help us build a team of experts that not only share our vision but are world-class in their skills and capabilities. It is great to have them on board as our first technology partner, working with NZR across all key platforms to review, enhance and enable us to provide technology systems that ensure we are the best both on and off the field,” Nash added.

A Major Multi-Year Partnership Between SAP and New Zealand Rugby

Through the partnership, the well-known rugby union team will be able to leverage SAP solutions and collaboration across four categories including:

  • Elevating the fan experience. Develop innovative means of connecting and engaging with NZR’s local and worldwide supporter base, while also capitalising on emerging technology that enables viewers to have a greater sense of connection to the teams and players they root for.
  • Enabling sustainability goals. Employ digital services to help NZR comprehensively manage its sustainability initiatives, while also enabling its wider Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance (ESG) strategy as necessary.
  • Supporting team performance. Improve the employee experience and give its personnel the tools they need to reach their full potential through the implementation of SAP SuccessFactors and the establishment of a centralised platform for human resources (HR) functions.
  • Utilising data for organisational processes. Better support its on-field staff by harnessing the strength of its off-field technologies and data through the utilisation of a digital hub comprising SAP solutions that will be used to develop interconnected systems.

Meanwhile, Scott Russell, Head of Customer Success and Member of the Executive Board at SAP, noted that the NZR team has set the ambitious objective of becoming the rugby union with the most cutting-edge technology capabilities in the world.

“As the organisation’s first-ever technology partner, SAP can help NZR meet this goal by driving digital transformation across all areas of the business and introducing game-changing technologies that will help NZR teams run at their best – and win.”

Welcoming NZR to the SAP family and dubbing it the country’s “pride and joy”, SAP Asia Pacific Japan President Paul Marriott said that SAP is particularly honoured to collaborate with the NZ sports team and take both their brand and clubs to the next level. He further shared in a LinkedIn post:

“I am absolutely thrilled to share that SAP and New Zealand Rugby announced a new global partnership with their Teams in Black, including the All Blacks and Black Ferns. Most people know I’m a huge rugby fan and even bigger fan of the Teams in Black – teams who, through a culture of belief and total support for each other, play the bigger game – in perfect synergy.”

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