Working closely with entertainment software and technology company Valve Corporation as the tournament’s Official Partner for The International 11 (TI 11), SAP cloud analytics capabilities will be leveraged to streamline and improve the incorporation of high-level analytics into the game’s broadcast.
The use of SAP cloud analytics tools in esports has increased significantly in recent years. This is due to the growing popularity of esports and the need for accurate and up-to-date information in order to make informed decisions about player performances, strategies, and match outcomes.
In anticipation for the 2021 Summer Playoffs, SAP and the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) launched a data partnership last year to create new statistical categories and provide insights into player evaluation and feedback. The collaboration utilized SAP’s data services to provide broadcasters with in-depth analyses to help them better serve their audiences.
On the other hand, the first annual SAP Community Esports tournament was held this year at SAP Labs Berlin, drawing in an impressive number of competitors and spectators. SAP Labs Berlin is always on the lookout for new ways to boost its visibility in the esports sector, of which the German capital city is a major hub globally. The tech giant also stated that preparations are well on to make it an international event as early as next year.
Indeed, SAP’s cloud analytics tools have allowed esports organizations to gain a competitive edge by providing them with real-time data and insights that can be used to improve their players’ performances and strategies. This is essential in a fast-paced environment like esports, where having up-to-date information can be the difference between winning and losing.
Partnering with Video Game Developer Valve Corporation
This month, the German enterprise software multinational announced a partnership with Valve Corporation, a prominent video game developer and digital media firm, to capitalize on real-time data and improve the overall fan experience for the Dota 2 Championship, The International 11. Since Valve Corporation’s 2013 launch of Dota 2, when The International tournament first took place, the company has hosted an annual championship for the game.
The International 11 is one of the most prestigious esports tournaments, and it has gathered together the greatest Dota 2 players in the world to compete in Singapore over the month of October. Commenting on the latest collaboration, JG Chirapurath, Chief Marketing and Solutions Officer for SAP BTP at SAP, shared:
“Our technology solutions, SAP HANA Cloud and SAP BTP, enable them to gain valuable insights on matches, teams, and players based on real-time data and analytics. Those insights bring the game to life and deliver a compelling experience to the fans watching across the globe.”
According to Valve Corporation Executive Producer Sarah Kneller, The International’s broadcast statistics characteristics were discussed, and SAP was identified as the only partner capable of achieving the desired results. SAP HANA Cloud maintains game data and enables fast access to historical data of all official matches in which The International players compete, making it easy to capture and share insights — both pre- and post-match.
Utilizing SAP Cloud Analytics Capabilities in Esports
The data management, analytics, application development, and integration services for the broadcast are all hosted on SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP), which processes and analyzes the data in milliseconds. It is possible to quickly meet the tournament’s needs with the help of SAP HANA Cloud’s adaptable data modeling capabilities.
“With more than 2.7 million peak concurrent viewers for The International 10, our partnership with SAP will allow us to bring the broadcast for TI 11 to the next level for our fans watching around the world,” Kneller remarked.
SAP Head of Global Sponsorships Lars Lamadé said that with the experience SAP has gained over the past few years broadcasting esports, the business plans to implement a number of cutting-edge improvements to the The International 11 broadcast that will render it as “innovative, immersive, and compelling” as possible. He concluded:
“Thriving for constant innovation is the core of our business at SAP and the reason why we are active in esports. The partnership with Valve was a logical next step and we’re eager to employ SAP technologies that will enhance and elevate the fan experience during The International 11.”
