SAP (Systems Application & Products in Data Processing) is a European multinational software corporation based in Germany, with offices in over a hundred and eighty countries. The company is set to be collaborating with over twenty-four companies in fields of food produce, pharmaceutical, tech and shipping in order to automate their supply chain using blockchain technology. This will help proliferate high visibility, transparency and provide easier authentication goods varying from food items to drugs.
The corporate behemoth is in process of piloting its SAP Cloud Platform Block with sixteen food produce suppliers like Maple Leaf Foods, Johnsonville, Naturipe Farms, Tate & Lyle and Natura. According to SAP, blockchain will help enable these enterprises to create and extend business applications using SAP’s MultiChain blockchain service. The aforementioned service was created via the utilisation of open-source Hyperledger Fabric platform from the Linux Foundation.
Hala Zeine, the president of SAP’s supply chain & manufacturing group, stated that existing customers of SAP’s cloud platform could beta test the blockchain ledger to use the APIs that connect to applications such as SAP HANA (in-memory relational database management system). Zeine also added, “SAP’s customers first connect to its [cloud-based] applications and then connect those applications to its blockchain platform as an option they can turn on.”
To help create a global supply chain platform, SAP has initiated a partner consortium with industry giants such as Intel, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co. (HPE), UPS and A3 by Airbus SE.
“In Intel’s continuous pursuit of operational excellence, we are exploring Blockchain-based solutions in a range of critical applications that involve the exchange of trusted information, an important application for Intel is the cross-border shipping process. Blockchain technology has the potential to revolutionize this process by delivering real-time transparency, greater efficiency, and reduced customs clearance throughput times. Realizing these transformative benefits requires a Blockchain-connected network of suppliers, manufacturers, carriers, and distributors. We are pleased to be a founding member of the SAP-led Consortium that provides the platform, framework and organization to drive the supply chain industry towards achieving that vision – as well as to benefit our customers.”.
–Linda Cheung, Director of Global Solutions at Intel
Although the SAP Cloud Platform Blockchain has been in the works for quite a few months, how its application stands to enable data curation from a variety of industries, remains to be seen. A roadmap for how these applications will be developed will be discussed with the consortium members next month. SAP is joining the league of corporations such as IBM and Maersk by announcing its blockchain integrated supply chain tracking system.
