ANZ businesses accelerate AI adoption for innovation & growth
SAP has identified the five most widely adopted AI use cases among its customers in Australia and New Zealand, highlighting a shift from the periphery to mainstream business functions. Analysis of SAP customers in the region during the last year indicates that the most common applications of AI include automated expense generation using receipt images, automated invoice processing, expense verification and compliance checks, real-time alerts for supply chain disruptions, and sales demand forecasting powered by predictive analytics.
Angela Colantuono, Managing Director, SAP Australia, addressed the growing importance of AI to business leaders. "My conversations with CEOs are increasingly revealing how they are looking to embed AI into some of the most fundamental parts of their business. These applications are helping Australian organisations make faster, smarter decisions, reduce risk and unlock new value. But to fully realise AI's potential, we need to invest just as much in people as we do in technology."
Dr Catriona Wallace, AI Ethics Expert and Founder of the Responsible Metaverse Alliance, raised concerns about responsible AI adoption. She stated, "AI is the number one existential risk we face today. Yet only a small fraction of Australian organisations are equipped to use it responsibly. If we want AI to drive innovation, productivity and public trust, we must move beyond ambition to action. That means embedding responsible AI frameworks that are transparent, ethical and human-centred, and doing it now, before the gap between use and governance becomes too wide to close."
SAP's customer base in Australia and New Zealand has reported increased momentum in the adoption of AI and cloud technologies, including participants from education, manufacturing and other sectors.
Universities and transformation
La Trobe University has distinguished itself as the first university in Australia and New Zealand to implement SAP S/4HANA Cloud Public Edition as part of its transformation initiative. Through this process, the university has updated its core operations, spanning finance, procurement, logistics, sales, R&D engineering and real estate, enabling further opportunities for future AI-driven developments.
Shainal Kavar, Chief Information Officer at La Trobe University, commented, "This transformation is a major step forward in how we operate. It's helping us simplify complexity, streamline processes, improve reporting and decision-making and free up our people to focus on higher-value work. Most importantly, it sets us up to embrace innovation and unlock the potential of AI in the years ahead."
Commercial adoption in brewing
In the commercial sector, Lion, a major brewer in Australia and New Zealand, is expanding its adoption of cloud-based technologies with SAP solutions. The company has implemented a clean core strategy for its ERP system and utilised SAP's Business Technology Platform to enhance business processes, including improvements to order-to-cash cycles, digital channel scalability, and the provision of real-time insights for teams. Lion's collaboration with SAP also resulted in the development of 'Joey', an AI-powered beer recommendation app, completed in under ten days.
Ram Kalyanasundaram, Group Technology and Digital Transformation Director at Lion, said, "AI is helping us move faster, make smarter decisions, and deliver better customer experiences. It's not just about automation, it's about enabling our teams to focus on what matters and giving them the tools to innovate. SAP's AI capabilities have been a game-changer in how we think, operate and grow."
Building AI skills and diversity
SAP has announced the return of the SAP AI Intrepid Women Tour, scheduled for January 2026. The four-day executive study programme aims to equip female leaders with knowledge, strategic insight and confidence in AI leadership. Following the previous tour's outcomes, the company will again convene senior female technology executives to explore AI innovation across SAP's global hubs.
Angela Colantuono addressed the current gender gap in senior AI roles, remarking, "Less than 15% of senior AI executives are women today. Last year's programme proved that when you bring female leaders together to build AI literacy and share experiences, the impact is extraordinary – not just for their businesses, but for the future of innovation in Australia."
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