SAP launches collaborative AI agents, Microsoft expands AI capabilities for “healthier future” – PEX Vendor News

PEX Network’s weekly bulletin rounds up the latest industry vendor news including product releases/updates, mergers and acquisitions, partnerships and leadership changes.

This week includes:

• SAP launches collaborative AI agents
• Microsoft expands AI capabilities to shape a “healthier future”
• ABBYY relocates global headquarters, recruits new leadership
• Rossum partners with KPMG Netherlands to help businesses automate document workflows
• Celonis and Appian make new leadership hires
• Kissflow wins Top Vendor award for workflow automation

SAP launches collaborative AI agents

At its annual SAP TechEd conference, SAP announced new capabilities that enhance its generative AI copilot Joule. These include collaborative AI agents imbued with custom skills to complete complex cross-disciplinary tasks, according to a press release. These AI agents enhance productivity by breaking down silos and freeing workers to concentrate on areas where human ingenuity thrives, it added.

Other innovations include the SAP Knowledge Graph, a solution poised to help developers unlock the full value of SAP data by connecting it with rich business context, and new tools to ensure developers can continue driving business AI innovation.

“SAP’s innovation drives real business outcomes, and today’s advancements help customers harness the power of AI, data and new development solutions to catalyze growth,” said Muhammad Alam, member of the executive board of SAP SE, SAP product engineering. “Drawing on SAP’s unmatched business and technology expertise, the AI innovations we’re announcing at TechEd forge a new human-AI partnership to transform the landscape of modern business.”

SAP also announced that it has fulfilled its pledge to upskill 2 million people worldwide by 2025.

Lee Bogner, Mars, discusses AI and the importance of data

Microsoft expands AI capabilities to shape a “healthier future”

Microsoft unveiled several Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare innovations designed to connect care experiences, enhance team collaboration, empower healthcare workers and unlock clinical and operational insights. Microsoft Cloud for Healthcare is supporting healthcare organizations with new healthcare AI models in Azure AI Studio, capabilities for healthcare data solutions in Microsoft Fabric, the healthcare agent service in Copilot Studio and an AI-driven nursing workflow solution, according to a press release.

“We are at an inflection point where AI breakthroughs are fundamentally changing the way we work and live,” said Joe Petro, corporate VP, healthcare and life sciences solutions and platforms at Microsoft. “Across the broader healthcare and life sciences industry, these advancements are dramatically enhancing patient care and also rekindling the joy of practicing medicine for clinicians.” Microsoft’s AI-powered solutions are helping lead these efforts by streamlining workflows, improving data integration and utilizing AI to deliver better outcomes for healthcare professionals, researchers and scientists and patients, he added.

ABBYY relocates global headquarters, recruits new leadership

Process automation vendor ABBYY is relocating its global headquarters from California to Austin, Texas, joining other leading tech companies like Google, Apple, Tesla and Oracle in the region’s growing “Silicon Hills.” The move is part of a broader transformation including new leadership talent and streamlined operations aimed at strengthening ABBYY’s position, according to the firm. Hopeful Owitti joins the firm as VP of customer experience, while Nick Hyatt joins as VP of engineering and Roman Kilun joins as chief compliance officer.

“Relocating our headquarters to Austin, where our product leadership team already is, places us at the heart of a growing tech ecosystem,” commented Ulf Persson, CEO at ABBYY. “Together with our development centers in the US, India and Hungary, we’re tapping into top global talent in AI, machine learning and product development to drive our next phase of growth and innovation.”

Rossum partners with KPMG Netherlands to help businesses automate document workflows

Intelligent document processing (IDP) vendor Rossum announced a strategic partnership with KPMG Netherlands to help finance leaders achieve measurable results from their document automation initiatives. The partnership builds on several successful automation projects that Rossum and KPMG have jointly completed in sectors such as consumer goods, retail, hospitality and industrial materials, according to a press release. By combining advanced technology with professional services, they offer a comprehensive solution for document automation that includes:

• Proprietary AI technology with unparalleled accuracy and automation rates.
• Cost-effective end-to-end processing of transactional documents.
• Certified integrations with SAP and Coupa, along with numerous other ERP systems.

“We work with the latest technologies to meet the needs of our clients and are proud to be Rossum’s implementation partner,” said Michiel van Oijen, senior manager finance and business services at KPMG. “Our team, with extensive experience in IDP projects, implements cutting-edge cloud technologies. This partnership goes beyond a typical business collaboration; it’s a shared journey where our combined expertise and joint efforts lead to lasting success.”

Celonis and Appian make new leadership hires

Process mining and process intelligence firm Celonis and process automation provider Appian both announced new leadership hires. Celonis appointed Mannu Lodha to lead the company’s operations in the Nordic region, focusing on driving value realization for customers and continued growth in the region. Appian named Mark Dorsey chief revenue officer to lead the company’s global sales operation to accelerate growth.

“Mannu’s appointment significantly enhances our position in the Nordics,” commented Philippe Mathieu, SVP EMEA and APAC at Celonis. "With his extensive industry expertise and the active engagement with our partner ecosystem, Mannu will play a crucial role in helping our customers identify and unlock the value hidden within their processes.”

Meanwhile, Dorsey said he is thrilled to join Appian and collaborate with the entire team to accelerate growth. “I look forward to partnering with our customers to ensure their success using Appian’s trusted process automation technology to transform their organizations.”

James Friend, NHS England, describes unlocking operational efficiency

Kissflow wins Top Vendor award for workflow automation

Low-code platform Kissflow won the Top Vendor award for workflow automation at the GEC Awards 2024. The 11^th edition of the GEC Awards, held in Dubai, highlighted accomplishments in the field of the regional ICT landscape. “Our innovative solutions continue to set new benchmarks in both efficiency and security. We couldn’t be prouder of this incredible achievement – keep pushing boundaries and delivering excellence,” the vendor stated.

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