FAQ

What is new/different about the Innovation Awards program in 2020?

For the 2020 program, we have made several changes.

·      Entries will open earlier on May 7, 2019 and close earlier on Dec 4, 2019 (Note no extensions!)

·      Participants from non-eligible countries can participate for a chance to be selected as winners; however, they are not eligible to win the SAPPHIRE NOW pass.

·      3 additional countries eligible: Swaziland, Kazakhstan and Ethiopia

·      New requirements for proof of concept (POC) and SAP Partner submissions (Next-Gen Awards)

o   Customer POCs – Must be using at least one of the following advanced technologies: 3D printing, blockchain, IoT, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Conversational AI, Robotic Process Automation, Data Anonymization, Augmented Analytics

o   Partner Submissions – Have developed an application that extends SAP’s intelligent suite using intelligent technologies or digital platform and successfully deployed in production (go-live) by at least one customer or POC validated by at least one customer using at least one of the advanced technologies: 3D printing, blockchain, IoT, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Conversational AI, Robotic Process Automation, Data Anonymization, Augmented Analytics

 

What is the timeline for the SAP Innovation Awards?

7th May 2019	Entries Open
4th December 2019	Entries Close (no extensions!)
4th February 2020	Announce Finalists
20th March 2020	Announce Winners
May 2020	SAPPHIRE NOW
June – December 2020	Continued engagement and exposure for award winners and finalists

 

Which countries are eligible to participate in the Innovation Awards?

Each year the innovation awards team works with legal counsel to expand the list of eligible countries i.e. verify local laws governing contests. The following list of countries are eligible for the SAP Innovation Awards 2020:

 

Argentina, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada (Excluding Quebec), Chile, China, Colombia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hong Kong, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russian Federation, Singapore, South Africa, South Korea, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Swaziland, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, United States, and Venezuela.

 

Additionally, the application that is the subject of the Entry must be deployed in an Eligible Country or have been developed and intended to be sold to and used by customers in an Eligible Country.

 

Companies with deployments in non-eligible countries may participate in the awards and stand a chance to be selected as winners and receive a trophy. However, they are not eligible to win any of the prizes.

 

What are the prizes available to winners of the award?

30 SAPPHIRE NOW passes are up for grabs.

 

A judging panel will select the 30 winners. Each winner will be awarded one complimentary pass to SAPPHIRE NOW 2020 and a trophy. Note: Travel and Expenses to attend SAPPHIRE NOW are not provided.

 

EXCLUSIONS:

·      Government and Government related entities employees are not eligible for the prize identified above, but may receive recognition for their achievements in the form of a trophy

·      Participants from non-eligible countries and or deployments in non-eligible countries are not eligible for the prize identified above, but may receive recognition for their achievements in a form of a trophy

 

Can a submission win more than one award?

Yes, a single submission can win multiple awards and would receive multiple trophies. However, a winning entry is entitled to a maximum of one (1) SAPPHIRE NOW pass.

 

How are winners selected?

Finalists will be reviewed and scored by a panel of judges selected by SAP. The panel will include SAP employees, thought-leaders, influencers, and community members. As the judges are confirmed, a short profile for each participating judge will be published on the SAP Innovation Awards website.

 

Additionally, compelling submissions that do not get selected as winners will be formally acknowledged by the program as Honorable Mentions when winners are announced. They will receive a trophy, certificate, winners SAP community badge, and be included in all award winner communications and promotional activities however, they will not receive a SAPPHIRE NOW pass.

 

What are the judging criteria for the Innovation Awards?

The 2020 judging criteria are:

·      Use Case: How compelling and disruptive is the use case described in the entry? Does the use case involve a big idea and innovative approaches? Can it drive significant change?

·      Outcome: What was the result of the project? What is the magnitude of the outcome? What is the impact on individuals? How compelling are the quantified results?

·      Intelligent Enterprise: Does the project showcase SAP’s intelligent suite, intelligent technologies, and digital platform? Does the project incorporate emerging themes: Next Gen CRM, Industry 4.0, Automation and Augmented Humanity, New Skills and Flexible Workforce

 

Who can submit an entry?

Digital Trailblazer, Process Innovator, Industry Disruptor, and Social Hero:

·      SAP customers that are using any SAP products and technologies who have successfully deployed in production (go-live) a project

 

Next-Gen Innovator:

·      SAP Customers that are using any SAP products and technologies who have developed a proof of concept (POC) using at least one of the following advanced technologies or use cases: 3D printing, blockchain, IoT, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Conversational AI, Robotic Process Automation, Data Anonymization, Augmented Analytics

 

·      SAP Partners who have:

o   Developed an application that is extending SAP’s intelligent suite, using intelligent technologies or digital platform and

o   Successfully deployed in production (go-live) by at least one customer or proof of concept (POC) validated by at least one customer and

o   Used at least one of the advanced technologies: 3D printing, blockchain, IoT, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Conversational AI, Robotic Process Automation, Data Anonymization, Augmented Analytics

 

Note: If a partner’s entry is about using SAP products for their own benefit, then the partner is advised to enter as an SAP Customer (specify SAP Customer in field Relationship to SAP in the entry form.)

 

How can SAP Partners Participate?

1.    On behalf of Customers

·      Showcase how a customer is using SAP products to innovate

·      Describe your role and contribution as the partner in the project

·      Customer is Participant

·      LIVE deployments eligible for Digital Trailblazer, Process Innovator, Social Hero, and Industry Disruptor awards (24 awards)

·      Proof of concepts (POCs) eligible for Next Gen Innovator awards (6 awards)

 

2.    Partners as Customers

·      Using SAP products for your own benefit

·      Partner is Participant | Relationship to SAP = “SAP Customer”

·      LIVE deployments eligible for Digital Trailblazer, Process Innovator, Social Hero, and Industry Disruptor awards (24 awards)

·      POCs eligible for Next Gen Innovator awards (6 awards)

 

3.    Partners Application

·      Developed an application that involves SAP’s intelligent suite, intelligent technologies, or digital platform verified/deployed by at least one customer using at least one advanced technology: 3D printing, blockchain, IoT, Machine Learning, Artificial Intelligence, Conversational AI, Robotic Process Automation, Data Anonymization, Augmented Analytics

·      Partner is Participant | Relationship to SAP = “SAP Partner”

·      Partner entries (LIVE or POC) are eligible for Next Gen Innovator awards (6 awards)

 

Can a 3^rd party submit on behalf of an SAP Customer?

Yes, 3^rd parties, i.e., SAP partners and SAP employees, can submit on behalf of an SAP Customer. In the entry form, you must enter the customer’s contact details as participant (eligible for prizes above) and confirm in the entry form that the customer has consented to participate.

 

How do I submit an entry?

Participants interested in entering should download the Entry Form and the Pitch Deck template.

 

Entrants must complete all fields in the Entry Form and prepare their Pitch Deck. The completed Entry Form (excel format), Pitch Deck (PPT format), company logos, and Participant’s photograph must then be submitted on the submission page.

 

Each entry will be reviewed for eligibility. Qualified entries will be posted on the awards website. Entries must be in English.

 

Does the solution have to be live/deployed to qualify for an award?

Submissions must utilize one or more SAP products and be deployed in production (go-live.) The exception is for Next-Gen Innovator award as specified in “Who can submit an entry?”

 

What languages do the innovation contest support?

While the winning entries can be in any language, the submissions i.e., Entry Form and Pitch Deck, must be in English.

 

What are the benefits of participating in the SAP Innovation Awards for a customer?

There are many benefits of participating in the award program for SAP customers.

 

Celebrate your project success

·      Win bragging rights for you and your team with a trophy for your office and a badge to use on social media sites

·      Earn a FREE pass to SAPPHIRE NOW if selected as one of 30 award winners

·      Get support from SAP to create and promote your innovation story

·      Gain global recognition as an innovation leader

 

Share your expertise in exclusive promotional opportunities at SAPPHIRE NOW and beyond

·      Engage with SAP executives at an exclusive celebration event

·      Get your photo and company logo promoted at SAPPHIRE NOW and social channels

·      Share your success on live-streamed videos at SAPPHIRE NOW

·      Schedule a professional interview (for SAP branded success story, thought leadership paper, or blog)

·      Be introduced to press and analyst representatives for articles and research publications

·      Speak at events (SAP and Partner) or online (webinar/podcasts)

 

Extend your network and do good

·      Connect with prominent business leaders and SAP executives

·      Improve people’s lives – SAP will donate $100 to charity for each verified eligible entry

·      Create new opportunities for you (beyond your current role) and your enterprise

 

What are the benefits of participating in the SAP Innovation Awards for a partner?

There are many benefits of participating in the award program for SAP partners.

 

Promote your company’s innovation story

·      Gain global recognition as an innovation leader; use to build credibility with your customers

·      Benefit from jointly developed customer content published on sap.com and on your website

·      Earn a FREE pass to SAPPHIRE NOW if selected as one of 30 award winners

 

Promote your customer’s innovation story

·      Showcase your customer successes, amplify their story to a broad audience positioning them as leaders and innovators

·      Promote your own innovative solutions and your role as a trusted partner helping your customers to innovate

·      Take advantage of the many opportunities to tell your customers’ stories through the SAP Innovation Award (online / social media, SAPPHIRE NOW activities, press and analyst opportunities, webinars, and podcasts)

 

Promote your innovative next-gen application to enter a market or capture an opportunity

·      Promote your innovative solution

·      Win bragging rights over peers with validation of innovation leadership from SAP

·      Gain exposure and opportunities to interact with SAP executives

 

What are the special Terms & Conditions (T&Cs) for government entities?

Government and government related employees may participate in the award but are not eligible for SAPPHIRE NOW pass or donation to charity. However, they may receive recognition for their achievements in the form of a trophy.

 

Where can I see examples of other Innovation Award entries?

All previous award winners are publicly available on the awards website – 2019 and previous years. Submissions for the 2020 awards will be posted on the website as soon as they are verified.

 

Which charities have been selected this year?

The awards team is in the process of finalizing the charities and will be posted to the website as soon as they are confirmed.

 

Where can the SAP Innovation Awards logos be downloaded?

The SAP Innovation Awards’ logos can be downloaded from these links: 2019 & General IA logos and 2020 IA logos.