Evaluation of Technology Solutions

Have you noticed how much insurance innovation has changed? The chart below illustrates the distribution of funds raised among InsurTech categories. At the peak of InsurTech (2019-2022), two-thirds of investments went to D2C startups or full-stack InsurTech, with Wefox being a significant player in that space. For sure these categories have seen a decline since then. However, there is a different perspective on the current dynamics in the insurance technology space. Since the market downturn in 2023, almost two-thirds of InsurTech funding has been directed towards players in alternative distribution methods, such as tools for brokers or Embedded Insurance, or those addressing other parts of the insurance value chain. While InsurTech 1.0 was heavily focused on two main models: D2C and full-stack, the new wave of insurance technology is embracing a wider variety of business models and go-to-market strategies. Many of these players are offering tech solutions for incumbents (B2B) with a more capital-efficient approach. Additionally, new categories are emerging as new risks challenge incumbents. Hence, innovation is expanding beyond traditional InsurTech startups to include players working on data, algorithms, and software to better understand and assess these risks. Climate change and cyber security are clear examples of this new market segment, but the scope extends much further. In conclusion, there are two perspectives on the state of insurance innovation: some might say it's in decline, while others recognize that it's simply... evolving. #insurance #fintech #venturecapital 

The conversation around "RAP vs. CAP" often comes up because they are both modern development models in the SAP ecosystem. But rather than seeing them as competitors, the better mindset is to think in terms of "RAP + CAP" — each has its strengths, and together they offer a comprehensive toolkit for SAP developers. 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐥𝐝 𝐁𝐞 𝐑𝐀𝐏 + 𝐂𝐀𝐏 (𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐑𝐀𝐏 𝐯𝐬 𝐂𝐀𝐏), 𝐥𝐞𝐭'𝐬 𝐮𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐝 : 1️⃣ 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐏𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞𝐬, 𝐍𝐨𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐓𝐞𝐜𝐡𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐞𝐬 ↳ RAP (ABAP RESTful Application Programming) is ideal for: 1. ABAP developers. 2. Building Fiori apps on top of S/4HANA. 3. Working within the S/4HANA stack or on-stack extensions. ↳ CAP (Cloud Application Programming Model) is best suited for: Building side-by-side extensions on SAP BTP. Developers familiar with Node.js, Java, and cloud-native tools. Creating microservices that are loosely coupled with the SAP core. 𝐓𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐫𝐲 𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐞𝐬. 𝐑𝐀𝐏 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬, 𝐂𝐀𝐏 𝐢𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝-𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬. 2. 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 — 𝐁𝐮𝐭 𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐂𝐚𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 ↳ ABAP developers can excel with RAP. ↳ Full-stack or backend developers (Node.js/Java) thrive with CAP. ↳ In a real-world project, teams often use both RAP and CAP to build scalable, flexible enterprise solutions. 3. 𝐄𝐧𝐝-𝐭𝐨-𝐄𝐧𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 A typical enterprise landscape may have: ↳ RAP: to extend standard business processes inside S/4HANA (e.g., add a new field in Sales Order). ↳ CAP: to build lightweight services, dashboards, or machine learning modules on BTP, consuming RAP APIs. 𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐑𝐀𝐏 𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐞, 𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐀𝐏𝐈𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐀𝐏 𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐠𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐬 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫. 4. 𝐒𝐀𝐏 𝐄𝐧𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐬 𝐁𝐨𝐭𝐡 SAP’s clean core and BTP extension strategy explicitly supports on-stack with RAP and side-by-side with CAP. It's not either-or — it's "use the right tool for the right job." 5. 𝐅𝐮𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞-𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐨𝐟𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐒𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐬 Learning both: ↳ Makes you more versatile. ↳ Helps you understand how modern SAP architecture is evolving. ↳ Prepares you for hybrid projects involving S/4HANA and BTP.

Understand that the techno-economic assessment of net zero projects isn't: ❌ Just a simple cost calculation ❌ A one-size-fits-all approach ❌ A theoretical exercise with no real-world application ❌ A quick decision-making tool ❌ An isolated technical evaluation But, it is: ✅ A comprehensive strategic framework ✅ A critical roadmap for sustainable investments ✅ A multi-dimensional analysis of technological and economic viability ✅ A key driver for decarbonisation strategies ✅ A systematic approach to climate-aligned project development Your TEA helps to answer these questions: 1. Can this net zero project deliver sustainable economic returns? 2. What are the technological risks and potential mitigation strategies? 3. How does the project align with long-term climate and business goals? Pro tip: Always integrate comprehensive lifecycle cost analysis with robust technological performance metrics. In my years of consulting and research, I've seen how a rigorous techno-economic assessment can transform seemingly impossible net zero projects into groundbreaking sustainable investments. The magic lies in understanding the numbers and the holistic potential of innovative green technologies. Have you ever transformed a challenging sustainability concept into a viable project? What was your most significant learning? #NetZero #Research #ChemicalEngineering #Science #Scientist #Professor #PhD

Despite a challenging economic climate, Southeast Asia's InsurTech sector has demonstrated remarkable resilience last year, with a significant surge in deal value reminiscent of the boom in 2020. Strategic investments and a focus on established players have led to substantial funding rounds, while emerging markets in the region are beginning to claim a larger slice of the investment pie. A recent report by EY, in partnership with Singlife, delves into these key trends and opportunities, charting the dynamic landscape of the ASEAN InsurTech sector- 💹 Deal Value Surge: Southeast Asia's InsurTech sector experienced a significant rise in deal value last year, reaching $2,351m from 27 deals, nearly mirroring the peak of 2020 💼 Investor Confidence: Investors are showing a strong preference for established InsurTech firms with proven track records. 🌏 Regional Investment Shift: Singapore maintains its lead in InsurTech funding, but Indonesia, Thailand, and Malaysia are quickly becoming attractive investment destinations due to their favorable demographics and infrastructure. 📈 Market Maturity: The InsurTech market is maturing, evidenced by a diversification in exit strategies, including IPOs, which points to a growing range of investment and liquidity options. 🤝 Strategic Partnerships: Strategic partnerships and investments from tech giants and traditional financial institutions in SEA InsurTech companies highlight a strong commitment to digital transformation and enhancing customer experiences. As technology advances, InsurTech firms must concentrate on customer-centric innovations, utilizing AI and digital platforms to cater to the needs of modern consumers. Simultaneously, they should evolve their distribution models to facilitate rapid growth and expand market reach. Do give a read to the article. #InsurTech #innovation #Investment #EY #SEA Varun Mittal 海王-米塔尔, Rahul Vardhan, Patricia Davies, Vaibhav Mishra, Jatin Bhutani, Ankit Srivastava, Sachin Sharma, Shobhit Sharda

Exciting News for Insurtech Startups in India! 🇮🇳 The 'Bima Vahak Guidelines, 2023' introduced by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) are set to revolutionize the insurance landscape and create vast opportunities for insurtech businesses. ✅ Boosting Accessibility: These guidelines are all about extending insurance coverage to every corner of India, especially in rural areas. With a focus on women-centric distribution channels, the aim is to bridge the gap in insurance inclusion. This translates to an enormous untapped market for insurtech startups. ✅ Local Trust and Understanding: IRDAI's approach emphasizes identifying and developing local resources who understand the unique needs of their communities. This trust-based approach aligns perfectly with insurtech's customer-centric philosophy, allowing you to craft personalized solutions for local markets. 📊 Scope of Activities: Insurtech startups can benefit from Bima Vahaks' involvement in KYC processes, electronic policy issuance, and claims servicing. This means that insurtech platforms can seamlessly integrate with these distribution channels, offering convenient, tech-driven solutions. 💰 Premium Collection: With the introduction of electronic payment through handheld devices, premium collection becomes more transparent and efficient. Insurtech companies can collaborate to provide these tools and services, strengthening the overall ecosystem. 🛡️ Consumer Protection: Consumer protection is paramount in the guidelines. For insurtech startups, this aligns perfectly with the need for transparent, secure, and user-friendly platforms. Incorporate robust complaint handling and grievance resolution systems to build trust. 📅 Important Deadline: IRDAI mandates the deployment of Bima Vahaks in each gram panchayat by December 31, 2024. Insurtech startups should strategize to align their expansion plans with this timeline to seize the early-mover advantage. 🌟 Bima Vistaar: The launch of Bima Vistaar, an all-in-one standard insurance product, is expected to coincide with the implementation of Bima Vahak Guidelines. Insurtech companies should keep an eye on this opportunity to integrate their services with this new product. In conclusion, the 'Bima Vahak Guidelines, 2023' are a game-changer for insurtech startups. By facilitating wider insurance coverage, encouraging local trust, and emphasizing consumer protection, these guidelines create a fertile ground for insurtech innovation and expansion. Don't miss out on this transformative moment in the Indian insurance industry. Insurtech startups should embrace these guidelines as a roadmap for growth, innovation, and delivering inclusive and accessible insurance solutions to every Indian. #InsurtechIndia #BimaVahakGuidelines #Insurtech #InsuranceInclusion #IRDAI #BimaVahak #FinancialInclusion #WomenEmpowerment #InsuranceCoverage #IndianInsurance

Insurance industry in Ireland is undergoing a quiet but profound transformation, driven by an insurtech ecosystem that has more than doubled in size over the past two years. With over 130 startups and scaleups now contributing to this dynamic sector, focus has been on collaboration, innovation, and overcoming entrenched barriers like legacy systems and slow technological adoption. One of the key factor in this success has been growing emphasis on partnerships. By aligning strengths of traditional insurers with the agility and innovation of startups, ecosystem has introduced groundbreaking solutions across the insurance value chain. These include advancements in real time claims processing, data driven underwriting, and customer centric services that have significantly improved efficiency and satisfaction levels. Startups have also benefited from access to established distribution networks,regulatory expertise, and invaluable datasets. This collaborative model has proven that partnerships are not just a convenience but a necessity in driving the industry forward. Emerging technologies have also played pivotal role. Artificial intelligence, parametric insurance, and cloud based platforms have been instrumental in addressing longstanding inefficiencies and creating personalized, scalable solutions. For example, parametric insurance models have simplified claims processes, while embedded technologies have seamlessly integrated insurance into everyday consumer interactions. These innovations have enabled faster market entry and a focus on meeting customer needs in real time. Challenges persist, including cultural resistance to change and regulatory complexities. But model adopted by insurance industry in Ireland has clearly shown that flexible frameworks and collaborative ecosystems can turn these obstacles into opportunities. Focus on creating regulatory sandboxes and fostering innovation friendly policies has allowed startups to test new solutions and scale them efficiently. For India, the lessons are profound. Insurance sector must embrace collaboration and focus on building ecosystems that connect insurers, technology providers, and regulator. By creating flexible policies and leveraging Innovation we can unlock vast market potential, and address critical gaps like claims inefficiencies and accessibility. Ireland’s experience proves that innovation flourishes when stakeholders unite to tackle challenges with a shared vision. Refer attached report for detailed insights ⬇️ #Insurtech #InsuranceInnovation #DigitalTransformation #India #LessonsFromIreland #Collaboration #Insurance #LinkedIn

Just had the privilege to visit Deep Sky Alpha with my partners at BMO. A glimpse into the future. The dawn of an essential industry. The rise of a differentiated market leader. Long post, but read on… In Innisfail, Alberta, Deep Sky has started operating different Direct Air Capture (DAC) technologies side-by-side in an exercise to accelerate findings on energy efficiency and CO2 extraction optimization. Imagine how fast you can learn when sector players collaborate to benchmark their results...all in one place. In my view, Deep Sky is world-leading because of this unique model. Being technology agnostic changes the risk profile. For credit buyers. For investors. This is world leading, from Canada. Of course, DAC has its critics. So let me offer perspectives on some key questions: 1) Isn’t DAC too expensive and inefficient? DAC is in its infancy. This industry needs to experiment, improve, and optimize. It needs to scale and bring costs down. It needs to stumble and get up again. FAST. Such is the journey of discovery and innovation. Deep Sky is the accelerator. A unique collaborative model that will shave years in R&D. And as it matures and grows, so will our renewable energy systems required to power it. 2) Is DAC the silver bullet for climate? Of course not. Emissions reduction need to be priority 1, 2, and 3. The first rule to get out of a hole is to stop digging, but you also need to develop tools to climb out of the hole. That is where Carbon Removal (CDR) comes in. While efforts to decarbonize accelerate, we need some leaders to focus on CDR. 3) Can we just focus on decarbonization? No. Carbon Removal is going to be essential to compensate for the residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors and, more importantly, to reduce CO2 concentration from historical emissions. Every bit we ever emitted is still up there. Carbon removal is essential, even the IPCC says so. The path to a scaled CDR sector needs focus, capital and time. We are late. 4) Should we focus on natural solutions to remove carbon? Yes. And we need to do as much reforestation as we can. However, the calculations on this are clear: trees alone won't suffice. We need an arsenal of additional scalable solutions. DAC is part of that arsenal. DAC has a special role in the carbon removal arsenal. Scalable. Permanent if well executed and perfectly measurable. The eventual platinum credit. The type of carbon credit that could unlock the vast potential of actually pricing carbon into our economic systems. Catalytic! Congratulations to Deep Sky on reaching this operational milestone. Thank you for your industry leadership and your resilience despite many critics and skeptics. Keep it up! As my favourite bumper sticker says: “Those who think it cannot be done should not get in the way of those doing it”! Alex Petre Frederic Lalonde Joost Ouwerkerk Mathieu Bouchard Guillaume Devaux Quentin Servais Laval Carbon Removal Canada Na'im Merchant Sophie Forest Laurence A. Tosi

Keep Core Clean PT-3  How to Make Business Extensions Clean Core Compliant  Avoid Unnecessary Extensions - Evaluate Standard ERP Features 🔍: Before creating an extension, check if the desired functionality can be achieved through existing ERP features or configurations. - Set Up Governance Structure 🏛️: Establish a strict approval process for extensions, documenting the need and proposed value of each extension.  Decouple Extensions from Standard - Use Released APIs and Extension Points 🔓: Implement extensions using released local or remote public SAP APIs, BAdIs, and ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model Business Object extension points. - Separate Extensions from Core Code ✂️: Ensure extensions are separate from SAP S/4HANA Cloud code to avoid issues during upgrades.  Ensure Extensions are Cloud Compliant - Follow ABAP Cloud Development Model ☁️: Use only approved ABAP Cloud object types and enforce the use of released APIs via syntax checks. - Adopt Three-Tier Extensibility Model 🏗️: - Tier 1: Develop exclusively using ABAP Cloud and SAP S/4HANA Cloud extensibility model. - Tier 2: For private or on-premise editions, use a wrapper for unreleased objects. - Tier 3: Use classical extension techniques only if necessary, with an understanding of potential disruptions.  Precisely Understand the Requirement Before Extending - Assess Extension Needs 📝: Carefully consider whether the extension should be on-stack or side-by-side. - Use SAP Application Extension Methodology 📐: Evaluate extension use cases and define a target solution in a structured manner.  Conclusion Adhering to clean core compliance principles is essential for creating sustainable and efficient ERP extensions. By: - Minimizing the use of extensions. - Ensuring extensions do not break upgrades. - Making extensions cloud-compliant. - Understanding customer requirements. Organizations can streamline their ERP systems and reduce complexity and maintenance overhead, resulting in a future-proof system that meets evolving business needs. 🚀  #sap #sapcommunity #sapextensionsuite

In 2024, 40% of the tonnage of new shipbuilding orders consisted of vessels capable of using low-carbon fuels. However, many of these ships will likely run on fossil fuels, as many alternative fuels are either not yet available at scale or remain very expensive when they are. Shipowners are under pressure from regulations and clients to green their fleets, but investment decisions are complex and risky. To address this challenge, the EU is developing a Sustainable Transport Investment Plan, which aims to "prioritise support to specific renewable and low-carbon fuels" for waterborne transport and to "accelerate the rollout of recharging infrastructure". There are many options—such as liquefied natural gas, methanol, hydrogen, ammonia, biofuels, batteries, wind, and nuclear—but also many practical challenges. What are the key factors to consider? 1️⃣ AVAILABILITY: Can the fuel or technology be sourced at scale? Is the necessary infrastructure (bunkering, charging) in place at ports? 2️⃣ COST: Are capital and operational expenses feasible? What is the return on investment? Is retrofitting existing vessels more cost-effective than building new ones? 3️⃣ ADAPTABILITY: Is the propulsion system compatible with the ship's type, size, and operational profile? Does it balance energy density with storage needs? 4️⃣ SAFETY: Is the propulsion system safe to operate onboard and at port? Does it introduce new risks for the crew? 5️⃣ CONTRIBUTION TO CLIMATE AND ENVIRONMENTAL GOALS: Does the propulsion system significantly reduce CO₂ emissions and other pollutants compared to conventional fossil fuels? It is also crucial to assess the full lifecycle impact of the fuels, covering their production, transportation, storage, and use. For example, the production of clean fuels from renewable sources, such as green hydrogen and e-methanol, often demands significant amounts of energy, which must be accounted for. There is often a chicken-and-egg dilemma: shipowners will not invest in a fuel without knowing it will be available in major ports, and fuel suppliers will not scale the fuel supply chain without knowing shipowners will use it. A significant amount of money will likely be spent (or wasted?) during the transition, with potential distortions due to policy interference in technology choices. Who will ultimately pay the bill? #MaritimeIndustry #Sustainability #Energy #CleanEnergy

Stuck between key-user, developer, or side-by-side extensibility? Here’s the cheat sheet I wish I had earlier 🧠   SAP gives you 3 paths to extend S/4HANA.   Each has a purpose — and knowing when to use which saves time, budget, and your sanity. 👨💼 Key-user extensibility   ✅ No-code / low-code   ✅ Great for fields, forms, simple logic   ✅ Use Fiori tools inside S/4HANA   Best for: citizen developers, power users, light changes 👨💻 Developer extensibility   ✅ ABAP RESTful Application Programming Model (RAP)   ✅ Full backend access with clean core compliance   ✅ Still runs inside S/4HANA stack   Best for: professional devs extending S/4 logic directly (cleanly) ☁️ Side-by-side extensibility   ✅ Runs outside S/4HANA on BTP   ✅ Use Node.js, CAP, Java, RAP on BTP   ✅ Scales independently, uses released APIs   Best for: full apps, mobile UIs, ML, integrations with multiple systems 🧠 Quick tip: - If you don’t need full control, start with key-user. - If you must touch backend logic, go developer. - If you want freedom, go side-by-side. Sometimes you have to Mix.. Do you mix approaches too? #SAPBTP #CleanCore #S4HANA #Extensibility #CAP