Infrastructure Management

𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐀𝐏 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐝, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐀𝐏 𝐣𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐮𝐬𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐀𝐈. AI will have a profound impact on the workforce at both SAP itself and SAP consulting companies. Some jobs will likely become obsolete as AI proves to be faster, more efficient, and cost-effective. Other roles will not only survive but flourish, as AI enhances their scope and enables new levels of innovation and efficiency. 𝐑𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐭 𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐤 𝐨𝐟 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐞𝐠𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐲 𝐢𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐥 𝐒𝐀𝐏 𝐓𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 ❌ AI-powered test automation will eliminate most manual SAP testing. Who survives? Test engineers skilled in AI-assisted test automation. 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐀𝐁𝐀𝐏 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐬 (𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐄𝐂𝐂/𝐒/𝟒𝐇𝐀𝐍𝐀) ❌ AI can generate and optimize standard ABAP code automatically. Who survives? SAP BTP developers (working on event-driven architectures, AI-powered extensions). 𝐋𝐨𝐰-𝐋𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥 𝐒𝐀𝐏 𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 (𝐋𝟏 & 𝐋𝟐 𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐤) ❌ AI chatbots & predictive issue resolution will replace many support tickets. Who survives? AI-powered SAP support strategists. 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐂𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬 & 𝐂𝐨𝐩𝐲𝐰𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐜𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐜𝐭 ❌ AI tools (like ChatGPT, Jasper, and SAP AI Copilots) can generate marketing copy, blog articles, and product descriptions in seconds. Who survives? AI-enhanced content strategists who focus on brand differentiation, thought leadership & SAP-specific narratives. 𝐒𝐀𝐏 𝐉𝐨𝐛𝐬 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐓𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐆𝐚𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞: 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬 🚀 Why? AI-driven business processes require strategic alignment & implementation. Future-proof skills: AI-powered business process optimization, SAP AI integration, SAP AI ethics. 𝐒𝐀𝐏 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐝 𝐀𝐫𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐭𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐬 & 𝐄𝐑𝐏 𝐒𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬 🚀 Why? AI-driven SAP solutions are moving to cloud-native & hybrid environments. Future-proof skills: SAP BTP, AI-enhanced workflow automation 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 & 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐬 🚀 Why? AI-driven RPA, intelligent workflows & autonomous supply chains will reshape SAP implementations. Future-proof skills: SAP Intelligent RPA, AI-driven BPM, process mining. 𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐃𝐨 𝐍𝐞𝐱𝐭? ✔ Learn AI-driven SAP tools (SAP Joule, Datasphere, AI Core, SAP AI API development). ✔ Shift from execution (configuration & support) to AI-powered strategy & process optimization. ✔ Develop hybrid skills (AI, cloud-native SAP, data analytics, cybersecurity). AI isn’t replacing SAP experts or eliminating consultant jobs—it’s shaping a new generation of 𝐀𝐈-𝐞𝐦𝐩𝐨𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐑𝐏 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬. Those who adapt to this shift early will be leading the disruption, not just surviving it. Do you agree? #sap #ai #technology #jobs

Case Study. Must read. Fixing Gmail deliverability isn’t as simple as changing your IP or switching platforms. In one real case: A brand moved to a dedicated IP on their ESP’s advice, hoping it would fix domain reputation issues. Warm-up was done correctly. SPF, DKIM, and DMARC were all passing. But Gmail Postmaster reputation dropped to "bad" and stayed there Gmail inbox placement went to 0%. CTRs were around 0.2%, and nothing improved. The core issue wasn't technical. It was behavioral. Their student emails were opt-in. But corporate emails came from purchased ZoomInfo lists. Gmail picked up on this and punished the entire domain. Changing IPs just exposed the issue faster. Their suppression logic also made things worse: 1. Users were suppressed only after 10 sends with no clicks 2. That means 10 chances to hurt domain reputation 3. Engagement-based filtering is strict 4. If people don’t interact, Gmail assumes your content is unwanted Technical setup wasn't perfect either: 1. Their signup API lacked rate limits 2. Bots were likely abusing the form 3. This led to emails being sent to fake or unverified addresses More bad signals sent to Gmail A "0% spam complaint rate" looked good on paper, but it was misleading. If no one sees your email in the inbox, they can’t complain. That’s a sign your emails are already deep in spam. Should you ever change IPs? Yes, if recommended by an experienced deliverability expert because the IPs are burnt and beyond recovery anytime soon. But only after identifying and fixing the root cause. Changing IPs without fixing your behavior is just a temporary patch What can actually help? Along with all other best practices, 1. Stop mailing Gmail users for a while. 2. Start fresh with small, high-quality segments. 3. Promote your email content on your website or social media to drive awareness. Good deliverability doesn’t come from tools or IPs. It comes from permission, relevance, and engagement. I have seen a lot of marketers with no optin lists but with content relevance and positive engagement they are doing great. If Gmail doesn’t see real interest in your emails, nothing else will matter. Happy to chat if you're navigating a similar situation. #email #emailmarketing

"We should be thinking about our IT portfolio the same way we think about our 401(k)s, about the way we think about our own personal investments of savings for the future." That analogy from Jennifer Charters, EVP & CIO at Lincoln Financial, seemed remarkably apt. It highlights the perception shift of IT from cost center toward a strategic investment expected to deliver measurable return and long-term value. In our conversation on the latest episode of Technovation, Jen outlines how she's modernizing IT at the $18.5B insurer through: ► A strategic budgeting model separating run and investment spend ► A model-agnostic approach to GenAI integration ► Deep partnership with HR to prepare the workforce for a future with AI agents and citizen developers 🎧 Listen to the full episode: https://lnkd.in/ew-rrcDq #Technovation #CIO #AI #DigitalTransformation #Leadership #Innovation

Moving your company to a cloud ERP _used to be_ about lowering TCO, simplifying IT infrastructure, and reducing upfront costs. But now, with the rise of #AI, cloud ERP systems are becoming much more human-centered, intuitive, and powerful. This year we just launched SAP S/4Hana on-premise at Girteka Group Vehicle Maintenance Business and I am watching how end-users "painfully" learn to interact with new interface and learn the new "SAP" terminology. #Coversational_UX My vision for the future is to transition to an AI-driven, cloud-based ERP—such as SAP S/4HANA cloud—that functions like a smart assistant, allowing users to interact through conversational interfaces. Imagine, where instead of navigating complex menus, users can simply type or ask questions to get insights — whether they need to understand current inventory levels, create a purchase order status or get update on oder delivery status. #Cost_Efficiency Cloud ERP with embedded AI also offers a more cost-effective way to access advanced technology. Since infrastructure, data storage, and even data science expertise are included in the cloud package, businesses can leverage AI without the heavy investment typically required for on-premise systems. #Access to Advanced, Up-to-Date AI Capabilities With cloud ERP, you benefit from the latest AI advancements as they become available. Providers like SAP regularly update their AI tools, including features like predictive analytics, natural language processing, and anomaly detection, which become instantly accessible to all cloud users. Unfortunately, the on-premise users are excluded from these "benefits". #Continious_Learning One of the biggest advantages of cloud-based ERP with AI is continuous learning. Cloud systems aggregate and learn from vast amounts of anonymized data across multiple organizations. This shared, centralized model enables AI to become more accurate and insightful over time. In contrast, on-premise systems operate in isolation, which limits the scale of AI’s data-driven insights and adaptive capabilities. #New_Era_for_ERP Artificial intelligence is transforming ERP from a traditional system of record into a genuinely intelligent system. Today’s AI-enabled ERP can predict market trends, optimize supply chains, and personalize customer interactions. It automates routine tasks, freeing up human teams to focus on more strategic initiatives. Achieving this level of innovation independently would be difficult and costly, so leveraging the expertise of a trusted cloud vendor like #SAP is key. In summary, shifting towards cloud, and specifically through GROW with SAP, would be good strategy for you to persue. --- More information: ·      https://lnkd.in/dcgwf2Vu ·      https://lnkd.in/dXYvG-Y9 ·      https://lnkd.in/dMcH_cVM #GROW_with_SAP, SAP S/4HANA Cloud ERP, #SAP_Partner

While working with a big org recently, I’ve been thinking about something. What happens when businesses no longer scale by hiring more people — but by deploying more AI agents? This company ran on SAP — with massive teams handling invoices, supply chains, and customer support. It was efficient… but also slow and heavy. So we introduced AI agents into their SAP workflows. And here’s what happened: ✅ Customer queries were resolved in seconds. ✅ Invoices were processed without human touch. ✅ Supply chains were optimized 10x faster. But the most surprising part? The people in the company weren’t worried about AI taking over. They were relieved. Because suddenly — they weren’t stuck doing manual, repetitive tasks. They were now focused on bigger, high-impact work — like strategy, innovation, and growth. This is no longer a theory. We’re already seeing large enterprises using SAP shift from human-driven operations to AI-led execution. The companies that figure this out first? They’ll scale like never before. Curious — how do you see AI shifting enterprise operations in the next 5 years? 👇 #AgenticAI #SAPAutomation #AIinBusiness #BusinessAutomation #FluidAI #ScalewithAI #DigitalTransformation #BusinessStrategy

Insurance industry is at a tipping point. Today technologies like Generative AI, Insurance API Standardisation, and Data Mesh are opening new possibilities. But the question remains, are we seizing the right opportunities or betting on the wrong tech just because it’s new? In reality choices any insurer make today will determine whether that company will lead the future or lag behind. Generative AI is more than just a shiny tool. It opens doors that traditional AI couldn't even approach, leveraging external data to automate complex processes like underwriting and claims. But is AI the answer to everything? If your goal is seamless data exchange with business partners, APIs might be the smarter, faster route. Insurance API Standardisation avoids the costly and error-prone process of AI-based data extraction, offering accuracy and speed. Think of it as building a frictionless ecosystem where data flows freely, enhancing both customer service and operational efficiency. And we should also not overlook the risks. With AI, the stakes are high. AI Governance and Cyber Protection are non-negotiable. Newly proposed EU AI Act and rising concerns over data poisoning mean that insurers must balance innovation with compliance and security. A single breach or misuse of AI could destroy the trust that insurance fundamentally relies on. What about the human element? While we race toward AI-driven efficiency, we must ask: are we losing the human touch in an industry built on trust? AI Democratisation offers a way to bring AI closer to the everyday employee, empowering teams across all levels. But without proper training and governance, even the best AI tools can lead to biased decisions, threatening fairness and transparency. Then there’s the Generative AI paradox. It’s powerful, but if we’re just using it to swap data, we might be backing the wrong horse. APIs offer a simpler, more cost-effective solution. Real game is about choosing the right tech for the right job, for example India’s UPI, which revolutionized digital payments in a country where aiming for digital economy was considered over ambitious. Could the insurance industry see similar disruption? Ultimately future of insurance won’t be defined by AI alone but by how we integrate the right technologies : Generative AI, API Standardisation, AI Governance, into a cohesive and ethical framework to build a completely functional ecosystem . And to achieve that insurers would need to answer this critical question : "Are We Backing the Right Horse in the Insurance Tech Race?" Refer attached report for detailed insights. ⬇ #InsuranceFuture #GenerativeAI #APIsInInsurance #AIethics #TechLeadership #InsuranceTransformation #Insurtech #CyberSecurity #LinkedIn

I burned through $15K perfecting cold email copy. Here's what I learned when I focused on deliverability instead. While I was obsessing over subject lines and CTAs, most of my emails were landing in spam folders. I had killer copy that nobody ever saw. But here's what happened when I fixed the infrastructure piece first… I went from ignored emails to 800,000+ monthly sends at ColdIQ. If your cold emails aren't working, deliverability beats copy every single time. WHY DELIVERABILITY IS EVERYTHING: 1. Perfect copy means nothing in spam. You can have killer targeting, perfect messaging, incredible offers... but if your email lands in spam? Game over. 2. It compounds everything else. Once your domain reputation is down, even your transactional emails start getting flagged and won't get delivered anymore. So how do you make your email in the primary? 1. Protect your main domain. Never send cold emails from your primary domain. We use 70+ secondary domains to keep our brand safe and our main inbox clean. 2. Distribute volume across multiple mailboxes. Set up 140+ mailboxes across those domains. Keep it under 50 sends per day per domain. High volume too early = instant red flag. 3. Get your technical foundation bulletproof. Set up SPF, DKIM, and DMARC authentication. Without proper technical set-up, you're flagged as suspicious by default. 4. Warm up. Send nothing for 2 weeks. Use premium warm-up tools to build trust gradually with ESPs. Ramp slowly to avoid triggering their spam filters. Patience here pays dividends later. 5. Natural variation. Use Spintax or tools like Twain to introduce variations in your messaging. Even small variations help you avoid the repetition triggers that scream "mass email blast" to spam filters. Remember, list quality plus message still matter most. Even with perfect infrastructure, if your list is off and your message is weak, you'll still land in spam. Deliverability gets you to the inbox, but the relevance keeps you there. Monitor everything rigorously. Use tools to track your sender reputation across all ESPs. We check deliverability rates daily (it's that critical). Infrastructure gets you to the inbox, but your targeting plus messaging determines what happens next. I've put together a 7-day GTM crash course that includes our exact setup, authentication templates, and the monitoring systems we use to protect the campaigns of our 70 clients. Reply with "SETUP" if you want access before your next campaign goes live.

I've said this before and I'll say it again — we've been struggling.. with cold email deliverability. Cold email infrastructure is frustrating - even when following best practices, deliverability remains inconsistent. I researched everything to solve this problem once & for all. Let me break down what actually works: 1) Infrastructure & Setup: -> Domains & inboxes - Never send cold from your primary domain - Use 3-5 sibling domains, 3-5 inboxes each - Keep branding believable; avoid spammy TLDs (.tk, .ml) - Set up Google Workspace or M365 for legitimacy -> Authentication - SPF covers every sender, DKIM at 2048-bit minimum - DMARC from p=none → quarantine once stable (never jump to reject) - Alignment across From/Return-Path is non-negotiable - Test with mail-tester.com weekly -> Compliance - Clear opt-out, real physical address, legitimate interest docs (EU) - Honor opt-outs within 24 hrs max 2) Sending Strategy: -> Warm-up - New domains need 8-12 weeks minimum - Simulate real engagement (opens/replies/forwards) - Use warmup tools like mailwarm, lemwarm or Instantly.ai -> Volume & Pacing - Start 10-20/day per inbox, add +20-50 weekly if metrics stay green - Randomize send windows; 60-120s gaps b/w sends - Respect recipient time zones (9am-5pm local) -> Timing - B2B sweet spots: Tue-Thu late morning & early afternoon - Avoid Mondays (inbox overload) & Fridays (weekend mode) 3) Content & Copy: -> Subject lines - 6-10 words, human and specific - Personalized context beats cleverness every time - Avoid fake urgency, ALL CAPS, excessive punctuation!!! - Test: "Quick question about [specific company pain point]" -> Body - Short, skimmable, 1 idea + 1 ask maximum - Personalize in layers: hyper-custom for top 10%, segment-level for rest - Use natural language, avoid marketing speak - Images and links kill deliverability - use sparingly -> CTA - Make next step tiny (15-min scan, 1-question reply, "worth a chat?") - Single CTA only - multiple options confuse and reduce response 4) List & Data: -> Sourcing - Prioritize intent and fit over volume always - Dedupe domains (max 1-2 people per company per campaign) - Use Apollo, ZoomInfo or Clay for verified contacts -> Hygiene - Verify syntax + domain + mailbox before sending - Remove hard bounces instantly (never retry) - Prune unengaged cohorts quarterly - Never recycle unsubscribed contacts -> Segmentation - Hot/Warm/Cold bands by recency + engagement - Throttle "Cold" segments heavily 5) Monitoring & KPIs: - Delivery rate ≥98%; investigate anything <95% - Bounce rate <2% (≤1% is excellent) - Spam complaints <0.1% absolute ceiling - Track domain/IP reputation, blacklist status weekly - Use seed accounts & inbox tests ps. Have a response/POA for objections like “not the right person” / “not decision maker” / “No longer at company” / “have in-house team already” / “please contact john from abc” You can also use Valley on LinkedIn - book 2 demos/week for every seat.

Many SAP customers have initiated or are in the process of transitioning their SAP ERP to SAP S/4HANA on Rise with SAP. However, there is often missing information regarding the technical aspects of Rise with SAP's offerings, migration requirements, and its benefits. This information gap sometimes leads to misinformation in Requests for Proposal (RFPs), resulting in numerous irrelevant or out-of-scope tasks and deliverables being included in the scope of an SAP partner, necessitating subsequent amendments. In my experience, some of the common technical areas where gaps are evident and questions arise during client discussions include: 👉🏼 How will users connect to SAP in the cloud? Via the internet or an internal network? 👉🏼 What does the network architecture entail, including VPNs, WAN, or MPLS connectivity? 👉🏼 Which SAP instances (Sandbox, Dev, QA, Prod) can be migrated to Rise with SAP? 👉🏼 What is FUE, and why is there a need for a minimum of 135 FUE when actual requirements may be lower? 👉🏼 Why are SAP partner Basis consultants unable to perform traditional tasks such as backup/restore, system copy, and kernel update? 👉🏼 Who will configure HA/DR for SAP S/4HANA? 👉🏼 Is Rise with SAP a Software as a Service (SaaS) product? 👉🏼 Who is responsible for covering the cloud subscription expenses? 👉🏼 Does Rise with SAP provide unlimited data egress/ingress? 👉🏼 Can older versions of SAP S/4HANA be migrated and run on Rise with SAP? 👉🏼 How is their SAP infrastructure secured from external threats in Rise with SAP? 👉🏼 Is using SAP BTP services alongside SAP S/4HANA on Rise with SAP mandatory? To ensure that these queries are comprehensively addressed and to facilitate informed decisions with the right mindset during the transition of SAP ERP to Rise with SAP, I strongly believe customers must seek proper guidance, advisory, and consulting from SAP or their trusted SAP partners at the very beginning of the planning phase of the transformation journey. Feel free to share your thoughts and experiences too!! #risewithsap #saponcloud #s4hana

Don't use a single company domain, instead use a multi-domain strategy. If you're only using one domain for all your B2B email communication, you'll inevitably get in trouble. Here's why: •Single point of failure: Your entire communication stack (invoices, investor updates, customer support) depends on one domain's reputation. •Lengthy recovery: If your domain gets flagged, you could face weeks or months of reduced deliverability while rebuilding your sender reputation. •Missed opportunities: During downtime, critical emails might land in spam folders, potentially costing you deals or important relationships. A more robust approach: -Domain diversification: Set up 2-3 email accounts per domain for different communication purposes (e.g., yourbrand.ai, your-brand.co).  -Admin panels: Set up multiple admin accounts per domain, don't put all your eggs in one basket here. -Warm-up protocol: Implement a 4-6 week warm-up for each new domain, gradually increasing send volume and monitoring key metrics like open rates and spam complaints. -Continuous monitoring: Set up alerts for sudden drops in open rates or increases in bounce rates. Tools like MxToolbox can help automate this process. Track this daily or weekly and watch it closely. -Fallback strategy: Always have at least one "fresh" email in reserve, warmed up and ready to deploy if issues arise with your primary domains. In B2B SaaS, your outbound email infrastructure (ie distribution channel) is as critical as your product. Treat it with the same level of strategic planning and redundancy.