SAPHILA 2025, the flagship conference of the African SAP User Group (AFSUG), recently concluded at Sun City Resort & Convention Centre in South Africa, emphasizing the transformative power of cloud computing and business AI in accelerating organizational growth across the continent. The event brought together SAP experts, partners, and customers to explore the latest innovations and strategies for leveraging these technologies to unlock new opportunities and achieve greater success. The conference underscored the growing adoption of cloud and AI-powered solutions by African businesses seeking to transcend traditional limitations and drive innovation.
The conference highlighted SAP’s commitment to the African region as a key driver of its vision to empower businesses. Senior SAP executives, including Sergio Maccotta, Vice President of SAP Middle East Africa South, emphasized the importance of the event in showcasing the potential of cloud and business AI to fuel growth and success across Africa. Thomas Pfiester, Head of Global Customer Engagement & Services and Member of the Extended Board at SAP, underscored the need for a holistic approach to business transformation, encompassing not only technological advancements like AI but also the necessary capabilities, tools, and methodologies to ensure effective implementation and rapid value realization.
The growing demand for AI skills within the African business landscape was another key takeaway from SAPHILA 2025. Research conducted by SAP revealed that cloud and AI skills are highly sought after by organizations across the continent, with all participating companies in SAP’s “Africa’s AI Skills Readiness Revealed” report anticipating increased demand for these skills in the coming year. This highlights the critical need for investment in skills development and talent acquisition to ensure that organizations have the necessary expertise to effectively leverage these transformative technologies.
Stefan Steinle, Executive Vice President and Head of Customer Support & Cloud Lifecycle Management at SAP, emphasized the revolutionary impact of adopting an AI-first and suite-first strategy. He explained how businesses are leveraging AI agents and a unified data layer, enabled by SAP Business Data Cloud, to enhance decision-making, foster seamless collaboration, and drive innovation-fueled growth. Steinle also highlighted RISE with SAP as the most effective pathway for organizations to transition from on-premise ERP systems to a cloud-first model, accelerating their journey to unlock the full potential of cloud computing.
SAPHILA 2025 offered a diverse range of learning and networking opportunities for attendees. The conference featured keynote speeches and presentations from local and global experts, providing valuable insights into the latest trends and best practices in cloud and AI adoption. Interactive sessions, including an “Ask Me Anything” forum, product deep dives via a personalized digital portal, and practical workshops, provided attendees with hands-on experience and the opportunity to engage directly with experts.
Both SAP and AFSUG leadership emphasized the significance of SAPHILA 2025 as a premier networking event for the SAP ecosystem. Nazia Pillay, Interim Managing Director for South Africa at SAP, and Amanda Gibbs, CEO of AFSUG, expressed their appreciation for the collaborative efforts in organizing the event and highlighted its role in providing invaluable guidance to customers and partners seeking to navigate the evolving landscape of business AI and cloud technologies. The conference served as a platform for knowledge sharing, collaboration, and exploration of the transformative potential of these technologies to drive innovation and growth in the African business landscape.
