Build, Automate, and Scale Without Compromising Core Agility with SAP BTP

Build and automate without disrupting the core – this is the mantra that SAP wants organizations to follow to accelerate development while retaining flexibility and agility. And extensibility, whether on-stack or side-by-side, plays a crucial role in this. For organizations looking to innovate and scale and want to get the maximum out of their SAP Cloud ERP investments, SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP) is the only way to go about this. Bringing together application development, automation, data management, analytics and planning, integration, and AI capabilities into one unified environment, SAP BTP empowers organizations to innovate with tools that they can use to secure competitive edge.

SAP BTP offers a cohesive and comprehensive development environment for application development for IT and citizen developers who can design, deliver, run, and scale business applications. With access to application development and automation solutions comprising a comprehensive suite of low-code, pro-code, and generative AI tools, such as SAP Build Process Automation, organizations can equip their employees to create enterprise applications that meet their organizational needs. SAP Build Process Automation makes it easy to create and update business processes. With its simple interface, users can design workflows using drag-and-drop tools and manage decisions in a table-like format. The platform provides a single space to manage tasks efficiently and encourages teamwork between non-technical users and professional developers to build advanced workflows while offering clear insights into processes with dashboards and comes with ready-made tools like bots, business rules, and workflow components to speed up setup and improve functionality.

Case in Point: Thames Water, a leading utility company in the UK, successfully used SAP Build Process Automation to address critical operational challenges and achieve transformative results. The company had been using third-party automation tools, but their integration and maintenance complexities, combined with a reliance on developers, posed significant obstacles. With a strategic focus on standardization and simplification, Thames Water sought to overhaul its IT landscape by adopting a solution aligned with its “reuse before buy” philosophy.

The adoption of SAP Build Process Automation, a solution within SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP), marked a turning point. This cloud-based solution provided no-code and low-code tools, empowering employees without technical expertise to design and adapt workflows. By streamlining integration with SAP ERP, SAP for Utilities, SAP CRM, and other systems, Thames Water could automate repetitive, labor-intensive tasks such as generating and sending standardized customer letters. Unattended robotics further accelerated processes while ensuring accuracy and consistency in customer communication. Implementation was rapid and effective, with Wipro, the system integrator, completing the initial processes in just a month. Over time, the utility company deployed 30 bots automating 16 processes, significantly reducing manual intervention and enhancing governance. Automation proposals were carefully vetted to align with business value, ensuring both operational efficiency and employee satisfaction. By freeing employees from mundane tasks, the company improved the working environment, enabling staff to focus on higher-value activities.

The benefits extended beyond operational improvements. By keeping the ERP core clean and minimizing customization, Thames Water ensured seamless upgrades and prepared for its future migration to SAP S/4HANA. The integration of SAP Build Process Automation with tools like SAP Integration Suite and SAP Fiori further optimized processes, reducing errors and improving data accuracy. Looking ahead, Thames Water plans to integrate process mining tools such as SAP Signavio Process Insights, explore generative AI for data preparation, and leverage SAP Enable Now for better training and documentation.

This transformation highlights how SAP Build Process Automation has enabled Thames Water to streamline workflows, enhance employee productivity, and deliver superior customer service. By embracing a no-code automation environment, the company has established a robust foundation for continuous innovation and growth.

While the Thames Water story is unique to them, the use of automation solutions is likely to be of benefit to many other organizations, and to showcase the possibilities for other customers the SAP Discovery Center acts as the launchpad for organizations looking to explore the possible benefits available to them in harnessing the full potential of SAP Business Technology Platform (BTP). It provides guided experiences, mission-driven resources, and practical tools to help businesses build and automate processes while safeguarding their SAP Cloud ERP core. Know more here.