SAP, the global technology giant, has announced the launch of its AI-powered copilot tool, the “Joule” platform, during an event held at the SAP headquarters in Walldorf, Germany. With Joule, SAP aims to democratize AI tools, bringing intelligent decision-making capabilities to every facet of businesses and facilitating swifter and more informed choices.
This development places SAP in the esteemed company of tech giants like Microsoft, Salesforce, and Github, showcasing its commitment to enhancing user experiences. Additionally, Joule will provide SAP’s vast customer base, numbering approximately 300 million users, access to an AI digital assistant tailored specifically for the company’s solutions and platforms.
The Power of SAP Joule
SAP has ambitious plans for Joule, envisioning its integration across the entire application portfolio. This comprehensive scope spans critical areas such as HR, finance, supply chain, procurement, customer experience, and extends to the SAP Business Technology Platform. Joule’s key function is to enable employees to interact with it in plain, natural language, seeking answers to questions or solutions to problems. It draws insights not only from SAP’s extensive portfolio but also from third-party sources.
Furthermore, SAP anticipates Joule will evolve into a progressively smarter assistant, continuously learning and improving its capabilities. The platform is expected to eventually handle certain tasks independently.
Upon launching an SAP application or service, Joule will manifest as a pop-up window, akin to customer service chatbots frequently encountered in retail. It will offer users tailored recommendations based on their historical usage patterns and current tasks. A live demonstration at the launch event showcased tasks such as generating job descriptions and interview questions.
Julia White, Chief Marketing and Solutions Officer at SAP, emphasized the transformative potential of generative AI, stating, “With the advent of generative AI, we find ourselves at the beginning of a new cycle where generative AI can provide real value.” She further highlighted that AI will serve as the driving force behind all facets of their technology, presenting boundless opportunities. SAP’s ultimate goal is to furnish the first comprehensive system of business intelligence, empowering customers to create enhanced value with greater intelligence.
Joule’s Rollout Timeline
SAP plans to initiate the rollout of Joule on select SAP tools and services in November 2023. Subsequently, it will become available on the S/4HANA Public Cloud Edition in early 2024, with additional platforms like CX, Ariba, and the SAP Business Technology Platform scheduled for integration shortly thereafter.
SAP’s CEO, Christian Klein, expressed the transformative potential of Joule, stating, “With almost 300 million enterprise users around the world working regularly with SAP cloud solutions, Joule has the power to redefine the way businesses – and the people who power them – work. Joule draws on SAP’s unique position at the nexus of business and technology and builds on the relevant, reliable, responsible approach to Business AI we’ve pioneered to continue helping our customers solve their most pressing problems.”
