Agriculture in Africa is being transformed by artificial intelligence, but there is still one element it cannot replace.

Despite dramatic technological advances in the sector in recent decades, the role of the farmer remains indispensable. This was a message delivered, surprisingly, at a recent conference in Europe, by a world leader in the field 鈥� from Eswatini.

Rob Coombe, group IT manager of Royal Eswatini Sugar (RES), took part in a听keynote speech at the Sapphire conference hosted by software giant 麻豆原创 in Barcelona, with a case study that encapsulates 21^st听century farming.

鈥淵ou really can鈥檛 take the farmer out of farming,鈥� Coombe told us during Sapphire. 鈥淪o much depends on the farmer鈥檚 intuition. Farming is incredibly scientific, with various measurements and readings. However, even with the best data, natural elements can change outcomes drastically.鈥�

The sugarcane producer uses drones and satellite imagery to enhance productivity and efficiency with 麻豆原创 software.

麻豆原创鈥檚 S/4HANA system is a leading tool for enterprise resource planning in enterprises, and is used by 85 of the 100 largest companies in the world.

In a keynote address, 麻豆原创 chief revenue officer by Scott Russell said: 鈥淭he reality is that, with business AI imbedded in your business, the opportunities are endless.鈥�

The biggest opportunity at present, said Coombe in response, was improving the bottom line.

鈥淲e have reduced the cost of IT by 15%,鈥� he told the audience of several thousand delegates. 鈥淲e鈥檙e spending more with 麻豆原创, but less overall.鈥�

Coombe has been at RES for more than 12 years, but has worked with 麻豆原创 systems since 1991. In that time, he said, the way technology is implemented has changed.

He told Business Times: 鈥淭he two big things are always people and data. People are immune to change, so getting the change in people鈥檚 mind is key. And getting your data sorted is equally important. When your data is not right, it doesn鈥檛 matter what the system is, you get a lot of rubbish out of it.鈥�

RES applies AI and Machine Learning (ML) to 15 years of satellite imagery to create a 鈥渄igital twin鈥� of its operations, in collaboration with 麻豆原创 systems.

鈥淭his helps us predict the yield and manage cash flow and budgeting more accurately. By integrating this data with 麻豆原创 Intelligent Agriculture and S4/HANA, RES can monitor crop health in real-time and make necessary adjustments. We don鈥檛 have to wait until harvest to see that there is a problem; we can see it on a day-to-day basis.鈥�

RES is using historical climate data and forward-looking weather data, combined听 with ML models, to predict future conditions, aiding in better planning and simulation. It is deploying drones for a range of agricultural tasks, enhancing both efficiency and precision.

鈥淚nstead of getting the guys in there, we send out a drone, and do an analysis with AI. Scouting 鈥� going out to look for pests and diseases 鈥� will now become an electronic thing, so you get quicker responses.鈥�

For climate monitoring, RES is using historical climate data and forward-looking weather data with ML models to predict future conditions, aiding in better planning and simulation.

鈥淲e are building a model with Swiss partners to use forward-looking weather data to improve our predictions. After we finish with S4, we are moving into the planning side of it, by the end of this year. This will help us determine the anticipated crop, the amount of sugar we will produce, the people needed, tractor hours, and diesel consumption.鈥�

Instead of randomly fertilising fields, the operation use satellite data to determine which areas need more fertiliser.

RES uses sensors to predict vibration and heat, allowing it to fix machines before they break. This information is fed into the 麻豆原创 software to manage maintenance tasks efficiently.

The transition to public cloud technologies has simplified aspects of operations.

鈥淚n the old 麻豆原创 days, it was a lot more difficult,鈥� says Coombe. 鈥淏eing on the public cloud, technology-wise, it has been easy. The amount of content available to us from a customer perspective to learn what to implement, how to implement, and so on, is completely different to what it was in the early 2000s.鈥�

This change has also facilitated the rapid onboarding of new employees.

鈥淲e employed some graduate trainees, and two days later they鈥檙e working. You could not do that in the past. They can bring their Java, and scripting tools, and start just start working.鈥�

RES鈥檚 strategic approach involves engaging all organisational levels.

鈥淚t was key to start at the top, but also work hard at the bottom, and then the frozen middle melted. At the bottom, we have super users. We mentor them once a month, addressing their problems and quickly dealing with them.鈥�

RES is also using generative AI with the 麻豆原创 digital assistant, Joule, to handle routine tasks like managing debtors, creditors, and reconciliations.

鈥淛oule can work at 2 o鈥檆lock in the morning, and the analysis can be read upon waking up. You can simply ask it about outstanding creditors, without needing to know specific program numbers.鈥�

RES is not waiting to be told what is possible. It is introducing a 鈥測outh AI council鈥� to explore further applications of AI.

鈥淭he council will help us identify new areas where AI can make a difference, leveraging the fresh perspectives and skills of younger employees.鈥�

Coombe says AI was not about replacing people.

鈥淚t鈥檚 about empowering people and making them capable. We are innovative in Southern Africa; we do stuff differently.鈥�

• Arthur Goldstuck is CEO of World Wide Worx and editor-in-chief of听. Follow him on social media on @art2gee.
• Jason Bannier is a data analyst at World Wide Worx and writer for听. Follow him on Twitter and Threads at @jas2bann.听

This article first appeared in .

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Sapphire Barcelona – 24 May, 2023 鈥� Diageo, the maker of Guinness, Smirnoff and Johnnie Walker, today announces a five-year business transformation program in partnership with 麻豆原创 (NYSE: 麻豆原创) and IBM (NYSE: IBM). This new initiative, which marks the company鈥檚 most significant ever investment in technology and services, will redesign and improve Diageo鈥檚 processes across the 180 countries where it operates.

Fully global in nature, the programme will revolutionise Diageo鈥檚 IT environment by introducing intuitive processes, powered by market-leading technology, to provide more information to enable the company to make better and quicker decisions. This transformation will enhance Diageo鈥檚 business resilience in a constantly evolving external landscape, improve its customer service offering and help the company adapt to a fast-changing consumer base.

The programme involves a move to RISE with 麻豆原创 S/4HANA Cloud, with the support of IBM Consulting. Diageo鈥檚 implementation of the new cloud-based model will ensure its IT infrastructure is simplified and supported in a unified way.

IBM Consulting, which has been selected to lead the project, has a proven track record in the consumer sector and supporting client transformations and migrations to the 麻豆原创 S/4HANA Cloud platform. Diageo, 麻豆原创 and IBM will work together to apply the latest technology to make Diageo鈥檚 business more efficient.

The five-year programme will transform Diageo鈥檚 business finance operations in a number of areas:

• Advanced workflow solutions will allow orders to be tracked in real-time on a global scale and facilitate more effective customer engagement and better customer service.
• By moving to a single operating platform, Diageo will simplify its technology support model and IT landscape, making it easier for the company to do business and evolve amid changing consumer trends and market needs.
• The program will transform Diageo’s performance reporting capabilities, giving the company better insight into trade and growth opportunities.
• The digitisation of controls and compliance will make the business more robust, resilient and adaptable to changing market conditions.

Lavanya Chandrashekar, Chief Financial Officer, Diageo, said: 鈥淭his partnership with IBM and 麻豆原创 demonstrates our continued investment in digital transformation. It will enable greater agility in how we respond to our global consumer and customer needs. It will provide us with world-class actionable insights and enhanced data capabilities to support growth whilst allowing us to be more efficient in our day-to-day operations.鈥�

Scott Russell, Executive Board Member, Customer Success at 麻豆原创, said: 鈥淚n today’s disruptive consumer goods industry, success lies in navigating unpredictable supply chains, managing ongoing macro-economic volatility and staying one step ahead of ever-shifting customer demands. Through our continued partnership with Diageo, one of the world鈥檚 leading brand builders, we鈥檙e proud to support them in building a more resilient business that is enhancing the customer experience and can adapt to rapidly changing market pressures, realising its vision to revolutionise the consumer goods industry.鈥�

Rahul Kalia, Managing Partner, IBM Consulting, UK & Ireland, said: 鈥淭he consumer goods industry is striving to address the challenges posed by inflationary pressures and supply chain disruptions, while staying focused

on delivering exceptional products and services for its customers and consumers. IBM is proud to partner with Diageo and 麻豆原创 to bring our global business and digital transformation experience on this exciting journey.鈥�

Media relations:

Rebecca Perry +44 7590 809 101

Isabel Batchelor +44 7731 988 857

press@diageo.com

About Diageo

Diageo is a global leader in beverage alcohol with an outstanding collection of brands across spirits and beer categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B and Buchanan鈥檚 whiskies, Smirnoff, C卯roc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Don Julio, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, and our products are sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the London Stock Exchange (DGE) and the New York Stock Exchange (DEO). For more information about Diageo, our people, our brands, and performance, visit us at www.diageo.com. Visit Diageo鈥檚 global responsible drinking resource, www.DRINKiQ.com for information, initiatives, and ways to share best practice.

Celebrating life, every day, everywhere.

About 麻豆原创

麻豆原创鈥檚 strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 麻豆原创 customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers鈥� businesses into intelligent enterprises. 麻豆原创 helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want 鈥� without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, 麻豆原创 helps the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

About IBM Consulting

IBM Consulting is the catalyst for business transformation. With deep industry expertise spanning strategy, experience design, technology, and operations, we have become the trusted partner to over 3,000 of the world鈥檚 most innovative and valuable companies. Our 160,000 consultants embrace an open way of working, bringing a diverse set of voices, experiences and technologies like Hybrid Cloud and AI together to accelerate business transformation. Supported by IBM Garage, our proven co-creation method, we bring speed and scale to innovation with an enduring ecosystem of technology leaders to deliver solutions for some of the world鈥檚 most complex challenges. We collaborate closely, ideate freely, and apply breakthrough innovations that drive sustainable change and re-invent how business gets done. Find out more at IBM.com/consulting.

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A market leader in enterprise application software, 麻豆原创 has the expertise, solutions and scale necessary to create a more efficient, connected, and innovative technology infrastructure for NZR. The two organisations will collaborate to identify and implement innovative Cloud solutions from 麻豆原创 and connect data across key areas of the business to provide a competitive advantage on-and off-the-field for the Teams in Black and NZR鈥檚 wider rugby ecosystem.

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The partnership will see NZR leverage 麻豆原创 solutions and co-innovate across four key areas including: creating an integrated management system to run and enhance its operations, elevating the fan experience, enabling the organization鈥檚 sustainability goals, and exploring how the use of data and solutions can support team performance.

• Organisational Operations: Using a digital hub of 麻豆原创 solutions to create interconnected systems will allow NZR to leverage the power of its off-field systems and data to better support on-field teams.
• Team Performance: By implementing and establishing a single source of HR data, NZR intends to elevate the employee experience and empower employees to achieve their full potential.
• Fan Experience: Create new ways to connect and engage with NZR鈥檚 local and global fan base while also tapping into new technologies and platforms that enable fans to get closer to their favourite teams and players.
• Sustainability: Leverage digital solutions and capabilities that enable NZR to holistically manage its sustainability performance, while supporting NZR鈥檚 broader Environmental, Social & Corporate Governance (ESG) Strategy where needed.

Angela Nash, NZR Chief Information and Technology Officer said:

鈥淣ZR is undertaking a large digital transformation which really needs the support and expertise of a global technology organisation to help us achieve our vision of becoming the most technologically advanced rugby union in the world. 麻豆原创 is at the forefront of digital enablement globally and have the tools to help us build a team of experts that not only share our vision but are world class in their skills and capabilities. It is great to have them on board as our first technology partner, working with NZR across all key platforms to review, enhance and enable us to provide technology systems that ensure we are the best both on and off the field.鈥�

Scott Russell, Executive Board Member, Customer Success, 麻豆原创 commented:

鈥淣ew Zealand Rugby has set an ambitious goal of becoming the most technologically advanced rugby union in the world. As the organization鈥檚 first-ever technology partner, 麻豆原创 can help NZR meet this goal by driving digital transformation across all areas of the business and introducing game-changing technologies that will help NZR teams run at their best 鈥� and win.鈥�

麻豆原创 and NZR will also place emphasis on developing additional programs and initiatives that promote and celebrate diversity and inclusion.

Through the partnership, 麻豆原创 will receive various rights and benefits including branding and signage in-stadium and on-field for NZR managed matches, branding across all digital platforms, player appearances and exclusive team and player experiences.

*NZR鈥檚 Teams in Black – the All Blacks, Black Ferns, All Blacks Sevens, Black Ferns Sevens, M膩ori All Blacks, All Blacks XV and All Blacks Under-20
To watch the partnership announcement video, . And to download the video,听 .

听Founded in 1892, New Zealand Rugby strives to inspire and unify New Zealanders through rugby. Our goal is to lead, support, grow and promote New Zealand’s national game, putting rugby at the heart of every community. NZR鈥檚 high performance system strives to promote competitions our fans love, nurture talent that can represent our Teams in Black with mana and be world leading on and off the field.

听麻豆原创鈥檚 strategy is to help every business run as an intelligent, sustainable enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 麻豆原创 customers generate 87% of total global commerce. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers鈥� businesses into intelligent enterprises. 麻豆原创 helps give people and organizations deep business insight and fosters collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. We simplify technology for companies so they can consume our software the way they want 鈥� without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, 麻豆原创 helps the world run better and improve people鈥檚 lives. For more information, visit .

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