As 麻豆原创 accelerates our strategy around applications, data, and AI, these certification enhancements will help ensure our growing ecosystem is aligned鈥攂oth technically and directionally鈥攚ith our clean core, cloud-forward, and AI-ready approach.听

A framework designed around partner and customer needs 

麻豆原创 is committed to delivering business innovations across applications, data, and AI. With this update, we have listened closely to partners and customers and introduced enhancements that make it easier for partners to听validate听their solutions while听maintaining听麻豆原创鈥檚听high standards:听

• Empowering customers to听leverage听data-driven business and enterprise AI鈥攕ecurely and at scale听
• Supporting intelligent apps, seamless cloud connectivity, and adoption of 麻豆原创 Business Technology Platform (麻豆原创 BTP)
• Adhering to 麻豆原创鈥檚 鈥渃lean core鈥� extensibility guidelines, ensuring future-ready, upgradable integrations

Integration certification and the new interoperability review 

Our refreshed framework offers听two clear paths for partners.

Integration certification (use-case based) 

• For partner solutions aligned with 麻豆原创 strategic priorities (麻豆原创 BTP-based, using 麻豆原创 Business AI, clean core, public cloud, and intelligent apps)
• Certification awarded for specific use cases that adhere to 麻豆原创听strategic priorities for听integration, data, and development guidelines
• Benefits include certified status, branding rights, and access to go-to-market support, with clear guidance and transparency throughout the process

Interoperability review (open and inclusive) 

We are especially excited to introduce the听interoperability review,听a new open program designed in response to partner and customer feedback.

• Open to all partner听and independent software vendor (ISV)听solutions, including those that may not be eligible for听integration听certification
• Showcase听technical compatibility with 麻豆原创 solutions through听compliance with听technical听integration听standards听
• Solutions listed as interoperable听on 麻豆原创 Notes and receive detailed听review听summery
• Helps partners听demonstrate听interoperability and 麻豆原创 compliance to customers.

This new interoperability听review听reflects our commitment to听listen to the 麻豆原创 ecosystem听and听enable more partners听and ISVs听to听participate, fostering innovation across our platform.听

How this benefits partners and customers听听

For partners:

• Easier access to 麻豆原创鈥檚 integration framework, even if formal certification听is not听applicable
• Clear pathways for strategic alignment and accelerated development of maintainable, future-ready solutions
• Co-marketing visibility for certified solutions

For customers: 

• Access to a broader set of partner solutions that are future-ready, upgradable, and compliant with 麻豆原创鈥檚 clean core standards
• Confidence in interoperability and technical quality across 麻豆原创鈥檚 business application landscape
• Faster adoption of data-rich solutions built on robust foundations

Looking forward 

The new framework,听planned to听launch in听Q3 2026, is designed to听empower partners, build trust with customers, and accelerate innovation across 麻豆原创鈥檚 platform.

Our Partner Ecosystem Success team will support this transition throughout the second half of 2026. Partners can preview the criteria for the integration certification and the interoperability review in the or reach out to your 麻豆原创 partner manager or the 麻豆原创 ICC team with questions. 

Karl Fahrbach is chief partner officer of 麻豆原创 SE.

Take this common pattern: a brilliant software engineer gets promoted to team lead, only to find the new role demands completely different skills. Technical expertise doesn鈥檛 always translate into leadership success. Managing people requires mentoring, conflict resolution, and strategic decision-making鈥攕kills that aren鈥檛 always developed in technical roles.

When companies push top performers into management without proper support or alternatives, they risk losing great individual performers, like engineers or developers, and gaining ineffective managers. As a result, some employees may feel disconnected from the work they love, and stepping back can feel like failure rather than a strategic career choice.

This default move to management can often be a symptom of an organization鈥檚 professional learning gaps, where high-performing individual contributors can plateau because structured learning paths for deepening expertise are missing. Plus, it can often be a moment where professional learning is missing and newly minted managers aren鈥檛 provided with the proper management training, which sets both individuals and teams up for struggle. Professional learning plays a critical role in this juncture of individuals鈥� careers, and being able to provide the appropriate learning in this moment is crucial.

The case for dual career paths

Not everyone is cut out for鈥攐r interested in鈥攎anagement. A found that 36% of tech workers have no interest in taking on managerial responsibilities. Some professionals thrive as individual contributors, while others excel as people managers, technical leads, or mentors. Recognizing this, forward-thinking companies offer a genuine choice: pursue a management career or deepen expertise as a specialist. This dual-ladder system allows growth that aligns with their strengths, interests, and motivation.

Retaining talent by valuing expertise

Providing both management and expert career paths does more than boost job satisfaction; it helps retain top talent. When employees see a future that matches their interests, they are more likely to stay, contribute at a higher level, and innovate. It also fosters a culture of continuous learning, where growth isn鈥檛 reserved for those who manage others.

Organizations don鈥檛 just need boardroom executives or 鈥渕anagers of managers鈥�; they need top performers at every level. That means intentionally creating and rewarding non鈥憁anagerial opportunities鈥攚ith clear progression, pay parity, and visibility.

Supporting employees in finding their path

Effective support for career choice goes beyond general promises of opportunity and structures on paper. Organizations need a clear distinction between management and expert tracks, defined criteria for progression, protected time for learning, and leaders equipped to coach learning and development across both tracks. It also calls for clarity on which competencies are evolving in both leadership and expert roles, ensuring development targets skills, not titles.

Turning that clarity into impact requires a learning infrastructure: curated curricula, mentoring, communities of practice, and visible milestones that normalize expert development. In the 麻豆原创 context, and skill-validation programs provide organized resources that can support building and maintaining skills over time, enabling development at different depths and paces, independent of title changes. serve as neutral milestones that can validate skills, increase transparency, and make expert progression comparable to managerial advancement.

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Redefining success at work

Ultimately, career growth doesn鈥檛 have to mean management. By embracing dual career paths鈥攁nd by investing in learning infrastructure and credible certification for both paths鈥攐rganizations can unlock the full potential of their workforce. The companies that will thrive are those that make every path a route to meaningful impact, recognizing that value comes from contribution and capability, not just position.

Diana R枚sner is head of Certification Transformation at 麻豆原创.

One in four Americans hitting peak burnout before turning 30, and over half of American workers across age ranges they are currently experiencing at least moderate levels of burnout. The state of modern workplace stress is accelerating, and it can create mental health concerns for employees鈥攁s well as high turnover, low productivity, and worse business outcomes for employers.

What鈥檚 fueling it? Increasingly, point to 鈥減seudowork.鈥� Pseudowork is busy work: the constant churn of e-mails, meetings, and low-impact tasks that leave employees drained and unfulfilled.

When a workday is filled with seemingly endless busy work, it may be a natural reaction to get home and ask yourself, 鈥淲hat did I actually accomplish today?鈥� Simultaneously exhausting and demoralizing, pseudowork may be a key contributor to the burnout increasingly felt by younger generations.

If pseudowork is a key contributor to employee burnout, then the solution may be the opposite: opportunities for real learning and development in the workplace. Almost a third of employees that high-quality training at work left them feeling 鈥渢ruly enlightened and invigorated.鈥� They also felt 鈥渉ighly valued and empowered鈥� by their employers, recognizing the continuous investment in their development. In addition to the obvious benefit of creating a more highly-skilled workforce, learning opportunities help employees feel a sense of achievement, excitement, and empowerment鈥攂reaking up the pattern of pseudowork and combatting burnout in the process.

This kind of meaningful learning can be unlocked through , which allows people from the entire 麻豆原创 ecosystem to access a wide range of to enjoy while taking a break from answering yet another e-mail. Structured 麻豆原创 Learning Journeys can allow workers to dive in at their own pace according to their unique needs and goals. They can be seamlessly integrated into daily work routines to allow employees to forge their own continuous learning path. As an said herself, 鈥溌槎乖� Certification boosts my confidence and adaptability. Continuous learning听not only enriches my knowledge base but also ensures that the solutions I provide are cutting-edge and in sync with the evolving tech landscape.鈥�

By integrating continuous learning into daily routines, organizations can do more than build skills鈥攖hey can reinvigorate their teams and begin to truly counter the effects of pseudowork.

Sabine Benz is head of Enablement and Engagement at 麻豆原创.

As businesses increasingly adopt cloud-first strategies, their approach to IT infrastructure and enterprise applications is significantly evolving. Recent studies show that artificial intelligence (AI) adoption has more than tripled since 2017, with over 70% of companies now integrating AI into their operations.* For 麻豆原创 customers, this transition presents opportunities to leverage innovative technologies and enhance business agility. However, success relies heavily on careful planning, strong partnerships, and future-ready skills.

To help customers remain agile, respond quickly to innovations, and continuously evolve their operations, 麻豆原创 and its partners are committed to maintaining certified skills. New requirements, including annual certification renewals, ensure that experts stay current. By July of this year, all partner resources in key roles鈥攕uch as enterprise architects, developers, business transformation management consultants, and project managers involved in RISE with 麻豆原创 projects鈥攎ust hold a valid . Furthermore, by the end of 2025, 50% of relevant partner practitioners are expected to possess at least one valid certification across the 麻豆原创 solution portfolio.

Since its launch in 2021, 麻豆原创 partners have been integral to transformation projects, leveraging their expertise to tailor solutions to customer needs. From designing cloud transition road maps to implementing process automation and optimizing costs, partners can enable businesses to maximize the value of 麻豆原创 solutions. They help ensure organizations adopt intelligent enterprise practices efficiently while addressing unique challenges and goals.

鈥淭his mutual commitment underscores 麻豆原创 and its partners’ dedication to delivering exceptional value, staying ahead of evolving industry standards, and driving customer success in an ever-evolving landscape,鈥� says Karl Fahrbach, chief partner officer at 麻豆原创. 鈥淲orking with certified innovators skilled in the latest 麻豆原创 technologies enables customers to achieve significant benefits鈥攆rom reducing errors and risks to fostering innovation and accelerating deployment times.鈥�

By collaborating with certified partner experts, customers can expect to adapt more readily to change and maintain competitiveness in a dynamic market. 麻豆原创 and its partners’ commitment to innovative 麻豆原创 skills highlights the importance of , working to ensure exceptional value delivery. With the latest competencies in high-demand 麻豆原创 solutions, 麻豆原创’s ecosystem of partners strives to achieve our shared goal: delivering innovation excellence to customers.

*

Andre Bechtold is SVP and head of Solution & Innovation Experience at 麻豆原创.

With the move to the newest, cloud-based solutions 鈥� and while turning to certified experts, skilled in the latest innovations 鈥� 麻豆原创 customers can get the job done.

To fully leverage the advantages of the latest 麻豆原创 solutions, it is crucial for teams to possess up-to-date skills in the latest product developments. This is where certifications come into play.

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麻豆原创 reinvented its certification program earlier this year to commit to innovation excellence and prioritize continuous learning and assessments to get and stay certified. Professionals possessing the skills for the latest 麻豆原创 solutions are set to drive faster implementation projects, reduce risks, and enhance overall business efficiency.

This also means an annual renewal of with short assessments on the latest product updates. And with the first deadline approaching 鈥� all 麻豆原创 Certifications issued before April 2024 will expire on March 31, 2025 鈥� certified professionals must act now to maintain their certification.

Deliver Maximum Value with Validated Up-to-Date Skills

麻豆原创’s goal is to make it easier and faster for everyone to learn the latest skills and maintain their certification. The redesigned certification program has two key objectives:

• It provides streamlined access to learning and quick quiz assessments, making it easier and faster to acquire and maintain the latest skills and certifications.
• It maintains excellence for innovation by ensuring that certified professionals meet quality standards across 麻豆原创 solutions. 听

To get and stay certified, only a subscription to is needed. It provides access to all needed to prepare for a certification exam with guided learning resources such as expert-led live sessions and hands-on practice systems. Four certification exam attempts per learner per year are included in the subscription, and it also provides the simple approach to remain certified with short quizzes 鈥� making it an all-in-one-solution to gain the latest skills and drive innovation.

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麻豆原创 Launches First AI Certification

Being constantly updated, the 麻豆原创 Certification portfolio reflects the latest 麻豆原创 innovations. In line with the growing importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning skills, 麻豆原创 is introducing its first certification for generative AI developers, set to launch in December. Verifying skills in 麻豆原创 Business AI capabilities and 麻豆原创 Business Technology Platform application extensions, the certification touches on the 麻豆原创 Business AI strategy, ethics, and methods for performance for use cases for large language models (LLMs). Using 麻豆原创鈥檚 generative AI hub, professionals will also work on real-life business problems while upskilling.

This certification, among all the others,already available, highlights 麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to equipping professionals with innovative skills critical for the workplace of the future, offering numerous self-paced learning journeys, AI-specific courses, and resources to prepare learners for success in this transformative field.

Your Time to Act Is Now

is a commitment to driving innovation excellence.

With the first deadline approaching, organizations can now act and ensure that their teams are certified and prepared to meet demands with confidence and expertise in the latest 麻豆原创 innovations. The enhanced certification program offers the chance to partner with certified experts to support the success of transformation projects and that they run at their best. And certified individuals can now claim their spot among excellent innovators, staying ahead in their career by renewing their certification.

Do not wait! To lead with excellence to drive innovation, .

Andre Bechtold is senior vice president and head of Solution and Innovation Experience at 麻豆原创.

In response to this trend, 麻豆原创 is lowering access to acquiring these critical skills with an expanded partnership with 麻豆原创 PartnerEdge member and its education brand . K2 University is expanding its portfolio further, offering for 麻豆原创 solutions in the United States and Canada. Bringing high-quality and vetted 麻豆原创 learning content, methodology, and system access to even more people, this strategic move aims to provide individuals with the opportunity to deepen their 麻豆原创 knowledge through scheduled, live, instructor-led courses guided by experienced trainers 鈥� and to bring 麻豆原创 solutions to life. 听

Breaking down barriers and providing future-focused education to a broader audience, this collaboration is a testament to our commitment to empower individuals through accessible learning opportunities. Hearing that 麻豆原创 professionals like , a recent university graduate, can access amazing job opportunities thanks to their 麻豆原创 skills, underscores the importance of those learning programs. Beau knew that tech, and specifically 麻豆原创, was in increased demand. And while his story is inspiring, there are many more.  

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In fact, proves that upskilling not only helps individuals, but also organizations gain the right skills critical to drive digital transformation. Ensuring project success and maximizing the return on investment companies made with 麻豆原创 solutions, the study on the power of continuous upskilling was conducted by Forrester Consulting, a leading global market research company, and quantified several benefits for organizations. One of them was improved upskilling due to greater learning access, resulting in productivity gains of up to 25%. The study also showed a faster time to competence by 50% for users. Interviewees also reported cost savings and greater project success.  

We are confident that our extended partnership with K2 University in North America will continue this positive impact on many people and organizations. We look forward to a future of shared success and growth, solidifying our commitment to creating opportunity through learning and development for all.

麻豆原创’s dedication to delivering future-focused, cloud-first training both online and on-site will continue. This expanded offering with K2 marks the next step in widening the availability of training resources, as Wahridj Gergian, managing director of K2 University, highlighted in a recent conversation: 鈥溌槎乖� is a cornerstone in the tech world, and its solutions are vital for businesses worldwide. Cultivating 麻豆原创 skills is essential for professional growth and success in today’s digital landscape. I am thrilled that through our long-standing and successful partnership with 麻豆原创, we can now expand our offering to our audience, empowering them to excel in the tech industry and beyond. This is a significant step forward in K2 University鈥檚 commitment to providing valuable, in-demand skills to our community.鈥�

While this may just be the start, we are hoping to bring additional training offerings to other regions, making sure organizations are set up to bring out their best with 麻豆原创.

Andre Bechtold is SVP and head of Solution & Innovation Experience at 麻豆原创.

This year, we鈥檙e focused on facilitating the career growth of existing 麻豆原创 professionals as demand for their skills accelerates faster and faster. As of today, three major innovations will bring even more support to these professionals around the globe. Our future-focused is now available to anyone with an Internet connection. We also introduced our plan to make 麻豆原创 Learning Hub the gateway to an unparalleled learning experience. Finally, we launched a role-based certification for enterprise architects, today鈥檚 most in-demand and best-paid role in the industry.

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All these innovations are part of our ongoing commitment to support workforce reinvention. We believe that in times of change, we have the remarkable opportunity to put our community in the position to seize career opportunities and accelerate business transformation.

It Starts with the Right Future-Focused Learning

From supply chain shortages and rising gas prices to inflation and shifting customer needs, many organizations rely on automated processes that enable them to adapt to an ever-changing business landscape and drive success. In this volatile atmosphere, tens of thousands of organizations have to support them on their path to a technological future, leading to skyrocketing demand for 麻豆原创 talent.

To meet this increasing demand and to help businesses succeed on their cloud journey, 麻豆原创 is making our strategic 鈥� all that is needed is an Internet connection. By lowering the barrier to accessing this content, more professionals can prepare for cloud-driven projects while staying on track with continuous learning, enhancing their digital skill set. In turn, customers can expect to gain a competitive advantage in their industry by equipping their employees with these tools and resources.

It Pays to Be an Enterprise Architect 鈥� In More Ways than One

As organizations continue to shift more of their workload to the cloud, we also see that the role of the enterprise architect is becoming increasingly vital. Bridging the gap between business and technology, enterprise architects ensure companies can reach their desired business outcomes through the effective use of technology. Recent numbers prove the demand for this role: it was ranked as , highlighting high job satisfaction and a competitive salary.

Recognizing the advantages that the role of enterprise architect can offer both individuals and organizations, we have introduced the first role-based certification program for professionals aspiring to become an enterprise architect today. This prerequisite intermediate certification demonstrates comprehensive understanding of 麻豆原创 solutions, business, and strategic aspects of enterprise architecture and ultimately helps 麻豆原创 professionals to increase career security and growth. At the same time, the certification can provide organizations with the confidence that their employees are gaining the competitive skills needed to drive significant business value on a large scale.

鈥淎SUG enthusiastically supports 麻豆原创鈥檚 enterprise architect certification program and recommends that every 麻豆原创 customer sponsor their enterprise architects to complete the certification and require any partner working on their behalf to be certified,鈥� said Geoff Scott, CEO and chief community champion, ASUG.

We believe that, in addition to investing in the upskilling of students and minorities in tech with our digital skills initiative to equip the next generation of IT workers, we have now taken an immense step to support professionals and organizations in the 麻豆原创 ecosystem with this in-demand certification.

A Successful Workforce Transformation Requires Transparency and Insights

As many professionals are experiencing changing expectations surrounding their current roles and are looking to meet these shifts and advance in their careers, we must deliver new ways to help them upskill. After all, it is estimated that . We have seen that the rate of success surrounding upskilling can rise further when leadership has access to data that allows them to guide their workforce transformation according to their specific business needs.

To take these circumstances into account, we have announced a new 麻豆原创 Learning site integration where subscribers to 麻豆原创 Learning Hub will have seamless access to digital courses, streamlining training programs to strengthen their digital skill set and help drive transformation for their company as a whole. With this new integration, .

For the first time, subscribers to the private cloud version of 麻豆原创 Learning Hub can benefit from exclusive learning management and reporting functionalities across solutions and platforms. These enhancements enable customers to access key insights and analytics that can help them plan and control their team鈥檚 skills transformation with transparency and help ensure long-term business value. For example, , an improvement in talent acquisition and retention, and a more resilient workforce.

At 麻豆原创, we recognize the challenges and opportunities that transformation presents both to our customers and 麻豆原创 professionals, which is why we have taken the next step in paving the way for unparalleled career growth and business transformation. By equipping employees with the tools and resources they need to enhance their skill set, organizations can reach new heights while employees increase their potential for future career opportunities.

Max Wessel is chief learning officer at 麻豆原创.

To keep their competitive edge in the job market, professionals need to upskill and reskill in increasingly shorter intervals, but numbers show that . At the same time, traditional education is losing relevance in many industries, with organizations increasingly moving away from a sole focus on university degrees. Instead, short courses, certifications, and practical skills have become increasingly important.

Recognizing the need for transparency around proven project expertise, 麻豆原创 enhanced its established skill validation program for 麻豆原创 professionals. The company is paving the way for individual career growth and business success by introducing a record of project experience in a pilot with first partners like Accenture and IBM.

We believe the enhanced visibility of practical experience can benefit well seasoned 麻豆原创 professionals and set them up for success. In addition to their 麻豆原创 Certification, a record of project experience can help expand competitive edge and, ultimately, foster career growth. Recent reports show that . The same report states that 81% of certified employees produce higher quality work, while 77% are more innovative.

鈥淭he record of project experience can help the 麻豆原创 ecosystem drive success by making the practical and successful project expertise of professionals visible,鈥� says 麻豆原创 Chief Learning Officer Max Wessel. 鈥淭ens of thousands of customers have deployed 麻豆原创 software to thrive in the cloud, leading to a skyrocketing demand for skilled people. With the record of project experience, partners can benefit from a tailored recognition of expertise past the certification and a higher employee retention rate. Customers can expect high-quality projects and fast implementation. And 麻豆原创 professionals have the chance to put themselves in the lead on the job market. It鈥檚 a true win-win situation for all.鈥�

麻豆原创 partners oversee almost 90% of all 麻豆原创 implementations, representing a huge pool of talented and experienced 麻豆原创 professionals. This new approach adds the validation of practical experience and 麻豆原创 expertise. It supports 麻豆原创’s mission to address the shortage of digital skills in the partner ecosystem. Newly certified consultants will provide support in cloud computing, digital transformation, and analytics to improve the quality of services offered by 麻豆原创 partners to their customers.

Professionals are eligible if they have customer references showing the applied and certified skills. The record of project experience is awarded to nominated advanced 麻豆原创 professionals with a track record of expertise in the public edition of 麻豆原创 S/4HANA Cloud or 麻豆原创 Business Technology Platform (麻豆原创 BTP), who also demonstrate a valid 麻豆原创 Certification in one of these 麻豆原创 solution areas.

Co-validating expertise strengthens an employee’s position, leads to higher employee retention for employers, and gives customers the confidence that fast implementations and high-quality projects are on the way. That鈥檚 a triple win.

To learn more, visit the .

Steffen Burger is senior vice president of Partner Solution Adoption for Partner Ecosystem Success at 麻豆原创.

For some people, this outlook is especially bitter. , women hold only 26% of computing-related jobs today. And the number for people from ethnic minorities drops even lower. Accessing digital skills and securing a fulfilling, well-paid job in the tech industry often seems out of reach for them. 鈥淲hen I was young, I didn鈥檛 really know what I was passionate about,鈥� says Karen Rodrigues from Brazil in a recent blog post on . 鈥淭he only thing I knew was that I wanted to get a job and earn money. My parents also had a specific idea of what my career should look like. So, I started my studies in business administration and accounting, got my degrees, and got my first job in this area.鈥� For women like Rodrigues, a career in tech had never been up for debate.

Gender Stereotypes Are Often the Root

One of the reasons why women 鈥� or people of color for that matter 鈥� often don鈥檛 have a career in the IT industry in mind are gender stereotypes. When people think of the technology industry, they usually associate young White males with developer roles. These stereotypes often originate in the experiences and ideologies we encountered in our childhood and school years. And many of them are here to stay. The fact that the IT industry is much more diverse, both in terms of the workforce and the roles that exist within it, is often overlooked or not explored further. In Rodrigues’ case, it took an opportunity to turn her life around.

鈥淚 received an opportunity that would send me on a completely different path: ,鈥� the 麻豆原创 mentor explains. 鈥淚 asked myself, 鈥楽hould I quit my job in accounting and do something different altogether?鈥� It was a hard decision.鈥�

Rodrigues was brave enough to do it. 鈥淚 decided to take the leap, but the transition into tech wasn鈥檛 easy. Back then, the industry was still very much dominated by men. I was the only woman, and I was judged because of that. I was told I talk too much, have a different style, and maybe wasn鈥檛 even suited to be in this area. But I was confident that this was the place for me. I wanted to be a woman in tech.鈥�

She worked hard to show that she was competent and had the skills to succeed. 鈥淚t is my belief that knowledge is power and the key to success. You must study and you have to take action to change your life,鈥� she adds. 鈥淚 am glad that there are opportunities to upskill.鈥�

Many Make Use of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Digital Skills Initiative

One opportunity to gain the digital skills needed to succeed in what鈥檚 to come is 麻豆原创鈥檚 latest . Launched in November 2022 with the goal of further lowering the barrier to accessing digital skills and reaching those who are currently underrepresented in tech, the initiative has been met with great interest. Around 4,000 women, people from ethnic minorities, or individuals from rural areas, for instance, have already applied online and started with . Following the completion of a course and thanks to 麻豆原创鈥檚 sponsorship of 10,000 free exam vouchers, they will be able to get a sought-after to help acquire a secure and well-paid job within the industry. And .

With 655,000 learners in 2021 and more than 1 million in 2022, hopes to bring a world-class learning experience to even more people with this initiative. But it doesn鈥檛 stop there. To take efforts further, 麻豆原创 is actively seeking partners and customers to explore sponsorship and internship options for some candidates who pass this certification exam. This can also lead to a full-time employment opportunity. Many of those will also be made available on the new , where 3 million members exchange on career advice and paths on a regular basis.

Employers Seek Tens of Thousands of Technology Consultants

As businesses rely on technology consultants to advise and manage the implementation of IT systems and provide guidance when training staff, the demand is set to increase in the coming years in this area. In the U.S. alone, there were more than 50,000 technology consultant job postings in the last year.*

To make a valuable contribution to upskilling future technology consultants, 麻豆原创 has also launched a partnership with Coursera at the end of 2022. One hundred and ten million subscribers of all backgrounds can prepare for an entry-level on Coursera鈥檚 Web site 鈥� no college degree or prior experience required. The certificate comprises seven courses, four of which are available today with the rest rolling out over the coming months. Altogether, the certificate can be completed in about five to six months and more than 9,000 Coursera subscribers have already enrolled in the courses.

鈥淣ever Too Late to Learn Something New鈥�

鈥淚 have seen a lot of people who were waiting for the right moment to steer their lives in a new direction,鈥� Rodrigues explains. 鈥淭hey were not ready for something new, or they were simply afraid. But living in the past is not good. Yesterday can鈥檛 do anything for you; today can. But I wish I had known that back then. I wish I had been more disciplined in the past. Time is valuable.鈥�

Rodrigues was and still is curious. She set out to learn something new and built a successful work life as a woman in tech. She has navigated an industry that is still very much dominated by men and has fought against gender stereotypes with discipline and trust in her abilities. She never settles for less and that makes her a role model for many women worldwide. Her advice is loud and clear: 鈥淚t鈥檚 never too late to learn something new. I can only encourage you to learn and to go for the next challenge. Strive for something higher, and you will grow 鈥� professionally but, most importantly, personally.鈥�

You can read Rodrigues鈥� full blog post on her .

*Lightcast™ (2022, US-only), Job Postings report (September 2021 鈥� September 2022). Retrieved October 2022.

Sabine Benz is global VP and head of Product Engagement at 麻豆原创 Learning.

Acquiring new customers is one thing; retaining them is another. In both cases, continuously attaining the latest certifications 鈥� from trending topics to specialized capabilities 鈥� reassures customers and inspires them to make that first contact and keep coming back. Compared to their noncertified counterparts, certified consultants speed implementation times by up to 15% and deliver projects with less rework and higher customer satisfaction, according to听.

Another advantage of certification is the potential to attract, develop, and retain the strong talent pool that customers expect.听^听of more than 10,000 IT professionals indicated that the value of IT certification surpasses that of training alone. Benefits include a culture that promotes confidence in abilities, greater job satisfaction, increased respect among peers, more work autonomy and independence, promotion and advancement, and higher salary and wages.

A Competency Framework for Competitive Certification

When working with 麻豆原创, partners have the added benefit of fast access to the learning content needed to prepare for and attain certification. They are also rewarded with a visual badge that can be included in their marketing materials and on their Web sites.

In addition, through the recently announced , 麻豆原创 partners can achieve competencies and specializations by certifying a required number of their consultants and developers, enabling them to reach essential, advanced, or expert competency tiers. These competencies and corresponding specializations are then visible on to help prospective customers make informed partner selections based on the desired solution expertise.

麻豆原创 provides a broad set of certifications so partners can build specific skill sets and offer highly specialized consulting and implementation services. More than cover a wide range of expertise and skill levels across an expansive set of 麻豆原创 solutions and services. In fact, are available for 麻豆原创 Business Technology Platform (麻豆原创 BTP), including 麻豆原创 Integration Suite, 麻豆原创 Extension Suite, the 麻豆原创 HANA Cloud database, the 麻豆原创 Analytics Cloud solution, and low-code and no-code development applications and automations.

Partners can promote their certifications by using . This real-time verification demonstrates that the partner鈥檚 certification is valid and contains a description of the 麻豆原创-backed expertise.

Learning content for certification exams for 麻豆原创 BTP is available free of charge on the site. And as 麻豆原创 technologies, such as 麻豆原创 BTP, continue to evolve and bring new capabilities, partners can keep skills current with continuously updated for every cloud release from 麻豆原创.

麻豆原创 partners can also attend for 麻豆原创 BTP. The academies are online, interactive trainings delivered by 麻豆原创 experts who guide you through the content of selected learnings for 麻豆原创 BTP and help prepare partners to pass the associated certification exams. After completing an academy and passing the related certification, partners are equipped with the skills, knowledge, and tools needed to efficiently implement future projects on 麻豆原创 BTP.

Proven Proficiency Drives True Transformation

Technology is advancing exponentially. This reality requires people of all experience levels to grow their knowledge and take stock of how these new skills might be applied to improve productivity and efficiency, resolve existing challenges, and produce transformative outcomes.

The more we share and grow our knowledge of technologies, tools, and platforms, the more significant the impact of innovation and the faster we can achieve our goals. But most importantly, our partners are well-positioned to drive future growth, better experiences, and more sustainable and profitable outcomes.

With , our partners have the power to innovate with 麻豆原创 BTP, among other 麻豆原创 technologies, in ways that lead to true business transformation with unparalleled skill, confidence, and trust.

If you have not done so already, please join us on the journey with 麻豆原创 BTP, attend the partner certification academies, and get certified today! You can also engage with your peers through听 (login required). We look forward to driving successful business outcomes together.

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• (available to 麻豆原创 partners only)
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Pavel Penaz is global head of Partner Solution Adoption Strategy and Execution for 麻豆原创 Business Technology Platform at 麻豆原创.

While jobs are seemingly disappointing employees, learning options are doing the same for students. We are also seeing massive shortcomings emerge in the landscape of traditional education. This is especially true in the U.S., where nearly one in three students heading for university will drop out after just one year. The average graduate will carry nearly $30,000 in debt, with most struggling to repay. And the , weighing themselves down with limited benefit.

For many students, college is an unsustainable and unrealistic option, yet many employers continue to rely on a university degree as the main signal of capability in the hiring process.

We have more need for employees due to turnover, but we have fewer qualified graduates 鈥� for good reason. This challenge is an opportunity for business leaders. Those who can better upskill their teams and their ecosystems for a world where talent is in constant flux will win the market.

麻豆原创 has announced a variety of new student learning offerings aimed to help just this. Our refreshed learning portfolio will keep people engaged, upskilled, and prepared for an ever-changing digital world. We aim to energize talent across the board 鈥� from empowering citizen developers with valuable IT skills to providing students with learning that will accelerate their career paths.

Here are three ways we will continue to engage and upskill the 麻豆原创 ecosystem for continued success:

1. Recognize Talent with the Right Skills for the Job

The traditional university degree remains a key indicator of capability and skill. But we are starting to see a shift. Today, have earned some type of non-degree credential. At the same time, a lack of growth opportunities is the . With the pace of change in the technology world, this need for continuous learning in non-traditional environments will only increase. To meet the needs of digital transformation, more companies like 麻豆原创 must change the way the world approaches skill validation.

For this reason, 麻豆原创 is introducing further skill recognition options, validating skills from foundational to intermediate and advanced levels of solution expertise. Lowering the barrier to gain 麻豆原创 skill recognition and introducing for key innovation areas allows learners to demonstrate skills through accessible training and validation options 鈥� not just through traditional degrees.

Hundreds of thousands of customers benefit when employees build 麻豆原创 skills. 麻豆原创 offers role-based learning that is self-paced, which allows for more flexibility for learners, and gives learners the opportunity to achieve new levels of tech expertise. Regardless of level or title, the new mechanisms to distinguish qualified candidates throughout the hiring process will set up the 麻豆原创 ecosystem to be better prepared for continued digital growth and adaptation.

2. Create Opportunity for Student Learners and Widen the Applicant Pool

At 麻豆原创, we strongly believe that learning creates opportunity for all, regardless of geography or economic means. Through , we train and certify job seekers in underserved communities 鈥� and find that 80% or more of those trained land a job right after completing of the program.

In this spirit, we believe that all students should have access to high-quality learning opportunities. We will now worldwide. Doing so lowers the barrier to entry for positions both within 麻豆原创 and across industries, providing marketable, competitive skill development to all students. There are benefits for companies, too: we believe this will broaden the pool of qualified applicants who can bring an enhanced digital knowledge and skill set to the workforce.

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3. Transform Business Users into Citizen Developers

Digital acceleration has resulted in increased demand for tech-savvy workers. More than 1 billion jobs, , are likely to be transformed by technology in the next decade, according to OECD estimates. But that does not mean all workers need to have traditional technology backgrounds. Today, automation and the proliferation of low-code/no-code offerings mean that workers from any background can quickly become digitally adept.

Through , even those without prior experience can build relevant IT skills, achieve a sought-after 麻豆原创 Certification, and become 鈥渃itizen developers鈥� who are able to build applications with little to no code.

Not only does this upskill more people for success in a digital world, but it also takes the burden off existing IT employees so they can focus on more complex development issues.

Max Wessel is executive vice president and chief learning officer of 麻豆原创.

While professionals may know they want to advance, they underestimate how much , learning, and certification can help them along that path. A recent underscored the value of certification in career advancement, as more than 60% of participants garnered promotions following their IT certifications. Moreover, this study found intrinsic benefits to certification, including greater confidence, determination for professional success, autonomy, and job satisfaction.

And it鈥檚 true: the more we invest in ourselves 鈥� by taking the time and energy to complete certifications and stay current on the latest technologies 鈥� the better we feel about the trajectory of our careers.

As the 麻豆原创 Learning team helps to expand the 麻豆原创 ecosystem, which is estimated to grow the number of professionals by 60% and see partner opportunities reach $260 billion by 2024, we鈥檝e kept this sentiment at the forefront of our commitment to creating easily discoverable and accessible upskilling opportunities for partners.

Expanding Opportunities for Growth among Partners and Individual Learners

Along the journey to the Intelligent Enterprise, it鈥檚 critical for organizations to upskill their workforce, not only to stay competitive but to foster professional development at the individual level. 麻豆原创 has long supported learning and enablement throughout the ecosystem, and with the rapid speed of innovations today, we鈥檙e providing more and more affordable, role-based learning solutions.

For example, in February, we launched a new to advance continuous learning across the entire 麻豆原创 portfolio and help partners stay up-to-date with 麻豆原创 solutions. Developed with the 麻豆原创 partner organization, it is designed to fit our partner鈥檚 specific business and learning needs. Since launch, it has been successfully adopted by the 麻豆原创 partner ecosystem, with 30% net-new partners reached in the first six months of being live and thousands of learners currently using the offering to increase their knowledge and skills on 麻豆原创 solutions and achieve certification.

What鈥檚 more, for the 麻豆原创 PartnerEdge program, we recently launched a private cloud version of to help with increased customization and reporting functionalities.* With this , various roles in a partner organization can benefit听 from specific options: learners can upskill in a more private environment with company-specific learning content, while administrators can better monitor learning activities and understand the value derived from the solution.

Yielding Success through Certification

In addition to creating content to continuously build and maintain 麻豆原创 skills, emphasizes validation of these skills through certification. As Nagesh Polu, 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors lead consultant, YASH Technologies, noted, 鈥� is an important benchmark of expertise. It helps you gain key 麻豆原创 knowledge and the confidence of your customers. It is a huge asset for any 麻豆原创 partner.鈥�

A recent revealed several proven benefits of certification, including:

• Fifty-nine percent of respondents agreed certifications improved implementation of technology.
• More than 71% of respondents agreed or strongly agreed it has increased their ability to solve problems.
• Ninety-four percent of IT decision-makers globally felt that having team members with certification provides value beyond the cost of achieving the certification.

Reflecting on her certification experience, 麻豆原创 Analyst Stefania Pabon said, 鈥淲ithout a doubt, 麻豆原创 Certification has brought me a wide range of possibilities in the job market because it is generally a requirement to have 麻豆原创 software knowledge.鈥� 麻豆原创 Senior Analyst Abhishek Paul echoed this view: 鈥溌槎乖� Certification opened up a massive sea of opportunities for me. It brings a certain level of respect and is an excellent step toward securing my future.鈥�

As we make our way through the final quarter of the year and look ahead towards 2022, let鈥檚 embrace the learning opportunities in front of us for both our organizations and our own individual growth.

*The private cloud version is available exclusively for 麻豆原创 PartnerEdge members (excluding basic 麻豆原创 PartnerEdge open ecosystem) and requires a minimum subscription of 100 users.

Jan Meyer is senior vice president and head of Learning Systems for 麻豆原创 Learning.

With more than 14,000 certifications performed, is celebrating 25 years of supporting 麻豆原创 partners in their mission to deliver customer success across every solution category, industry, and geography. Since the first 麻豆原创 ICC locations went live in Walldorf and Palo Alto in 1996, more than 4,000 partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) worldwide have relied on 麻豆原创 ICC services to help ensure the technical integration and interface of their solution with 麻豆原创.

鈥淔or 25 years, the 麻豆原创 Integration and Certification Center has laid the foundation for a trusted relationship between 麻豆原创, partners, and customers by certifying a high quality ecosystem of partner solutions that integrate with the latest 麻豆原创 technology,鈥� says Karl Fahrbach, chief partner officer, 麻豆原创.

鈥淎s a standard-bearer for partner innovation, 麻豆原创 ICC is at the forefront of partner success, supporting 麻豆原创鈥檚 strategy toward partner profitability and providing agility to customers as they become best-run businesses,鈥� Fahrbach says. 鈥淲e congratulate 麻豆原创 ICC and Partner Innovation Lifecycle Services on this remarkable milestone and applaud the dedication of the 麻豆原创 ICC team who remind us that at 麻豆原创 partner success is customer success.鈥�

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Achieving Milestones at the Pace of Innovation

As the 麻豆原创 solution portfolio has evolved over the years, 麻豆原创 ICC has kept pace with innovation by rolling out the most significant certifications on time to meet market demands for the latest technologies. In 1999, 麻豆原创 ICC pioneered the first cloud-based 麻豆原创 ERP test system. Shortly thereafter, the 麻豆原创 ICC team provided the first ABAP add-on certification in 2001, followed by a solution manager ready certification in 2007, mobile device certification in 2009, and the 麻豆原创 Certified powered by 麻豆原创 HANA status in 2013 鈥� along with many others 鈥� leading up to today鈥檚 focus on partner integrations with 麻豆原创 S/4HANA and partner extensions based on 麻豆原创 Business Technology Platform. Each successive designation demonstrates 麻豆原创鈥檚 ongoing commitment to helping customers reduce implementation effort, accelerate innovation, and gain agility through best-of-breed partner solutions that successfully integrate into 麻豆原创.

鈥淚t takes a great team to consistently deliver success for 25 long years,鈥� says Nandagopal Prasad B, senior vice president and head of , which oversees 麻豆原创 ICC in its portfolio of services, including partner co-innovation services, that enable partners to develop innovative solutions on 麻豆原创 platforms and products.

As the 麻豆原创 ICC team has grown, it has closed the distance to customer markets not only technologically, but geographically as well by opening new locations around the world to support partners in their regions. 麻豆原创 ICC is now active in 11 locations: Australia, Canada, China, CIS, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States.

For 麻豆原创 partners that have worked with the team over the years to bring new solutions to market, the 25-year anniversary of 麻豆原创 ICC is a milestone marking a close working relationship of many years. 鈥淚t has been a great experience working with 麻豆原创 ICC colleagues,鈥� says Samiullah Sheik, founder and managing director, Bizadept Consulting GmbH. 鈥淲e worked听with 麻豆原创 ICC for both our product certifications, and information was provided upfront to reduce delays. 麻豆原创 ICC colleagues also responded quickly whenever we faced problems during the packaging of the product. These experiences have given us more confidence to consider the possibility of going down the co-innovation path with 麻豆原创 for design and development of complex products in the coming years.鈥�

Axel Janz, global head of 麻豆原创 Products and Innovations at EY, was one of the first members of the former complementary 麻豆原创 Software Solution PartnerEdge program team, the predecessor of the 麻豆原创 ICC, and with 麻豆原创 Labs Tokyo 25 years ago. 鈥淲ith the 麻豆原创 ICC, the EY organization has found a highly trustful, super responsive, and top-level guiding collaborator, supporting us on our integration and extension needs, accompanied by highly efficient 麻豆原创 Certification processes,鈥� he says.

Why Partners Benefit with 麻豆原创 Certification

Partners can gain significant benefits from having 麻豆原创-certified status, but the most compelling reason is the improved profitability that can come from lowering integration costs, accelerating go-to-market, and shortening implementation times. Once their solution has 麻豆原创-certified status, partners can place it in 麻豆原创 Store to be discovered by customers alongside 麻豆原创 solutions. Membership in allows partners to gain additional benefits from the program’s resources and enablement tools to help enhance partner success and profitability.

To earn 麻豆原创-certified statuses, partners submit their solutions to 麻豆原创 ICC for stringent qualification procedures to check that the solution uses 麻豆原创-recommended integration technologies and stable interfaces. The entire process is carried out online. While the requirements vary, the certification focuses primarily on the quality of the technical integration of the partner solution with 麻豆原创, including the smooth flow of business data through 麻豆原创. Partners are allowed access to 麻豆原创 test systems as well as essential enablement and consulting services. The certification is valid for three years in most on-premise scenarios and one year in cloud integration scenarios.

麻豆原创 ICC plans to celebrate its 25^th anniversary with a series of regional , promotions via 麻豆原创 social channels, and additional activities.

for a complete listing of all 麻豆原创-certified solutions, , and develop innovative solutions on 麻豆原创 platforms and products to enable customer success.

Q: In your article for the World Economic Forum, you discuss the importance of connecting business strategy to workforce skills. Can you share what this looks like and why it鈥檚 so essential?

A: Every company plots out its business strategy. But how often does it think about how this relates and aligns with its people strategy and strategic workforce planning and skill building?

For example, if our strategy is to use to make our products smarter, we must simultaneously be asking ourselves how we can on the required skills to drive this vision.

Skill training shouldn鈥檛 be an afterthought. Instead, by connecting skills and strategy from the very beginning, companies can proactively adapt and more effectively position themselves for long-term success.

How does an organization develop skills for the future when things are changing so frequently and we can鈥檛 possibly know what the world will look like in the next couple of years?

As we saw with , things may go differently than predicted. Companies must embrace ambiguity and disruption when it comes to skills for the future. A recent article in the noted, 鈥淚f you focus on building individual micro skills, you may be missing the bigger picture.鈥� Indeed, there are 鈥榚xpiration dates鈥� on technical skills as innovation emerges, so companies must establish a culture that encourages agility and experimentation in the workforce 鈥� and, not least, motivates continuous learning 鈥� in order to yield sustainable success. Soft skills like dealing with uncertainty, staying curious, as well as embracing and tolerating ambiguity are the foundation of employees being ready for the future. They can then quickly and continuously keep up the relevant hard skills.

asserts that the in our technology-driven world is about 鈥渃reating an environment where organizations can optimize human potential鈥� and 鈥渆mpowering workers with agency and choice over what they do, unleashing their interests and passions.鈥� What this means is that the ultimate skill is being able to continuously learn in a constantly changing business environment. Fostering agile, innovative mindsets and curiosity throughout the workforce 鈥� promoting not only the need to learn, but the want to learn 鈥� helps companies to think big and earn a competitive edge.

How do offerings at 麻豆原创 help support strategic workforce planning and continuous learning?

At 麻豆原创, we value ongoing learning as part of the foundation for success. In the fast-moving tech sector where skill demand changes faster than in other industries, we鈥檙e constantly evolving our learning offerings to support the hard and soft skills needed to help people stay competitive.

Inside 麻豆原创, for example, we look at a long and successful track record in deploying skills management to effective resource management in our consulting business and are now evolving this to support dynamic and forward-looking workforce planning and development.

Our customers can benefit from our experience as we are incorporating the best practices we learned in people and skills management into our 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors solutions. When it comes to helping our customers and partners build and sustain 麻豆原创 product skills, our digital learning offerings, and , work to provide easy-to-use, engaging content for learners to explore, build, and maintain relevant skills. Additionally, we help support career planning around the skills that learners are honing, working to provide the right learning journey targeted to each learner鈥檚 goals.

Our mission is to create learning and development opportunity for all across the 麻豆原创 ecosystem. We aim to empower鈥痚veryone to successfully build 麻豆原创 software skills using future-oriented content delivered in different formats to fit individual ways of learning. By better aligning strategic workforce planning and business strategy at the onset, as well as becoming laser-focused on a workplace culture that values agility and curiosity, businesses can get ahead of the skills curve.

We sat down with Max Wessel, executive vice president and chief learning officer of 麻豆原创, to discuss how the company helps users across its entire ecosystem learn, grow, and succeed through new, affordable learning offerings.

Q: Can you tell us about the momentum we鈥檝e made so far this year in terms of new 麻豆原创 offerings that focus on learning?

A: Our focus this year has been on lowering the barrier of access to learning. We want every individual user to find and benefit from the most relevant, up-to-date training across the 麻豆原创 portfolio. You can see the immense progress through two examples. First, we made it easier than ever before for students to access 麻豆原创 Learning. And second, we optimized our offerings to support 麻豆原创 PartnerEdge program partners with tailored learning. Both new offerings feature a wide variety of learning content, hands-on practice on live 麻豆原创 learning systems, and social and collaborative learning environments to help ensure that every learner can stay current on 麻豆原创 skills and the latest innovations.

麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to drive knowledge throughout the ecosystem can be seen in the numbers. Together with our learners, we celebrated 5 million course enrollments on open麻豆原创, our free learning platform. I鈥檓 also incredibly proud that we expanded our job skills-building program, People to Work by 麻豆原创, to equip first-time job seekers as well as those in career transitions with the skills and certification they need to reenter the job market. And this is just the beginning.

Why is now the right time for 麻豆原创鈥檚 commitment to lowering the barrier of access for every learner?

According to the , by 2030, more than 1 billion people will require reskilling and by 2022, 42% of skills are expected to change. The research also highlights that 鈥渕illions of people are already being left behind.鈥� All of this highlights a critical need for reskilling and upskilling. That鈥檚 real human cost. People struggling to take care of themselves and their families.

With a cloud business growing at rapid pace, we can make a difference here. That鈥檚 why it鈥檚 the right time for 麻豆原创 to step up 鈥� because we know 麻豆原创 skills can make all of those struggling to find work more resilient. Consider our program, which trains unemployed job seekers for a new future. Whether one is switching from years of being a warehouse worker or rejoining the workforce after raising a family, we can help people reach a better life.

In my role as chief learning officer, I鈥檓 committed to our mission to make each person鈥檚 learning experience with 麻豆原创 easier and truly put the learner at the center of all that we do. Through more engaging content and multi-faceted experiences, we can meet learners where and how they learn best to ultimately enable more people and accelerate transformation.

What can learners expect next from 麻豆原创?

As part of our effort to lower the barrier and create a simplified and engaging experience, we鈥檙e piloting a new experience for 麻豆原创 Learning. For the new experience, we鈥檝e designed the content and experience to be efficient, enjoyable, and relevant. It puts the individual learner at the center and their goals at the forefront鈥攚hether they鈥檙e looking to obtain a new skill or update their knowledge on the latest 麻豆原创 solutions. This new offering will provide learning content covering the and, as new technology evolves, more guides, content, and functions will be added to the 麻豆原创 Learning site.

Our evolving suite of learning offerings aims to provide opportunity for all. A dynamic and upskilled workforce is crucial for success in tomorrow鈥檚 economy, and I鈥檓 incredibly excited for what鈥檚 ahead as we work to accelerate learning and the of the future.