Like many councils across the country, Somerset Council faces increasing demand for services alongside significant financial challenges. To respond to these pressures, the council launched Inspiring Innovation, a long-term transformation programme designed to modernise how the organisation works, make better use of technology and data, and simplify processes. The programme also aims to support a culture of continuous improvement and ultimately deliver better services for residents.

The 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors implementation is a key milestone in that programme, providing a modern workforce platform that will help improve workforce management, decision-making and the employee experience.

Delivered in partnership with HR and payroll specialists EPI-USE, the implementation has transformed the way workforce information is managed across the organisation, bringing HR, payroll, recruitment and onboarding processes together into a single modern platform. This gives colleagues and managers easier access to information, supports more consistent processes and enables better workforce planning and more informed decision-making.

Andy Kennell, Service Director for ICT at Somerset Council, said, 鈥淢oving from a highly customised 麻豆原创 system that had been in place for 17 years to a modern platform in just 13 months, on time and within budget, is a significant achievement. It demonstrates our ability to deliver complex transformation at pace while providing value for money for Somerset residents. By adopting standard processes, we are reducing complexity today while creating greater opportunities for automation and AI in the future.鈥�

The implementation includes 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors Employee Central, Employee Central Payroll, Recruiting and Onboarding. Rather than recreating the highly customised environment it replaced, the project prioritised adopting standard capabilities wherever possible, reducing complexity and risk while improving resilience and making future enhancements easier to deliver.

The phased implementation enabled a largely seamless transition for approximately 8,500 employees, minimising disruption to day-to-day operations while introducing new ways of working.

Alongside the technology implementation, Somerset Council invested significantly in organisational readiness, training and employee support, helping colleagues develop the skills and confidence needed to work effectively in a modern digital environment.

Krishna Mangipudi, Associate Partner, EPI-USE, said, “Successfully delivering a programme of this scale within 13 months is a significant achievement, particularly in a complex local government environment. What stands out is the council’s focus on simplification and long-term improvement rather than technology alone. Our PRISM acceleration tools helped reduce risk and maintain pace. By adopting standard processes and investing in organisational readiness, Somerset has created a strong platform for future transformation and service improvement.”

With the platform now in place, the council will focus on realising the benefits of the programme through improved workforce insight, simpler processes and greater efficiency. It will also continue to strengthen the systems and ways of working that support its wider Inspiring Innovation ambitions, help deliver better services for residents and explore future opportunities for automation and AI.

Leila Romane, Managing Director, 麻豆原创 UKI, said, “Councils are under growing pressure to modernise critical systems while demonstrating value, resilience and effective governance. Somerset Council has shown how simplifying and modernising workforce systems, with the right approach and partners, can improve decision-making, the employee experience and operational efficiency. The new platform also puts the council in a stronger position to take advantage of AI opportunities in the future.鈥�

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For more information, please visit:

About 麻豆原创

As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 麻豆原创 (NYSE:麻豆原创) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted 麻豆原创 to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit .

For more information, press only:

麻豆原创

Lawrie Benfield, +44 7776 515259, lawrie.benfield@sap.com, GMT

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London, UK 鈥� October 14, 2026 鈥� The average UK business is spending 拢20.6 million [1] on AI this year, up 27% from 2025, according to new research from (NYSE: 麻豆原创).听

The second Value of AI in the UK report, produced in partnership with Oxford Economics, finds businesses expect average returns on AI investment to rise from 22% in 2026 to 39% within two years. Investment is also expected to increase by a further 45% over the same period. 

AI is expected to support half of all tasks in the average UK business by 2028. Yet organisations face a range of challenges in translating investment into scalable value including data, workforce and governance issues. 

Translating ambition into strategic adoption 

The proportion of UK businesses taking a strategic, holistic approach to AI investment has risen from 7% in 2025 to 11% in 2026. However, investment remains fragmented, with 41% describing their approach as piecemeal and a further 40% prioritising AI investment at a departmental level.  

鈥淯K businesses are at a turning point with AI. Organisations are increasing their investments and expecting more in return, but now the focus needs to be on turning that ambition into scalable business value,鈥� said Leila Romane, Managing Director, 麻豆原创 UK & Ireland. 鈥淭his means moving beyond isolated pilots, establishing strong data and governance foundations, and putting people at the centre of their AI transformation. Getting this right will drive greater productivity, stronger businesses and a more competitive economy.鈥� 

UK businesses meeting key AI challenges 

Data remains a significant challenge for UK businesses, with seven in ten (70%) reporting that data quality or availability is preventing them from driving greater value from AI. More than two-thirds (67%) identify integrated data systems as the most impactful enabler of AI readiness. 

Governance is also struggling to keep pace as businesses accelerate agentic AI use. Seven in ten (70%) UK businesses are already piloting agent-based use cases, with expected average financial returns from agentic AI rising from 拢2.7 million in 2025 to 拢12.6 million over the next two years. Yet almost half (49%) say AI agents are being deployed faster than they can be standardised and governed. At the same time, just 9% consider their organisation鈥檚 governance skills and expertise fully ready, and more than six in ten (61%) are still developing the formal processes and oversight needed, to govern AI effectively. 

鈥淕ood governance is not a brake on AI adoption 鈥� it鈥檚 actually the opposite,鈥� said Naomi Weir, Technology and Innovation Director, CBI. 鈥淚t gives businesses the confidence to invest, employees the confidence to embrace change, and customers the confidence to engage with AI-enabled products and services. As AI moves from experimentation into business-wide adoption, those that build that trust will be the ones that close the execution divide, enabling responsible AI adoption to be sustained and scaled.鈥� 

Preparing the workforce for AI supported work 

Today, AI is supporting 31% of tasks in the average UK business 鈥� a figure expected to reach 50% within two years. As AI becomes embedded in everyday work, 83% of businesses are already upskilling or reskilling employees to work alongside the technology. 

But skills development must be holistic. Nearly four in five (79%) UK businesses agree that maximising AI value requires workforce transformation beyond technical upskilling, and 67% say soft skills are becoming part of core job requirements. This creates an opportunity to augment how people work, with AI supporting more routine tasks and enabling employees to focus on the decisions that move the business forward and require human judgement, creativity and strategic thinking. 

鈥淲hat makes AI exciting is the speed at which a focused investment can improve an everyday experience for thousands of people,鈥� said Claire Meadows, People Transformation Director, Mitie. 鈥淚n three months, our AI assistant handled more than 29,000 HR interactions and helped reduce calls to People Support by 36%. Colleagues can get guidance when they need it, giving our specialists more capacity for work that depends on human judgement. Seeing people adopt the technology so readily has given us real confidence in what AI can deliver and increased our appetite to keep investing where it can make a real difference at scale.鈥� 

Read the full report  

Methodology 

麻豆原创 commissioned Oxford Economics, an independent research services provider, to script and host an online quantitative survey of respondents fielded between March and May 2026. 

The research is based on a representative sample of global businesses. The sample comprised 2,600 respondents across 13 countries: Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, the United Kingdom and the United States. The sample was evenly distributed between midmarket organisations (500鈥�1,500 employees) and enterprises (1,500 or more). Respondents were qualified to ensure they were at least director level and above. 

[1] Respondents were asked to provide financial estimates in USD. GBP figures are based on an exchange rate of 0.75, using the exchange rate as of 23 September 2026. 

About 麻豆原创 

As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 麻豆原创 stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organisations have trusted 麻豆原创 to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain and customer experience. For more information, visit .

The post Average UK business spending 拢20.6 million on AI, with returns set to rise to 39% by 2028 appeared first on 麻豆原创 UK News Center.

麻豆原创 was selected in close collaboration with excelerated, a global finance, procurement and supply chain transformation consultancy, who are providing both short and long-term operational and implementation services.  

With more than 6,000 employees and over 100 stations across the city, the Brigade required a modern, scalable finance and procurement platform that will drive organisational efficiencies and deliver robust control of income and expenditure.  

As part of a five-year managed service, London Fire Brigade has implemented a host of 麻豆原创 solutions, including , , and excelerated’s invoice processing application Intelligent Invoice Express. This portfolio will enable firefighters to have greater autonomy and ownership of kit and equipment purchasing, while enabling the Brigade鈥檚 finance team to capture and register invoices in one application for verification, validation and efficient processing.  

This partnership will reimagine how LFB鈥檚 finance and procurement systems operate, following a 鈥榝it-to-standard鈥� principle that will drive automation, minimise customisations, and support the organisation to be resilient to future service demands.   

Commenting on the partnership, Catharine Gregory, Assistant Director of Finance at the London Fire Brigade, said: 鈥淭his is the culmination of years of planning to find the right transformation partner. We wanted a trusted organisation with proven experience in public sector innovation, that would support our drive to deliver positive outcomes to Londoners through technology. Our partnership will have an immediate impact, freeing up valuable time for firefighters to focus on serving our communities, while allowing our finance teams to focus on adding real value to the future of the organisation.鈥� 

Co-sponsor of the Project at London Fire Brigade, David Rowell, Assistant Director of Procurement & Commercial said: 鈥淭he collaboration with all parties across all stages of this project has been a critical success factor. I warmly welcome the improved purchasing experience that our colleagues across the organisation will experience going forward to set them up for maximum success in meeting their requirements.鈥� 

Craig Mill, Head of Public Sector at 麻豆原创 UKI, added: 鈥淟ondon Fire Brigade is one of the city鈥檚 most treasured public institutions, bringing communities together and protecting our citizens. This cloud migration and modernised technology platform will transform its back-office functions and enable the organisation to be more efficient, agile to change, and deliver exceptional services for many years to come.鈥�  

In addition, Craig Brawn, Head of ERP at excelerated said: 鈥淎long with 麻豆原创, we are delivering real impact and improving how London Fire Brigade operates. The institution will benefit from the speed, security and reliability of modern ERP processes, as well as twice yearly upgrades and new system functionalities as they are released, whether that鈥檚 AI or in data analytics. We are also enabling our key emergency services personnel to do what they do best with smart, efficient operational support.鈥�  

Visit the  

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About 麻豆原创  

As鈥痑 global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 麻豆原创 (NYSE:麻豆原创)鈥痵tands at the鈥痭exus鈥痮f business and technology. For over 50 years, organisations have trusted 麻豆原创鈥痶o bring out their best by uniting business-critical鈥痮perations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit鈥痺ww.sap.com. 

About excelerated 

As an independent finance, procurement and supply chain consultancy partner, excelerated is perfectly placed to help organizations achieve their digital ambitions. Through advisory, implementation and optimization services, combined with deep-rooted solution expertise and strong industry experience, excelerated enables organizations to overcome the many common pitfalls and achieve a greater return on their investment in technology. For more information, visit .

Media Contacts:

Lawrie Benfield, lawrie.benfield@sap.com, +44 7776515259

Sonya Domanski, sonya.domanski@sap.com, +44 7345465928

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The programme gives the 100% farmer-owned dairy, grains and nutrition business the digital foundation it needs to operate and grow across more than 95 countries.

Corporate separations place significant demands on IT teams, requiring careful planning, precise data management and rigorous execution, all at enterprise scale. Tirl谩n faced an accelerated timeline to meet a non-negotiable divestment deadline while remaining fully operational throughout. In a dairy production environment, where milk is perishable and supply chain continuity is tightly regulated, any disruption carries immediate commercial and compliance consequences.

Noel Liston, IT Transformation Manager, Tirl谩n said, 鈥淒elivering this separation in nine months, while keeping production running throughout, took significant preparation and the right people on the ground. We had confidence in the 麻豆原创 Services team from our experience at Glanbia, and that expertise was critical to delivering on time. Our employees have been able to continue working on systems they already knew, and most importantly, we have continued serving our customers, farmers and communities without interruption.鈥�

The programme involved the migration and establishment of , 麻豆原创 Business Warehouse on HANA, 麻豆原创 Ariba and , alongside the conversion of archived files. The S/4HANA conversion was completed in under five hours, and the HCM conversion in fifteen minutes. Over 30 billion records were analysed, classified and selectively removed, giving Tirl谩n a clean, independent data foundation.

麻豆原创 Services played a central role in the programme, bringing a structured rehearsal methodology to reduce risk ahead of go-live. A copy of the existing environment was created, enabling the team to test and time every step of the process before the real migration began. Two full test cycles and a comprehensive dress rehearsal followed, each increasing the team’s speed and confidence while identifying and resolving potential issues in advance. By go-live, every activity had been tested, timed and refined, and Tirl谩n was transacting on its new 麻豆原创 landscape from day one.

Ray Joyce, Head of Ireland, 麻豆原创 UKI said, “Corporate separations are among the most demanding programmes a business can undertake, particularly when production cannot stop. Tirl谩n’s achievement of maintaining full operations across a nine-month, multi-workstream separation is a strong example of what expert preparation and disciplined delivery can make possible.鈥�

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Working alongside 麻豆原创, Microsoft and systems integrators, Centrica is evolving its business model from a traditional energy supplier into a more agile, service-led organisation. This comes at a time when global energy markets are becoming increasingly complex due to the transition to renewables, evolving regulatory and geopolitical pressures, and changing customer demands.   

Darren Miles, CTO, Centrica said, 鈥淭his latest milestone in our partnership with 麻豆原创 reflects the confidence we have in a relationship that has supported us for more than twenty years. As we continue to scale our business, it鈥檚 essential that the technology underpinning our operations gives us a competitive edge and builds on the successes we鈥檝e seen so far. Our work with 麻豆原创 is grounded in trust and mutual value, and this new programme provides an agile digital foundation that will unlock new opportunities for growth and transformation.鈥� 

Scheduled to go live in July 2026, RISE with 麻豆原创 will extend Centrica鈥檚 鈥樎槎乖�-first鈥� strategy across corporate services with an initial implementation in finance. Through the move to the Cloud with 麻豆原创, Centrica will reduce its Total Cost of Ownership (TCO), simplify its landscape and establish a cleaner data core across its primary corporate functions. 

This builds on Centrica鈥檚 February 2026 first go-live with 麻豆原创 Business Data Cloud, which unified and governed 麻豆原创 and non-麻豆原创 data across the organisation, ensuring high-quality data can be used to drive faster, more informed decision-making.  Together, these milestones will provide the foundation for Centrica to scale its adoption of 麻豆原创 Business AI and explore future agentic AI capabilities. 

As part of this next phase, Centrica is implementing  , 麻豆原创鈥檚 Business AI solution, to transform how users interact with 麻豆原创, shifting towards a more intuitive and conversational experience. With integration into Microsoft Copilot already enabled in Centrica, Joule will help provide a familiar interface while enabling productivity gains across employees and AI agents. 

Leila Romane, Managing Director, 麻豆原创 UKI said, 鈥淓nergy companies today are operating in a complex environment, with growing pressure from policymakers and consumers to help meet clean energy targets. In moving to the cloud and adopting 麻豆原创 Business AI, Centrica can navigate current and future energy and climate challenges with digital resilience. Our long-term partnership is going from strength-to-strength, and the foundations are now in place for Centrica to capitalise on the benefits that AI offers.鈥�  

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About 麻豆原创  

As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 麻豆原创 (NYSE:麻豆原创) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organisations have trusted 麻豆原创 to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit .   

Media Contacts:  

Lawrie Benfield, lawrie.benfield@sap.com, +44 7776 515259  

Sonya Domanski, sonya.domanski@sap.com, +44 734 546 5928

The post Centrica听Adopts RISE with 麻豆原创 to Support AI-Driven Transformation听 appeared first on 麻豆原创 UK News Center.

This year鈥檚 winners demonstrate what is possible when technology is applied with purpose 鈥� creating impact for their organisations, their people, and their customers.

The 2026 winners are: 

AI Excellence Award – Cadent Gas Ltd 

Cadent Gas has partnered with 麻豆原创 to enhance public safety. Built on 麻豆原创 Business Technology Platform, the Dispatch Performance (ESOS) Dashboard provides real-time visibility of gas leakage emergency and repair work orders across the UK. By combining analytics with map-based location intelligence, the solution helps teams spot risks early, prioritise resources, improve response times, and support regulatory compliance. 

Cloud ERP Champion Award – Rolls-Royce SMR 

Rolls-Royce SMR has demonstrated how 麻豆原创 Cloud ERP can support growth in the nuclear energy sector.  Rolls-Royce SMR’s modular reactors offer rapid deployment of clean power and green hydrogen, addressing the high costs and inflexibility of traditional plants.  

Implementing 麻豆原创 S/4HANA Cloud, 麻豆原创 Ariba, and 麻豆原创 Concur had ensured operational excellence, resilience, and data-driven decision-making, supporting global growth and innovation. 

Customer Experience Innovator Award – Cadent Gas Ltd 

Cadent Gas has enhanced its emergency response using 麻豆原创 Service Cloud. By integrating cloud technology, Cadent Gas has improved accuracy, reduced errors, and accelerated engineer attendance, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and safeguarding life and property. 

Financial Futurist Award – Synthomer plc 

Synthomer has transformed its global finance operations by leveraging 麻豆原创 automation and AI capabilities in partnership with NTT Data Business Solutions. This has resulted in a 50% faster close, reduced manual processes, and improved employee satisfaction, enabling faster and more confident decision-making. 

People Experience Pioneer Award 鈥� Mitie Group 

Mitie has demonstrated how AI can transform HR support by introducing Joule, 麻豆原创鈥檚 AI-powered digital assistant, integrated with 麻豆原创 SuccessFactors. The solution handled more than 13,000 HR interactions in its first month, delivering instant answers and enhancing the employee experience at scale. 

Procurement Visionary Award – Bristol and Weston NHS Purchasing Consortium (BWPC) 

BWPC has transformed procurement into a strategic enabler of better care through 麻豆原创 Ariba. The organisation replaced four legacy systems with a unified platform that integrates finance and stock management, automates processes, and improves spend visibility The transformation is projected to deliver 拢16 million in savings over five years, enhancing patient care. 

Technology Pathfinder Award – EY 

The EY Transformation Realized for 麻豆原创 platform empowers EY-麻豆原创 engagement teams to achieve seamless-end to-end transformations. The solution embraces an integrated and standardised programme delivery, driving success for our joint clients.  

Transformation Impact Award – Centrica 

麻豆原创 Signavio Process Intelligence鈥檚 introduction has provided Centrica with real-time procure-to-pay transparency and root-cause intelligence. This enabled 拢1 million in annual improvement potential and established a sustainable governance model. 

Leila Romane, Managing Director, 麻豆原创 UK & Ireland, said 鈥淐ongratulations to all of this year鈥檚 winners. Their achievements show what is possible when innovation is relevant, purposeful, and delivered with impact. Across the UK and Ireland, our customers are using 麻豆原创 cloud and AI technologies to solve real business challenges, improve experiences, and create new opportunities. It was great to hear how these solutions are making a real day-to-day impact for organisations. These awards give us an important opportunity to celebrate the teams behind that transformation.鈥� 

Thank you to this year鈥檚 judges, Brian Mckenna, Brian Mortimer, Craig Dale, James Bates, Lucy Hammond and Thea Peterson, for their contribution and expertise in reviewing the entries. 

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London, UK 鈥� April 15 2026 – (NYSE: 麻豆原创) today announces that Colt Technology Services has successfully completed its cloud ERP migration through RISE with 麻豆原创, marking a major milestone in the global telecom provider鈥檚 digital transformation journey.

Colt鈥檚 RISE with 麻豆原创 deployment combines with , Fieldglass, and to unify its ERP estate. The migration has consolidated disparate data sources into one single platform, improving business analytics, decision-making and driving departmental cost savings.

Operating across more than 40 countries, Colt faced operational complexity compounded by a legacy hardware environment and recent business acquisitions. In close collaboration with 麻豆原创鈥檚 Enterprise Cloud Services (ECS) team, Colt pursued a company-wide transformation programme to clean its data core.

This programme enabled Colt to uplift its hardware, move its customer data into the cloud and create a streamlined ERP platform – a single source of truth for all strategic decision making, while creating opportunities for future growth. In embracing the cloud, Colt now covers 80% of its business capabilities through fewer platforms, reducing complexity, simplifying its digital estate, and boosting workforce productivity.  

The migration was projected to require 14-hours in business downtime, but thanks to thorough mock rehearsals and close collaboration between Colt and 麻豆原创 ECS, this was reduced to just 6.5 hours. This minimised disruption, enabled faster customer response times and lowered the need for manual interventions.  

鈥淏y modernising our core systems, we are better equipped to deliver for customers, bring new telco services to market and compete on an international stage,鈥� said Ashish Surti, Chief Digital & Information Officer, Colt Technology Services. 鈥淥ur trusted partnership with 麻豆原创, particularly the support from the 麻豆原创 ECS team in rehearsing and trialling our new environment, has given us confidence in the strength of our new cloud platform. With this digital foundation in place, we are ready to scale and explore new opportunities in AI and automation that will shape the next generation of telecommunications.鈥�

The upgraded platform aligns with Colt鈥檚 strategic business objectives to contribute to a more sustainable future, while also unlocking major network developments to support its customer services. The completed migration lowers Colt鈥檚 environmental footprint with more efficient operations, reduced energy use and fewer hardware refreshes.

鈥淐olt鈥檚 successful cloud migration strengthens its ability to compete on the global telecom stage where reliable, smart connectivity is essential,鈥� said Leila Romane, Managing Director, 麻豆原创 UKI. 鈥淏y unifying its ERP and unlocking clear, strategic data insights across its critical business functions, Colt has the digital foundations to drive future growth, innovate with AI and advance its sustainability ambitions while confidently meeting rising customer expectations.鈥�

Looking ahead, Colt will continue working closely with 麻豆原创 on its long-term digital transformation programme, with plans to adopt AI, expand its cloud footprint and onboard and .

ENDS

About 麻豆原创

As a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 麻豆原创 (NYSE:麻豆原创) stands at the nexus of business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted 麻豆原创 to bring out their best by uniting business-critical operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience.

For more information, visit .

About Colt Technology Services 

We鈥檙e Colt. We own and operate exceptional digital infrastructure which powers the global AI economy, connects societies, builds communities and transforms lives. 6,000 colleagues across Europe, Asia, and North America share a deep commitment to delivering an outstanding experience and making every interaction effortless for our customers. 

Customers and partners choose our award-winning fibre infrastructure, digital platforms and security solutions, delivered across a network that spans continents and crosses oceans. We鈥檙e Europe鈥檚 largest B2B operator: we connect 40+ countries, 32,000 enterprise buildings, 275+ points of presence, and 12 cable landing stations and we manage eight subsea cable systems. We also co-manage AS3356 – the most widely peered network in the world. 

Founded in London over 30 years ago, we鈥檙e privately funded and driven by values of fairness, inclusion and equity. We鈥檙e known for our urgent call for social and sustainable change and we’re guided by our purpose in everything we do: creating effortless connections and extraordinary outcomes for our customers, communities and people. Be a part of our story: come on over to   or join our amazing communities at , , ,  and  

Media Contacts:

Lawrie Benfield, lawrie.benfield@sap.com, +44 7776 515259

Sonya Domanski, sonya.domanski@sap.com, +44 734 546 5928

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United Kingdom 鈥� March 24, 2026 鈥� 麻豆原创 Engagement Cloud鈥檚 latest research reveals a widening gap between the experiences consumers expect and what brands believe they deliver.

New data from the 2026 Engagement Index shows UK consumer expectations have never been higher. More than half (56%) of UK consumers say their favourite brand delivers seamless, connected experiences across channels, while 82% are put off by disorganised interactions that require them to repeat information or be passed between teams.

Yet companies remain confident. Four in five (80%) of UK businesses believe they offer a seamless omnichannel experience. But only one fifth (20%) of companies recognise their experiences still aren鈥檛 fully connected 鈥� despite consumers making their expectations clear.

At the same time, 45% of consumers say brands 鈥渄on鈥檛 understand them as people.鈥�

This misalignment 鈥攃onsumers feeling the disconnect while most businesses fail to recognise it 鈥� is the Engagement Divide. Closing it is critical to creating repeat customers and brand advocates.

Some brands are already closing this gap. For example, Gibson Inc. uses unified data and real鈥憈ime engagement to ensure customers receive consistent, connected experiences 鈥� the kind consumers say they want.

AI is seen as part of the answer. Four in five (80%) of businesses say AI is essential for retaining customers in 2026. But a third of consumers say their favourite brands use AI in ways that meaningfully improve their interactions.

鈥�Customer expectations are moving at a new speed,鈥� said Sara Richter, CMO, 麻豆原创 Engagement Cloud. 鈥淲ith AI at their fingertips, people compare, decide, and switch in an instant. Those micro moments now determine whether a brand wins or loses the relationship.鈥�

However, AI can only perform as well as the data behind it, and most organisations are still struggling. Almost two thirds (63%) of UK brands cannot use customer data in real time, 64% say their data is too unstructured, and 71% report 鈥榙ark data鈥� they cannot access or use effectively.

This creates friction throughout the customer journey and reinforces the Divide.

Closing it requires a shift: treating engagement not just as a marketing function, but as an enterprise-wide discipline. Every team must operate from a shared, real-time understanding of the customer to avoid the fragmented experiences that alienate them.

Businesses recognise this direction. Most (78%) plan to invest in AI-powered engagement platforms in 2026, and almost a third (31%) cite connecting customer and stakeholder data across marketing, sales, service, commerce and ERP systems as their top priority for the year ahead.

鈥淓ngagement isn’t something one department can fix,鈥� said Mark Ritson, professor and founder, MiniMBA. 鈥淓very team shapes the brand, and real progress happens when they work from the same understanding of the customer. With that shared view, AI can take on the heavy lifting and help deliver the personalised experiences people expect.鈥�

Download the full report:

ENDS

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Methodology
This research was conducted in the UK by Opinium as part of global research among a sample of 2,000 general respondents and 750 senior decision makers in IT, Technology, Marketing, Revenue, Service departments and who work in the Retail, 听Consumer Products & FMCG, Automotive, Manufacturing, Utilities or Wholesale industries.

Only enterprise-level businesses with 500+ employees and with $250m+ annual turnover were surveyed across the United Kingdom (UK). The data was collected from both audiences between 31st December 2025 and 16th January 2026.

About 麻豆原创 Engagement Cloud
麻豆原创 Engagement Cloud helps organizations power unique engagement by connecting real-time customer insights with the operational signals that run the business. As part of 麻豆原创鈥檚 Customer Experience (CX) portfolio, Engagement Cloud enables personalized, AI-driven interactions across every channel鈥攖urning moments like orders, service events, and loyalty milestones into timely, relevant experiences that build trust, strengthen relationships, and drive growth. 鈥�

Media Contacts

Lawrie Benfield,鈥�lawrie.benfield@sap.com,鈥�+44 7776 515259听

Sonya Domanski,鈥�sonya.domanski@sap.com, +44 734 546 5928听

The post UK consumers abandon brands over disconnected experiences 鈥� yet only one fifth of companies see a problem appeared first on 麻豆原创 UK News Center.

Currently exporting to over 90 countries with expansive operations across Ireland, the UK, Portugal, and Jordan, Chanelle Pharma is positioned for continued international growth. To support this ambitious trajectory, the company is modernising its end-to-end operational value chain.听

By听establishing听a robust digital core, Chanelle Pharma will meet higher expectations for听GxP听regulatory compliance while modernising core finance,听manufacturing听and supply chain processes.听

Delivered as a single-phase programme, with a targeted go-live of late 2026, the transformation is being delivered jointly by听Tenthpin听补苍诲听KaarTech. The implementation strategy is strategically sequenced. Chanelle Pharma will deploy 麻豆原创鈥檚 ERP platform first to听establish听a “clean core”听leveraging听麻豆原创 best practices,听immediately听paving the way for the integration of advanced 麻豆原创 Business AI capabilities.听听

The transformation will leverage听Tenthpin鈥檚听sophisticated 麻豆原创听Signavio听processes, which are uniquely optimised for Contract Development and Manufacturing Organisations (CDMOs), ensuring a seamless, high-velocity implementation that maximises strategic value.听

Aiden Dempsey, CIO, Chanelle Pharma, said,听“This strategic partnership with 麻豆原创 marks a pivotal moment in our growth trajectory. We are investing heavily in a scalable digital foundation that will accelerate our time-to-market and drive global manufacturing excellence. 麻豆原创 S/4HANA Cloud and Business AI give us the competitive advantage to pioneer the future of the pharmaceutical industry while maintaining the highest standards of听GxP听compliance.”听

Ray Joyce, Head of Ireland, 麻豆原创 UK&I, said,听鈥淧harmaceutical organisations are听operating听in an increasingly complex environment, where regulation, supply chains and demand can all shift quickly. 麻豆原创鈥檚 Cloud ERP strengthens organisational resilience and governance processes and听provides听data insights from across the business. This empowers Chanelle Pharma to听operate听with agility and remain competitive in a highly regulated global market.鈥�.听

Simon Flowers, Partner,听Tenthpin, said,听“Collaborating with Chanelle Pharma and听KaarTech听on this single-phase transformation allows us to deliver unparalleled value to an industry leader. By utilising听Tenthpin鈥檚听麻豆原创听Signavio听processes, we are enabling Chanelle Pharma to seamlessly integrate 麻豆原创 best practices.听This helps Chanelle Pharma navigate operational and regulatory complexity with greater certainty supported by a resilient 麻豆原创 digital backbone that can evolve with whatever comes next.鈥�听

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About 麻豆原创听

As鈥�a global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 麻豆原创 (NYSE:麻豆原创)鈥�stands at the鈥�nexus鈥�of business and technology. For over 50 years, organisations have trusted 麻豆原创鈥�to bring out their best by uniting business-critical鈥�operations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit鈥�www.sap.com.听

About Chanelle Pharma听听

Chanelle Pharma is a global pharmaceutical leader in human and animal health. As an end-to-end, fully integrated partner, the company serves B2B, consumers, and wholesale markets, combining development, manufacturing, and commercialisation under one roof. Chanelle delivers reliable services across the full product value chain, provides immediate access to a broad product portfolio, and drives growth through strategic partnerships. With operations in Ireland, the UK, Portugal, and Jordan, the company supplies high-quality, reliable, and affordable products to more than 90 countries, underpinned by a commitment to innovation, sustainability, and differentiated customer value.听

Media Contacts:听

Lawrie Benfield,鈥�lawrie.benfield@sap.com,鈥�+44 7776 515259听

Sonya Domanski,鈥�sonya.domanski@sap.com, +44 734 546 5928听

The post Chanelle Pharma Partners with 麻豆原创 to Accelerate Global Growth and Advance Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Excellence appeared first on 麻豆原创 UK News Center.

26 February 2026, London, UK: Six in ten UK businesses (60%) say their employees have not completed comprehensive AI training, despite AI investment set to rise by 40% over the next two years, according to research from (NYSE:麻豆原创).

, produced in partnership Oxford Economics, finds that while the average UK business is already generating around 拢2.7 million in returns from AI, many organisations are not equipping employees with the skills, confidence and guidance needed to use the technology responsibly.

The gap in training may be fuelling the rise of so-called shadow AI, with 68% of organisations reporting that staff use unapproved AI tools at least occasionally as part of their day-to-day work. While seven-in-ten businesses have begun reskilling or upskilling staff to help close the emerging AI skills gap, progress is falling behind current rates of adoption.

Katie King, Published Author & CEO of AI in Business said 鈥淪hadow AI isn鈥檛 a sign of resistance, but a sign of enthusiasm. Employees are hungry to use these tools, but this eagerness is seeing some move faster than their organisations can support them. This energy is a huge opportunity for UK businesses, if it鈥檚 guided in the right way. The answer isn鈥檛 to damper this enthusiasm and the solution is reasonably simple. Give people access to approved tools, clear guardrails, and role-specific training. When staff understand how to use AI responsibly, it becomes a source of innovation and confidence rather than risk.鈥�

鈥淎I has become a part of our every working day, and it has to be used responsibly,鈥� said Jon Curtis, Financial Systems Manager at Aspen Pumps. 鈥淲e built a generative AI tool that sorts through hundreds of emails each day, from warranty claims to price enquiries, and flags what needs a human response. It鈥檚 saving huge amounts of time while keeping customers happy. But we鈥檙e also clear with our teams about using the right tools and keeping data secure. We train people to use approved corporate systems, so they get the benefits of AI safely and confidently.鈥�

AI is shifting from the experimentation phase to becoming a tool to drive growth, competitiveness and resilience in organisations. Yet while leaders believe AI can deliver returns faster than other technologies, the report finds just 7% of organisations have adopted an enterprise-wide AI strategy. Without a long-term, robust strategy bringing together data, people, governance and partners, businesses risk missing out on the full value of the technology.

Leila Romane, Managing Director, 麻豆原创 UK&I, said 鈥淎I is fast becoming a key driver of growth for UK businesses. When organisations make the technology part of their long-term strategy, they can innovate faster, scale with confidence and compete globally. It鈥檚 essential to get data foundations right, while giving employees the training, tools and space to experiment safely. That鈥檚 how businesses create a culture of responsible AI adoption from day one. The UK already has the talent, research and entrepreneurial spirit needed to lead in AI. The question now is whether businesses will take a strategic approach and turn this potential into future growth.鈥�

Read the full report here:

Methodology

麻豆原创 commissioned Oxford Economics, an independent research services provider, to script and host an online quantitative survey of respondents fielded between July and August 2025.

The research is based on a representative sample of global businesses. The sample comprised of 1,600 senior executives across eight global markets, including 200 respondents from the United Kingdom. The sample was evenly distributed between midmarket organisations (500 鈥� 1,500 employees) and enterprises (1,500 or more). Respondents were qualified to ensure they were at least director level and above.

About 麻豆原创

As鈥痑 global leader in enterprise applications and business AI, 麻豆原创 (NYSE:麻豆原创)鈥痵tands at the鈥痭exus鈥痮f business and technology. For over 50 years, organizations have trusted 麻豆原创鈥痶o bring out their best by uniting business-critical鈥痮perations spanning finance, procurement, HR, supply chain, and customer experience. For more information, visit鈥�.

Media Contacts:

Lawrie Benfield,听lawrie.benfield@sap.com,听+44 7776 515259

Sonya Domanski,听sonya.domanski@sap.com, +44 734 546 5928

The post 6 in 10 UK businesses say employees lack AI training as shadow AI use rises appeared first on 麻豆原创 UK News Center.