SAP INDUSTRY 4.0
EXECUTIVE INTERVIEW
Custom Products for the Connected Customer
Keith Zobott , Global Vice President of Digital Products and Projects at SAP explores the fundamentals of Intelligent Products , and the benefits for both consumers and manufacturers
You ’ ve probably used an Intelligent Product , whether you realised it or not . Cars which use sensors to remind drivers to refuel , or cameras to assist their parking , are Intelligent Products .
The custom case protecting your mobile device is an intelligent product , too . They all share fundamental characteristics , including the ability to adapt to their environment or how they ' re being used , the ability to minimise maintenance costs , or maximise performance , and the ability to be personalised by customers . But the concept is far reaching and can broadly be divided into two categories : aesthetic customisation and performance optimisation .
“ At SAP we ’ re tackling both of those things ,” says Keith Zobott , Global Vice President of Digital Products and
KEITH ZOBOTT
Projects at SAP . Zobott uses a pair of exercise shoes as an example of how a product can be both , simultaneously . A runner may buy a pair of smart shoes to help improve their performance . The footwear can track their movements , distance travelled , the locations they visited and other common data points that wearables on the market can already measure . But they can also pinpoint specifics such as foot positioning while taking a stride , or which part of the foot is taking most of the pressure .
On the other side of the equation , a consumer may simply want a shoe that looks great . “ We know that consumers now expect every product they buy to be delivered their way : in their colours and with their chosen combination of capabilities ,” Zobott explains . “ So SAP is building an ecosystem that allows manufacturers to provide products that
94 June 2021