AI Innovation Accelerates Industrial Transformation in Asia Pacific, Strengthens Digital Economy Competitiveness

The development of artificial intelligence (AI) technology is increasingly becoming a driving force for digital economic transformation in the Asia Pacific region. The utilisation of AI is no longer limited to enhancing operational efficiency but has also become a primary strategy for companies to accelerate innovation, increase productivity, and strengthen business competitiveness amidst global economic dynamics. This momentum has prompted SAP Asia Pacific (APAC) to appoint Verena Siow as President of Asia Pacific, based in Singapore. The appointment is effective immediately and is part of the company’s strategy to accelerate customer business transformation through the use of AI technology and digital solutions. In her new role, Verena will focus on enhancing customer success, accelerating business transformation, and helping various organisations across the Asia Pacific region maximise the value of the SAP solutions they use. Verena has nearly three decades of experience in the technology industry, including 15 years at SAP. Prior to being entrusted with leading the Asia Pacific region, she served as Business Suite Leader APAC, responsible for developing the cloud business while driving comprehensive customer transformation. She also previously led SAP Southeast Asia as President and Managing Director. Chief Revenue Officer APAC, EMEA, and MEE at SAP, Manos Raptopoulos, said the company’s business growth is increasingly supported by the acceleration of AI innovation, which forms the foundation for transformation across various industrial sectors. ‘Our business is driven by the acceleration of AI innovation, underpinned by our purpose, talent, and the partnerships we build. Verena brings deep regional experience, a strong focus on customer success, and outstanding leadership to lead this region of strategic growth potential,’ he said on Wednesday (1/7/2026). According to him, the Asia Pacific region is one of the areas with the greatest digital economic growth opportunities in the world. Therefore, accelerating AI adoption is a crucial factor for the company in helping customers improve efficiency, speed up decision-making, and create more adaptive business models. Meanwhile, Verena Siow stated that the development of AI is changing the way companies manage data, business processes, and human resources within an integrated digital ecosystem. ‘This is a very important moment to lead SAP Asia Pacific. Our vision of the Autonomous Enterprise, which connects data, processes, and people in an integrated manner, delivers real results for customers as they transform their businesses for the AI era,’ she said. The Autonomous Enterprise concept developed by SAP allows companies to leverage artificial intelligence to automate various business processes while generating faster and more accurate analysis. This approach can increase productivity and strengthen company competitiveness amidst the acceleration of the digital economy. SAP currently operates businesses in Australia and New Zealand, Greater China, India, Japan, South Korea, and Southeast Asia. The company employs more than 50,000 people across 46 offices and SAP Labs development centres in the Asia Pacific region. Thousands of companies in the region utilise SAP solutions, spanning sectors from manufacturing, technology, and transportation to retail. The presence of AI technology is projected to further accelerate the digital transformation of various industries while driving innovation-based economic growth in Asia Pacific.