How SAP’s blockchain strategy is fundamentally different

If you consider that blockchains are the social networks for business, then a company with one of the strongest networks is SAP. Yet, compared to the leading blockchain player IBM, SAP’s blockchain approach is relatively low-key with just three public initiatives in pharmaceuticals, food provenance and technology. Talking to Gil Perez, SAP senior vice president of products and innovations, it became apparent that SAP’s blockchain strategy is different to its competitors in many ways, particularly in relation to forming a consortium, ownership and incentives.

A top-down approach

The challenge of blockchain for enterprises isn’t the technology. Rather, it’s ensuring there’s an appropriate business case and creating an effective consortium. Getting agreement between competitors can be painfully slow. The fewer companies involved, the faster the process. Hence, some have adopted a lighthouse strategy with one or two major industry players.

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