German tech conglomerate SAP Labs has been one of the major players in the generative AI race on the enterprise side. The company recently introduced Joule, a natural-language generative AI assistant that allows access to the company’s extensive cloud enterprise suite across different apps and programs. It will provide real-time data insights and action recommendations.

With a global presence in 19 countries, labs are responsible for driving SAP’s product strategy, developing and localising its core solutions, and contributing to the SAP Business Technology Platform. 

54-year-old SAP was founded by five former IBM employees, Dietmar Hopp, Hasso Plattner, Claus Wellenreuther, Klaus Tschira, and Hans-Werner Hector. SAP Labs is the R&D arm of SAP with its second largest office space in Bengaluru. 

AIM got in touch with Shweta Mohanty, vice president and head, of human resources, SAP, India and Dharani Karthikeyan, vice president, head of engineering for analytics, SAP Labs India, to understand the company’s AI and analytics play, customer stories, hiring process for data scientists, work culture and more. 

AI & Analytics Play

“We have fully embraced generative AI in our business AI concept, aiming to provide AI that is responsible, reliable, and relevant. The goal is to infuse AI into business applications, with a focus on trust and outcomes,” Karthikeyan told AIM. 

SAP has a portfolio of over 350 applications spanning various use cases, from cash management to document scanning. The company is enhancing its Business Technology Platform (BTP) with a generative AI layer.  The team aims to improve business processes while maintaining human control over decisions. They have collaborated with Microsoft for Human Capital Management tools, combating biases in recruiting, and introduced a Business Analytics tool for faster insights. 

SAP is also partnering with Google Cloud to launch a holistic data cloud, addressing data access challenges. Additionally, they have invested in generative AI players Anthropic, Cohere, and Aleph Alpha, diversifying their capabilities.

Interview Process

The hiring process for tech roles involves five to six steps starting with profile screening, focusing on the candidate’s development background and programming language proficiency. As described by Mohanty, this is followed by an online assessment to test programming skills, lasting 60 to 90 minutes. Technical interviews include case studies to assess proficiency and hands-on experience. 

For senior roles, there’s a discussion with a senior leader to gauge cultural alignment. The final step is an HR discussion focusing on cultural fit and interest in the organisation. For college recruitment, the process includes live business solutions assessments. The process concludes with a rigorous background verification.

When it comes to finding the right fit for SAP labs, the ideal candidate should have a comprehensive understanding of ML algorithms, and to build and maintain scalable solutions in production,” added Karthikeyan, highlighting that this consists of the use of statistical modelling procedures, data modelling, and evaluation strategies to find patterns and predict unseen instances. 

The roles involve using computer science fundamentals such as data structures, algorithms, computability, complexity, and computer architecture and also collaborating with data engineers is essential for building data and model pipelines, as well as managing the infrastructure needed for code production. 

As a data scientist at SAP Labs India, you will also analyse large, complex datasets, researching and implement best practices to enhance existing ML infrastructure and provide support to engineers and product managers in implementing ML into products.

Work Culture

SAP’s work culture is characterised by abundant learning opportunities and hands-on experiences where employees have chances to shadow leading data scientists, participate in fellowship projects for stretch assignments, and explore various aspects. This hands-on approach extends to customer interactions and pre-sales experiences. 

“These opportunities, along with the focus on learning and customer engagement, give SAP an edge over other organisations hiring in data science and machine learning,” Mohanty commented.

SAP prioritises its employees’ well-being through a comprehensive set of benefits and rewards. The company recognises diverse needs beyond healthcare and retirement plans, offering global and local options for work-life balance, health and well-being, and financial health. 

Embracing a highly inclusive and flexible culture, the company promotes a hybrid working model allowing employees to balance office and remote work. Employee Network Groups foster a sense of community, and inclusive benefits include competitive parental leave and disability support. 

The ERP software giant also aims to foster personal and professional growth, providing learning opportunities, career development resources, and a leadership culture focused on doing what’s right for future generations. It values fair pay, employee recognition, generous time-off policies, variable pay plans, total well-being support, and stock ownership opportunities for all employees.

Why Should You Join SAP Labs?

SAP Labs offers a sense of purpose and involvement in transformative technology phases. At SAP, candidates dive into cutting-edge technologies, explore diverse industries, and embrace continuous learning and innovation. 

Mohanty explained how the team values adaptability, emphasising fungible skills and a proactive mindset, especially in areas like AI and generative AI. 

“We seek individuals ready to tackle new challenges and solve complex problems, fostering a dynamic and impactful work environment,” she explained. 

Adding on to what Mohanty said, “The work at SAP involves mission-critical applications, like supporting cell phone towers or vaccine manufacturing so the integration of generative AI into these applications offers a unique combination of purpose and technological advancement, providing developers with a high sense of purpose in seeing their software run essential business and retail operations. This phase of technological transformation at SAP is especially significant for new joiners,” said Karthikeyan. 

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