Future-Proofing your ERP: Why APAC’s SAP Users in Insurance Are Turning to Appian

For years, SAP has been the heart of operations and a monumental investment in stability and process integrity for many insurance providers. But the ground is shifting. The modern insurance landscape, particularly in the dynamic Asia Pacific (APAC) region, is a whirlwind of new distribution channels, evolving regulations, and ever-increasing customer expectations.

Why Integration Matters

Adapting to these changing trends with a monolithic ERP is becoming more difficult. What happens when an organisation’s leadership team wants to pivot, integrate a new Insurtech partner, or launch a product at the speed the market demands?

This conversation is happening in boardrooms across APAC. The answer isn’t to rip out and replace the core SAP system. It’s about building a flexible, intelligent bridge to the future with SAP partners like Appian.

Appian’s low-code platform is like an agility layer on top of the powerful SAP core. It enhances an organisation’s investment by connecting data from disparate sources, including core SAP, legacy claims systems, customer data in Salesforce, and more. This unified, virtual data fabric or view allows an organisation to orchestrate, extend, and innovate around its SAP processes at a previously unimaginable speed.

An Example from the Field

Imagine an adjuster in the field. With an Appian-powered application on their tablet, they can access real-time claims data from the core SAP system, pull up customer communication history from a separate CRM, and leverage AI to analyse submitted photos for fraud indicators—all from a single, intuitive interface, even when offline.

The platform empowers insurance teams to build and modify applications with drag-and-drop simplicity, slashing development times and putting the power of innovation directly into the hands of business users.

Harnessing the Power of AI

The launch of solutions like Appian’s Connected Claims 2.0 further amplifies this advantage. It embeds AI directly into the claims workflow, automating document-heavy tasks like data extraction from unstructured documents and providing next-best-action recommendations.

This is a game-changer for insurers grappling with the surge in data and the pressure to reduce claims cycle times. It transforms claims from a document-heavy slog into a data-driven, intelligent process, freeing up experts to handle the most complex cases that require a human touch.

What This Means for Mastering SAP Insiders

Easier data integration is the new superpower. The old way of rigid, point-to-point integrations and API gateways is too slow and brittle for the modern insurance ecosystem. Appian’s data fabric approach provides a virtualised layer that unifies data across systems without costly migration projects. For an SAP user, this means a 360-degree view of the customer and operations and connecting core ERP data with information from any other system, legacy or modern, to drive smarter decisions.

The monolithic ERP structure is no longer a standalone strategy. While an SAP core is essential for financial and operational integrity, the ERP’s monolithic nature can hinder rapid adaptation. A low-code platform like Appian provides the necessary agility, acting as a flexible process layer. This allows organisations to build new digital front-ends quickly, automate cross-system workflows, and modify processes on the fly without undertaking a massive, high-risk core customisation project.

Embedding AI is a wise move. The true power of AI in insurance is realised when it’s embedded within your core processes. Appian’s approach isn’t about a standalone AI tool but making existing teams smarter and faster. The platform infuses intelligence into every step, from AI-powered document summarisation and fraud detection to next-best-action suggestions for adjusters. For an SAP-centric insurer, this means automating manual, error-prone tasks, increasing straight-through processing rates, and delivering faster, more personalised customer service.