SAP in conjunction with the German Football association have launched the SAP Match Insights solution that will facilitate the analysis of training, preparation and tournaments as well as enable coaches and scouts to process vast amounts of data to find an assess key situations in each match to improve player and team performance.
The solution is running on the SAP HANA platform and its main goal was to build an innovative solution that enhanced the on-field performance leading up to the World Cup.
SAP Match Insights is envisioned to feature a simple user interface that can be used by players and coaches to facilitate a more interactive dialogue to debrief the team and to prepare for future matches.
“SAP’s involvement has transformed the football experience for coaches, players, fans, and the media,” said Oliver Bierhoff SAP brand ambassador and manager of the German national football team. “Imagine this: In just 10 minutes, 10 players with three balls can produce over seven million data points. SAP HANA can process these in real time. With SAP, our team can analyse this huge amount of data to customise training and prepare for the next match.”
The German National Team will use SAP Match Insights in an early adoption phase for preparation and post analyses of the matches during the World Cup in Brazil. Enhancing SAP’s industry product portfolio for sports and entertainment, SAP Match Insights is intended to be offered to other clubs and football federations as well.
“Today each sports team is looking for innovative ways to gain a competitive edge over its rivals,” said Bierhoff. “We are representing one of the most successful teams in the world. The DFB is committed to providing the German national team with the best technology to maximise their performance. SAP meets this demanding criterion,”
The insights are also aimed to be beneficial for the media, enabling them to deliver a better informed commentary. “Big data is an incredible resource for coaches and players to contextualise information and draw well-informed conclusions to optimise training and tactics,” said Simon Carpenter, Chief Customer Officer at SAP Africa. “It’s high time to make this type of information accessible to sports journalism and the fans as well.”
“The world of sports is changing, with technology innovating every area: the fan experience, player performance monitoring, team management, ticketing, and venue operations,” said Carpenter. “The DFB is keen to spearhead this industry transformation. With solutions provided by SAP, together we are perfectly poised for this transformation and a successful World Cup.”
