Answerthink, a Hackett Group company (NASDAQ: HCKT) and a United VARs member for US and Canada, is leading the way in making AI accessible, practical, and transformative for businesses across North America.
Answerthink specializes in SAP solutions, including business analytics, financial planning, and AI-driven insights. Its mission is to simplify complex processes and make advanced technologies accessible to small and mid-sized companies.
I spoke with Rich Rodriguez, Associate Principal at Answerthink, to learn how the company is empowering businesses to streamline planning processes and develop smarter strategies; all without requiring any technical expertise.
Rich Rodriguez, Associate Principal at Answerthink, has over fifteen years of expertise in SAP BI (Business Intelligence). With a deep understanding of data analytics, which is a foundation of AI, he has seen first-hand how AI and predictive analytics can transform decision-making processes.
“AI and predictive analytics work together to make businesses smarter,” he explains. “AI uses machine learning and data science to analyze patterns, while predictive analytics projects those insights into the future. Together, they help businesses make proactive decisions based on data, not guesswork.”
Rich highlights how predictive analytics can reveal relationships between variables like seasonality and costs in financial planning. Instead of relying solely on past data or gut instinct, businesses gain clarity about what drives results and what to expect next.
SAP Business AI: Simplifying Advanced Analytics
At the core of Answerthink’s offerings is SAP Business AI, a platform designed to make AI accessible and practical.
“SAP Business AI is becoming pervasive across all SAP applications,” Rich explains. “It allows users to interact with their data in new ways, from natural language queries to tools like Smart Insights.”
Smart Insights is an SAP Business AI feature that uses statistical analysis to uncover deeper insights from data. Instead of looking at numbers on a chart or table, users see textual explanations paired with visualizations. This makes understanding the story behind a specific data point or variance much easier.
Rich gives an example. “Imagine you’re looking at a sales dashboard showing $98 million in revenue. With a few clicks, Smart Insights breaks down the factors contributing to that number, like top regions or product lines. It’s a faster, smarter way to understand what is driving your business.”
He encourages businesses to think about the possibilities. “With predictive analytics, you can create adaptable plans, adjust scenarios in real-time, explore impacts, and publish updated forecasts within hours instead of weeks.”
Predictive Analytics is Easier Than You Think
Rich acknowledges that many businesses hesitate to adopt AI because of misconceptions about its complexity or risk. “People think AI is too complicated or that it requires a team of data scientists,” he says, “But with tools like Smart Insights and SAP Analytics Cloud, that’s not true. These platforms are designed to be user-friendly and require no coding to get started.”
He explains that tools like these democratize AI for businesses and all types of users. “You don’t need to be a coder to get value from SAP Business AI. It’s designed for business users, which means anyone can use it to make better decisions. The most important message I want customers to remember is this: producing usable analytics is quicker and easier than you think.”
Three Simple Steps to Get Started with AI and Predictive Analytics
Answerthink is proving to its customers that AI and predictive analytics are tools anyone can use to improve FP&A make better, faster decisions. For businesses ready to explore predictive analytics, Rich offers three clear steps:
- Start small: “Pick one area, like improving revenue forecasts or reducing expenses. Focused projects show quick results and build confidence.”
- Use existing tools: “Platforms like SAP Analytics Cloud make it easy to start without needing a technical background. Start with built-in features, then expand as you grow.”
- Involve your team: “AI adoption works best when everyone is engaged. We train customers to ensure they feel confident using the tools themselves.”
Rich encourages Answerthink’s fellow United VARs members to introduce predictive analytics and AI during their projects. Even if those capabilities are not part of the initial requirements.
“This is an opportunity to deliver more value to customers and expand your capabilities. Have ready-made scenarios for your industry. Financial planning is common across all verticals; every business wants to balance costs and revenues. Show customers what’s possible, and they will be more open to exploring new technology.”
About Answerthink
About United VARs
United VARs is a global alliance of SAP implementation partners and solution providers for the mid-market. With over 70 members in 100 countries, the alliance serves all types of SAP rollouts and integrations across the world. It provides businesses with local expertise ‘on the ground’ charged at local rates. All United VARs members work together as one team and provide a more personalized service, more suited to mid-market budgets, than other global systems integrators.
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