DSAG Annual Congress 2023: Positive summary and political impulses

Inspiring keynotes, open exchange with SAP, knowledge transfer and networking among participants – from the perspective of DSAG’s executive management, the DSAG Annual Congress 2023 was a complete success. On the final day (September 21) in Bremen, DSAG Board Chairman Jens Hungershausen and DSAG Managing Director Dr. Mario Günter were very satisfied not only with the content of the event, but also with the organization and the accompanying program.

Follow the DSAG motto and be “wonderfully changeable”

The coverage of the DSAG Annual Congress 2023 at a glance

• Preview: SAP users meet in Bremen

• Day 1: Successfully mastering change

• Day 2: Technology is good, trust is better

• Day 3: Positive summary and political impulses

Topics in focus: Artificial intelligence ...

One of the dominant topics at the DSAG Annual Congress was artificial intelligence (AI). At the DSAG booth in Hall 5 of Messe Bremen, experts from the Transfer Center for Artificial Intelligence Bremen.AI answered visitors’ questions and reported on their activities to promote exchange between entrepreneurs, researchers, talents and innovators in the field of AI.

In addition, a panel of experts discussed the ethical challenges associated with the development of AI tools. In a current position paper, DSAG provides recommendations for companies on how to deal with AI and formulates concrete demands on SAP, politics and society, the fulfillment of which should create a reliable framework for the use of artificial intelligence in companies.

... and sustainability

Likewise, it became clear during the three days of the DSAG Annual Congress 2023 that the topic of sustainability is gaining in importance ever more strongly and ever more quickly. According to the DSAG Investment Report 2023, 17% of DSAG members attribute a high relevance to sustainability and 31% a medium relevance. Among other things, the focus is on the question of how comprehensive environmental reporting can be mapped using the SAP Green Ledger.

A look at the legal requirements makes it clear that time is pressing with regard to sustainability. The European Union’s Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) requires large companies – regardless of capital market orientation – to adequately include information related to environmental, social, and governance (ESG) aspects in their financial reports for fiscal years beginning January 1, 2025. A company is considered large if it meets two of the following three criteria: more than 250 employees, more than 40 million euros in annual sales and more than 20 million euros in total assets. In Germany alone, around 15,000 companies will be affected by the stringent requirements for comprehensive sustainability reporting; across the EU, the figure is up to 50,000 companies.

Closing keynote by Wolfgang Bosbach

Traditionally, a keynote speech from outside the industry forms the finale of the DSAG annual congress. This year, long-time CDU member of parliament Wolfgang Bosbach gave the participants food for thought to take home. Under the title “Permanent crisis – Germany and Europe in the stress test”, he examined and commented on the current and upcoming challenges for Germany and Europe – mainly from the perspective of domestic and security policy. He also succeeded in bridging the gap to technological development and combining the individual aspects into a coherent overall picture.

Photo: DSAG