SAP and UNFPA unveil interactive analytics as population grows beyond 7bn

SAP AG and UNFPA, the United Nations Population Fund, today unveiled two interactive population dashboards using business analytics technology from SAP to create greater transparency and awareness around core UN population data and trends.

According to the companies, the dashboards are available to the general public at www.7billionactions.org, and will be used by the UN, local governments, economists and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to make better-informed decisions on how to best allocate funding and resources for the biggest impact in a world of seven billion people and growing.

Until recently, a fact-based analysis of these numbers would have taken months of pulling spreadsheet data from hundreds of schools, departments and government agencies, which would have been complicated and costly. Today, thanks to newly created interactive population dashboards that SAP designed and built for UNFPA using UN data from multiple agencies, anyone can access, interact, click around and overlay this information, representatives said.

Released on the first day of the “7-Day Countdown to 7 Billion,” the UNFPA population dashboards allows an analysis of the impact of population increases on key areas — including education, healthcare, literacy and age and gender development — by compiling UN data from multiple agencies, it was reported.

The analysis, which can be done instantly on a laptop or mobile device anywhere in the world, allows fact-based decision-making for policy-makers, academics, business people and citizens to develop and adjust policies and initiatives, SAP said.

“SAP has provided a useful, intuitive tool that provides important global demographic data in a visually appealing format,” said Vijay Kanal, director, ICT Advisory Services, BSR. “I can imagine that planning and policy experts in both the public and private sectors will find it helpful for analysis and projections. BSR could also use this tool on future projects requiring this type of data for client engagements around business sustainability.”

“The milestone of seven billion is a challenge, opportunity and a call to action to ensure that everyone can enjoy equal rights and dignity,” said Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, executive director, UNFPA. “Private sector partners like SAP can play a critical role, together with civil society, academia, governments and the United Nations system, to accelerate progress especially for women and girls in the developing world.”

Particularly useful for countries with high youth populations, the dashboards address current and future issues of employment and healthcare, representatives said.

SAP delivered two population dashboards using SAP Crystal Dashboard Design software, which helps create greater transparency and awareness around core UN population data and trends. This helps the UN and governments make better-informed decisions, SAP said. SAP technology and solutions also help people to interact with population data, understand the challenges and explore opportunities to address issues around changing population dynamics, sources added.

The UNFPA’s global campaign, 7 Billion Actions, enlisted a diverse group of UN actors, corporations, organisations and individuals to inspire actions on key issues related to population growth. In close collaboration with other taskforce members, SAP pledged to develop technology solutions to help drive social innovation and global change.

Together with the Churchill Club, SAP and UNFPA will present the population dashboards at today’s executive roundtable, titled ” Innovating for a World of 7 Billion,” and will discuss with industry thought-leaders in Silicon Valley the challenges and opportunities of a global population of seven billion. Following the roundtable discussion, teams of SAP employees, along with representatives from other Silicon Valley technology companies, universities and non-profit organisations, will collaborate to find solutions that will enable youth in the least developed countries to enjoy greater access to secondary education, thereby empowering them to generate lasting economic benefit to themselves and their societies, SAP said.

“The world’s population reaching seven billion people presents an excellent opportunity for technology to play an active role in the global commitment for a healthy and sustainable world,” said Steve Lucas, GM, Business Analytics and Technology, SAP. “We delivered dashboards that will help the organisation build global awareness around the opportunities and challenges associated with a population of 7 billion people. The UNFPA will be better equipped to inspire governments, NGOs, the private sector, media, academia and individuals to take actions that will have a socially positive impact on the world.”