SAP HCM for S/4HANA On-Premise (H4S4): an AI-generated PPT?

Over the past several months I have been writing a series of blogs on Artificial Intelligence (AI), ranging from silly AI-generated headshots, to functional video avatars and video language conversions – and I have even let AI write a blog post for me.

Today’s AI example is focused on Gamma. Gamma is a new platform that allows users to create polished documents, presentations, and webpages in seconds using AI. It is designed to make creating engaging content easy, without the need for extensive formatting and design work.

I generally spend quite a bit of time creating and delivering Microsoft PowerPoint slide decks. Usually, it includes the explanation of some technical topic converted into easy-to-digest segments for the non-technical user. When I heard of Gamma, I was intrigued, so I gave it a test run.

Let me start by saying this foray into AI required the least amount of work on my part to date, and no commercial commitment whatsoever. In less than two minutes, I created a free account and made a complete Microsoft PowerPoint slide deck by simply providing my email address and the name of a topic, see below:

I inserted SAP H4S4, and I included its formal name (SAP HCM for S/4HANA On-Premise), followed by the Generate outline button. Because it was top of mind from my last meeting of the day, I used that as my topic.

If you are not familiar with it, H4S4 is a topic that comes up a lot in the SAP HCM world as one of the bridge options for extending your SAP HCM on-premise investment as detailed here: What's the difference between PCE and H4S4 – the two SAP bridge options?

In seconds, it produced an outline of content curated from the internet, see below:

It allowed me to pick a theme, and a complete PowerPoint slide deck was created in seconds. You can see the AI-generated PPT on H4S4 here.

How accurate is it?

I am still trying to get used to the speed at which this content is collected, organized and put together by AI. It was seconds from start to finish, including signing up. You will recall I only provided my email address and the topic. But is it accurate?

Here are my impressions of the accuracy of the content created.

1. Let’s start with slide 1, which includes the correct definition of SAP S/4HANA On-Premise. What is interesting is that the AI excluded the informal abbreviation of H4S4, which SAP does not like to use. The AI even found out who I was, and grabbed an old picture of me for the first slide. The only minor complaint on this slide is what I can only guess is an attempt to put SAP in writing on the wall, otherwise spot on.
   
2. Slide 2 contained some generic elements that could be grabbed from a definition of SAP ERP, and slide 3 hit on migration strategies. These are relevant for H4S4, but the content is limited in context, so I am not sure how helpful it would be as a stand-alone slide.
   
3. Slide 4 includes basic definitions related to S/4HANA overall, although not specific to H4S4. Slides 5, 6 and 7 outline implementation considerations that could apply to any type of technology implementation, again not relevant or specific to H4S4. The last slide ends with another variation of the basic definition of H4S4 but without any deeper detail.

I am blown away at the speed at which it was created, and that it was entirely free, formatted nicely, and easy to download, share etc.

I do not think it added any insights into H4S4 beyond two definitions of it, but it is certainly a great primer for starting a new presentation that is more fun than just picking a template from Microsoft PowerPoint or Google Slides.

What about more complex topics?

For my first test, I purposefully picked a topic where there is not a lot of information available online, just to see if it could grab the nuances of why this H4S4 option exists for customers, and if it might include links where people could go to learn more.

I thought that where this AI may really shine is when a lot of mature content exists online. So I put this to the test.

For my second example, I put the name of our popular transformation solution PRISM and our company name to see what would happen. Again, in seconds I had a deck (this time 10 slides – the maximum number for the free version), which you can see here. And it did a good job on the formatting.

But in terms of content, most of the slides are inaccurate and meaningless; unrelated text segments taken from our company site or elsewhere. For those who are interested in PRISM for HR and Payroll and how it accelerates your transformation, rather visit our real PRISM webpage.

For the final test, I decided to pick a topic with a huge amount of mature content for the AI to cull from. I inserted two words…Taylor Swift.

The results were quick, and look good: take a look at this summary PPT of Taylor Swift. Of note: it did not grab any real images, but rather generated AI images of Taylor, which I assume is for copyright protection. The slide content seems reasonably relevant – although I am no expert, and can’t confirm the accuracy.

All in all, it's a fun way to create presentations, and it gives you more flair and substance than a traditional template. But like a lot of AI today, all the facts need to be checked, and it still has a long way to go before it can replace the human creator.

Need accurate information about H4S4 and PRISM?

If you want to learn more about H4S4 (SAP S/4HANA On-Premise) and PRISM, as well as all of the options available to customers who are digitally transforming their HCM landscapes, watch this insightful webinar on 'Understanding your options for a digital HCM transformation'.

Or register for our upcoming webinar: Navigate the future of SAP SuccessFactors with confidence.