From strategy to reality

PwC had the opportunity to address the African SAP User Group (AFSUG) community via a webinar in October 2025 around the topic Beyond Compliance: Unlocking Strategic Value Through Sustainability with SAP in Africa. PwC presenters included Chantal van der Watt, Director in PwC Strategy&: Sustainability, Sankarshan Govender, Senior Manager – Capital Markets and Accounting Advisory Services, and Marco Bronze, Cloud & Digital Enterprise Architect. The session was moderated by Karen Theys, SAP Alliance Driver.

The feedback from the session was overwhelmingly positive, but what struck us most was the sense of shared experience. The challenges you face are the same ones your peers are grappling with—and there's a clear path forward.

The perspective that sustainability is primarily a compliance burden continues to evolve. Our live polls showed that the top drivers for action are operational efficiency and cost savings (39%) and investor and board pressure (31%), with a strong majority (86%) seeking strategic value beyond compliance.

As one attendee noted, "Chantal's explanation of 'double materiality' was an eye-opener. It connected the dots between financial risk and our real-world impact." The c-suite understands the strategic importance—the "why" is no longer the question.

The reality: "We're stuck in spreadsheet chaos"The operational reality, however, reveals significant opportunities for growth. If you feel like you're drowning in manual processes, you're not alone.

• 82% of organisations are still in early, pre-implementation stages
• 62% rely on "mostly manual" data collection
• 50% describe their data maturity as "developing" or "ad hoc".

The core challenge? Data management. Attendees reported that verifying data quality (44%) consumes most of their time, which aligns with findings that 84% have limited or partially defined ESG data ownership structures.

As one participant shared: "Finally, a session that acknowledged the messy reality of data collection. It was refreshing to hear we're not the only ones."

When implementation (41%) emerged as the most daunting challenge, it became clear that leaders need stronger confidence in their data foundation. The session's core purpose was addressing this gap.

"The most valuable part was seeing the practical 'how' from Marco after understanding the strategic 'why,'" noted one attendee. Another highlighted the breakthrough moment: "Marco's explanation of how SAP Sustainability Control Tower pulls data together made the solution tangible."

Based on what resonated most with session attendees, our approach focuses on three pillars:

The journey to an integrated sustainable enterprise involves multiple considerations. As our AFSUG session confirmed, having a partner who understands the strategy, the data, and the technology can unlock the performance your organisation is seeking.

Is your organisation navigating this strategy-execution gap? Reach out to schedule a discussion to explore your path forward and take that first, manageable step your peers found so valuable.