3 questions to the new board member Oleksandra Ostapenko

Oleksandra Ostapenko, Head of Product Management for Industry Standards, SAP has been appointed to the IDTA board. In a short interview, she talks about her experience in the field of Digital Twins and standardization and her ambitions for her new role.

What is your professional background and how does your work overlap with the Digital Twin?

I have more than 15 years of international experience in overseeing complex, large-scale programs and products, driving strategic initiatives, and delivering impactful results across cross-functional and cross-cultural teams. As Head of Product Management, Industry Standards at SAP, I define the product vision, strategy, and roadmap to embed industry standards – especially the Asset Administration Shell (AAS) – across our portfolio and lead initiatives to drive adoption of both our products and the standards. I believe my practical experience turning standards into enterprise-scale products will add immediate, measurable value to IDTA community.

What activities of the AAS and IDTA have you been involved in so far?

We have already embedded AAS capabilities, such as several Submodels and APIs, into our product SAP Business Network Asset Collaboration to drive interoperability and efficiency in Digital Twin Collaboration. These capabilities empower OEMs, operators, and suppliers to exchange asset data efficiently, automate processes, and prepare for compliance with initiatives like the Digital Product Passport (DPP). Beyond building the capabilities, we actively work with customers to support implementation, as well as participate in ITDA working groups.

Why is an initiative at IDTA important?

Think about any product today: Behind it is a web of designers, suppliers, manufacturers, logistics providers, and service teams – each playing a vital role. But their joint success depends on one critical factor: How effectively they collaborate and work together through data, that is accurate, trustworthy, and instantly usable. In today’s connected economy, success depends not just on what your company can do, but also on how well you work with partners and whether you can trust your data and exchange it seamlessly.
I see standards as a backbone of interoperability and collaboration across global supply chains. The AAS promotes collaboration by providing a unified, digital, and extensible language for products. It bridges communication gaps, streamlines data sharing, and builds trust among ecosystem partners. Therefore, one of my key objectives in ITDA is jointly foster the adoption of AAS and accelerate its enterprise uptake.