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410<br />

Part Three<br />

Planning and control<br />

Figure 14.3 ERP integrates information from all parts of the organization<br />

Short case<br />

SAP and its partners 4 ● Original equipment manufacturers (OEM) – This is for<br />

The largest European software company, based in<br />

Walldorf, Germany, SAP’s growth over the years has<br />

matched the popularity of the ERP systems which are<br />

still the foundation of its success. Founded by five former<br />

IBM engineers in 1972, SAP launched its ground-breaking<br />

SAP R/1 system one year later. This was followed by SAP<br />

R/2 in 1979 and R/3 in 1992. In 1999 SAP anticipated the<br />

influence of the Internet on network integration with its<br />

‘mySAP.com’ product. Now customers in more than<br />

120 countries run SAP ‘business software’ applications.<br />

These range, as the Company phrases it, from distinct<br />

solutions addressing the needs of small businesses<br />

and midsize companies to suite offerings for global<br />

organizations. SAP defines ‘business software’ as<br />

comprising enterprise resource planning and related<br />

applications such as supply chain management, customer<br />

relationship management, product life-cycle management,<br />

and supplier relationship management.<br />

SAP is well known for developing a network of<br />

‘business partners’ to develop new products, sell its<br />

‘solutions’, implement them into customers’ operations,<br />

provide service, educate end users, and several other<br />

activities. There are various categories of partnerships.<br />

●<br />

Global Alliances – SAP global alliance partners are<br />

themselves global leaders and are therefore strategic<br />

partners with significant global presence. Membership<br />

is by invitation only.<br />

●<br />

●<br />

●<br />

●<br />

independent software vendors who integrate SAP<br />

technologies with their own products. OEM partners<br />

may add on, bundle, host, or embed SAP software.<br />

Solution providers – These partners offer customized<br />

solutions (a combination of business, technical, or<br />

application expertise) that include SAP software.<br />

Complementary technology partners – These<br />

partners provide complete, technically verified turnkey<br />

(out-of-the-box) software solutions that extend and<br />

add value to SAP solutions.<br />

Volume resellers – These partners resell all or part of<br />

the SAP software portfolio and derive their primary<br />

revenue from license sales.<br />

Authorized education – Partners are authorized by<br />

SAP to provide official training and education services<br />

to ensure that customers’ employees gain optimal<br />

training.<br />

Source: SAP

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