SAP® Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM) application receives accolades for ease-of-use (May 21, 2008)
Paul Greenberg, author of CRM at the Speed of Light, who demonstrated his enthusiasm for SAP® CRM 2007 at SAPPHIRE® 2008 Orlando, said, "I'm glad to hear SAP integrated key features of SAP CRM 2007 into the new version of SAP® Business All-in-One. The strong user interface and the ability to integrate mashups and collaboration features that SAP CRM 2007 brings should not be just something reserved for large enterprises, but also should be made available to small and mid-sized businesses as well and it seems that this is a step in that direction."
Greenberg's validation of SAP CRM 2007 comes on the heels of SAP's new CRM offering for midsize companies in SAP Business All-in-One announced at SAPPHIRE 2008 Berlin. With the new CRM functionality in SAP Business-All-in-One, the power and user-friendly attributes of SAP CRM 2007 is available for midmarket companies that depend on an intuitive and easy-to-navigate user interface to reduce complexity and increase productivity across their business. For more information, please visit the SAP press room and Paul Greenberg's blog.
Quality Awards – SAP Customers Make the Extraordinary Look Simple (May 21, 2008)
Yesterday SAP announced the winners of the European SAP Quality Awards 2008 that recognize excellence in the management of SAP implementations. From more than 100 customer nominations, 14 customers from across Europe were short-listed in four categories. At the awards ceremony in Berlin, Dr. Svan Lembke, Vice President, SAP Quality Program, said, "Today we can proudly say that our customers are able to predict and proactively address the risks to the quality of their deliverables. This gives renewed confidence to customers implementing SAP in the future."
The four quality award winners this year are:
Category: New business solutions
EDF, France
EDF, a French utilities company and second time finalist, demonstrated their success through establishing quality processes around a strong methodology.
Category: Large enterprise implementations
Standard Bank of South Africa (SBSA), South Africa
Two key factors guaranteed success in this project – firstly, the development of a quality framework built around a fast response risk management process and secondly, strong project sponsorship that enabled fast decision making.
Category: Global programs
Bouygues Construction, France
Bouygues recognized the need for multiple sets of expertise in reviewing deliverables and built an infrastructure that supported this and delivered a speedy response when action was required.
Category: Small and Midsize Enterprise
Davis Langdon, UK
The winner of this category impressed the judges with their robust governance model and the identification of financial benefits to justify the cost of the implementation and quality.
Medicos Sin Fronteras received a special mention.
Despite significant technological, communications and budgetary challenges, MSF rolled out an international financial solution providing accurate and timely reporting from some of the most dangerous and technologically disadvantaged areas of the world.
An independent judging panel including representatives from partner companies, former quality award winners, and IT industry experts reviewed the nominations and selected the winners. For more information on the judging criteria and quality principles, see http://www.sapqualityawards.com/pdf/QA_Principles_Flyer_single.pdf
Innovative Approaches for Corporate Sustainability: The Potential of Web 2.0 (May 20, 2008)
A distinguished panel of experts from NGOs, government organizations and companies worldwide convened at SAPPHIRE® Berlin to discuss the potential of Web 2.0 technology as an innovative tool for corporate social responsibility activities. In particular, the discussion evolved around two key questions:
- How can Web 2.0 enable constructive engagement among stakeholders and business related to governance, accountability, assurance, reporting/transparency and overall responsible practice?
- How can Web 2.0 allow companies to think innovatively around how they approach environmental, social and governance risk and compliance?
The panel stated the need to further evaluate the potential of Web 2.0 as an enabler of responsible business practices. To experience its potential, the panel continues the dialogue virtually using a wiki. If you would like to join the discussion, please request access by contacting Katja Schroeder or Kimberly Cole.
Watch a replay of the discussion.
"Competing for Talent" (May 20, 2008)
SAP Executive Board Member, Claus E. Heinrich, and Bernd-Michael Rumpf, SAP Global Head of Field Services, hosted a panel to discuss the best approaches to talent management today and the challenges ahead for developing the next generation of IT experts. Panelists Stephan Raemaekers of Deloitte Consulting, Tom McCabe of IBM Global Business Services, Birgit Wittenbreder of itelligence and Helmut Krcmar of UCC Munich, a member of the SAP University Alliances program, exchanged their views on best practices for recruitment and talent development. Key topics included the type of skill set needed, ways to enhance the collaboration between corporations and academic institutions as well as making talent management a top priority for managers. All panelists agreed that companies have to be more innovative to attract tomorrow's high potentials for a career in IT by showcasing the impact of technology on the social, economic and environmental advancement.
The discussion was based on the latest results of a SAP commissioned study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU), "Competing On Talent," a survey of 900+ C-level executives and HR managers in the emerging markets Brazil, China, India and Russia and in the industry nations France, Germany, Japan, UK and the United States.
Watch a replay of the session
SAP Strategy Conference with Secretary of State Dr. Hans Bernhard Beus, CIO of the German Federal Government (May 19, 2008)
During SAPPHIRE® 2008 in Berlin, SAP's German subsidiary will organize a strategy conference targeted to customers and prospects in the public sector. The key question: How can e-government solutions contribute to successful change management in the public sector? High-level guest speakers – including Dr. Hans Bernhard Beus (Secretary of State and CIO of the German Federal Government), Karl Peter Brendel (Secretary of State from North-Rhine Westphalia) and Ulrich Freise (Secretary of State in the State of Berlin) – have committed to attend and present keynote speeches. The conference will address the topic from a federal, state and local government perspective. A panel discussion on the topic of "Discovering new ways in public administration" will bring all experts to the table. A detailed agenda of the conference is available here.
SAP TechEd 2008 Berlin (May 19, 2008)
This fall, don't miss SAP TechEd 2008 Berlin, October 14 - 16, 2008 – SAP's premier technical education conference offering instructor-led hands-on workshops and in-depth lectures on topics like enterprise SOA and SAP NetWeaver®. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or just curious about what SAP can do for you, come network with and learn from the best minds of the technology world at SAP TechEd Berlin. Additional SAP TechEd 2008 events will also be held in Bangalore, Las Vegas and Shanghai.
CSR Leaders from Around the Globe Convene for Roundtable Discussion on the Opportunities and Challenges for Sustainability in a Web 2.0 World (May 16, 2008)
On May 19, beginning at 1 p.m. CET, SAP will once again host a forum on one of the hottest topics in business today – how Web 2.0 impacts companies' corporate social responsibility (CSR) strategies and reporting. The event will focus on private sector accountability and governance, risk and compliance, as well as broad corporate responsibility performance, to address the challenges and opportunities of sustainability reporting in a Web 2.0 world. Continuing the conversation that began at SAPPHIRE® 2008 Orlando on May 6, 2008, James Farrar, vice president of CSR at SAP, and Steve Rochlin, head of AccountAbility North America, will lead an interactive discussion with some of the most influential minds in corporate social responsibility today. SAP embraces the use of Web 2.0 to engage with its communities in discussions on current topics including governance, transparency and education. The CSR forum on how Web 2.0 shapes the role of corporate accountability utilizes a wiki, allowing online attendees to contribute to the discussion and continue the dialogue on an ongoing basis.
For a webcast replay of the SAPPHIRE 2008 Orlando roundtable on Corporate Social Responsibility, go to http://www.sapsapphire.com/usa2008/newsroom/index.htm. Additionally, you can access up-to-date information on SAP's CSR efforts at http://www12.sap.com/about/citizenship/index.epx.
Current Version of SAP® Business One Live at SAPPHIRE® 2008 Berlin (May 15, 2008)
Recently introduced to the market, the current version of the SAP® Business One application (2007A) has proven to deliver on its enhancement promise. The version includes new and enhanced capabilities in customer relationship management and e-commerce, as well as new built-in local best practices, further improved usability and performance, and overall more streamlined business processes. This latest version of SAP Business One is the go-to version for small companies who want to benefit from an integrated solution that helps control and grow their business. The application is demonstrated with several SAP Business One partners at SAPPHIRE® 2008. SAP Business One "Hot Spots" can be found in the SME village on the show floor.
"Competing for Talent" Roundtable at SAPPHIRE® 2008 Berlin (May 15, 2008)
On Monday, May 19, from 2:30- 3:30 p.m. CET, Claus Heinrich, member of the Executive Board, SAP AG, will host the roundtable "Competing for Talent." The discussion follows on a newly released study by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) and brings together customers and partners along with representatives from the SAP® University Alliances program to discuss the challenges and opportunities in developing and recruiting the next generation of skilled IT workers. The survey queried more 900+ C-level executives and people managers in emerging and developed markets to identify concerns and recruitment trends of workers with the skill sets necessary to meet ongoing business challenges. Joining Heinrich are, among others, Bernd-Michael Rumpf, global head of Field Services, SAP; Stephan Raemaekers, EMEA managing partner, Deloitte Consulting; and Professor Helmut Krcmar, Technical University Munich (UCC).
SAP Supports Partners in Recruiting Consultants for Midmarket Projects (May 15, 2008)
On the heels of its recent announcement to address recruiting challenges with a multifaceted approach, SAP has kicked off a program in Germany to help value-added resellers (VARs) meet the rising demand for consultants. As demand for SAP® solutions for small and midsize enterprise (SME) customers rises and with the growth of its channel business, SAP is supporting its community of SME VARs to find and recruit experienced enterprise resource planning (ERP) consulting professionals. To do so, SAP has designed a joint personnel marketing campaign and engaged a recruiting agency.
Next, SAP will offer consulting applicants education camps and further training on SAP midmarket solutions, primarily SAP® Business All-in-One solutions. The company aims to improve consulting capacity, specifically for the growing number of implementation projects in the lower midmarket. SAP and its partners welcome applicants with ERP know-how, consulting experience and professional level IT-implementation skills, as well as proven midmarket expertise. More information is available for partners on SAP's Partner Edge channel portal and at http://www.valuesophictrust.de/ERPBerater (German language site).
Berlin, May 19 - 21, 2008