This comprehensive, fully integrated on-demand business management suite is now available in the six strategic core markets Germany, China, France, India, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Feature pack 2.5 for SAP Business ByDesign delivers significant customer-centric innovations including real-time, in-memory analytics, support for mobile devices, customizable rich user interface and increased flexibility. With sophisticated life cycle management functions and low delivery costs the new version is now ready for a large volume rollout, according to SAP.

“With the feature pack 2.5 for SAP Business ByDesign, SAP has made solid progress toward serving the needs of small and midsize companies looking for a fully integrated suite,” said Bill McNee, founder and CEO, Saugatuck Technology.

Starter packages are predefined, focused subsets of the full SAP Business ByDesign suite that are deployed simply and are available at fixed implementation prices, starting at EUR 9,900. A dedicated implementation methodology, as well as embedded e-learning, enables these packages to be implemented quickly, in as little as three weeks depending on a customer’s requirements.

Available for as few as 10 users, the three starter packages currently available include:
Customer Relationship Management (CRM)
The CRM starter package provides customers with best business practices for sales force automation (SFA), enabling them to efficiently generate leads, manage all stages of the sales process and close deals, while laying the foundation to expand to the entire order-to-cash process. The CRM starter package can be implemented in approximately three weeks at a fixed implementation price of EUR 9,900 and a special subscription price of EUR 79 per user.

Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
The ERP starter package provides customers that have outgrown accounting-only systems with the integrated financials, accounting and analytics capabilities needed to manage the next stage of growth. The package can be implemented in approximately six weeks or less and is available at a fixed implementation price of EUR 24,900 and the usual subscription price of EUR 133 per user.

Professional Service Provider (PSP)
The PSP starter package is designed to give small businesses and midsize professional services firms affordable access to the world-class business process management capabilities they need to not only manage their businesses end to end, but also to level the playing field against well-capitalized competitors. Designed to go live in approximately eight weeks, the PSP starter package is available for a fixed implementation price of EUR 34,900 and the usual subscription price of EUR 133 per user.

“With the general availability of feature pack 2.5 we have achieved a major milestone,” said Peter Lorenz, executive vice president, SME solutions, and corporate officer, SAP. “By providing this new release, we deliver substantial innovation to support our customers’ business needs today and tomorrow. The on-demand services for SAP Business ByDesign are operated on the most modern cloud infrastructure and allow for true volume business. We also expect the new starter packages to enable our customers to quickly adopt the services and realize immediate results on their path to an integrated on-demand suite.

Figure: Peter Lorenz, Executive Vice President, Small and Midsize Enterprises SAP
(Photo: SAP AG / Carina C. Kircher)

Alfred Lanfer, Managing Director Lanfer Cargo Technik

A system for the Internet of Things, a hoisting aid for order pickers and a software package for the online trade – the winners of the ‘Best Product’ competition at LogiMAT. The winning companies are: Lanfer CARGO-TECHNIK, Gebhardt Transport- und Lagersysteme and gaxsys.

The 8th International Trade Fair for Distribution, Materials Handling and Information Flow LogiMAT 2010 is taking place from 2 to 4 March 2010 in Stuttgart. On the evening of the opening day the price “Best Product” was given to the award-winning companies.

An independent jury made up of academics and journalists chose three lucky winners of the ‘Best Product’ prize from the entrants from the 760 exhibitors at LogiMAT 2010. Their products meet the conditions of the competition – rationalization, cost-saving and increasing productivity – in an outstanding way.

In the opinion of the jury, what all the winners have in common, despite the economic crisis, is investment in innovations. They have developed extremely customer-friendly products and systems with a high usage value.

    * Category „Software, Communication, IT“
      gaxsys GmbH

In the ‘Software, Communication, IT’ category, the Karlsruhe-based company gaxsys won with its modular e-commerce g.a.x.-system, a pioneering technology for online trade. ‘gax’ stands for ‘global article exchange’. Following its successful installation at the premium brand Indigo, the system has quickly taken off and combines many revolutionary new concepts in a pioneering Web shop with the complete integration of all logistical functions.

The g.a.x.-system by gacsys GmbH controls the entire process chain. It is based on the adaptive software approach. With its modular design this software technology is flexible and can adapt to changing conditions. The g.a.x.-system, which links brand manufacturers, specialized retailers and customers online, stands out due to its optimal networking and complete integration of common factors found in conventional trade structures.

Its special feature is that when orders are placed via the g.a.x.-system the geographically nearest specialist dealer is given priority. The g.a.x.-system is making an effective contribution to the fight against plagiarism (fake protection) and maintaining the regional infrastructure (support your local dealer) and the environment (green logistics).

    * Category „Order Picking, Packaging, Protection“
      Gebhardt Gruppe

In the “Order picking, packaging, protection” category the Cham-based company Gebhardt Transport- und Lagersysteme scored points with its exhibition highlight EcoPick, which facilitates picking processes. The device supports hoisting jobs, mainly moving goods from one pallet to another. The hoisting aid makes the mechanical movement of picking easier, relieving the forearms of the pickers and effectively preventing premature fatigue and even great impairment to physical health.

The hoisting aid consists of a hoisting arm, base, cable pull with wrist cuffs, electric drive and electronic control unit. Increase in picking performance of up to ten percent in is possible with the newly developed EcoPick, for a picking session of more than five hours.

    * Category „Procurement, Handling, Storage“
      Lanfer Cargo-Technik

Lanfer CARGO-TECHNIK from Borken-Weseke, a company that specialises in the construction of customised materials handling systems and their control systems, won in the “Procurement, handling, storage” category for its Internet of Things exhibit THINGtelligence.

THINGtelligence is a further development of the joint project ‘Internet of Things; alterable real-time logistics systems based on intelligent agents for the area close to the production site’ sponsored by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research. Working with partners from small and medium-sized businesses, an autonomous modular and decentralized conveying system has been developed.

Modernisation projects and subsequent changes to existing systems are implemented much more quickly and flexibly with this intelligent, decentralised system, than is the case with conventional projects or migrations. The focus is on RFID, but classic barcode systems in existing systems can also be integrated into the THINGtelligence system with no functional limitations. There is rationalisation potential for the commissioning phase, especially through the use of standardised components and the networking between conveyor elements and control technology.

The THINGtelligence system can bring its strengths to bear in particular if the existing or planned system layout makes a high level of flexibility in the flow of materials possible. Pre-startup an analysis shows whether the modification of an existing system to a THINGtelligence control system is useful and profitable. The questions considered include an as-is assessment of the existing hardware and control technology, and the target requirements of the customer with regard to the modernisation or further use of the mechanical components.

Further shortcomings, which could be solved efficiently by THINGtelligence, are often identified through process changes or while the old system is running.

SAP AG announced today that the SAP Supervisory Board has reached a mutual agreement with CEO Léo Apotheker not to extend his contract as a member of the SAP Executive Board. Léo Apotheker has resigned as CEO and member of the SAP Executive Board effective immediately. The SAP Executive Board, in agreement with the SAP Supervisory Board, has appointed two Co-CEOs: Bill McDermott, head of field organization and Jim Hagemann Snabe, head of product development, both already members of the SAP Executive Board.

In addition, Vishal Sikka, Chief Technology Officer, has been appointed to the SAP Executive Board. At the request of the SAP Supervisory Board, Hasso Plattner, Co-Founder of SAP and Chairman of the SAP Supervisory Board, will continue to play a strong role in advising the new leaders on technology and product development.

“The new setup of the SAP Executive Board will allow SAP to better align product innovation with customer needs. The new leadership team will continue to drive forward SAP’s strategy and focus on profitable growth, and will deliver its innovations in 2010 to expand SAP’s leadership of the business software market,” said Hasso Plattner.

The SAP Supervisory Board thanks Léo Apotheker for his enormous contribution to the success of SAP, which he joined more than 20 years ago, and wishes him all the best for the future.

The latest release of SAP E-Sourcing integrates with the enterprise resource planning (ERP) application, SAP ERP, and contains an enhanced user interface and additional embedded best practices and on-demand services.

To date, over 300 customers have realized an average of five to 25 percent savings in most categories of spend – among them the specialist for climate control solutions Lennox International, according to the Walldorf-based software company.

To help sustain and expand its leading position in climate control solutions for heating, air conditioning and refrigeration markets around the world, Lennox International must drive margin expansion and support growth into other segments while still keeping costs under control. With the SAP E-Sourcing on-demand solution, the company was able to create a global sourcing process based on an open technology platform that supports SAP and non-SAP systems and has the ability to quickly deploy key solutions to drive immediate value.

“The flexibility of the SAP E-Sourcing on-demand solution lets our sourcing team use their own templates to quickly migrate meaningful data into our SAP infrastructure,” said Kathie Kelsey, manufacturing and supply chain IT manager, Lennox International. “The platform allows Lennox to have a lower total cost of ownership as well as enable a secure IT environment while providing the ability to begin leveraging additional functionality over time, as we are ready to adopt it.”

On-Demand-Software

Best practices are integrated in the new release of SAP E-Sourcing and play an important role for reducing cycle time and share knowledge among sourcing professionals.

Standard integration to the SAP backend enables customers to link their strategic source to contract process to their procurement execution systems, helping to ensure that they profit from agreed prices and comply with internal guidelines. On-demand services include customer on-boarding and optional value-added services inclusive of business process consulting, category sourcing strategy expertise and ongoing customer support.

“SAP E-Sourcing helps customers innovate faster and extend the value of their current investments in SAP Business Suite,” a SAP executive said. “The integration of data and processes helps ensure consistency with system and business configurations between SAP Business Suite and on-demand solutions from SAP. As a result, customers avoid the data sharing and integration issues that occur when dealing with disparate best-of-breed applications and obtain immediate impact on their business.”

Software AG today closed a contract with August-Wilhelm Scheer and Alexander Pocsay for the transfer of ca. 48% of the outstanding shares of IDS Scheer AG, Saarbrücken. The sale of these shares will be part of a public tender offer by SAG Beteiligungs GmbH, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Software AG, starting in the current quarter. Software AG will offer €15 in cash per outstanding share. This represents a purchase price for the entire share capital of around €487 million. After obtaining regulatory approval, the formal offer period will start in August and finish before the end of September.

According to Software AG, the transaction will create a global producer of infrastructure software and business process management software with more than 6,000 employees and more than €1 billion in revenue. “Software AG’s strengths – technology leadership in middleware software, financial strength and a global presence – will complement IDS Scheer’s strengths – the modeling, implementation and controlling of business processes, a strong partner network and a large service presence in their approx. 7,500 customer base. IDS Scheer also offers extensive industry expertise and direct access to vertical markets and a strong presence in the consulting business,” as they say in Darmstadt.

IDS Scheer founder Dr. August-Wilhelm Scheer stated: „After 25 years of success, it is now the right point in time for IDS Scheer AG to reach new horizons. Software AG and IDS Scheer AG will further strengthen Germany’s international position as IT location. To this respect, both companies strategically match up outstandingly in the product and consulting area. The employees of IDS Scheer will have an even more global future perspective, ARIS methodology will internationally be even stronger positioned. I am optimistic for the joint development of both companies.“

Peter Gérard, chairman of the management board of IDS Scheer AG, stated: „IDS Scheer AG is interested in gaining long-term oriented strategic investors. In particular in the current phase, IDS Scheer AG is open for investors like Software AG which strengthen the value-added chain and the development of sustainably profitable business fields with their know-how. After the successful restructuring of the company in the last year, the management board’s next goal is to redefine the strategic options of IDS Scheer AG in a clearly more difficult market environment.“

The partnership between IDS Scheer AG and Software AG offers considerable added value to the customers, as they say in Saarbrücken. The transaction will create a global vendor of Business Process Management software with more than 6,000 employees and sales of more than EUR 1 billion. The strengths of Software AG in the areas of infrastructure software and SOA Governance, combined with IDS Scheer AG’s leadership in the worldwide markets of Business Process Management (BPM), Enterprise Architecture (EA) and process performance management, give rise to a leading vendor for infrastructure software and business process management. Particularly the strong consulting expertise with focus on SAP implementation is of strategic importance. IDS Scheer AG contributes to the planned undertaking a customer basis of approx. 7,500 companies globally as well as a wide partner network.

IDS Scheer develops solutions in Business Process Management (BPM) software, solutions and services for corporations and public organizations worldwide. With its ARIS Platform for Process Excellence, the company offers an integrated, comprehensive solution portfolio for the strategy, design, implementation and controlling of business processes. Around 2,840 employees in over 70 countries serve the company’s 7,500 customers. In 2008, IDS Scheer’s revenues reached €399.1 million. Established in 1984 by Professor August-Wilhelm Scheer, IDS Scheer is listed in the TecDAX on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (Germany).

Software AG has 40 years of global IT experience and around 3,600 employees serving customers in 70 countries. The company is headquartered in Germany and listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (TecDAX). Software AG posted total revenues of €721 million in 2008. Software AG is, by its own account, the world’s largest independent provider of Business Infrastructure Software.

(picture: Headquarter Software AG, Darmstadt/Germany, source: Software AG)