CIMdata PLM Industry Summary Online Archive

May 19, 2008

Implementation Investments

SAP Supports Daimler in Global IT Harmonization

SAP AG today announced that it will support Daimler AG, one of the world's largest automobile manufacturers, as a global IT solution provider in order to drive Daimler's comprehensive IT harmonization strategy. Daimler signed a global enterprise agreement (GEA) with SAP to standardize and harmonize all automotive supply chain and financial processes on SAP solutions. The announcement was made at SAPPHIRE® 2008, SAP's international customer conference, being held in Berlin, Germany, May 19 - 21.

By entering a GEA, SAP offers Daimler broad access to licensed SAP solutions and technology. The agreement will accelerate the worldwide rollout of end-to-end business solutions leveraging SAP enterprise software. SAP software, based upon the powerful SAP NetWeaver® technology platform, will help drive Daimler's global IT harmonization and enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA).

SAP has been Daimler's software partner since 1984 and became Daimler's top strategic software partner by entering a software development partnership in 2002. Today, Daimler has more than 65,000 SAP users, which will extend to more than 100,000 users under the new agreement.

"SAP continues to be our trusted partner and will extend its importance for our IT strategy as we journey toward standardization and harmonization and also into enterprise SOA," said Dr. Michael Gorriz, CIO Daimler AG. "This agreement with SAP is important to the success of our IT harmonization strategy and frees us to concentrate on our core business."

The agreement includes software, software maintenance, strategic software developments, 'maximum attention' support and high-profile consulting services. The business benefits will include cost reduction and increased efficiency, process stability and flexibility in auto production and key automotive processes.

This agreement extends SAP's position as a leader in providing comprehensive enterprise software for the automotive industry. Successful business transformation is vital in an industry such as automobile manufacturing, which constantly faces rising costs, increased global competition and growing government regulation, while striving for market share and greater profitability.

"The deepening relationship with Daimler reflects SAP's ongoing commitment to remaining at the forefront of innovation and leadership in the rapidly changing automotive industry," said Leo Apotheker, co-CEO, SAP AG. "At the same time, this agreement also demonstrates the strength of SAP's core business and the strategic value we bring to the world's largest companies."

SAPPHIRE® 2008 Orlando and SAPPHIRE® 2008 Berlin

More than 15,000 customers, partners and technical experts are convening at SAPPHIRE 2008 to discover how SAP and its thriving partner ecosystem are delivering IT solutions that create value beyond the four walls of the enterprise, to create "business beyond boundaries." SAP's premier educational and networking event, SAPPHIRE is the one occasion where senior executives, business managers, and decision-makers can come together every year to explore how innovative business solutions foster long-term, profitable growth. SAPPHIRE® 2008 was held in Orlando, Florida, May 4-7, and is being held in Berlin, Germany, May 19-21, 2008. For more information, please visit http://www.sap.com/sapphire.

About SAP® for Automotive

SAP® for Automotive is an industry solution that combines SAP(R) Business Suite applications and tailored functionality to help automotive companies integrate the entire engineering, procurement, manufacturing, sales and service value chain. With more than 2,000 automotive customers worldwide, SAP for Automotive supports industry-specific business processes within all types of automotive companies, including original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), suppliers, and sales and service organizations. Built on the open architecture of the SAP NetWeaver® technology platform , SAP for Automotive helps companies collaborate with business partners, acquire and service customers, and attain competitive advantage by meeting today's dynamic business demands. Additional information is available at http://www.sap.com/automotive/.

 

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