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SAP AG and longtime partner IDS Scheer Inc. are readying software that enables companies in specific industries to better manage their business processes.
At its Sapphire user conference in New Orleans this week, SAP will announce two new Industry Solutions applications packages for SMBs (small and midsize businesses) in the service provider and defense industries.
The Industry Solutions are customized to handle business processes for those verticals and are designed to be more easily deployed in them, according to SAP officials in Walldorf, Germany.
SAP user Gary Sweetapple, vice president and CIO of Office Furniture USA Inc., was impressed with SAPs ability to automate business processes.
“At some point, were going to need to step back and do some re-engineering,” said Sweetapple, in Birmingham, Ala. “I will absolutely look to SAP for that. They have so much experience that they can use their expertise” to tailor business processes for specific verticals, he said.
Also at the show, IDS Scheer will introduce a vertical-industry approach for its Aris SmartPath BPM (business process management) software, as well as an enterprise version. The Berwyn, Pa., company also will demonstrate its new Aris process modeling software for SAPs NetWeaver integration technology.
Starting next week, Aris SmartPath will be offered in versions for eight vertical markets, including the foods, cosmetics and durable goods segments of the consumer packaged goods business. Other verticals addressed will be consulting, computer sales, chemicals/ pharmaceuticals, media and home building.
Aris SmartPath works with SAPs All-in-One and Microsoft Corp.s Business Solutions applications for SMBs. The IDS Scheer software adds process-oriented business content along with preconfigured components and interfaces to support the implementation of a specific business process.
“We define reference models for what companies need, and they can use them for the configuration of solutions,” said Mathias Kirchmer, CEO of IDS Scheer North America. “Its the only way to simplify [implementations].”