SAP ByDesign gets upgrades for manufacturing SMEs

SAP makes the point that ByDesign is managed, monitored and maintained by SAP experts in world-class, hosted data centres. Hans-Peter Klaey, president of SAP's SME group, says that Feature Pack 2.0 provides "more mission-critical business processes in a single, integrated solution". In particular, it integrates CRM (customer relationship management), order-to-cash with automated billing, project profitability and resource management, time and expense reimbursement, procure to pay and service and repair. Manufacturing SMEs, he says, will gain "complete visibility across their supply chain, including suppliers, customers, manufacturing and logistics". He also suggests they will be able to directly impact their bottom lines by managing strategic procurement via an automated RFQ (request for quotation) process, while also reducing recalls, using integrated product engineering and quality management tools. "With the availability of Feature Pack 2.0, we significantly increase the value that our midsize charter clients are receiving from SAP Business ByDesign," says Klaey. "Our charter client programme for SAP Business ByDesign is … ensuring close support and collaboration for innovative companies that want all the benefits of the only comprehensive and fully integrated on-demand solution dedicated to midsize companies," he adds. And Patti Charlton, CFO of ResearchPoint, agrees. "We are currently implementing SAP Business ByDesign and expect to gain clarity across our entire business, which will help us remain competitive and make fast, well-informed decisions," he says.