SAP equips Caterpillar dealer network to run better

Jeff Harvey, senior vice president and global head of Industry Solutions at SAP, explains that the centre comprises a network of experts from SAP and IT consulting and implementation firm FDC Solutions. "Building on FDC's knowledge of the specific requirements of Caterpillar dealers, SAP will enable customers to transition to a new business platform and improve operational efficiency and profitability," comments Harvey. "The centre of excellence will facilitate sharing best practices and knowledge across the SAP customer base of nearly 20 Caterpillar dealers globally that are already running SAP software as a common platform across this collaborative business network," he adds. As for the Caterpillar-specific template, Harvey says it will use cover 80—85% of standard processes and use SAP software to simplify and improve implementation projects – backed by the centre of excellence for governance and quality control – while also helping to ensure long-term process efficiency and stability for dealers. "We understand the needs of Caterpillar dealers and believe that SAP is an excellent long-term solution in this market," comments Robert Jenkins, co-CEO and co-founder of FDC Solutions. "SAP's investment in the centre of excellence provides the foundation for dealership collaboration, ongoing development, maintenance and support of the Caterpillar dealer network."