Sun Microsystems has unveiled three new programs to meet requirements for designing, implementing and managing mySAP.com e-business solutions on the Sun platform.
The programs include the SAP Infrastructure Solution Centre; a best practices reference program developed using Sun Sigma methodology; and QUEST, Sun's sizing skills certification process.
Daryl Blundell, solutions sales manager at Sun Microsystems SA, says the new customer-centric programs underscore the commitment by Sun and SAP to deliver the highest level of service to joint customers and prospects.
"This strategy is commonly known within Sun as an iForce Ready centre. The future of business is Web-based, and, as part of the expertise required, these centres provide e-commerce solutions for vertical markets.
"Within these centres, Sun and SAP explore opportunities to gain strategic, competitive advantage through e-commerce. By combining hardware and software with our channel alliance products, the iForce Ready Centres deliver optimised product sets for demonstration," says Blundell.
This, he says, reduces risk and implementation cycles while ensuring return on investment (ROI) in the shortest possible time frames.
Patricia Martins, technology alliance manager at SAP Africa, says it is extremely positive to note that SAP's partners show such commitment for the benefit of their customers.
"These programs are ideal for the industry. The iForce Ready Centres offer proof of concept, demonstrate SAP running in a live environment and allow customers to see first hand the benefits of our applications. At the same time, configuration and sizing specialists can familiarise themselves with SAP's software, allowing them to size our applications and identify correct hardware architecture," says Martins.
The SAP Infrastructure Solution Centre serves as a central repository for best practices and brings together expert teams of solution architects and specialists. This enhances the way Sun engages with customers by providing information and best practices gleaned from building, testing, integrating and improving performance of mySAP.com solutions on the Sun platform.
By providing a central base of information, the centre helps customers mitigate risk and streamline costs when implementing and operating mySAP.com on the Sun platform.
The best practices reference program was developed to manage joint customer references. The teams developed a project enabling team members to share lessons learned on previous implementations, thereby speeding up new customer solution development and deployment and ultimately helping customers to quickly achieve a maximum ROI.
The third program, Sun's global QUEST (Quality Using Expertise for SAP Technology) certification process is implemented via the iForce Competency Centre for SAP. Sun is one of the first vendors to have an internal sizing qualification process in place that has been reviewed by SAP AG.
QUEST certification helps ensure that Sun personnel are highly qualified to provide accurate and consistent sizing guidance to customers in accordance with the rules and recommendations as mandated by SAP AG.
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