http://insiderprofiles.wispubs.com/How business and IT leaders innovate with SAP® and SAP BusinessObjects™6265http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/What-SAPs-Hardware-Stance-Means-for-Its-Long-Term-Competitive-Success/6265Which is more advantageous: designing and selling both hardware and software, or just focusing on software? Analyst Josh Greenbaum fleshes out this question by discussing the real secret behind Apple’s success — a company that designs and distributes its own hardware and software — as well as the history and future of the database market.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006273http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Do-SAP-Rapid-Deployment-Solutions-Really-Speed-Time-to-Business-Value-/6273In this Q&A, Davis Bennett -- Vice President of the Solution Delivery Center at SAP Consulting North America -- discusses the potential benefits of SAP Rapid Deployment solutions. For example, instead of tackling massive projects, customers can utilize packaged services that require less customization and less costs, but are still fully integrated and scalable to meet any future needs.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006271http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Using-FTP--Know-the-Risks/6271Businesses today have security, scalability, visibility, and compliance concerns -- traditional file transfer protocol (FTP) software is no longer enough to satisfy these demands. Companies are now turning to managed file transfer solutions for secure and reliable data exchange. This article outlines the drawbacks of FTP and the benefits of utilizing a managed file transfer platform.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006272http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/AmerisourceBergen-Accelerates-Its-Order-Fulfillment-and-Delivery/6272For any company, delayed deliveries can result in lost profits. But for a company like AmerisourceBergen, which processes 80,000 orders for pharmaceuticals per day, delayed deliveries can have deadly consequences. To continue to ensure that pharmacies and hospitals receive the inventory patients need, AmerisourceBergen embarked on a business transformation initiative to replace its legacy system with a scalable ERP platform.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006268http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Are-You-Doing-Enough-to-Prevent-Access-Risk-and-Fraud-/6268Operating in today’s business environment requires companies to comply with industry standards and protect critical applications -- and they must be able to prove they are doing so. This article dives into the findings of an insiderRESEARCH project in which surveyed security-focused professionals describe the challenges surrounding managing access risk with manual controls.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006269http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Leverage-SAP-Innovations-Wisely--3-Tips-from-SAP-COO-Ross-Wainwright/6269Ross Wainwright, COO of North America and former EVP of North America Services, recommends three best practices to help business users simplify future SAP projects and promote growth and innovation: think big, start small, and move fast; pull more levers with fewer hands; and embrace the art of governance. Read the article for details about these best practices.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006270http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/For-Westinghouse-Electric,-Future-Success-=-Global-Standard-Processes/6270For over 10 years, the nuclear energy industry changed very little, and Westinghouse Electric Company continued to operate successfully using SAP software that was implemented back in 1999. But in recent years, the nuclear industry has expanded quickly, and to meet new demands, Westinghouse Electric launched a transformation program that included a complete reimplementation of its SAP environment.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006277http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Nu-Skin-Fights-Aging-Systems-with-New-HR-Software/6277Nu Skin, a developer and distributor of health and beauty products, has employees in 28 different countries around the world. Previously, no centralized HR system existed to collect employee data or provide standardized HR reporting. Now, Nu Skin utilizes SAP ERP Human Capital Management -- and its journey to go-live is one that is truly unique.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006267http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Mr--Potato-Head-Meets-New-Markets-at-Hasbro/6267When Hasbro’s “big-bang” implementation approach in the 1990s created differing business processes across the company’s 27 different markets, management quickly realized a more centralized, shared-services business model would be necessary to continue to expand into new regions of the world. Thus, the business-driven, IT-supported Way to Work initiative was created, which included a major SAP upgrade.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006274http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/300-Virtual-SAP-Instances--The-Power-of-Deloitte-Consultings-Landscape/6274Deloitte’s Solutions Network (SNET) group is responsible for helping Deloitte Consulting sell and deliver projects and packaged applications. The SNET group’s approach is unique -- potential clients tour a virtual showroom of preconfigured SAP solutions tailored to their specific industry needs. This experience is only available because of the SNET group’s dedication to virtualization, as the business's 300 virtual SAP instances can attest to.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006266http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Radically-Simple-SAP--Look-to-the-Cloud/6266Is your business considering implementing a cloud-based application by SAP? Greg Tomb, President of SAP Cloud Applications, explores the types of cloud-based applications SAP offers, the challenges they address, and the differences between SAP cloud applications and SAP enterprise applications. In addition, get an in-depth look at his predictions for cloud adoption among customers.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006276http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Linking-the-Familiarity-of-Excel-with-the-Power-of-SAP-ERP-Financials/6276Though financial professionals who use Microsoft Excel often rely on IT to create uploading templates, queries, and reports from their SAP systems, there is a way to eliminate this dependence. Learn the benefits of utilizing Z Option’s GLSU and the GL Wand solution from Excel4apps, which are both SAP certified for smooth integration with SAP ERP Financials.2012-01-02T00:00:00-05:006123http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Insider-Learning-Network-Gives-SAP-Users-Access-to-Collective-Intelligence/6123SAP customers often need to look outside of their own company to gain advice on the best ways to leverage their software. However, looking for specific advice on an individual topic across the Internet can be time consuming and frustrating. The most innovative customers are now looking to online resources that capture the collective intelligence of the IT community on all things related to SAP software. This Q & A details the role tools like the Insider Learning Network can play in educating SAP users.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006127http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Stability-and-Mobility--PrimeSource-Building-Products-Follows-a-Phased-Approach-to-SAP-Adoption/6127Mobility just might be this year's most pressing priority for IT organizations. However, jumping on the mobility bandwagon before a company's IT back-end systems are ready could be potentially disastrous. Mark Howell, CIO at building materials distributor PrimeSource Building Products, discusses PrimeSource's strategy to provide the business with both stability and mobility through a two-phased IT transformation project.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006119http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Enbridge-Gas-Distribution-Compresses-System-Refresh-from-4-Weeks-to-7-Days/6119With almost two million industrial, commercial, and residential customers, Enbridge Gas Distribution maintains a vast pool of customer data, which grows by 10 to 12 gigabytes per business day. Hugh MacMillan, Manager of IT Technical Services at Enbridge, saw that the company was reaching a point where it would be almost impossible to perform a system refresh. Discover how Enbridge dissected the problem and found a solution that would speed up this process.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006118http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Direct-Relief-Brings-Technology-from-the-Commercial-World-to-the-Humanitarian-World/6118More than half of the world’s population survives on less than $2 a day. In fact, the vast majority of humans on this planet struggle to secure access to the basic necessities of food, water, shelter, and medical care. Direct Relief International is a nonprofit organization with a single purpose — to provide humanitarian assistance and medical resources to people who can’t pay for them. Learn how Direct Relief used SAP technology created an online community network that can support people in need by making medicines and supplies more easily accessible.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006120http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Reining-in-the-Mavericks/6120Accurately tracking and managing overall spend is quite a task for most companies, especially those with large supplier rosters. Is your company experiencing very high procurement transaction volumes and increased maverick spending within its homegrown purchasing solutions? If so, read this article to learn how SAP customer The Ericsson Group has met this challenge by implementing an e-procurement platform with the help of Capgemini Procurement Services.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006126http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/A-Peek-Behind-the-Curtain--Medtronic-Shares-Its-Experiences-as-an-Early-SAP-HANA-Adopter/6126“Customer satisfaction” takes on a much more urgent meaning when physicians use your organization’s products to treat patients with chronic diseases. At medical technology company Medtronic, no customer complaint is ever taken lightly. Throughout its production of medical technologies that help millions of people live better and longer, Medtronic strives to record and track every byte of customer feedback it encounters. Find out how being an early adopter of SAP HANA has helped Medtronic manage this ever-growing database of customer information.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006114http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Celestica-Stretches-Its-Business-Analytics-Capabilities/6114Business analytics is becoming ever more important now that companies have increasing access to data. Electronics manufacturing services provider Celestica saw the opportunity to turn supply chain data into a competitive advantage. Get an inside look at how Celestica leverages business analytics to create a competitive edge for the organization and its customers in this Q&A with Dr. Tianbing Qian, Senior Director of Information Solutions.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006111http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/American-Express-Co-Innovates-with-SAP/6111When SAP customers evaluate third-party solutions, a crucial piece to consider is how the new solution will integrate into the business’s existing technology landscape. To ensure an easy integration, SAP has been focused on co-innovation with its partners. This article details how American Express collaborated with SAP to develop a more easily integrated payment solution for SAP customers.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006124http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Improved-Supply-Chain-Processes-Bring-Intel-Real-Savings/6124To produce its cutting-edge semiconductors and microprocessors, high-tech giant Intel needs the very latest manufacturing equipment — and those tools don’t come cheap. In this article, read how Intel used SAP technology to pay suppliers sooner and dramatically improve its discount capture rate for capital purchases from ~50% to over 95%, exceeding the corporate goal, and resulting in millions of dollars in cost savings each year.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006121http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Global-Vehicle-Supplier-Tunes-Up-Its-SAP-Environment/6121Federal-Mogul has 112 manufacturing locations and 21 aftermarket distribution facilities in 35 countries. How does a company of this size monitor all of its IT systems? SAP Solution Manager was Federal-Mogul’s first step in providing a vehicle that would allow the Basis team to perform “active monitoring” consistently across the company’s entire SAP landscape. Discover how Federal-Mogul went beyond the basics of Solution Manager to truly leverage the solution's power and productivity.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006113http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Ensuring-EPM-SUCCESS-with-Eyes-Wide-Open/6113If your approach for implementing an application that will be accessed primarily by business function users is the same one you’d take to deploy a back-end IT system, you might want to rethink your implementation strategy. In this article, Bluefin Solutions shares five indispensable tips learned from its own implementation of SAP BusinessObjects EPM 10.0 solutions, including how to effectively engage end users in more than just the requirements gathering phase.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006115http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Who-Is-Shaping-YOUR-Company%E2%80%99s-Strategy-/6115Among the ranks of your company’s leadership may well be an executive with the title of Chief Strategy Officer. This new role has seen rampant adoption in the past few years. So, what makes this position so compelling to organizations? See what Chakib Bouhdary has to say about this innovative position and his responsibilities as CSO at SAP.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006128http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Print-at-Your-Own-Peril/6128Output Management is often the last thing on a company's list of priorities during an ERP implementation. However, not seriously thinking about how printing output can affect your company could lead to a significant loss of revenue. SAP recognizes this challenge but also realizes it cannot create every piece of software its customers will need. This article showcases two case studies where companies benefited from partnering with an SAP-certified output management provider.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006112http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Allison-Transmission-Shifts-Product-Development-into-High-Gear/6112When President Barack Obama visited an Allison Transmission plant recently, he told the company that its work to design more fuel efficient vehicles was "really important” to the US economy. One of Allison Transmission's keys to success is its effective use of SAP Product Lifecycle Management (SAP PLM), which has streamlined the product development process and allowed Allison to increase the number of new products it releases each year.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006122http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/The-Trouble-with-TCO/6122The one overarching topic that looms over SAP, its customers, and its competitors centers around the never-ending debate over the total cost of ownership (TCO) of enterprise software. Read this article to discover how knowing your company's IT-IQ (information technology intelligence quotient) and calculating its buying power can help make sense of TCO.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006125http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/Cut-Labor-and-Print-Services-Costs-Immediately-with-an-Enterprise-Output-Management-Solution-from-LRS/6125Reliable document printing and output management solutions play an important, but often overlooked, role in an SAP customer's optimization and cost-cutting efforts. In this article, learn how you can increase the value from your SAP investments by supporting scalable, rapidly deployable output management solutions.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:006116http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/The-Optimal-Outsourcing-Outcome/6116The benefits of moving off a legacy system to a more robust SAP ERP are clear for most companies. But hosting a new ERP system internally means training an IT team, managing upgrades, and possibly hiring new personnel with SAP expertise. Outsourcing provides another option. This story follows Cobra Electronics Corporation's journey in finding the right outsourcing partner for its SAP instance.2011-10-01T00:00:00-04:005905http://sapinsider.wispubs.com/article.cfm?id=Article/All-Work-and-All-Play--Can-Business-Be-Both-/5905Could gaming and business marry and live happily ever after? As online games like Angry Birds and FarmVille infiltrate the business culture, money is being invested in making business more game-like. This article takes a critical look at the concept of bringing gaming technology to the enterprise and how SAP can use games to incentivize collective, collaborative action.2011-07-01T00:00:00-04:00