Nike is a global marketer of athletic footwear, apparel and equipment and operates in over 160 countries. Nike is headquartered in Beaverton, OR, United States, and employs more than 30,000 people worldwide. For the fiscal year ending May 31, 2007, Nike reported record revenues of US$16.3 billion, a US$1.3 billion increase over last year’s earnings. Nike has been an SAP customer since 1999.

As the global leader in the apparel and footwear industry, Nike orchestrates a dynamic business network of manufacturers, logistics providers, and other trading partners to respond rapidly to ever-shortening fashion cycles and deliver innovative products to its consumers. To deliver even higher customer value and achieve its goal of becoming a US$23 billion sales company by 2011, the company has recognized the need to adopt a new market focus and transform its business network to take on a new role of being – or fostering – a consumer-intimate retail experience.

The strategic change in market focus emphasizes developing a systematic and continuous relationship with consumers via each “category” of sporting activities that they practice – men’s fitness, women’s fitness, running, soccer, football, basketball, golf, and others. This strategy will require flexible, end-to-end business processes within the company and across the business network to operate successfully on a global scale.

In order to develop intimacy with its consumers and meet the demands of accelerating fashion cycles in an increasingly competitive business environment, Nike is relying on the SAP Apparel and Footwear application and SAP’s enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA).

www.nike.com