With more than 40,000 customers running more than 120,000 installations of SAP software worldwide, SAP partners serve the largest customer base in the business software field. SAP partner growth is based on our commitment to delivering long-term satisfaction to all customers.
As an SAP partner, you have the opportunity to co-innovate on our business process platform to increase business opportunities, develop new skills and capabilities, access information and knowledge, and engage more effectively with SAP to better serve customers.
Serving a Growing Global Market
To serve our growing customer base, SAP invests in an elite list of global services partners. We understand that collaborating with and enabling partners fully is the key to success. Today SAP global services partners include Accenture, Atos Origin, BearingPoint, Capgemini, CSC, Deloitte, Fujitsu, HCL Technologies, HP Services, IBM, IDS Scheer, Infosys, itelligence, Logica, Satyam, Siemens, Tata Consulting Services, and Wipro.
SAP services partners focus on business solutions and typically provide:
- Consulting services
- Systems integration services
- Support for evaluation, implementation, and continuous improvement
SAP services partners collaborate with SAP and assume joint responsibility for supporting the SAP solution. Partnerships are available at these levels:
Service Alliance Partners
Alliance Partners are strong consulting companies offering comprehensive services to SAP key accounts in the corresponding market. Mutual commitment at this level is high and results in joint local market development and service delivery.
To ensure best-of-breed joint services, Alliance Partners need to have a sufficient number of certified consultants and comply with other rigorous criteria defined by SAP. Participation at Alliance level is offered by invitation only. At the Alliance Partner level, the SAP Managing Director makes the final decision.
Working Relationships
Regular Business Planning status meetings with Alliance Management and with SAP Africa Executives.
IBU, product or solution management meetings on an ad-hoc basis.
From an Alliance point of view, both parties must have a single point of contact
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At SAP Africa through the relevant Alliance Manager and executive sponsor.
- At the Partner through an Executive / Alliance Manager
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Service Partners
Service Partners are consulting companies offering SAP related services to customers and prospects. Typically these are smaller companies than Alliance Partners and their focus is primarily on the local market. A sufficient number of certified consultants are also required at this level and compliance with other criteria defined by SAP.
Working Relationships
The relationship with between these Partners and SAP Africa needs to be defined and driven at certain key levels of the organisations in order to ensure mutual success. The typical communication profile is around the following areas:
- Regular Business Planning status meetings with Alliance Management and, optionally with SAP Africa Executives.
- IBU, product or solution management meetings on an ad-hoc basis.
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Special Expertise Partnerships
Depending on market conditions in specific countries or geographies, SAP may offer partners the opportunity to specialize in specific areas, including market segments/industries, products, or special services.
These specialized partnerships allow SAP to communicate and cooperate closely with partner companies. SAP defines communication channels for these partners, particularly at the operational level (sales, consulting, regional support organizations, and marketing), but also at the product management and development levels.
SAP also uses various internal and external communications to promote a partner's expertise – making it easier for customers and prospects to find qualified partners for industry- or application-specific projects.
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Black Economic Empowerment Resource Providers
Resource Service Providers are small/midsize BEE companies that have a core focus on developing SAP skills, specifically for those Previously Disadvantaged Individuals (PDI) employed within their organizations. The primary objective of this Programme is to assist in skills development and capacity building within the South African ICT community, and forms part of SAP’s larger BEE strategy.
Resource service providers make a commitment to SAP that they will not support or promote solutions that compete with SAP’s solutions or stated strategy. At this level, these organizations do not typically prime large SAP implementations; their role is rather to provide resources onto SAP projects, usually through sub-contracting to SAP and SAP Service Partners. This process facilitates skills development and capacity building within the BEE partner base enabling them to build capability and gain sufficient experience to become fully accredited Service Partners.