SAP revealed plans to further extend its fast-start program for SAP Business All-in-One solutions by expanding the strategic partnership with IBM that looks back on a long history of close collaboration in the areas of technology, channel and services. The two companies now take their established, reliable and scalable solutions that are for small and midsize enterprises (SMEs) to achieve optimal implementation times and total cost of ownership (TCO) for customers. The components will include IBM Power Systems, System x and BladeCenter servers, SAP Business All-in-One and an optimized database and operating system. Midsize companies in the services, trade and manufacturing industries are expected to gain benefits from these comprehensive offerings, as they allow for quick time to deployment of end-to-end business processes at a low TCO.

SAP and IBM are currently evaluating three potential offerings based on IBM Power Systems, System x and BladeCenter servers to provide customers with the flexibility to fully leverage their existing IT infrastructure, while benefiting from proven and pre-tested combinations optimized to meet the unique demands of midsize customers. For IBM System x, the companies intend to enable customers to choose between System x or BladeCenter servers with either IBM DB2 or SAP MaxDB with SAP Business All-in-One and SUSE Linux Enterprise Server from Novell. The companies also intend to incorporate the IBM i InstallOption for SAP, dubbed "KOBI," under the fast-start program. Customers will be able to order a preconfigured IBM Power Systems server consisting of SAP Business All-in-One and IBM DB2 running IBM i (formerly i5/OS).

"The joint business relationship between SAP and IBM is in keeping with the interest of midsize businesses in preconfigured and pretested ERP software that runs on preferred hardware types," said Ray Boggs, vice president of SMB research, IDC. "The flexibility in hardware platform choice combined with appropriate software will help encourage midsize firms to invest in ERP and related solutions that are becoming easier to implement."

SAP and IBM Provide a Winning Combination
The expanded relationship will allow SAP, IBM and their respective partner channels to deliver industry-specific, end-to-end solutions based on SAP Business All-in-One and IBM hardware and services. These new offerings for SAP Business All-in-One are designed to combine software, database and hardware into one package, with all components optimized to help midsize companies drive down TCO while protecting their overall IT investment. The offering will be made available via value-added resellers of SAP and business partners of IBM.

"This agreement represents IBM's continuing commitment to deliver targeted industry solutions for the mid-market," said Rainer Zinn, general manager, Global IBM SAP Alliance. "We look forward to working even closer with SAP to bring innovative business solutions to our joint SME clients."

Evolutionary Innovation
With the easy-to-use solution configurator, prospective customers can quickly configure the SAP Business All-in-One solution according to their needs and immediately receive a cost estimation for the solution, including database and hardware as well as implementation.

"IBM servers are an excellent platform for innovation and to address new market segments and channels based on open standards and leading edge technology," said Hans-Peter Klaey, president, Global SME and corporate officer, SAP AG. "The intended offering will provide midsize companies with faster access to integrated business and IT solutions that are easy to implement, competitively priced and optimized for each other. I am confident that this package will simplify the deployment and use of on-premise solutions, drive adoption of integrated business solutions in the SME market and further deliver the best value to our customers."