SAP sets sights on ISVs with recruitment drive
Vendor launches BusinessOne integration certification scheme while looking to sign up partners
German software vendor SAP is embarking on an ISV recruitment drive following the launch of its Business One integration certification.
Last week the software vendor awarded ISVs Invu and Cindercone Business One integration certificates, enabling them to provide end-users with a fully integrated software suite covering all of Business One’s capabilities, such as finance and manufacturing. It also revealed plans to appoint a further 18 ISVs by the end of the year.
Mark Weir, channel development manager for SME at SAP UK, said the certificates show that each ISV’s vertical-specific software has been incorporated into SAP Business One.
“If we can use partner solutions then we will. We don’t have the skills to cover all the verticals as there are many hundreds of them,” he said.
Nick Claydon, director of Cindercone, said: “Earning an SAP accreditation provides an exciting opportunity for ISVs like us. It gives us an edge over our competitors.”
SAP described both Invu’s and Cindercone’s appointments as the first in “an important recruitment drive for SAP in 2006,” however it denied that the appointment of a further 18 such ISVs would cause market saturation.
Kevin Skinner, SAP business development manager at Invu, said its appointment would open doors.
“The certification enables us to benefit each other and boosts our own profile by working with SAP. It doesn’t bother us having another 19 ISVs with this certificate as we are the only document management company associated with SAP Business One at present,” he said.
Weir also told CRN that later this year SAP will unveil a new addition to its PartnerEdge programme, which will seek to reward partners for the quality and quantity of Business One products they sell.
Earlier this month SAP also expanded its global vertical channel focus with the unveiling of 39 new mySAP all-in-one channel products. All were developed by partners and include built-in best practices for managing processes within a specific verticals, such as biotechnology and plant construction (CRN 16 January).