European users save a penny with HP?s R/3 scheme

Hewlett Packard is offering its European users the option of pre-loading SAP?s R/3 enterprise resource planning applications on its Unix and Win- dows NT-based servers to reduce installation costs.

The move mirrors that of IBM?s AS/400 division, which introduced a similar scheme in June last year. It is another attempt by SAP to reduce consultancy costs for implementing its software, which have been criticised as being too high.

David Hughes-Soloman, SAP technical director, said: ?If applications are pre-configured beforehand, customers don?t have to get consultants in and pay for installation. It increases ease of delivery, especially for organisations that may not have a lot of money to spend.?

Users provide HP with the system and network specifications they require. Certified engineers at HP?s European integration facility in France build it and test it, saving up to a week?s work on a customer site.

HP can only install R/3 on its hardware after being given the go-ahead by SAP, but users still have to buy their R/3 licence from the software supplier.