Business software vendor SAP AG wants to make it easier for solution providers and enterprise customers to deliver and consume SAP applications in the cloud.
SAP has launched a program to collaborate with leading cloud service providers, with the goal of offering SAP-validated, cloud-based infrastructure and application services to partners and businesses worldwide. The company said it believes that with a common reference architecture, service-level agreements and data privacy standards, the collaboration should lead to easier deployment, improved quality of service and lower total cost of ownership.
SAP’s cloud solution portfolio already includes the SAP Hana Enterprise Cloud service as a deployment platform for SAP applications, with cloud infrastructure and managed services. Hana is expected to be a key part of the new offering being developed with cloud service providers.
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The vendor reports that initial plans are already in place with 12 cloud service providers, including Fujitsu, Hitachi Data Systems, HP, IBM and VMware vCloud Hybrid Service, with more expected to follow shortly.
“SAP really understands the importance of its ecosystem to its success,” said Darren Bibby, program vice-president, channels and alliances research with IDC, in a statement. “For example, it has been very effective at extending its reach with VARs and systems integrators for more traditional implementations. Now that the world is moving to cloud and hosted consumption models, SAP has the opportunity to transfer that same ecosystem prowess to outsourcing providers for the ultimate benefit of end users.”