SAP Information Interchange at Sapphire 2010

2010 will be the first year that the SAP Information Interchange will be unveiled and demonstrated by SAP at Sapphire.  In 2009 SAP's CEO announced the strategy of business network transformation and identified SAP's relationship with Munich based Crossgate as being an important part of it.  In 2010 that relationship has advanced and matured to the point where SAP private labels Crossgate's Business Ready Network as the SAP Information Interchange by Crossgate.

Here are a few of the sessions and events where you can learn more about SAP Information Interchange:

• SAP Information Interchange - Featuring the International Flavors and Fragrances Case Study - Exchange ideas regarding your business-to-business network, and learn how to leverage standard content to collaborate with suppliers, customers, logistics providers, and toll manufacturers. Space is limited – 12 seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis! Date/Time: Monday, May 17, 2:00 p.m. Location: Microforum 208 Industries.
• Connectivity of Finance (Payments, Invoice-to-Pay, Customer-to-Cash, Business-to-Business) - Businesses of all sizes can benefit from improving invoice payment cycles, while eliminating manual, paper-based systems. Discover how SAP Financial Supply Chain Management, SAP Invoice Management by Open Text, and SAP Information Interchange by Crossgate can help cut costly manual processes and strengthen relationships with suppliers and customers, while improving profitability. Date/Time: Open during exhibit hours at Pod Number 407.
• Invoice-to-Pay Process Overview with SAP Partners Open Text and Crossgate - This session is for any business of any size interested in improving its invoice payment cycles and eliminating manual, paper-based systems. Discover how invoice-to-payment automation provided by SAP Invoice Management by Open Text, SAP Information Interchange by Crossgate, and SAP Financial Supply Chain Management can help cut costly manual processes and strengthen supplier relationships, while improving profitability. Speakers: Mr. Tom Walker (Open Text Corp.), Portfolio Manager, Mr. Joseph Pacor (SAP), Marketing Director - Date/Time: Wednesday, May 19, 3:30-4:00 p.m, location:  Theater 3 Lines of Business.

The concept of having a global network of SAP customers all connected to an SAP co-owned EDI/B2B exchange and leveraging each other's maps and connections to trading partners continues to fascinate me.  A recent article I wrote discusses the enormous volume of business that flows through SAP systems.  Upwards of 70% of the world’s economy is executed by organizations running SAP Applications.  To be able to bring order to that flow of business through a powerful EDI exchange that is supported by SAP is exciting and the possibilities intriguing.

Traditionally, each company seemed inclined to develop their own complex and expensive in-house EDI department and to purchase their own servers, software, and training.   The SAP Information Interchange just may be compelling enough to change that paradigm going forward.


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Author: Kevin Benedict
CEO/Founder Netcentric Strategies LLC
SAP Mentor, SAP Top Contributor
SAP EDI Consultant, Mobile Industry Analyst and Web 2.0 Marketing Consultant
http://www.netcentric-strategies.com/
www.linkedin.com/in/kevinbenedict
***Full Disclosure: I am an independent consultant that has worked with and for many of the companies mentioned.
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