SAP business system on demand - Swedish Implema launches SAP as a cloud service

SAP On demand gives expansive companies a business system to grow with. A powerful, cloud-based system, which can handle foreign business and cross-border trade – all for a fixed monthly cost.

Naty AB, which manufactures and markets ecological diapers and Grays American Stores, importer of American foodstuffs are two companies which chose SAP On demand.

Niklas Lindefelt and Björn Ödewing are founders of SAP partner, Implema.

They have worked on implementing SAP with small to mid-size companies for almost fifteen years. In their experience, it is not just the really big companies that need a powerful business system.

- Sweden is a small market. To be competitive and to be able to grow, companies need to establish themselves relatively quickly abroad, says Lindefelt. Even at an early stage, a powerful business system is needed to handle the international business and cross-border trade.

Most of the business systems on the market cannot handle manufacturing outside Sweden, warehouses in foreign countries storage and multi-market sales.

- Issues concerning inter-group trade, different currencies, tax rules and VAT become problematic. This in turn results in the necessity for intervention and manual input and lack of control and reporting, says Ödewing.

With SAP On Demand, expansive companies with international trade can start on a small scales and expand their business systems as the company grows and needs change.

Companies with twenty or so employees and a turnover of about EUR 10 million often have neither time nor the funds to invest in their own SAP system. That is when leasing solution works well.

Naty AB uses SAP On demand since spring 2011. The company has 15 employees and a turnover of SEK 200 million. They have manufacturing, warehousing and sales in several different countries.

Another company which chose SAP On demand is Grays American Stores. The company imports traditional American food from the USA and is operational in the Nordic area. The plan is to expand and increase their business in several countries.

- Naty and Grays are examples of companies which had out-grown their business systems, says Ödewing. They need better control and more structure and a system which enables them to grow and establish in new countries. SAP lets them do that.

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