Verizon and SAP have announced that they are teaming to jointly deliver the SAP Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM) to enterprise users through Verizon’s Computing as a Service (CaaS) cloud offering. Subscribers will be able to access SAP CRM from their desktops or their mobile devices.
The SAP CRM CaaS is designed to offer users a rapid-deployment solution, with some deployment available in as little as eight weeks. The SAP CRM is the first in a planned series of SAP services being deployed in the Verizon “cloud.” The service targets enterprises with a ready-to-use software, predefined services and preconfigured content.
BACKGROUND: Verizon’s public cloud aimed at enterprise
Pricing is also predefined: Services will be delivered on the user-subscription license model so customers can pay per user, per month for the application, including the cloud hosting services, infrastructure and management services.
SAP CRM as a service also integrates the SAP applications with Verizon’s Managed Mobility platform, leveraging the Sybase Unwired Platform for mobilized apps via the Mobile Sales for SAP CRM application — offering users like sales representatives access to real-time customer information over hand-held devices.
Commenting in a statement, Kerry Bailey, group president, cloud strategy and services for Verizon, said, “Verizon and SAP have joined forces to harness the true potential of the cloud by delivering proven enterprise applications that enable workers to enhance their ability to serve clients and to better business outcomes.” She added, “This is yet another step in our path to deliver ‘everything-as-a-service’ — a path that offers increased flexibility and better economics for our business and government clients.”
In the same statement, Robert Viehmann, senior vice president, solution assembly and packaging, SAP AG, said “By offering SAP Rapid Deployment solutions via the cloud, SAP is helping companies to expand the strategic capabilities of their workforces. [The] announcement with Verizon accelerates the value companies can gain from our offerings, while controlling costs for an immediate business benefit.”
The service marks a milestone in an ongoing partnership between Verizon and SAP. Verizon launched a new application management service in January 2010 providing end-to-end management of SAP applications and delivery platforms and in mid-2010, Verizon became a SAP-certified global provider of cloud-based services.
