European IT infrastructure and service provider leverages world's business network to deliver innovative platform for purchasing technology in simple, compliant manner
eCommerce is fast becoming the de facto standard for companies to secure the goods and services they need to run their operations. And with the help of SAP Ariba, the Bechtle Group is executing it with greater simplicity and speed. Leveraging the Ariba Network, the European IT infrastructure and service provider has created a one-stop shop through which it can purchase technology and services that enhance the productivity of its customers in an efficient, compliant way. And it is transforming IT procurement and its business - in the process.
"As consumers, if we need a new mobile device, we get online, compare features and prices and with a few clicks, order, pay for and arrange to have it delivered," said Martin Meyer, Head of eBusiness Strategy and Member of the Supervisory Board, Bechtle, who shared the story of the company's success during a breakout session today at SAP Ariba Live, the premier global commerce event taking place this week in Madrid. "We expect things to be just as easy at work. But business buying is complex. And it needs to follow rules."
To overcome these challenges, Bechtle created bios, a custom information and ordering platform connected to the Ariba Network that serves as a single interface through which it can help the more than 75,000 customers it serves:
- Streamline, standardize and expedite IT procurement
- Leverage framework agreements across their organizations
- Ensure compliance with global procurement policies
- Automatically manage IT assets, licenses and product life cycles
Using the system, Bechtle customers can search for products and services within bios and automatically transfer data on them back to Ariba where they can be purchased in accordance with a customer's policies and procedures.
"There are plenty of solutions that can make procurement easier. But the key to driving business transformation lies in creating intelligent connections between buyers and sellers that enable them to run smarter," said Paul Devlin, General Manager, SAP Ariba EMEA and MEE. "In leveraging SAP Ariba's open technology platform, Bechtle can efficiently connect with its customers and extend its collaborative processes to deliver innovations that take IT procurement to new levels."
It can also grow its connections and expand its business. "With bioswe have been able to simplify a complex, hard-to-manage category like IT," Meyer said. "This is a key differentiator for us that is opening doors to significant new opportunities."
SAP Ariba offers a wide-range of solutions designed to help selling organizations like Bechtle fuel business innovation and growth. To learn more about these offerings and the value they can deliver, visit: www.ariba.com.
About Bechtle
The Bechtle Group has 66 system houses in Germany, Austria and Switzerland and is one of Europe's leading IT e-commerce providers with trading companies in 14 countries. Founded in 1983, the Neckarsulm-based company currently employs over 7,200 people. Bechtle is a manufacturer-independent company that provides one-stop shopping for all the IT infrastructure and operation needs of its more than 73,000 industrial, public sector and financial market customers. Bechtle has been quoted on the stock exchange since 2000 and is listed in the TecDAX technology index since 2004. In 2015, the company generated a revenue of approximately 2.8 billion euros.
About SAP Ariba
SAP® Ariba® is the marketplace for digital business, creating frictionless exchanges between millions of buyers and suppliers across the entire source-to-pay process. Our market-leading solutions enable companies to simplify collaboration with their trading partners, make smarter business decisions and extend their collaborative business processes with an open technology platform. More than two million companies use SAP Ariba solutions to connect and collaborate around nearly one trillion in commerce on an annual basis. To learn more about the company's offerings and the transformation they are driving, visit www.ariba.com
About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable approximately 310,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.
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Contacts:
SAP Ariba
Karen Master, 412-297-8177
karen.master@sap.com