IMG Implements SAP Business Information Warehouse Solution; Partners With SAP to Help Customer Gain Insights Across Enterprise

Business Wire, Nov 16, 1998

ST. GALLEN, SWITZERLAND--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 16, 1998--IMG Americas, an international implementer of SAP(TM) R/3(TM)-based solutions for industries, Monday announced it will soon complete an SAP Business Information Warehouse(TM) (SAP BW(TM)) installation, on behalf of a major worldwide pharmaceutical firm.

The installation, conducted in partnership with SAP AG, began earlier this year at the vitamins division of Hoffmann-LaRoche Ltd., based here in Switzerland. Hoffmann-LaRoche asked SAP for assistance, after discovering that it could not access up-to-date and consolidated data from across multiple operational systems in the division as rapidly as it needed.

Hoffman LaRoche decided to implement the SAP BW solution, which combines state-of-the-art data warehousing technologies with SAP business expertise to create an end-to-end solution. The company turned to IMG for assistance in the installation, based on IMG's extensive experience with R/3 , and also its significant expertise in the area of corporate performance measurement and benchmarking.

"IMG and SAP recognize the issues that companies must address as they seek to improve the ways they do business," said Fred Brecht, ISP Global Finance Manager, Hoffmann LaRoche.

"We know the role that process benchmarking plays in helping companies become more efficient and establish themselves as market leaders. We also know the role that data plays in that function and the importance of storage and management of that data. IMG has built its business around clearly demonstrating how and where R/3 can improve the way firms such as ours can do business," he added.

IMG and SAP are installing a divisional information warehouse at Hoffmann-LaRoche, providing consolidated data regarding key business functions, such as product costing, capital expenditures and the status of its global supply chain. The two firms are also installing a Global Marketing application at Hoffmann-LaRoche to provide complete support for the company's account management and sales functions.

The IMG approach to business information warehouse services complements the practice followed by SAP, providing users with a comprehensive view of data across the enterprise. This allows companies to analyze mission-critical data and make key business decisions.

IMG's approach includes PROMET(R) PMB, a methodology for performance management and benchmarking that develops information concepts and brings them to life with SAP BW, as well as turnkey solutions that take the customer from business strategy via business processes to SAP BW.

"We're committed to helping our customers derive the greatest value from their SAP applications, and our work with the SAP Business Information Warehouse is no exception," said Cindy Bernstein, IMG vice president, Sales and Marketing.

"This has been a joint project for us with SAP and we are proud of what we're now able to offer our customers in terms of data warehouse capabilities and business intelligence."

IMG's work on behalf of Hoffmann-LaRoche was performed as part of its commitment to Team SAP. TeamSAP is the network of people, processes and products that assures SAP customers of success.

New services extend the TeamSAP commitment to support each customer throughout the life cycle of their SAP R/3 solution, from implementing upgrades to expanding functionality and responding to continual change.

About IMG Americas

With its expansion into the Americas, IMG continues its pattern of global growth. From its beginning in Switzerland in 1989, IMG has brought a full complement of integration and consulting services to SAP clients, doubling in size and revenues each of the last three years.

IMG Americas is headquartered in the SAP complex in Lester, Pa. The IMG Corp. is based in St. Gallen, Switzerland, with offices throughout Europe and in Japan. More information is available at www.img-a.com, or by calling 888/446-4872.

SAP, R/3, SAP Business Information Warehouse, SAP BW and all other SAP product or service names referenced herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG. All other company or product names mentioned herein may be trademarks of their respective