SAP solutions on simple EMI

Ever since the tech bubble burst, enterprise solutions vendors have been hitting the roadblock of customer wariness over return on investment.

Enterprise solutions typically involve a major upfront investment in licence fee and installation charges, plus maintenace and upgrading costs on a recurring basis.

SAP is now making it possible for prospective customers to simplify all this into an annuity charge spread over seven years.

SAP AG and Siemens Financial Services (SFS), have announced simple, affordable and all-inclusive financing for existing and prospective SAP customers of all sizes.

Marketed through 'SAP Financing' and delivered through SFS, the new financial services are tailored to meet the specific cash-flow requirements of the customer and cover the costs of software, hardware, internal and external implementation services, and maintenance during project installation for SAP solutions.

SAP Financing is immediately available through all SAP sales channels, including channel partners and system integrators.

This model is being launched, said SAP, at a time when companies are ever more careful with their business investments and financing issues can complicate decisions about adopting new business management solutions.

"SAP Financing addresses these issues by combining all relevant costs into a quantifiable monthly payment. The financing offer simplifies the budgeting process and helps customers predict the total cost and return on investment over the entire life cycle of their software solutions," a statement from SAP noted.

According to SAP, long-term costs associated with an SAP solution are calculated for a period of up to seven years, enabling companies to plan their long-term IT investments and better understand the opportunity for lowering total cost of ownership (TCO).

Further, companies will be able to get financing information quickly and easily through the "Investment Calculator" tool, without the need for a third-party financing expert, the statement added.