Demonstrating ongoing leadership in providing innovative solutions to companies worldwide, SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced that American Greetings Corporation (NYSE: AM) will enhance its information systems using SAP® solutions. The global greeting card company selected SAP Business Suite applications from the SAP for Retail solution portfolio for their ability to support the company’s need to improve its data management and adapt quickly to customer needs while helping to ensure best quality products. American Greetings is one of the world’s largest manufacturers of social expression products. Along with greeting cards, its product lines include gift-wrap, party goods, stationery, calendars, ornaments and electronic greetings. The announcement was made at the World Retail Congress, being held in Barcelona, Spain from April 9–11.
American Greetings recently conducted a thorough evaluation of its information systems to determine what was needed to support the company’s unique and creative business. It selected SAP solutions in late 2007 for the superior end-to-end business processes tailored to the company’s specific industry needs. The SAP software implementation will occur globally in phases, and will replace some legacy systems while integrating with other internal systems at American Greetings.
“American Greetings is focused on designing and creating products to meet evolving consumer needs,” said Ed Lange, executive vice president and chief customer officer, SAP Americas and Asia-Pacific Japan. “Like American Greetings, SAP is focused on anticipating customer needs and is continually breaking new ground with solutions that help companies respond more quickly and efficiently to their customers. American Greetings’ decision to enhance its business with SAP further solidifies SAP’s position as a leading provider of innovative, integrated solutions.”
About SAP® for Retail
SAP is the leading provider of application solutions for the retail industry. SAP helps retailers of all sizes to understand, anticipate and inspire their customers, employees and shareholders by delivering results. The SAP® for Retail solution portfolio provides specific solutions for retail companies in the food, fashion and hardlines businesses. The solution portfolio consists of building blocks that cover the areas of merchandising (including demand management - price, promotion and markdown optimization); store operations (including a portfolio of POS solutions); supply chain, finance and human resources. SAP allows companies to implement solutions in a step-by-step approach, and provides an easy, cost-effective means to connect information across the business. (Additional information at http://www.sap.com/retail/).
About SAP
SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software*. Today, more than 46,100 customers in more than 120 countries run SAP® applications—from distinct solutions addressing the needs of small businesses and midsize companies to suite offerings for global organizations. Powered by the SAP NetWeaver® technology platform to drive innovation and enable business change, SAP software helps enterprises of all sizes around the world improve customer relationships, enhance partner collaboration and create efficiencies across their supply chains and business operations. SAP solution portfolios support the unique business processes of more than 25 industries, including high tech, retail, financial services, healthcare and the public sector. With subsidiaries in more than 50 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol “SAP.” (Additional information at <http://www.sap.com>)
(*) SAP defines business software as comprising enterprise resource planning and related applications such as supply chain management, customer relationship management, product life-cycle management and supplier relationship management.
