Plattner (center) with Bramasol's CEO, David Fellers, (left) and Executive VP of Strategic Solutions, Mayur Shah (right).
Keynote speaker and friend of Bramasol, Hasso Plattner, spoke all about taking on the myths that have been circulating on HANA and the cloud, one by one.
Some of these included:
- It is not possible to do virtualization with HANA
- HANA uses propriety hardware
- HANA does not support multi-tenancy
- Adopting HANA is disruptive to business
- HANA is only for SAP applications
- HANA uses an old concept of columnar store
And more...
Plattner answered key questions on the cloud and HANA with facts and data to support his answers. No surprise, because Dr. Hasso Plattner is passionate about teaching innovation and we admire his transparency. He emphasized HANA is a platform- not just a database.
Simply put HANA can run anything.
Plattner was a funny, engaging speaker and just one of the many knowledgeable experts featured at this year's event.
Take a look at a few more photos from his talk:
Headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, Packsize is a Bramasol customer that has made an impact on its customers, communities and environment with its innovation through a foundation created using SAP. Packsize is much more than a shipment company; it's a company that innovates and is always thinking about how to run their business better, because their business is the business of their customers.
Bramasol worked with Packsize to ensure supply chain efficiency with an SAP solution that works for their business. As you can see from the pictures below, Packsize builds boxes- but not just any boxes, it builds them to shipment size. To the most demanding measurements based on a cubic algorithm that takes all the information loaded in the SAP system and can precisely pinpoint the size a box needs to be to fit a shipment. This can be one box or many boxes. No need for fillers, packaging and waste that is commonly found every time a shipment is sent.
The impact is huge. Shipping savings, cost of distribution savings, transportation savings- all throughout the value chain from order to shipment to disposal. Customers can price more competitively because they pass savings along in shipping to their customers.
Working with Bramasol to Ignite Possible, Packsize is a great example of how SAP is helping to make the world run better every day. Stop by booth #2518 and meet with the Bramasol team to see how we can make your business run better and ignite possible with you!
In picture:
CEO Hanko Keissner, Packsize
CFO Bradley Wittwer, Packsize
Meet with Packsize, partnering with CONTAX and UPS, at booth #2521!
What does it mean to run your company better? SAP is focused not only on creating software that ensures the highest functionality for your business, but also in emulating the mindset of the "empowered generation": those focused on making the world run better and improve people's lives.
TOMS Shoes and their "One for One" business model is an excellent example of this social conciousness that is a integral part of the current consumer and corporate mindset. Consumers are connecting their online purchases to real world social changes.
However, the run better mentality does not apply only to retail endeavors. SAP is supplying major sports venues with the software solutions to create a community experience for fans; read about how the NFL 49ers are putting this empowered mindest into practice.
Take a look at a few photos from this morning's keynote seminar, featuring SAP co-CEO Bill McDermott and NFL commentator James Brown!
Welcome to Sapphire!
Bramasol is excited to have a strong presence this year and will be showcasing many of the solutions and services that we support for SAP. Here's a quick summary of what you will find for in our SAP HANA announcements that we released yesterday:
Bramasol Customer Retention and Analytics solution has arrived. This solution, powered by SAP HANA empowers organizations to understand and proactively manage customer attrition, commonly referred to as "churn". The insight is delivered via a comprehensive analytic environment that starts with the solid foundation of an extensive, customer-centric data model in the SAP HANA environment that is based on industry best practices. Get the scoop and view our FAQ on this powerful solution for any business that employs a subscription or recurring revenue model such as internet-based subscription services, cable, membership clubs, utilities, SaaS solution vendors, and many more. Stop by our booth and watch the presentation: 11-12PM Today, 2-3PM 5/15, and 11-12pm 5/16. Read the FAQ and overview for more.
Bramasol SAP Oracle Migration and Optimization program. You are going to hear a lot of information during Sapphire on HANA and HANA expertise. But as a trusted advisor and long-time channel partner for SAP, no company knows how to help you more than Bramasol. At Bramasol, we have very specific SAP on Oracle expertise that helps customers understand their options when it comes to the choices they have in the technology platform that is supporting their current and future SAP applications. Whether or not you have a technology refresh planned or you are trying to determine a way to consolidate your landscapes, Bramasol can help. Our Oracle expertise is now complemented with deep SAP HANA expertise. Since we have depth of experience in understanding both SAP and Oracle, we are the ideal partner to educate, advise and help you migrate from SAP Business Warehouse on Oracle to SAP Business Warehouse on SAP HANA. Stop by our booth and watch the presentation: 2-3-PM Today, 11-12pm 5/15, and 2-3pm 5/16. Read the FAQ and overview for more.
Core ERP, Cloud and Mobility. This morning we also announced practice expansion growth and delivery for core ERP, cloud and mobility- showcasing our customer Janicki Industries, a high-precision tooling aerospace manufacturer located in Sedro-Woolley, WA who is working with Bramasol on transformational business initiatives that will expand their market share. But wait, there's more, find out more about Bramasol's presence in sports -talk to our team and stop by and pick up the whitepaper.
Click the button to read our updated SAP HANA Practice pages.
With all the exciting news and activity and practice growth going on at Bramasol, you can't afford not to stop by and check us out! See you on the showfloor- the Bramasol team looks forward to meeting you!
Posted by
Mayur Shah on Mon, May 13, 2013 @ 05:33 AM
How many times have you stopped to think that you could have done more to keep your customers? Well, customers are expressing that the feeling is mutual—and their patience is fleeting. According to research conducted by Accenture – revealed in Marketing Week – 85% of respondents agreed that their loyalty could have been retained if a company had been more proactive. Another interesting factoid is that 55 percent would have stayed with a company if they had been offered preferential treatment.
This is an important takeaway to consider for marketers and businesses. The customer is telling you they need more of your attention. In fact, they are also looking out for something better unless you give them a reason not to. This is often referred to as the “nonstop customer” and is the reason so many companies face high churn rates. It stems from buyers having more power to shop around and access different channels through technology advancements. It’s another reason why businesses are having a harder time maintaining customer loyalty. There are simply too many options available.
The best way to deliver a more engaging customer experience is to anticipate buying habits and personal preferences. The advent of customer retention solutions has leveled the playing field. Bramasol has partnered with SAP to develop new innovations in HANA to help organizations close the information gap and deliver the value customers crave.
Among the main attractions at the SAPPHIRE NOW and ASUG Annual conference this week in Orlando, Florida, will be the Bramasol HANA Customer Retention and Analytics Solution. The solution initially built for telecommunications industry, is also for businesses that employ a subscription or recurring revenue model such as internet-based subscription services, cable, membership clubs, utilities, SaaS solution vendors, and many more. It quickly can be adapted for these types of businesses. Built on an in-memory platform, HANA can help you see customer trends take shape in real-time, providing a holistic view of what it takes to not only grab their attention but to hold it for years to come. Find out more about the solution here.
Bramasol’s SAP HANA solution offers the advantages of:
- KPI visibility across key customer segments
- “What if” analysis and forecasting capability
- Analytics around behavioral patterns across demographics
Learn more about Bramasol’s collaboration with SAP by watching our video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=VBb5LcrTg1g
Bramasol is an SAP Gold Partner that has a deep understanding of SAP HANA. Stop by and visit during at SAPPHIRE to talk about the SAP HANA Customer Retention and Analytics Solution or get in touch with our team here.
Posted by
Will Pence on Thu, May 09, 2013 @ 09:29 AM
While reading a recent Aberdeen white paper, The Case for Cloud ERP in Manufacturing: Alleviating Outdated Concerns, I kept thinking to myself how well it fits with SAP’s OnDemand offerings, mainly SAP’s Business ByDesign ERP cloud solution. Although the article focuses on the “Cloud ERP in Manufacturing” aspect, the findings in the article can be applied to all types of Industries, not just manufacturing. As the cloud expands, I believe businesses that do not take advantage of the cloud will start losing any competitive-advantage they have over their competitors. How is this? Let’s look at the following five “Key Benefits of Cloud Solutions that a Manufacturer Must Consider” as outlined in the above-mentioned Aberdeen report and see how SAP’s OnDemand Cloud solutions are a perfect fit:
- Cost
- The ability not to rely on Internal IT Resources
- Enhanced collaboration, standardization, and visibility across the enterprise
- Scalability
- Functionality as SaaS deployments are updated by the software vendors.
When talking about doing business in the cloud, cost is always one of the first topics mentioned. There will always be cost savings in the IT area when comparing cloud solutions versus the traditional on premise solutions, whether it’s hardware, software, maintenance costs, upgrades, IT personnel, etc… There will be cost-savings, no matter how big or small the cloud solution may be. Even in the area of data protection—thousands of dollars can be spent on backup systems and disaster-recovery plans. With SAP’s OnDemand solutions, they take care of those worries for you. They take care of your data with secure data backups at secured backup data centers. That, in addition to the lowered IT costs, results in a win-win for the customer.
The next benefit is one that most users in your organization will probably love to hear about: that the use of cloud solutions compared to on-premise solutions will greatly reduce the need to rely on internal IT resources. I don’t how many times I’ve heard that there is some functionality, process or report-modification a user is not able to use because the IT department is too busy. With SAP’s OnDemand software, these types of things can be taken care of by the different “Key Users” or Administrators that are setup within the organization. All users across the company would have the capability to customize any of the standard reports they have been given access to, but the Key User would be able to generate new reports to share across all users within the organization. This SAP OnDemand model empowers the users with the tools needed to get their work done in a timely, efficient matter.
The next key benefits are core assets for those organizations with subsidiaries scattered across the world, that being enhanced collaboration, standardization, and visibility across the enterprise. All three have a direct correlation to each other when it comes to the cloud (see Figure 1.) It’s a given that it is a benefit to run the same applications across an organization that has multiple subsidiaries. But to do this on the cloud is huge! As standardization of applications and processes increases throughout the subsidiaries of an organization, collaboration within the entire organization increases as well. In an environment where different subsidiaries are using different systems to do the same thing, collaboration between the subsidiaries can be difficult. Gathering data from multiple systems across the organization can be a time-consuming process and some of that data may not be as up-to-date as you want. So, it’s needless to say that with a cloud-based system deployed across all subsidiaries, you will gain better collaboration, greater visibility and as a result, lower IT costs. Standardization across subsidiaries in the forms of the same user interface, same processes and use of the same master data will allow you to get better collaboration between the users inside and outside of you subsidiaries. With the use of SAP’s real-time in-memory analytics, visibility into your entire company’s financial status is at your fingertips at any moment.
I’m going to combine the last two benefits, scalability and functionality, because I think they go hand-in-hand when it comes to the cloud. We already know the consequences of scalability and on-premise software (see the paragraph on Costs.) When talking about the cloud and scalability of your software, it really comes down to your provider. Does the provider of your cloud software have the means to adapt the software to business change so that your company can remain to stay competitive? In other words, what are their plans to improve the software, whether it’s by adding functionality or new business processes? It’s important to make sure whatever cloud software you choose to go with, that provider has the resources to grow the software and that they provide you a roadmap for doing so. SAP has been giving ByDesign customers added functionality by providing upgrades to the solution twice a year without any additional fees. SAP has also provided third-party developers with the ByD solution development kit (SDK) in order to encourage them to build applications that integrate with ByDesign system. Through the use of the online SAP Store, SAP ByDesign customers can search for 3rd-party functionality that fits their business needs, download it, and have it up and running in days. If you have a unique need that isn’t being met, Bramasol and other SAP Partners can help you develop the functionality you are looking for.
Years ago, all stadium and venue operators had to worry about was keeping the beer cold and making sure cotton candy was available near most concession stands. Today, it’s all about leveraging technology advancements to keep fans in their seats. After all, why would you drop $100 (a safe estimate) in tickets, refreshments and a program, when you can enjoy the game from your couch for free?
Customization is the instrument of choice for sports and entertainment owners. It’s all about tailoring game night as a new night, and keeping your fans coming back for a completely different experience each time. Take the NHL’s San Jose Sharks as a perfect example. Their parent company’s executive vice president, Michael Lehr, outlined a few critical reasons for why a more sophisticated sports and entertainment management system would deliver the best customer experience possible.
They needed:
- Integration between the eight companies they owned at the time
- A system that can provide real, live-time updates to financials
- A CRM that would integrate their other customers together from their other businesses aside from the Sharks
- The system to integrate other outside services, such as Ticketmaster
For organizations like Sports Valley Sports and Entertainment (SVS&E), the benefit of having an integrated software system meant better response to nightly numbers. If the Sharks had a bad game on a Friday, Lehr would be able to make timely adjustments to the promotions side to sell more tickets on a Saturday. By bringing their CRM and other financials together, SVS&E was able to function as one cohesive company as opposed to eight separate business units.
To see the rest of Michael Lehr’s interview, click here.
Aside from having a more powerful CRM, expanding mobile connectivity is emerging as a top priority for the sports and entertainment industry. Network World revealed that the Minnesota Twins installed a Distributed Antenna System (DAS) which would enable connectivity with all major cell phone network providers.
Sports purists find the proliferation of technology in stadiums as more of a distraction than a necessity. However, there is no getting around the fact that fans demand cell phone power to update Facebook statuses and post pictures while they’re at the game.
As Gregory Nasto of Mousetrap Mobile said, “you have to feed them the technology they want to keep the turnstiles spinning.”
Read our whitepaper, Bramasol SAP Sports and Venue Management Solutions, to learn how a sports and entertainment management solution can help you close the gap between your competitors.
In Enterprise BI, adoption is everything. You can bring together the most relevant business data and deliver it within a beautiful BI application, but if your users don’t use it, it doesn’t matter. One way to drive user adoption is to embed analytics directly into front line applications like SCM, CRM, or Customer Care systems.
When you think about it, we experience this seamless combination of the operational and analytical in our everyday web lives when we use shopping sites like Amazon and Ebay. Think top sellers, best rated, and suggested complimentary products that appear based what we are looking at. Or perhaps the sports sites like ESPN, where we can monitor a game in progress and see stats charts dynamically update as the game is played.
It is this type of experience that engages the user in their daily business activities, and like most technology well-executed, it becomes a “frictionless” experience - it becomes part of how they perform their job. A recent Aberdeen white paper, Embedded Analytics: Enhancing Decisions with In-Process Intelligence, clearly shows that this is what the Best-in-Class are doing to drive user adoption, business value, and ultimately the ROI of their analytics investment. This type of deployment percolates analytics deeper into the organization and done over time, instills the values of a fact-based decision culture.
Advancements in voice, video, and mobile technologies hasn’t reduced travel expenditures for business professionals. In fact, travelers are hitting the road and taking to the skies at pre-recession levels. According to the Wall Street Journal, research conducted by PhoCusWright revealed that U.S. business travel spending—including air, hotels and car rentals—is projected to exceed $100 billion this year, up from $72.4 billion in 2009.
What do these travel cost projections mean for managers?
More time will be needed for processing approvals, issuing reimbursements, and managing the travel workflow. According to the aforementioned WSJ article, there will also be a steady increase in the types of expenses that are cataloged. For some businesses, everything from in-flight snacks, checked baggage fees, and rental-car fuel needs to be accounted. If your business is using a paper-based process, travel expense management will become even more labor-intensive than it already is.
As the need for tracking travel expenses has become more complex, the market for automated software solutions has increased. Cloud solutions in particular are changing the modes of management and transportation for users and managers alike. For instance, SAP Travel OnDemand is an on-demand software solution hosted in the cloud. In anticipation of the travel onslaught, SAP has designed their solution to be mobile-friendly. Cross-platform mobile apps are available for both the traveler and the approver.
In addition to mobile capability, SAP’s cloud solution offers other advantages including:
- Easier management for travel spend
- Cost control for processing employee travel expense reimbursements
- Increased automation and process standardization—including the enforcement of corporate policies and company-related tax regulations
- Capture and integration of travel expenses into the cash management process
- Eliminating delays in approval processes that can lead to higher airfares and hotel costs
Want to find out more about how the cloud can help you cut down on travel costs? Bramasol is an SAP gold channel partner for the latest SAP products, including SAP Travel OnDemand. As a thought leader in cloud innovation, we can help you maximize the advantage of SaaS solutions.
Click here to start mapping your cloud flight path today!
Bramasol is pleased to welcome you to Orlando, Florida May 14-16th at Orange County convention center.
We will have a very strong presence this year at the conference and will provide new and exciting announcements and education on our SAP HANA Practice, as well as our Cloud, Mobility and Analytics solutions and services that we offer. Please be sure to stop by our booth #2518 where we can share more with you. Below is the schedule of activities during Sapphire:
Tuesday, May 14
- 11:00AM-12:00PM – Bramasol Booth #2518
- Bramasol SAP HANA Customer Retention and Analytics Solution
- 2:00PM-3:00PM – Bramasol Booth #2518
- Bramasol SAP HANA Oracle Migration Program
- 6:30PM-8:30PM – Emeril's Tchoup Chop
- Exclusive Industry Reception sponsor: Professional Services and Construction
- 6:30PM-8:30PM – Hilton Orlando
- Exclusive Industry Reception sponsor: Discrete Manufacturing IM&C
Wednesday, May 15
- 11:00AM-12:00PM – Bramasol Booth #2518
- Bramasol SAP HANA Oracle Migration Program
- 2:00PM-3:00PM – Bramasol Booth #2518
- Bramasol SAP HANA Customer Retention and Analytics Solution
Thursday, May 16
- 11:00AM-12:00PM – Bramasol Booth #2518
- Bramasol SAP HANA Customer Retention and Analytics Solution
- 2:00PM-3:00PM – Bramasol Booth #2518
- Bramasol SAP HANA Oracle Migration Program
Stop by our booth and chat with the Bramasol team and enter win an exclusive San Jose Sharks jersey- autographed by the entire team! 