Want financing for your SAP investment?

BANGALORE: SAP and Siemens Financial Services (SFS) of the Siemens Group responsible for the implementation of financial solutions, today 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 conveniently cover the costs of software, hardware, internal and external implementation services, and maintenance during project installation for SAP solutions. SAP Financing is immediately available in 13 countries, with others to be added over time, through all SAP sales channels, including channel partners and system integrators.

At a time when companies are ever more careful with their business investments, financing questions 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 more accurately predict the total cost and return on investment over the entire life cycle of their software solutions.

SAP Financing will initially target countries including Australia, Brazil, China, France, Germany, India, Italy, Mexico, Poland, Russia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, with availability in approximately 40 countries expected by mid-2006.

"This strategic agreement is an excellent step to strengthen the cooperation between Siemens and SAP," said Heinz-Joachim Neubürger, chief financial officer, Siemens AG. "Financial Services are an important element of Siemens' portfolio and therefore, this agreement represents a key milestone for SFS to tap into new customer groups."

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.

"We are pleased to offer companies across the globe all-inclusive financing options and enhanced visibility into both the long-term costs and benefits of SAP solutions," said Léo Apotheker, president, Customer Solutions and Operations, and member of the executive board, SAP AG. "We look forward to working with Siemens Financial Services so that our customers will have a qualified source for easy, affordable and predictable financing."