SAP: Software Darling of Indian SMBs

SAP has launched the GST Solution Centers to fast-track readiness
for MSMEs

SAP India is all set to enhance its reach among Indian SMBs and SMEs in India. The company plans to roll out solutions which cater to smaller players and help them address their business problems. Taking a cue from the GST where SAP’s partners rolled out SMB-focused solutions, the company believes that it can further this model for other solutions. Bharat ERP is one such example, which SAP is doing in association with the Govt of India’s Ministry of MSMEs.

According to Vivek Malhotra, VP, General Business, SAP Subcontinent, “SAP is working with its partners to increase SAP’s reach into the vast SMB landscape in India. In short, there are two challenges in front of us – to drive scale among SMEs and to address the diverse needs of SMEs with the help of our partners. We are trying to develop skills among partners who can help SMEs adopt
the right solutions for their business. We are providing skills new as well as existing partners.” In conjunction, SAP plans to train 1.5 mn professionals by 2020 and has partnered with a number of educational institutions and associations.

Vivek Malhotra, VP, General Business,
SAP Subcontinent, SAP India

Tracking the Overall SMB Gameplan
Tying in with its partner ecosystem and the ‘Digital India’ initiative, the company has crafted a three-point strategy that will form the basis of its channel expansion: a new partner advisory board, new upskilling programs and 100% partner-led strategies for SMBs.

The company has launched the SAP India Partner Advisory Board, which is made up of 11 representatives from the partner ecosystem. They are tasked with addressing market opportunities, meeting customer expectation, and taking new-age technologies to an expanding customer base.

SAP’s GST Platter for SMBs GST Solution Centers will offer solutions for 6 different industries
• Automotive
• Chemicals
• Consumer Products
• Engineering, Construction and Operations
• Industrial Machinery and Components
• Life Sciences
10 Partners for GST Solution Centres
• Diverse Infotech Private Limited
• Intellect Bizware Service Private Limited
• Itelligence India Software Solutions Private Limited
• KPIT Technologies Limited
• Savic Technologies Private Limited
• SGN Software (P) Limited
• Sify Technologies
• vCentric Technologies Private Limited
• Yash Technologies Private Limited
• Wyzibility Consulting Private Ltd

Partners includes on the board include representatives from Zieta Technologies, Inteliment Technologies, vCentric Technologies, ZenFocus Software, Deloitte, Touche Tohmatsu India, Wipro Limited, iTelligence India Software Solutions, Fujitsu India, Accenture Services India, Yash Technologies and PwC India.

SAP will also work towards partner recruitment and continuous enablement, which will drive tech adoption beyond ERP. The company will help with deployment of cloud solutions, such as SAP SuccessFactors, Ariba, customer engagement and commerce. In addition, partner sales development support and skillset training will be included through the likes of SAP Partner Sales Academy, SAP Pre sales Certification Drive and SAP Platinum Academy.

The third part of the company’s strategy is to provide support for SMEs, which comprise 80% of SAP India’s customers. As a result, the company is helping partners grow and manage business volume while maintaining competitive advantage. The partner network is also helping SAP grow its sales deeper into the country, with 14 clusters in non-metro locations.

The GST Action
SAP has launched the ‘GST Solution Centers’, its latest enablement program to fast-track readiness for MSMEs. These centers will engage with MSMEs and showcase SAP’s solution portfolio for GST. Organizations are keen to leverage GST for their business growth and SAP’s GST Solution Centers will enable to competently decide on the right fit solutions and go-live in 10-12 weeks. SAP has embarked on setting up 30 GST Solution Centers in 13 cities across India with the help of 10 partners to support 6 industries. “We firmly believe that GST will act as a catalyst for the digital transformation of Indian businesses of all sizes,” added Malhotra. “SAP is committed towards providing innovations that will help all businesses including MSMEs to swiftly adapt to GST’s requirements, thereby enabling them to focus on their core business and accelerate their growth journeys in this new digital economy.”