Fujitsu and SAP expand global partnership

Business software developer SAP will join forces with Fujitsu to offer corporate computer services worldwide, the companies announced yesterday. 

It is unclear whether the new agreement will have any impact on Fujitsu's US-based Glovia subsidiary, which has competed for business with SAP in some market sectors. 

Both Glovia and the much larger SAP develop enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for corporate clients. Glovia claims some 1,000 customers globally, compared to almost 35,000 for SAP.

Fujitsu acquired Glovia, which was originally established as a unit of Xerox, in 2000. 

Fujitsu's new deal with SAP builds on a long-term vendor relationship, as well as an existing partnership deal between the two firms signed in 2001.

Under the expanded agreement announced yesterday, Fujitsu will help market SAP products worldwide and provide additional support to buyers of its computer systems that plan to implement SAP's ERP software.

The Japanese company plans to have 2,500 SAP consultants in place by the end of 2008, and will set up a new services unit at SAP's headquarters in Germany, according to a joint press statement.

"As a SAP global technology partner, Fujitsu has been providing business value to many customers worldwide through its highly reliable IT infrastructure offerings optimised for SAP applications," said Chiaki Ito, a senior executive vice president at Fujitsu.

"Now, as a SAP global services partner as well, we are broadening and strengthening the services we provide to customers to deliver end-to-end solutions supporting SAP software installations, from consulting and systems integration to IT infrastructure."

Leo Apotheker, president of global customer solutions and operations at SAP, added: "This is another important milestone in SAP's growing relationship with Fujitsu.

"We look forward to working with Fujitsu and leveraging its customer-centric approach to ultimately help speed the journey to enterprise service-oriented architecture for our customers."

Fujitsu employs more than 150,000 staff around the world and reported revenues in excess of $40bn in fiscal 2005.