SAP Customers Showcase Cloud Success at SAPPHIRE® NOW

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Jun 02, 2014, 07:00 ET

ORLANDO, Fla., June 2, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Companies of every size and industry are simplifying and transforming their business with cloud solutions from SAP AG (NYSE: SAP). At the company's annual SAPPHIRE® NOW conference, opening tomorrow, customer success will be front and center with diverse examples of how cloud-based technologies are helping to fuel new business innovation and drive better outcomes, faster.

Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., a leading manufacturer of motorcycles, ATVs, Side x Sides and personal watercraft, will present a panel discussion, "Engage and Unlock Your Workforce to Realize Better Business Outcomes," helping businesses embrace and capitalize on change by unlocking and empowering a workforce to improve business outcomes. Joined by global industry leaders such as Owens Corning and Triumph Foods, Kawasaki will share how cloud-based talent management solutions from SAP help the company improve its competitive advantage through its greatest asset, people.

Jo-Ann Stores, a specialty retailer of crafts and fabrics, will present a micro forum discussion, "Innovate and Compete with Employee-Driven Learning," reviewing the transformation occurring in self-directed, employee-driven corporate learning. Hear how Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores use the SAP® Jam social software platform to conduct blended learning programs for 3,100 employees.

Mediafly, a cloud platform used by Fortune 500 companies to arm their mobile workforce with interactive access to secure company content on any device, will be giving a theater presentation on how to, "Accelerate Growth by Embracing Mobile and Cloud Computing." Learn strategies to supercharge any small or midsize company with technology that helps capitalize quickly on emerging growth opportunities. Mediafly Inc. has averaged more than 100 percent year-over-year revenue growth for the past four years and 75 to 80 percent gross margins for the past two years by relying on cloud computing and mobile software.

The Timken Company, an industrial technology leader that designs, manufactures and markets mechanical components and high-performance steel to diversified markets around the world, will share how to take advantage of the real value of the cloud coming from an increased ability to collaborate and share processes and information. Several sessions will cover the trends, outlook and different business models of cloud computing focused on human resources (HR), the SAP HANA® platform and a special panel discussion featuring Ray Wang of Constellation Research Inc.

Bentley Systems Inc., a leader in infrastructure software, will present several sessions around how the cloud empowers greater human and customer engagement. Its session, "Engage Customers at Every Stage of the Sales Journey," will share how to understand, engage and win new customers. Hear how the company expects to close more deals by using the SAP Cloud for Sales solution to integrate sales processes and support global needs. Learn how the company will gain big benefits from advanced relationship management, predictive analytics, intelligence and mobile functionality in the solution.

AkzoNobel, a leading global paints company, will teach attendees to know their customers, sell like the best and engage to win. In the theater presentation, "Take Customer Engagement to a Higher Level to Win Sales with the Cloud," they will share how SAP Cloud for Sales redefines customer engagement with advanced relationship management, sales intelligence and enterprise mobility, so they can understand, engage and win in their markets.

"Today's cloud is really about three things: simplicity, speed and agility," said Tim Minahan, chief marketing officer, SAP Cloud. "And as these companies demonstrate, it can deliver faster innovation and the agility needed not only to accelerate process efficiency and productivity, but to gain new insights, engage customers and partners in new ways and unleash new operating models that help drive profitability and advantage in today's ultra-competitive marketplace. We're looking forward to hearing their stories this week and learning from their experiences."

To build an agenda around these customer presentations at SAPPHIRE NOW, visit the online agenda builder.

For more information, including additional coverage from SAPPHIRE NOW, visit the SAP News Center. Follow SAP on Twitter at @sapnews.

Next Major Event: SAPPHIRE NOW
With SAPPHIRE NOW, SAP offers customers, partners and prospects even more opportunities to engage in dialogue with peers, participants and thought leaders around the globe. Being held in Orlando, Florida, June 3-5, 2014, this enhanced, real-time event connects attendees on site with global participants through state-of-the-art broadcast studios and an online experience that incorporates the latest social media and community functionality. Whether on site or online, participants can gain insight as to how SAP is delivering on its product strategy and helping organizations around the world to run better. For more information, visit www.sapphirenow.com. Follow SAPPHIRE NOW on Twitter at @SAPPHIRENOW and for news and coverage during the event, visit the SAP News Center at www.news-sap.com.

About SAP
As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 258,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

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