SAP SCM

Is there innovation in SAP’s SCM software strategy?

“SAP’s Supply Chain Management Strategy and Offerings,” the topic of a recent report by Gartner Research’s Andrew White, brought to mind a question that was batted around the blogosphere last month.

Can the big vendors drive software innovation?

For its part, SAP has a strong supply chain management vision, White said. Partnering with supply chain management vendors like i2 early on and jumping on the RFID trend have proved beneficial.

Plus, SAP sells some innovative, out-of-the-box supply chain management products, White said. Take, for instance, SAP’s supply network collaboration software. It’s completely independent of the ERP backbone — it has its own database. It grew out of procurement capabilities and acts as a hub for manufacturers to communicate better with suppliers. Customers are using it to better coordinate sales, supply and even to integrate different ERP systems.

But for a company that bleeds supply chain management, can SAP’s software really be considered innovative?

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