SAP India, the leading provider of business software solutions and Tata Steel, India’s first and largest steel plant in the private sector, today announced a landmark partnership wherein the steel major will offer business software solutions for the metal industry in the country. This is the first time that Tata Steel has diversified into offering business software solutions. Under the partnership, Tata Steel will offer small and medium sized businesses (SMB) in the metal industry a pre-configured industry specific solution built on the mySAP All-in-One platform. Partnership between SAP and Tata Steel offers other organisation the unique combination of the leading ERP and the proven domain expertise of Tata Steel to meet their IT requirements.

Tata Steel plans to become one-stop shop for large metal and mining organisations by providing them SAP business application. Tata Steel, a leading user of IT, is an early adopter of SAP. Tata Steel has implemented SAP in a phased manner to increase coverage of business processes and business units, which includes the implementation of Supply Chain Management and Business Warehouse. SAP system has been extended to customers and business partners through the use of Internet technologies and B2B integration.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. B. Muthuraman, Managing Director, Tata Steel said, “We are looking forward to extending our relationship with SAP and working together with them jointly on developing and implementing proven business solutions. Our joint customers would certainly benefit from the more than 30 years of experience that Tata Steel has in using and deploying technologies for Business Benefits.”

Commenting on the significance partnership, Mr. Alan Sedghi, President and Managing Director, SAP India Sub-Continent said, “Given that this partnership combines SAP’s proven leadership in the metal industry in India and worldwide with Tata Steel’s understanding of the specific IT needs of companies in the metal industry, we will offer the best solutions for Indian metal companies. This also marks a significant milestone in SAP’s growth in India as we further extend our partner eco-system to include leaders from specific industry verticals.”

Tata Steel has been recognised by World Steel Dynamics as a "world class" steel maker. Its customers include automobile manufacturers, producers of white goods, construction industry, and consumers of tubes, bearings, agricultural implements, etc. Tata Steel's continuous success is due to its ability to transform rapidly to meet the challenges of a highly competitive global economy and commitment to become a supplier of choice by delighting its customers. It strives to become an EVA positive company on a continuous basis by seizing the opportunities of tomorrow and by exploring newer business opportunities.

SAP is the world’s leading provider of business software solutions. Today, more than 22,600 customers in over 120 countries run more than 76,100 installations of SAP® software. SAP India has been seeing sustained momentum in the SMB market, adding 30 new customers in the first half of 2004 (with this, SAP has equalled its total number of SMB wins in 2003), taking the total of SMB customers in India to over 250. Its mySAP™ All-in-One solutions are pre-packaged, affordable and quick to implement. The vertical specific solutions built on mySAP All-in-One platform offer 30% reduction in total cost of ownership and 40% reduction in implementation time, ensuring affordability and faster return on investment for SMB companies.