Direct Electronic Catalog Access Allows Seamless Interface Between Buyers and Suppliers
WALLDORF, Germany and CHICAGO, April 28 -- Extending their commitment to digital commerce, Grainger (NYSE: GWW), the leading provider of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies in North America, and SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), the world's leading provider of enterprise business solutions, have announced they have formed an alliance. Grainger is integrating its online catalog into the SAP(TM) Business-to-Business Procurement(TM) solution (SAP B2B(TM)) providing direct access to Grainger products and product information through one standardized Internet procurement solution. This access allows users seamless electronic commerce transactions between both supplier and buyer Internet sites for reduced overall purchasing costs and improved efficiency.
"We're delighted to be working with the leading provider in enterprise business solutions.
The SAP B2B Procurement solution is precisely what Grainger's Internet Commerce initiatives are designed to support," said Don Bielinski, group president for Grainger.
"Our alliance with SAP reinforces our commitment to Internet Commerce," added Richard Keyser, chairman and CEO of Grainger.
The SAP B2B Procurement solution provides a complete solution from requisition to payment for simplifying purchase of goods. The solution empowers end-users to initiate the requisition process directly from their desktops so that they can quickly and easily acquire the materials they need. The purchasing department is then available to focus on strategic purchasing
decisions while maintaining centralized control for overall efficiency gains.
"By partnering with a leading provider of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies like Grainger, we are proud to provide an end-to-end, open, strategic solution for electronic commerce and procurement," said Dr. Hasso Plattner, co-chairman and co-founder of SAP AG. "Grainger's powerful online catalog of MRO information adds another dimension to the SAP B2B Procurement solution for seamless access to the information customers need to make informed purchasing decisions."
The alliance with SAP represents greatly expanded customer access to Grainger.com, which has been recognized as one of the top ten business-to-business Web sites two years in a row by Advertising Age.
About SAP
SAP, the world's largest enterprise software company, provides companies of all sizes with business solutions that deliver A Better Return on Information(SM). SAP products and services integrate an organization from financials and human resources to manufacturing and sales and distribution. This integration enables companies to optimize supply chains, strengthen customer relationships, and make more accurate management decisions. Founded in 1972, SAP today leverages a global network of people, processes and products to assure customer success. SAP is listed on several exchanges including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol "SAP." For more information, visit us at http://www.sap.com.
About Grainger
W.W. Grainger, Inc., with 1998 sales of $4.3 billion, is the leading North American provider of maintenance, repair, and operating (MRO) supplies, services, and related information to businesses and institutions. GWW shares are traded on the New York and Chicago stock exchanges. For more information, visit Grainger on-line at http://www.grainger.com.
SAP, R/3, SAP Business-to-Business, SAP B2B, A Better Return on Information and all other SAP product or service names referenced herein are trademarks, registered trademarks or service marks of SAP AG. All other product or service names may be trademarks of their respective owners.