Enterprise resource planning vendor SAP AG yesterday added travel planning to its line up of R/3 applications, promising companies up to a 35% reduction in their corporate travel costs. The software, developed in conjunction with Amadeus, the global distribution system (GDS) firm whose data center connects to over 45,000 travel agencies, is designed to integrate with SAP’s travel accounting module to provide businesses with a complete travel management solution that incorporates all processes from trip planning to travel accounting.
SAP said its software lets users book flights, car rentals and hotel accommodations directly via the Amadeus global distribution system; enforce enterprise-specific travel policies, negotiated travel conditions and traveler-specific data such as travel preferences and frequent flyer information; provide automatic workflow for trip approvals; enable trip recording during an initial travel request or upon return; generate reports as a basis for price negotiation and transfer data to travel accounting for expense processing and reimbursement.
As well as offering the module as a standalone product, through SAP’s HR and/or financial application, the company said it also intends to web-enable the software and make it accessible through its upcoming mySAP.com portal. When travel data entry has been completed and approval received, the trip can be accounted for in SAP R/3. All expenses are posted to financial accounting, cost accounting and payroll, and employees can be reimbursed via payroll, direct deposit or company check.
In addition, the German software giant also this week bolstered its human resources offerings with new application modules, including greater self-service capabilities, and a new marketing organization. The company used the IHRIM show in Salt Lake City to add a series of employee self-service functions to its internet portal, mySAP.com, which offers role-based access to both SAP data, other applications, and outside sources of information over the internet. Starting about the third quarter of this year, users will be able to enroll in their company’s benefits or training, update their skills and handle travel, banking and expenses through a personalized mySAP.com web interface, the software vendor said.
In addition, SAP America announced it is creating a new division, SAP America Human Resources Business Sector, to package its HR software with specialized implementation and support services. It joins six similar divisions aimed at various vertical industries, such as heavy manufacturing, financial services, consumer products, and financial services, SAP America officials said. The new business sector will be headed by SAP senior VP Mike Campbell, whose company was acquired by SAP last October.
Campbell Software developed workforce management software, such as payroll and attendance records, for the retail industry. Alongside the announcement, the renamed SAP Campbell division released its first product, retail-specific reporting for SAP’s Business Information Warehouse (BIW). The reporting tool, which will be offered as part of Release 1.2 of the warehouse later this summer, will automatically gather and analyze human resources and financial data daily for metrics such as sales, scheduling, productivity, and labor cost.
