SAP Builds on Broad Experience and Success with Customers in Professional Services Industry; Solution Helps Project-Based Services Organizations Manage Key Business Processes

HANOVER, Germany, March 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- SAP AG today announced the global launch of mySAP(TM) Professional Services, a tailored industry solution that helps project-based services organizations manage key business processes. Building on its long history of successful work with customers in the professional services industry, SAP is delivering a new solution that covers the complete service supply chain, from lead to cash, for any organization whose primary business is the delivery of project-based services. mySAP Professional Services joins a leading array of twenty-two industry-specific solutions, each of which provides unrivaled depth of enterprise applications experience matched with features and functionality tailored to meet the unique needs and requirements of vertical market segments. The announcement was made at CeBIT, the world's leading trade fair for information technology, telecommunication, software, and services held in Hanover, Germany, March 12-19.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20020923/SFM002LOGO )

Further deepening its commitment to the professional services automation (PSA) market, SAP is delivering a solution that effectively manages a service provider's core business processes, such as managing new and existing opportunities, project execution, resource planning and utilization, project analysis, and strategic decision making. mySAP Professional Services helps meet current and future customer-centric business needs by enabling companies to become more efficient and profitable through effective planning, organization, tracking, and analysis of all their company's activities, employees, and costs.

"Gartner has witnessed incredibly strong demand from both professional services organizations and embedded services divisions for applications to gain visibility over their project-based engagements and resources and to save money through operational efficiency," said Ted Kempf, principal analyst, Gartner. "The market has been long overdue for fully integrated software applications that can effectively optimize the business processes that surround the management and delivery of service. Vendors that combine deep industry expertise with a proven track record of success are in a strong position to deliver solutions for the unique business challenges of these organizations."

mySAP Professional Services is generally available today and offers key functionality in the areas of portfolio management, project management, resource management, knowledge management, and time and expense capture. Some of the leading services organizations that have leveraged SAP's tremendous expertise in the professional services industry include Deloitte Consulting (soon to become Braxton), HP, itelligence, and Plaut.

"As one of the world's leading management consulting firms, we often work closely with a reliable business solution provider to help us meet our clients' needs," said Paul Horowitz, global enterprise applications leader, Deloitte Consulting (soon to become Braxton). "Leveraging SAP's strong expertise and track record in the professional services industry provides a solid foundation for us to enhance our overall business practices, giving our organization a unique competitive advantage. In turn, we view mySAP Professional Services as further evidence of SAP's increasing commitment in delivering solutions tailored to the unique business challenges of the professional services industry."

"In today's economy, building close and long-standing client relationships is becoming even more vital for organizations that deliver professional services," said Jim Hagemann Snabe, senior vice president of services industry business sector, SAP AG. "mySAP Professional Services furthers SAP's rich experience in professional services and underscores our commitment to equip service-based organizations around the globe with a single end-to-end industry solution that allows them to live up to their clients' expectations. With mySAP Professional Services, companies will reap the unparalleled benefits of a comprehensive and affordable solution that helps them cater to their clients' needs while establishing a valuable client base and improving profitability through operational efficiency."

SAP is presenting its solutions together with its service, technology, and small and midsize business (SMB) partners at SAP's main booth in hall 4 at CeBIT 2003, being held in Hanover, Germany, March 12-19.

Note to Editors Regarding CeBIT

A press roundtable discussion concerning this new industry solution will be held on Friday, March 14th from 2-3 PM (GMT) at SAP's exhibit booth on the first floor of Hall 4.

About SAP

SAP is the world's leading provider of business software solutions. Through mySAP(TM) Business Suite, people in businesses around the globe are improving relationships with customers and partners, streamlining operations, and achieving significant efficiencies throughout their supply chains. Today, more than 19,300 companies in over 120 countries run more than 60,100 installations of SAP(R) software. With subsidiaries in over 50 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol "SAP." (Additional information at http://www.sap.com/ )

Any statements contained in this document that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Words such as "believe," "estimate," "intend," "may," "will," "expect," and "project" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect SAP's future financial results are discussed more fully in SAP's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the SAP Annual Report on Form 20-F for 2001 filed with the SEC on March 28, 2002. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates.

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All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

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