Sysco Has Selected SAP to Help Transform Its Business

WALLDORF, Germany, May 5 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- As the largest foodservice supplier in North America, Sysco (NYSE: SYY) has 47,000 employees and serves more than 400,000 customers. To enhance productivity and prepare for further growth, Sysco realized it needed an integrated IT platform that could unify business processes across its operating companies and 186 distribution centers while addressing its specific business needs in the wholesale industry. Because it recognizes that technology can be an enabler, Sysco selected SAP® Business Suite software and SAP® BusinessObjects™ business intelligence (BI) solutions from SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) as the sustainable IT foundation for its business transformation project aimed at improving tools and processes to help its customers succeed, and helping improve overall productivity.  

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With annual sales of $37 billion in FY2009, Sysco's priority is to help its customers succeed. The company sells, markets and distributes high-quality food products to restaurants, healthcare and educational facilities, hotels and other customers that prepare meals outside the home. Its family of products also includes equipment and supplies for the foodservice and hospitality industries. With SAP Business Suite, Sysco intends to boost efficiency, improve sales and marketing execution, and increase transparency through better data management across the organization.

"This is more than an IT project - it is truly a business transformation," said Jim Hope, executive vice president, Business Transformation, Sysco. "Using the power of SAP as the foundation for our transformation, Sysco intends to improve productivity, retain and expand business with existing customers, and understand where market opportunities lie so we can do a better job attracting and pursuing new business."

Sysco Focuses on Improving Service to Help Customers Succeed

Sysco plans to significantly enhance the customer experience by providing a single, consistent face to its customers based on what best fits their needs. The SAP® Customer Relationship Management (SAP CRM) application will enable Sysco's sales and marketing associates to access the customer information they need to manage accounts better. Looking to improve its current order management capabilities, Sysco will also rely on SAP software to provide customers a richer online experience with detailed product information, preparation videos and nutritional details, all of which are critical in the foodservice industry today.  

"We have a tremendous opportunity to use technology to continue to sharpen our operations," said Twila Day, senior vice president and chief information officer, Sysco.  "SAP is the best technology provider to help us with our plans to integrate all of our software needs into a single platform, giving us the visibility required to efficiently manage our business end-to-end."

Better Data Visibility Provides Improved Customer Insight

By offering customers a broad array of products, Sysco is able to handle thousands of sales transactions every day. Using SAP BusinessObjects BI solutions, Sysco associates will be able to more easily access important customer information from sales transactions, such as preferences and order history. Sysco will have the ability to more easily collect and analyze critical customer data, which will help reduce costs and provide greater customer service. Reporting will also be standardized across the company so that Sysco associates will see the same information, enabling everyone to work toward common goals.

"SAP is committed to helping Sysco make its business transformation project a success," said Verlin Youd, senior vice president, Global Trading Industries, SAP. "By replacing its stand-alone systems with a single, integrated suite of solutions based on SAP Business Suite, Sysco will get a clear view into information across its business units, supporting continued growth and making it easier for customers and suppliers to do business with the company."

Next Major Event: SAPPHIRE® NOW Conference

With SAPPHIRE® NOW, SAP marks the next evolution of its SAPPHIRE customer conference and networking events, offering SAP customers, partners and prospects even more opportunities to engage in dialogue with peers, participants and thought leaders around the globe. Being held simultaneously in Orlando, Florida, and Frankfurt, Germany, May 17-19, 2010, this enhanced, real-time event will connect attendees on site with global participants through state-of-the-art broadcast studios and a newly designed online experience that incorporates the latest social media and community functionality. Whether onsite or online, participants can gain insight on how innovative business solutions from SAP are enabling long-term, profitable, business growth. For more information about the Orlando show, visit www.sapandasug.com; for the Frankfurt event, visit www.sap.com/sapphire/emea. Join the conversation via Twitter at @SAPPHIRENOW, and visit the SAPPHIRE NOW Social Newsroom at sapphirenow.blogs-sap.com.

About SAP

SAP is the world's leading provider of business software(*), offering applications and services that enable companies of all sizes and in more than 25 industries to become best-run businesses. With more than 97,000 customers in over 120 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE, under the symbol "SAP." For more information, visit www.sap.com.

(*) SAP defines business software as comprising enterprise resource planning, business intelligence, and related applications.

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