After seeing a record year in 2006, SAP India is now targeting to touch the 15,000-customer mark in the country by 2010. Alan Sedghi, president & CEO, SAP Indian Sub Continent, said, "India will be an integral part of SAP's emerging market growth globally. We want to have a dominant presence in both the Fortune 2,000 and Fortune 2,00,000 company categories in the country and have set an ambitious target of having a 15,0000-strong customer base in the next four years."

Currently with about 1,400 customers, SAP India accounts for about 3% of SAP Global's customer base. By 2010, SAP Global has set a target of reaching 1.5 lakh customers, so a 15,000 figure will mean that India will account for 10% of the total customer base for the company, said Mr. Sedghi.

The enterprise software solutions vendor ended 2006 with about 1,400 customers in India across large, mid and small enterprises. This included 883 SME customers and an addition of 498 new customers across sectors like consumer products, retail, BFSI, professional services and pharma.

According to the CEO, SAP India grew 40% in revenues in 2006 over the previous year with about 35% of the software revenues coming from SMEs. For 2007, SAP India is aiming to triple its new customer base to 1,500. And with about 60% of the new client base coming from the SME sector, the vendor wants to consolidate in this space this year too.

TCS ENABLES COCHIN PORT TO BECOME INDIA’S 1ST EPORT

Cochin Port has embarked on a comprehensive ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) implementation programme to be christened as ‘e-thuramukham’. This is an ambitious programme to implement a fully Integrated Port Information System (iPINS) using a SAP – based ERP which will help the Port to

1) improve its business processes and work practices
2) closely monitor the performance in all areas of operations and managemen and
3) provide improved levels of operations and efficient service delivery to its internal and external customers.

In order to reap the full benefits from automation, it was decided to go in for an integrated Total solution covering all the functional areas with the focus mainly on

i) Process improvement and
ii) Integration with internal and external systems.

The approach was to go in for proven software products wherever possible to ensure a proven architecture, standard design of the solution, robust security features, processes based on best practices in the industry and integrate the products through a well experienced system integrator.
The scope of this project is quite comprehensive to meet the business objectives and imperatives. Some of the business imperatives are given below:
Traffic through the port is on the increase and Port Operations are conducted round the clock. The strength of the Port employees has gone down considerably. The expectations of the Port users for accurate and quick settlement and cargo clearance are very high. The need for external integration of Port’s systems are dictated by the International Trade compulsions, Customs, Port Users, Banks etc. Ports must have on-line systems covering all the important points of operation and management – need for a reliable and high speed internal network with gateway to the internet for connecting to the external world. The ports’ systems should be secure, reliable and available with minimum down time. Port has to present a “Single Window” for port users i.e. all applications will be integrated so that the departments can share relevant data through the system which in-turn will benefit the port users. In view of the business imperatives, international trade compulsions, the port has decided to go in for a total and integrated IT solution.
Sri. N.Ramachandran, Chairman, launched ‘e-thuramugham’ - the project to implement Enterprise Resource Planning(ERP) in Cochin Port Trust in a function attended by the representatives of the trade unions and employees. The project based on SAP platform is customized for Cochin Port Trust by Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and will be completed in a span of ten months.
By the implementation of ‘e- thuramugham’, Cochin will become the first major port in India to work on a fully integrated computerized system. The port is integrating its operational, financial, estate and human resource systems through this project. e-thuramugham will have real time interface with customs, port users, banks and the port community system of the Indian Ports Association. The system will provide single window facility to the trade for filing applications, receiving service bills, payments and enquiries. The Port is using satellite imaging system for monitoring the geographical aspects of the Port. Kochi e- thuramugham will meet the expectations of global standards of service to the shipping and export/import community.

http://www.cochinport.com