SAP America Broadens Implementation Support with Third-Party Tools; Companies' Tools for the Business Engineering Workbench Enable Faster, Easier Implementation.

BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 7, 1996--Major software development tool vendors, including IDS Prof. Scheer Inc., IntelliCorp Inc. and Visio Corp., today announced their support for the SAP Business Engineering Workbench (BEW).

The BEW is a comprehensive set of methodologies, models, interfaces and tools for faster, easier implementation and continuous business engineering with the R/3 client/server application system. IDS Prof. Scheer, IntelliCorp and Visio provide specific tools that work with the BEW, easing implementation time by enabling users to better understand the R/3 system.

The IDS ARIS Toolset will provide full online support for SAP's modeling standards and navigation capabilities for moving seamlessly among all views in the R/3 Reference Model, the only business blueprint for modeling the enterprise. IntelliCorp has developed LiveModel for R/3, a modeling tool that simulates R/3 transactions based on the R/3 process models, thereby supporting a process-oriented implementation of R/3. Visio is creating a Visio-based tool that will enable users to explore, define and analyze best-business practices represented in the R/3 Reference Model, providing corporations with an easy-to-use graphical solution for working with the R/3 business processes.

"SAP's Business Engineering Workbench has opened the R/3 system and its comprehensive business content for third parties to add their own value," said Guenther Tolkmit, vice president of technology marketing at SAP AG. "The companies demonstrating their commitment to SAP today by announcing new tools, methodologies and technologies for R/3 are enhancing and extending the value of the R/3 Reference Model business blueprint for customers and potential customers to help create the new enterprise applications infrastructure."

IDS Prof. Scheer Inc.

IDS Prof. Scheer ARIS Toolset for R/3 is a Windows-based modeling platform that has full access to the R/3 Reference Model. IDS delivers this tool, which supports SAP's open R/3 Repository and analyzes, models and navigates all parts of the R/3 Reference Model, as a complement to the R/3 Business Engineering Workbench. IDS focuses on business-engineering consulting and software for business-process management.

"The ARIS Toolset showcases how the R/3 Reference Model can be used to streamline and to ensure quality in R/3 implementations," said Clemens Kretschmer, vice president of sales and marketing at IDS Prof. Scheer Inc. "Our strategy is to add value to R/3 business-engineering efforts by making the R/3 Reference Model easy to view, analyze and extend for company-specific needs."

IntelliCorp Inc.

IntelliCorp has introduced a new generation of PC modeling tools using the R/3 Repository of the Business Engineering Workbench to accelerate implementation of SAP's R/3 client/server enterprise application system. IntelliCorp's LiveModel for R/3 enables the fast, process-oriented implementation of R/3 by providing R/3 implementation teams with an understanding of their business designs. The result is more efficient business-engineering decisions made during the design stage.

"R/3 system implementation is faster and easier when implementation teams have a clear understanding of the R/3 system business processes," said Marty Hollander, vice president of marketing and business development at Intellicorp. "LiveModel for R/3 provides implementers with a better understanding of the R/3 system by animating the R/3 Reference Model while simulating the R/3 system execution. For continuous business engineering, LiveModel for R/3 stores the implementation team's business reasons for changes to the Reference Model so the company can reuse the implementation work during the lifetime of the R/3 system."

Visio Corp.

Visio's solution, scheduled for release this quarter, will provide users with easy and pervasive access to the process models in the R/3 system. The Visio Business Modeler will benefit customers involved in SAP implementations, those contemplating implementation of an SAP software solution, and those interested in gaining expertise on SAP and applying it to their companies' process-engineering efforts.

"SAP has a keen interest in bringing its extensive business-process model expertise to Windows users and consultants, thereby improving and accelerating the process definition phase," said Gary Gigot, vice president of marketing at Visio. "Visio's continued leadership as a standard Windows flow-charting tool is allowing users access to the process models in the SAP R/3 system at a reasonable price point."

About SAP

SAP is a market and technology leader in client/server enterprise application software, providing comprehensive solutions for companies of all sizes. Cultivating innovative technologies on a solid foundation of business experience, SAP delivers scalable solutions that enable its customers to continually improve upon best-business practices. SAP products empower people to respond quickly and decisively to dynamic market conditions, helping businesses maintain a competitive advantage. Founded in 1972, SAP is based in Walldorf, Germany, and employs more than 7,000 people in more than 30 countries worldwide. -0-

Note to Editors: SAP is a registered trademark and R/3 is a trademark of SAP AG. Windows is either a registered trademark or a trademark of Microsoft Corp. in the United States and/or other countries.

CONTACT: SAP America

Narina Sippy, 617/672-6646

or

Waggener Edstrom

LeeAnne French or Kathleen Mazzocco, 503/245-0905