Genovate Creates Powerful ERP Solution with SAP & HP: eZGEMS for SMB's in Asset Intensive Industries

Singapore, July 2003 – Genovate Solutions Pte. Ltd., a leading provider of Software Solutions has launched a quality ERP Solution very specifically for the SMB segments of the business market, in partnership with SAP.

This is part of SAP's go-to-market strategy which includes the launch of twelve industry-focused solutions, local vertical channel partners, support from Technology Partners, selected government agencies, and significant monetary and resource investment.

SAP channel partners will focus on implementing SAP solutions targeted specifically to the SMB market. mySAP™ All-in-One is intended for companies with as few as ten users, which require a high degree of industry-specific functionality yet also need cost-effective, quick-to-implement solutions. Drawing on industry best practices, these vertical out-of-box solutions are customized by SAP channel partners to meet specific SMB market needs. SAP Business One® targets small businesses with less process complexity. These businesses are generally sales-oriented companies and service providers that require a less industry-specific IT solution.

This move by SAP comes as IDC expects the small and medium enterprise (SME) market in Asia Pacific to grow at a combined annual growth rate of 18.5 percent until 2004, making it the fastest growing segment of the IT industry. In Singapore alone, there are more than 100,000 companies in this segment, representing ninety percent of the business establishments in the country. However, while SMBs, defined by SAP as companies with revenues below US$100 million, have a tremendous impact on the economy, their productivity is generally lower than larger enterprises. SAP plans to empower SMBs by making its solutions available through SMB channel partners in its Asia Pacific markets.

"What distinguishes an SMB is not the size of its business but the industry in which it operates," said Mr. Sun Whye Mun, SAP Asia Pacific director for SMB. "That is why SAP is working with partners to provide industry-focused, easy to implement and affordable solutions that will provide a quick ROI for SMBs. We recognize that the 'S' in SMB does not mean simple, as many of them are part of sophisticated, complex global value networks. In Singapore, companies need real time visibility and control of their local and regional operations, and in today's challenging market, reaction time must be in hours, not days or months."

SAP will invest up to US$1 million in each SMB channel partner in the first two years to support, develop, and market customized SAP solutions and programs for the Singapore SMB market. Genovate will provide customers in Singapore with rapid implementation of business software solutions in the asset intensive vertical arena.

Genovate will provide solutions to track the complete lifecycle of strategic and physical assets including planning, deployment, maintenance and retirement for SMBs specializing in the manufacture of fabricated metal products, machinery and equipment, renting of machinery and equipment, construction, and supporting and auxiliary transport services.

"The partnership works. Within three months of establishing our SMB partnership with SAP, we have found our first two customers," said Mr. J. Anton Ravindran, CEO, Genovate Solutions. "SAP is now discussing taking our solutions to Malaysia and India, where they see a niche that we can quickly fulfill."

This product eZGEMS, is the answer to the unique needs facing the verticals that are required to manage physical assets/inventory, maintain and upkeep their equipment and generate growth through the efficient and optimal functioning of their assets.

The MRO Space is unique in the sense it creates an active need for Solutions in Strategic Asset Planning. The eZGEMS Application optimizes performance, improves productivity and service levels, and creates the scenario for enhanced asset availability and reliability.

The Maintenance, Repair, and Operations (MRO) industry is one of the most horizontal industries in the world. It came in at a whopping US$700 billion in the U.S, in 2002. Overall, the MRO industry is prone to fluctuation and is heavily sensitive to the performance of industrial goods. The typical inventory segments of the MRO industry are: machine and equipment preventative maintenance repair parts; other machine and equipment maintenance and repair parts; tools; and maintenance supplies.

The Client will now be able to track the complete lifecycle of strategic and physical assets including: planning, deployment, maintenance and retirement. Using the eZGEMS Solution customers improve equipment reliability, labor efficiency, material optimization, lease management, service management and optimal provisioning across the asset base.

Within a short span after implementation, it will become significantly easier to identify repetitive faults and trends. This information will assist in any continuous improvement effort to maximize equipment uptime and reduce breakdowns. The emphasis will shift from reactive to proactive maintenance, and the percentage planned versus unplanned jobs will start to show a marked increase. A corresponding reduction in downtime will subsequently ensue.

Genovate Solutions Pte. Ltd. was established in early 1997, in Singapore, and is currently a leading provider of Software Solutions/Consulting, as well as a provider of value-added educational programs and quality training services in this region. We also have offices in Malaysia, Korea, Australia, India and Indonesia.

Within the training sector Genovate is the sole educational partner of SAP in Singapore, and the exclusive partner in Malaysia and western India, where they run the SAP Academy. In addition to this they have an assortment of high value partnerships with various other Corporations such as IBM, Computer Associates, Prosoft/CIW, and VUE and Planet3 Wireless, Inc. (USA).

SAP is the world's leading provider of business software solutions. Through mySAP™ 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® 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'."