EDS, an HP Company, First to Be Certified in Run SAP® Methodology as a Provider of Solution Implementation and Solution Operations

EDS to Deliver Enhanced Efficiencies, Value and Agility While Optimizing Uptime and Costs

PALO ALTO, Calif. and WALLDORF, Germany, EDS, an HP company (NYSE: HPQ), and SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) announced that EDS is the first company to be certified by SAP AG to provide solution implementation and solution operations for clients using the Run SAP® methodology.

By achieving these certifications, EDS will help clients use SAP best practices and tools to enhance efficiencies, reduce downtime and, ultimately, reduce costs. Additionally, it will help clients significantly mitigate operational risks by applying end-to-end solution operation standards for managing SAP applications.

Technology managers face the challenges of ensuring availability of distributed business processes, reacting quickly to issues and process changes, and establishing an efficient network of experts to work on increasingly complex technical solutions.

The Run SAP methodology is ASAP methodology for operations. A phased methodology based on world-class knowledge, it provides best-practices procedures, content, services, training and tools for end-to-end solution operations, along with a standardized and proven implementation method. Focused on application management, business process operations and administration of SAP solutions, the methodology describes how support creates business value across the lifecycle design, set-up, operations and optimization.

“The Run SAP methodology, along with the new solution implementation and solution operations certifications available to SAP services and support partners, enables customers to improve operational efficiencies and lower costs by creating standards and unification of processes to realize more transparency in operations, mitigate risk and reduce costly downtimes,” said Dr. Uwe Hommel, executive vice president, Active Global Support, SAP AG. “As an early adopter and first SAP services and SAP support partner to be certified in the Run SAP methodology, EDS is playing a key role in choosing the direction of the next-generation applications management offerings for customers using SAP solutions.”

In May 2008, EDS announced that it would be one of the first SAP partners to adopt the Run SAP methodology for use in its application management and hosting services. Since then, EDS has integrated the Run SAP methodology into its own delivery processes, trained 90 percent of its applications management professionals in North America and is expanding the certification program to its Best Shore® global delivery centers. EDS has also leveraged the Run SAP methodology with several clients who expect to realize benefits such as improved performance of core business processes and quicker time to resolution on critical issues.

“To succeed in today’s complex environment and grow business, it is imperative for companies to successfully implement SAP solutions and then efficiently manage the operation of the business processes after going ‘live’ with the software,” said Andy Mattes, senior vice president of Applications Services at EDS, an HP company. “With a high level of involvement in the Run SAP methodology, EDS uses its industry innovation, high availability, global delivery and scalability to help clients achieve increased business value from their SAP applications.”

These benefits may also be leveraged by customers of the newly launched SAP® Business Suite 7 software (see related announcement, “SAP Helps Customers Respond Quickly to Economic Downturn With Introduction of New Modular Business Suite”). The SAP® Solution Manager application management solution, a key component of the Run SAP methodology, provides content that accelerates implementation of the new flexible and modular SAP Business Suite. Partners such as EDS that are certified in the Run SAP methodology are well prepared to help customers derive the maximum benefit from their investments in SAP solutions.

As an SAP services partner certified in solution implementation based on the Run SAP methodology, EDS offers clients high-value, strategic services to implement SAP end-to-end solution operation standards. When using the Run SAP methodology, SAP support is implemented across the lifecycle design, set-up, operations and optimization to increase efficiency and lower costs. To achieve this certification, EDS trained and certified its applications management professionals and global delivery resources on the end-to-end solution operation standards and adopted the Run SAP methodology within its implementation processes.

As an SAP support partner certified in solution operations based on the Run SAP methodology, EDS integrates SAP best practices, content, training and tools into its own proven methodologies, helping clients mitigate costly downtime and escalations. To achieve this certification, EDS certified its Americas region delivery organization on the end-to-end solution operations standards and adopted the Run SAP methodology within its own IT operation procedures. Additional requirements included business development, client implementations and a governance model.

SAP has been an EDS partner since 1990 and is a member of the EDS Agility Alliance. EDS and SAP work together to deliver business software solutions that reduce time to market and lower clients’ total cost of ownership. Supporting more than 1.7 million users of SAP solutions, EDS is one of the world’s largest service providers supporting SAP solutions and is a certified SAP global hosting partner and an SAP services partner. EDS offers a comprehensive, end-to-end portfolio of implementation, upgrade, applications management and hosting services in support of SAP software. More information about the EDS portfolio of services for SAP solutions is available at http://www.eds.com/services/sapservices/.

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 82,000 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.)

For customers interested in learning more about SAP products: Global Customer Center: +49 180 534-34-24. United States Only: 1 (800) 872-1SAP (1-800-872-1727)

About EDS
EDS, an HP company, is a leading global technology services provider, delivering business solutions to its clients. EDS founded the information technology outsourcing industry more than 46 years ago. Today, EDS delivers a broad portfolio of information technology, applications and business process outsourcing services to clients in the manufacturing, financial services, healthcare, communications, energy, transportation, and consumer and retail industries, and to governments around the world.

HP, the world’s largest technology company, simplifies the technology experience for consumers and businesses with a portfolio that spans printing, personal computing, software, services and IT infrastructure. More information about HP (NYSE: HPQ) is available at http://www.hp.com/.