KPMG Consulting, Microsoft and Compaq Offer mySAP.com

KPMG Consulting LLC, a leading Internet integration services company, Microsoft Corporation and Compaq Corporation, announced for North America customers the availability of rapid deployment programs for mySAP.com upgrades and migration, SAP Business Information Warehouse, and SAP Business to Business (B2B) procurement. The programs are focused on moving clients quickly and with low-risk into these key mySAP.com applications supported by KPMG Consulting solutions, Compaq's technology and Microsoft's enterprise platform: Windows 2000 and SQL Server.

"Because there are a variety of ways to transform existing SAP installations to begin realizing the benefits of mySAP.com, it is important to engage a team of professionals possessing complementary skills, methodologies, and solutions," said Cheryl Groover, vice president of Strategic Alliances for SAP America. "SAP sees real customer value in today's announcement which combines the skills of three market leaders. Working together, the companies offer end-to-end solutions and their proven track record means reduced risk for the customer and a faster implementation. SAP acknowledges the value our customers will receive from KPMG Consulting, Microsoft and Compaq."

Through this team approach, KPMG Consulting will provide strategy, process improvement, and project management to companies on the front-end. Compaq and Microsoft will deliver enterprise-class technology for building and maintaining a strong system. Compaq ProLiant servers and StorageWorks, with more than 50 percent share of the SAP R/3 North America customers running on Windows NT, have the strongest track record supporting SAP. Microsoft is the majority platform for new SAP installations worldwide with over 60 percent market share. Microsoft Windows 2000 and SQL Server 2000 offer a high value platform capable of better than 99.9 percent SAP availability.

SAP Upgrade/Migration

KPMG Consulting, Microsoft and Compaq have been working to develop an upgrade and migration offering for companies facing the decision of upgrading their R/3 SAP systems to the latest SAP releases or migrating their SAP platform to Microsoft Windows 2000 and SQL Server. The service focuses on discovering the key client requirements through an experience-based assessment. It leverages a knowledge repository, making the process simple, organized and rapid. In addition, KPMG Consulting has developed a proprietary tool, the InstanceSynchronizer, which allows for comparisons of code, configuration and data between and across different R/3 releases.

"Moving to mySAP.com to quickly realize business value requires assistance from a team of leaders with proven skills, approaches, and experiences. The team of Microsoft, Compaq and KPMG Consulting will enable customers to realize mySAP.com benefits more quickly and with minimal risk," said Geoff Nyheim, general manager of Global Partners, Microsoft Corporation.

"Microsoft's platform of Windows 2000 and SQL Server 2000 is providing a scalable, reliable, and manageable foundation with added benefit of a low cost of ownership makes it the platform of choice for mySAP.com."

SAP BW EZ Start Rapid Deployment Program

KPMG Consulting and its alliance partners have developed a six-week, rapid SAP Business Information Warehouse (BW) deployment program, SAP BW EZ Start, where SAP users experience the benefits of SAP BW quickly with their own data. The low risk, accelerated solution development program includes on-site consulting delivered by KPMG Consulting, a pre-configured BW system with preconfigured InfoCubes and queries covering the Financial and Logistics modules in SAP R/3. Compaq will deliver to SAP customers, on loan basis, a ProLiant server loaded with Windows NT or Windows 2000, MS SQL Server 7 database and SAP BW 2.0 software for use during the project. Integration services are also available which can tightly couple BW with a client's investment in Microsoft Office 2000.

"The Internet is creating a new breed of solutions that combine rapid response, 24 x 365 access, and global delivery capability to meet the needs of fast-growth businesses and global enterprises," said Gustavo Eichelmann, vice president, Enterprise Business, Compaq North America. "Compaq is involved in the majority of all SAP BW deployments on Windows NT in North America. Customer assurance is improved when NonStop technology and support services are integrated with well established Microsoft technology and rapidly delivered by KPMG Consulting in a partnership that accelerates implementations of mySAP.com, including a comprehensive BW solution."

SAP Business to Business Procurement Rapid Deployment Program

SAP Business to Business Procurement covers the entire requisition-topayment process, including Web-based "self service" functions and can be accessed by all employees. The solution is also designed to enhance tracking of requisition/order status and is compatible with SAP's Online Store and/or the electronic catalog. In addition, it can be connected to other e-catalogs via Open Catalog Interface (OCI) and offers flexible integration with existing back-systems. KPMG Consulting can also deliver this Business to Business Rapid Deployment Program on Microsoft Commerce architecture linked directly to SAP for clients using in Microsoft technologies for their e-business applications.

"The KPMG Consulting, Microsoft and Compaq team continues to find the least intrusive strategy utilizing our best practices and world class consultants for companies to upgrade or migrate their platforms to mySAP.com," said Sam Tyagi, senior vice president, SAP Solutions Practice, KPMG Consulting. "Whether the client requirements dictate a platform upgrade or migration, a B2B solution implementation, or information access through data warehousing, our team of more than 3,500 trained SAP consultants accelerate the deployment and unlock value."

KPMG Consulting, Microsoft and Compaq will augment the agenda of the SAPPHIRE 2000 conference in Las Vegas, NV, June 14 - 16, with multiple topic theater presentations held on all event days within their conference booth. Interested parties should seek additional agenda information at the Compaq, KPMG Consulting and Microsoft booth 1131. Additional information can be found at www.kpmg-microsoft.com/sapphire.

About KPMG Consulting

KPMG Consulting, LLC is a leading provider of Internet integration services. For more information, visit us on the Web at www.kpmgconsulting.com.

About Microsoft

Founded in 1975, Microsoft is a worldwide leader in software, services and Internet technologies for personal and business computing. The company offers a wide range of products and services designed to empower people through great software -- any time, any place and on any device.

About Compaq

Compaq Computer Corporation, a Fortune Global 100 company, is one of the largest suppliers of computing systems in the world. Compaq designs, develops, manufactures, and markets hardware, software, solutions, and services, including industry-leading enterprise computing solutions, fault-tolerant business-critical solutions, and communications products, commercial desktop and portable products, and consumer PCs. For more corporate information, see www.compaq.com.

Contact John La Place of KPMG, 201-505-3891, jlaplace@kpmg.com or Rebekah Alden of Waggener Edstrom - Microsoft Corporation, 503-226-8244, rebekaha@wagged.com or Joy Capps of Compaq Corporation, 813-221-0030, joy.capps@compaq.com