SingTel has expanded its cloud portfolio via a partnership with German enterprise software vendor SAP.
The two companies have jointly launched a cloud-based business management service targeted at SMEs in Singapore. The partnership also marks SAP’s maiden cloud venture with a carrier in Asia.
The agreement entails having SAP’s Business One application hosted on SingTel’s cloud infrastructure. SAP’s Business One application offers customers access to various aspects of business management including sales, logistics, inventory and CRM. Users will be able to access SAP’s Business One application on the go via internet-enabled mobile devices; an application is also available for iPhone and iPad users.
SingTel’s business group EVP Bill Chang told reporters the service was aimed at larger SMEs across all verticals. Chang revealed SingTel’s cloud customer base had grown 50% over the past 11 months to 150,000 users and added the carrier hoped to leverage its successful cloud collaboration with Google to attract more cloud customers.
The proliferation of mobile devices and SingTel’s upcoming move to LTE constituted a suitable environment for cloud services for mobile workers, said Chang.
According to SingTel and SAP, SMEs can expect to save up to 60% on operating costs with the service, compared to a traditional ‘on-premise’ deployment. The cost for a typical 5 user deployment starts at S$13,248 ($11,150) per annum, inclusive of fiber connectivity and S$4,800 set-up cost.
SAP’s president for Southeast Asia Tim Moylan said templates for the wholesale and trade verticals are available for deployment.