More than 80 per cent of SAP’s 253,5000 customers globally are small and medium enterprises (SMEs), but many face challenges around accessing capital and financing when it comes to upgrading their IT solutions.
In order to address this, SAP has developed a ‘buy now, pay later’ offering, allowing SMEs to pay 0 per cent interest over 24 months for the purchase of any SAP product on the reseller price list.
The offer will be available initially to companies in Australia, Columbia, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, the Netherlands, Singapore, the US and the UK, and will be valid until 30 September 2014.
Kevin Gilroy, senior vice president and general manager, global SME segment and indirect channels, SAP, said in making such an offer available, the company recognises the importance of allowing SMEs to invest in new technologies in a flexible manner.
“SMEs want customized solutions at comfortable price points and with the option to access simple and compelling financing. With the ‘buy now, pay later’ plan available via our extensive ecosystem of partners, we will be able to provide SMEs with an easy way to upgrade their current IT landscapes without worrying about costs. We rely heavily on our partners to bring tailored offerings to these customers and they continue to impress us with their dedication to helping SMEs grow their business,” Gilroy said.
IDC vice president of small and medium business research, Ray Boggs, said that as forward-looking small and midsize businesses understand the need to refine their IT systems to match the changing competitive environment, SAP is delivering on the critical needs these organisations have – an affordable acquisition model, maximum flexibility through delivery via on-premise or cloud-based solutions, and capabilities that help to sharpen business performance.
