Wolfgang Krips, SAP: VMware Selected for Virtualization Technology for SAP Global IT Infrastructure

October 21, 2011

SAP has selected the VMware cloud infrastructure and management platform for one of its internal global IT modernization and reorganization projects designed to more effectively support business demand. The SAP IT group has been using VMware technology as one of its underlying virtualization technologies and Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS) architectures for tailored products, enabling SAP IT’s internal customers to be more responsive, improve efficiency and control costs across its internal service offerings.

Following a successful internal automation and private cloud project, SAP IT has expanded its cooperation with VMware, striving to reach an overall virtualization rate of 80 percent of its global IT infrastructure. The standardization and automation of internal IT processes as a base for SAP's internal cloud operation is in production mode today in several use cases.

For example, the first automation and private cloud project was led by SAP's Solution Experience group, based at SAP corporate headquarters in Walldorf, Germany. The group delivers best-in-class services, support, infrastructures, and practices to provide demonstration environments to efficiently deliver SAP's value propositions to customers. SAP IT has implemented an SAP solution-based self-service portal that integrates with VMware vSphere®. Sales teams can now request access to a powerful tool that gives them the ability to create their own demonstration environments on demand within minutes. As a result, SAP has realized significant cost savings as VMware technology delivers services to meet requirements through the automation of internal processes, reducing human intervention.

Another important consideration for SAP IT choosing VMware as one of its technology providers is the ability of VMware to deliver cloud infrastructure and management solutions. VMware software is the choice best suited for SAP's Solution Experience group's business goals, as well as the existing VMware virtualization footprint within SAP IT’s internal IT infrastructure.

"Much like the solution for the Solution Experience demo systems, we implemented the lion’s share of our global IT infrastructure on the VMware platform," said Dr. Wolfgang Krips, senior vice president, Global Infrastructure Services, SAP AG. "VMware technology not only brings SAP’s Solution Experience group the benefits of IaaS, including optimized resources and reduced operational expenses, it also helps us with our ambitious sustainability objectives. Today we have already virtualized more than 50 percent of our Solution Experience environment, and with our expanded cooperation with VMware, we expect to reach our goal of achieving a virtualization rate of 80 percent in the demo area."

"SAP's selection of VMware technology for its global IT infrastructure further validates our IT as a Service vision,” said Maurizio Carli, senior vice president and general manager, EMEA, VMware. "SAP has bought into this vision and our technology delivery, investing in an almost complete stack including datacenter, enterprise management and desktop solutions."

As part of the broader virtualization initiative, the SAP Solution Experience group plans to evaluate the option of provisioning demonstration environments online utilizing public cloud service providers. The Solution Experience group is also reviewing the possibility of showcasing SAP's new innovative solutions to prospects using mobile devices and tablets.