Philadelphia (Sept. 26, 2003) -- High-end enterprise software developer SAP has, since June, signed up at least two of Best Software's value-added resellers to handle its Business One suite of applications for small and midsized businesses.
The most recent addition to SAP's channel is Philadelphia-based CompuData, which handles Best's MAS accounting and SalesLogix customer relationship management software. In early summer, SAP announced that it had signed up Enterprise Resource Group, an MAS and SalesLogix reseller in Dallas.
CompuData president Steve Ciarciello did not indicate any dissatisfaction with Best's products, but he noted that the SAP product has better integration between its CRM and other modules and that it may be especially attractive to SMB prospects that are subsidiaries of or suppliers to larger corporations that run SAP's enterprise products.
SAP is also recruiting resellers for its SMB products through an alliance with New York-based American Express Tax & Business Services, one of the accounting profession's 10 largest firms. AmEx consulting operations managing director Harvey Goss said "numerous" partners have already joined the AmEx recruitment effort, but the company is not yet ready to name them. SAP did not return calls for comment.
-- John M. Covaleski
