SAP Business One is a very successful, SME-focused Business Management / ERP software package that is sold through reseller partner channels throughout the world. I think of it as an SME ERP “platform” because it has an excellent set of API’s for third-party developers / ISVs to develop add-on solutions that look and feel as if they are part of the core Business One package.
The fact that SAP Business One is a developer-friendly, global ERP platform for SME businesses has helped it build up a portfolio of over 500 add-on solutions, built by over 300 ISV or “Solution Partners”. My company Enprise Software is one of these Solution Partners. We are based in New Zealand, yet sell our Job Costing solution all around the world, through SAP’s partner channels.
Given that partner-built solutions (both industry vertical and horizontal) are such a big part of the SAP Business One value offering, it was deemed necessary to set up an advisory council of leading Solution Partners to advise on policies and act as a sounding board for SAP Business One executives.
The SAP Business One Solution Partner Advisory Council (SPAC) was formed in December 2005 and was made up from about 12 of the top SAP Business One Solution Partners from around the world at that time. One of the first tasks the council set itself (in conjunction with SAP) was to define the council’s mission statement. The following statement was constructed back then and remains in place today;
“Maximize the success of SAP’s partner community by driving change, innovation, and ownership of the global SME market.”
Since its creation, the SPAC has worked collaboratively with SAP to:
- Define and prioritize business requirements for product enhancements
- Develop a collaborative engagement model for SSP’s and VAR’s to more effectively sell SAP and partner solutions
- Establish effective release policies that enable SAP and its partners to ensure consistent, quality upgrades
- Modify solution certification processes & criteria to better suit market needs
I was fortunate to be one of the founding members of the SPAC in December 2005 and today I’m honored to be its Chairperson.
Current members of the SPAC are;
- Mark Loveys of Enprise (New Zealand)(Chairperson)
- Rich Vaccaro of Valogix (USA)(former Chairperson)
- Korey Lind of Third Wave Business Systems (USA)
- Kamal Karmakar of CitiXsys (India)
- Peter Sauermann of Maringo (Germany)
- Bert Grolleman of Trimergo (Netherlands)
- Niels Hermansen of Boyum IT (Denmark)
- Ross Elliot of Accellos (USA)
- Guy Levy of Xioma (Israel)
- Jason Sproles of Support One (USA)
- Gustavo Zientek of Argentis Consulting (South America)
SAP executives specifically and regularly involved with the SPAC are;
- Jim Kofalt
- Greg Robinson
- Ralf Mehnert-Meland
If you would like to communicate with the SPAC, please contact me or one of the listed members, or enter a reply to this article.
Mark Loveys 
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