SAP has launched a purpose-built Australian version of its Business All-in-One enterprise resource planning (ERP) software that can be deployed within six to eight weeks.

The Fast Start Program for SAP Business All-in-One delivers fixed price, fixed scope, on-premise ERP. The software comes pre-packaged with an IBM x3500 server, starting from around AU$190,000 for medium enterprises.

The solution has been purpose built by SAP's SME solution centre for the Australian market and is designed to meet the needs of fast-growing enterprises with between 100 and 500 employees in services, manufacturing and wholesale industry sectors.

Following extensive research, SAP claims there is significant demand for Best Practice-based solutions, configured to their needs and bundled with hardware, project accelerators and application configuration tools.

SAP has also incorporated a self service element into the sales process.

Customers select the business processes they require using a software configurator.

This Web-based tool provides a recommended solution, allows further solution scoping and then provides indicative estimates for the total offering.

SAP's A/NZ SME general manager, Michael Reidy, said rapidly growing companies in Australia are faced with a dilemma.

"That is, to replace their business management systems and create a platform that supports continued growth or persevere with existing technologies and point solutions, despite their constraints and shortcomings," he said.

"This solution delivers a complete package that is ready to run in six to eight weeks. It increases predictability and improves the business case for change, helping organisations make a decision which will improve commercial performance and business flexibility for years to come." The Fast Start Program for SAP Business All-in-One is designed to provide a baseline for organisations wanting a solution to support key business processes critical to their success.

The solution fulfils local business requirements for financial accounting such as GST and provides a chart of accounts customised to Australian business needs.

Moreover, the package contains project accelerators such as data migration tools, which play a key role in reducing deployment times, and a proven, step-by-step, deployment process.

Earlier this week, Corporate Express selected SAP for a $34.5 million ERP project while last month 7-Eleven extended its global agreement with SAP to support software upgrades across the organization's 5,500 franchised stores.

IDC's global retail insights VP of research, Scott Langdoc, said retailers around the world are increasingly looking for demand management platforms to help them predict shopper behaviour and improve financial performance across all the major retail workflows - from inventory to assortment planning to full lifecycle pricing.

"We expect nearly 80 per cent of retailer application deals in 2008 will include demand management functionality," he said.