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A Year-Round Community for Business Success

We are
a Champion for your issues
a Conduit for your voice
a Channel for your success

Are you in?


we are americas’ sap users’ group
a year-round community invested in your
business success

For 20 years, 365 days a year, ASUG members have been engaged in
helping each other find new and better ways to solve problems and achieve
CONTENTS
their business goals. If your company is connected to SAP, you should be
here, too.
2 WHY JOIN
ASUG 365 highlights the year-round benefits ASUG members enjoy: 3 year-round education
education, networking, benchmarking and best practices, influence
programs, community engagement, and knowledge sharing. ASUG offers 4 MEMBERSHIP ACROSS
members benefits that extend across the SAP spectrum, from technical THE SAP SPECTRUM
know-how to insight into business processes. Whether you have business
5 one sap community
management responsibility or you are an IT professional responsible for
supporting business operations, every professional in the SAP ecosystem 6 the asug community
stands to benefit from ASUG, regardless of company size, industry, or
expertise. 7 asug special interest
groups (sigs)
Founded in 1991 by SAP customers as a not-for-profit organization,
8 ASUG CHAPTERS
ASUG now connects some 100,000 individuals from more than 3,000
member companies in North America. Whether you are an SAP ERP or 9 ASUG VOLUNTEERS
SAP BusinessObjects customer, solution or service provider, university
researcher, or student, ASUG gives you the tools to get the most out of 10 influence sap
your SAP investment by connecting people, sharing knowledge, and shaping 12 asug and sap
the future. We invite you to determine which type of membership might benchmarking and
fit your organization best, explore the different ASUG Communities, take best practices
an inventory of the face-to-face and virtual education offerings, learn how
you can gain a competitive advantage, and explore the avenues available for 13 networking at its
influencing SAP product and strategy. finest

ASUG 365 weaves real-life examples and testimonies through the magazine 14 A PARTNERSHIP OF THREE:
from existing members – SAP professionals just like you. Read first hand ASUG, SAP, AND YOU
about the expertise and experience that combine to make ASUG the 15 HOW DO I GET INVOLVED
largest, most influential SAP user community in the world.
16 THE ASUG IMPACT AWARD
We hope you will decide to join our community if you are not a member
already. If you are, we trust you will be compelled to share your story and
be part of our ongoing narrative of success.
] why join 2

ASUG is the leading customer-driven resource in the SAP ecosystem. Since its inception in 1991,
this organization has become the largest independent SAP user group in the world, providing its
100,000 individual members with unmatched benefits.
Our goal is straightforward: to support our members with continuous education, networking
opportunities with other SAP professionals and experts, and channels for influencing SAP product
and service direction. The end result is a community of SAP professionals empowered to achieve
business results throughout the year.
Whether you are a new member or an ASUG veteran, take a moment to familiarize yourself with
our membership benefits. Membership is uniquely designed to fit your niche in the SAP ecosystem
and provide you with the maximum return on your investment in ASUG and SAP.

JOIN TODAY
Fill out an online application at www.asug.com/membership
or
Call Member Services at 312.321.5142 for more information.
* ASUG membership resides on the corporate level unless stated otherwise, which means unlimited membership for all the
SAP users in the member company.

reasons why you should join


we are in good company.
100,000 like-minded cross-industry experts

we are in business to meet your needs.


Choose from five primary types of annual membership

we are invested in your success.


Optimize the return on your investment in SAP and ASUG

are you in?


] Year-round Education 3

we are in the know


stay informed. be on top of the game.
keep up with sap all year long.

Education is the cornerstone of most professional organizations, and ASUG is


no exception. In fact, ASUG is the leading resource for SAP customer-driven I can’t imagine
education. High-impact education, designed by members for members, helps SAP
customers attain maximum benefit from their investment. working with SAP
Members participated in more than 1,300 educational sessions offered by ASUG without ASUG –
last year. Educational opportunities include virtual events like Special Interest
Group (SIG) webcasts, face-to-face chapter meetings, comprehensive multi-day the contacts, the
symposiums and, of course, the ASUG Annual Conference and the annual ASUG
SAP BusinessObjects User Conference. education and
In fact, every interaction with ASUG presents members with a learning opportunity. experiences have
When they sign on to the ASUG website, they have access to a plethora of
educational webcasts and presentations. The online discussion forums are another been invaluable.
opportunity for members to engage daily and tap into the vast pool of real-life

]
scenarios and experienced SAP resources.
Meredith Tyler
This diverse and compelling assortment of educational offerings ensures that A S U G I NS TA LLA T I O N M E M BE R
member companies receive value through their membership and realize a better ME MB E R S I NC E : 2 0 0 6
return on their investment in SAP products and services. Folks here at ASUG think
our educational programs provide the real experience that gives members a real
advantage. An attendance figure of almost 50,000 last year vouches for that.

Keep up with SAP 365 Days a Year


Virtual Education opportunities like Special Interest Group (SIG) webcasts and
multi-day virtual events deliver expert education to members’ desktops where they
enjoy the ability to provide real-time input. SIGs are virtual ASUG communities aligned
with a specific business process, industry, or technology.
Chapter Meetings deliver face-to-face education and bonus networking opportunities
to members in their respective neighborhoods. Chapters are regionally-based ASUG
communities throughout the U.S. and Canada. They often collaborate with SIGs for
additional content.
Face-to-Face Events offer one or more days of education focused in a particular
interest area. These events combine education and wider networking opportunities.
The Annual Conference, ASUG’s premier event, provides four days of
face-to-face education spanning the entire spectrum of SAP-related content, as well as
comprehensive ASUG Influence activities, structured networking, and a partner show
floor.
Every fall, the ASUG SAP BusinessObjects User Conference offers a variety of
educational and hands-on sessions presented by customers, partners, and SAP that are
dedicated to BusinessObjects users in any data environment.
On the ASUG website members can tap into SAP-related knowledge and experience
through the online discussion forums or download educational webcasts and
presentations in the Learning Center.
] membership across the sap spectrum 4

ASUG tailors its membership to suit the unique roles and requirements of companies represented
in the SAP ecosystem. SAP customers, universities, and partners can draw from benefits such as
education, networking, benchmarking studies, discussion forums, and influence initiatives.

Corporate Membership Individual Membership


Membership dues reside at the corporate level, which means • BusinessObjects Customers* (at organizations in a data
once your company is a member, an unlimited number of environment other than SAP ERP)
employees within your organization can take advantage of all • Independent Consultant Members (independently
the member benefits we provide. employed consultants who offer SAP or SAP
• Installation Members (SAP ERP and/or SAP BusinessObjects consulting services.)
BusinessObjects Customers* and End Users) • ASUG Bridge (Continuation of membership benefits to
• Affiliate Members (include not only SAP partners, but individuals who become unemployed)
also individuals and firms such as independent consulting
companies that do not have a formal partnership * ASUG welcomes SAP BusinessObjects Customers. On January
1, 2010, the Global Business Network (GBN) merged with us
relationship with SAP)
to provide all SAP professionals in the SAP ecosystem with a
• Channel Partner Members (Third-party Resellers of SAP comprehensive resource for education, networking and influence.
BusinessOne and SAP All-in-One) SAP BusinessObjects customers joining our ranks have a choice of
• Dual Members (Companies holding both Association and Individual Membership or Corporate Membership.
Installation Memberships)
• University Connection (Universities and Colleges)

ASUG Affiliates
This comprehensive new program combines broad exposure and marketing support with
improved channels for content distribution, education, and influence. Join the ASUG community
as an Associate, Gold, or Platinum Affiliate member to increase your reach into the SAP
ecosystem: Demonstrate your thought leadership, Showcase your products
and services, Position yourself ahead of the competition

more reasons why you should join


we are in this for you.
Education
Professional Networking
Product Influence
Benchmarking
Community
Expertise and Experience

are you in?


] one sap community, a powerful voice 5

we are in sync
sap businessobjects ambassadors:
spreading synergy

ASUG 365 invited ASUG Volunteer Ken Hartman ASUG launched the SAP BusinessObjects Ambassador
and former steering committee member of the Global initiative to promote a better understanding of the expertise
BusinessObjects Network (GBN) to discuss how available within the BusinessObjects community and the
BusinessObjects users are integrating with the Americas’ resources that are now available to all SAP customers. Ken
SAP Users’ Group (ASUG) and outline ASUG’s SAP is one of the ambassadors tapped to act as liaisons for the
BusinessObjects Ambassador program. program. The program kicked off at the April 2010 North
Ken is the Senior Manager of Business Intelligence Texas/Oklahoma Chapter meeting and the Ambassadors
Applications at Hughes Network Systems, and has worked will be visible at other ASUG Chapter meetings and events
with BusinessObjects since 2000. He is also an SAP throughout the year including the ASUG Annual Conference
BusinessObjects Ambassador and an SAP Mentor. and the BusinessObjects User Conference to foster synergy
and collaborative thinking within the SAP ecosystem. The
In 2008, after SAP’s acquisition of Business Objects, ASUG Ambassadors also meet regularly with the ASUG Chapter
launched GBN, a user group of SAP BusinessObjects Leadership and BI and BITI leadership councils to provide
customers. Prior to GBN, SAP BusinessObjects users were input on, for example, educational programming. “Whether
organized into independent local groups. GBN gave the users, a customer is a traditional SAP BusinessObjects user or a
whether big or small, ERP or non-ERP, a voice into SAP. “GBN traditional SAP ERP user, there is a level of experience and
brought them together under the umbrella of collaboration knowledge that can be leveraged and shared, and it is our goal
and influence,” Ken said. to unleash that energy and foster it,” Ken said.
In 2010, ASUG merged GBN into its ranks to reflect the
increased integration between SAP and SAP BusinessObjects.
SAP BusinessObjects customers brought a lot of experience,
information, and direction to the table, for example, in the
business intelligence area. GBN added five new Special Interest
Groups (SIGs) to the ASUG Business Intelligence (BI) and
Business Integration Technology and Infrastructure (BITI) SIGs.
GBN local groups are collaborating with ASUG Chapters to
co-locate meetings with general and breakout sessions focused
on SAP and BusinessObjects solutions which all customers can
participate in. Ken believes that “exchanging our experience
make us a more vibrant community”.
He sees SAP BusinessObjects users as gaining from the
resources and support ASUG provides as the largest
independent SAP users’ group in the world: “An SAP
BusinessObjects customer now has access to year-round
educational Webcasts with expert speakers like Dave Rathbun,
Ingo Hilgefort, and George Peck just to name a few; a vast
library of information; a huge network across the ecosystem;
and opportunities to volunteer and participate in planning,
becoming a voice for the community.”

] ken hartman
AS U G I NS TA LLA TI O N ME MB E R
ME MB E R S I NC E : 2 0 0 7
] the asug community. real experience. real advantage. 6

The ASUG community is an integral part of the SAP ecosystem, meeting the needs of SAP
professionals at an individual as well as a collective level 24/7/365.

ASUg Offers Year-round Communities for SAP professionals


The ASUG communities offer members many opportunities to engage and benefit from both face-to-face and virtual education
and social networking opportunities year round. Be it regionally-based Chapters or Special Interest Groups (SIGs) aligned with
SAP products, industries, or technologies, ASUG communities promote and facilitate dynamic opportunities to engage and share
experiences within the SAP ecosystem at the grassroots level.
ASUG SIGs provide members interested in a specific process, industry, or technology with access to networking, education, and
support from other SAP professionals with knowledge and experience. Members have the option of focusing on a business process
key to a company’s success, align themselves with one of more than twenty industries represented in ASUG, and stay ahead of the
technology curve with state-of-the-art education and access to SAP experts.
ASUG Chapters are communities of SAP professionals organized by geographical proximity. There are 37 geographical locations
throughout the United States and Canada. Chapters provide members access to convenient face-to-face education and networking
several times a year without extensive travel or days away from the office. All Chapter meetings are included in ASUG membership
benefits at no extra cost.
Volunteers are the mainstay of the ASUG community, exercising their leadership skills to deliver education, facilitate discussions,
produce meetings, and mentor fellow members. There are more than 300 volunteers who keep the ASUG community thriving.

connect with your peers. share knowledge,


experience, and insight

benefits of being an asug member


we are designed to help you.
Chapters – Meet face to face in your neighbourhood
special interest groups – Talk to someone just like you
asug.com – Collaborate the way you want 24/7/365
Value-Added Initiatives – Take advantage of member-to-member offerings
ASUGonline.com – Stay in the loop with a virtual event environment

are you in?


] asug special interest groups (SIGs) 7

we are in your corner


share rao’s vision of business process
collaboration around the globe

Raghavendra (Rao) Subbarao has been the Business Process Architecture (BPA)
Special Interest Group (SIG) chair since 2008. An active ASUG volunteer and
advocate for collaboration across all communities, he has a great vision of how
ASUG Special Interest Groups can take networking to the next level.
ASUG 365: Describe the membership of your Special Interest Group.
Rao: Briefly, the Business Process Architecture SIG members are popularly known as
Business Process Experts (BPX). This SIG primarily consists of Business Architects,
Business Systems Analysts, Process Owners, and Business Partners, in a nutshell, people
who work close to the business in order to enable the maximum value of IT to the
business. SIG member companies include ExxonMobil, Johnson & Johnson, Coca-Cola,
Hospira, and Whirlpool. As you can no doubt tell, this membership enables true
cross-industry expertise, which is imperative for a successful Architecture practice.
ASUG 365: What benefits do your SIG members gain by participating in ASUG?
Rao: One of the primary benefits of ASUG membership is instant access to a virtual
community of thousands of peers and customers, not to mention the educational
sessions via webcasts. As someone who has practiced Enterprise Architecture for a long
time, I frequently get asked to serve as a reference point for organizations embarking on
various architecture products and practices (like BPM, EA, etc). Usually, at the end of my
call, I suggest they reach out to the ASUG community to share the immensely valuable
knowledge and experience and insights of hundreds of other customers who have
already implemented the product or practice.
ASUG 365: Describe the networking you see taking place within your SIG.
Rao: Our SIG is very close-knit considering the broad geographic footprint of our
members. Most often, we collaborate via discussion forums that are available right
on asug.com. The ASUG headquarters team has expanded our presence within the
social networking sites like LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube and Twitter. We are starting to
network and communicate via those tools as well.
ASUG 365: What’s next? What would you like to have happen for your SIG?
Rao: Our vision for the future is to expand on this trend and expand our SIG by
extending our collaboration efforts. Architecture is the same no matter which part
of the globe you practice it in. We believe that we can bring together visionaries

]
and thought leaders across the globe to form a virtual Business Process Architecture
community – a cross-industry community that provides best practices and guidance rao subbarao
around a successful Business (Process) Architecture practice. A S U G I NS TA LLATI ON M E M BE R
ME MB E R S I NC E : 2 0 0 8

One of the primary benefits of ASUG membership is instant access to a


virtual community of thousands of peers and customers.
] asug chapters 8

we are in the neighborhood


learn and network with chavone jacobs and
the colorado chapter

Chavone Jacobs has been an ASUG Volunteer and Chapter Chair for the Colorado
Chapter for seven years. “I was tricked into joining the Chapter volunteer leadership by
friends who were ASUG Volunteers,” she says anecdotally, “The very next meeting they
both had obligations requiring them to resign, and I stayed on as Chair.” When asked
why, she does not hesitate: “You cannot put 45 ASUG members in a room and not
learn something. On a good day all 45 learn two things!”
The Colorado Chapter exists in less of an SAP manufacturing environment than many
other ASUG Chapters, and primarily represents SAP users from financial institutions and
service organizations with fewer SAP installations than, for example, Dallas, a similarly sized
metropolis. More than half of the members are installation customers, but the Chapter also
boasts an Associate membership who, as Chavone puts it, does not hesitate to “pitch in” to
facilitate meetings, sponsor events, and demonstrate solutions for the benefit of this SAP
user community.
Attendees at quarterly meetings run an average of 50 SAP users and the majority of
the chapter membership knows each other by first name. Chavone speaks fondly of the
camaraderie that exists in the Colorado Chapter. She describes the members as coming
from leaner teams whose companies cannot always afford for them to attend national
events, so they have become a closely knit group of SAP users.
Generally the format of meetings includes breakfast and lunch, three educational
presentations, and plenty of networking opportunities. Chavone is convinced food helps
people to feel comfortable enough to talk to each other. She also describes herself as
“obnoxious” enough to get people up and moving so everybody at a Colorado Chapter
meeting is comfortable sharing. “Face it”, she adds, “no one knows what SAP can do, as well
as the people who use it. We learn as much from each other as we do from the speakers.
The speakers’ topics are merely the seeds to get conversations started.”
To ensure the relevancy of content at chapter meetings, the volunteer leadership will ask
for a show of hands to cover interest in subjects across business, functional, and technical
areas. There is no split between functional and technical presentations because, as Chavone
says, “it is more important to understand why SAP is arguing with you and what is happening
in the integration points”. So while XI may seem like a technical topic, the functional
members find it interesting to know how their colleagues might be able to support them.
The chapter leadership always tries to ensure there are an SAP speaker and a customer
presentation in the mix. The original ASUG leadership team has also joined forces with
Mark Frederickson of the Global BusinessObjects Network (GBN) local group in Colorado
to coordinate content. In fact, one of the volunteer leadership goals of the Colorado
Chapter is to increase the SAP BusinessObjects user presence and contribution. It is easy
to imagine Chavone and her team accomplishing that goal given her positive attitude, team

]
spirit, and just the right touch of “obnoxiousness”.
chavone jacobs
A SUG IN STAL LAT ION MEMBER
MEM BER SIN CE: 1999
] asug volunteers 9

we are in the lead


share steve’s asug spirit and
year-round-community philosophy

Steve Ruggiero is a veteran ASUG Volunteer who has embraced the ASUG
Year-Round Community concept as his volunteer philosophy. “A few years back, we
started a philosophy called ASUG YRC or ASUG ‘Year-Round Community’. That has
reminded all of us volunteers to make sure we add value to members all year round.
I think this has really prompted us to become more aware that companies have paid
for a value. We add that through virtual events, face-to-face events, SIG events,
better website functionality for people to collaborate on.... the list goes on.”
When asked why he chose to volunteer for ASUG, he replied that ASUG was where
one found involvement from members who are immersed in a subject such as Business
Intelligence (BI) – Steve is the BI Technical Lead at Ferro Corporation, and chapter chair
of the Ohio Chapter. He has volunteered at ASUG for a total of eight years: five years
in the BI – Advanced Analytics and Planning SIG, two years in the Business Integration,
Technology and Infrastructure (BITI) SIG, and since in the Ohio Chapter. In fact, Steve
remained involved with ASUG over his entire career because he believed ASUG
provided a reference point for any fix or implementation.
As an ASUG Volunteer, Steve does not only strive to provide value to membership 365
days a year but experiences many mutual benefits, like the ability to drive content thru
SIG and chapter involvement (his Chapter had just recently facilitated an all-day BI session
at the University of Akron). Volunteers also enjoy many peer networking opportunities
with customers, 3rd-party vendors, and consultants alike. Steve values the collaboration
between fellow volunteers, and takes pride in the company recognition he receives as a
resource for expertise - he recalls how he was able to pinpoint resources for a BI Project
at his company. But it does not end there: as an ASUG Volunteer he is also able to help
other companies, for example, he facilitated a presentation on an archiving solution at a
chapter meeting at a member’s request.
Steve values the connections and friendships he formed over the years as an ASUG
member and Volunteer. He recalled the time he met with the Ohio Chapter leadership
for lunch to plan an upcoming meeting. During lunch, he happened to mention a
question he had about an ongoing implementation at his company. The Associate
member on the leadership team, Alex Kon, picked up the phone, dialed his BI guru, and
Steve had the answer within 30 seconds. These time and cost savings are unparalleled in
the world of business.
Talking to Steve as a BI professional brought up the subject of the Global BusinessObjects
Network (GBN) merger with ASUG. “I would love to see it work well; it is contingent on
SAP BusinessObjects customers coming in and understanding what the benefits are. It’s a
win-win situation.“

]
Steve concluded the interview with advice to would-be ASUG Volunteers: The first
step – filling out the application – is the hardest and the rewards, he believes, speak for steve ruggiero
themselves. A S U G I NS TA LLA T I O N M E M BE R
ME MB E R S I NC E : 1 9 9 9
] ASUG INfluence 10

ASUG Influence is great


medium in which customers
get to talk to SAP on its
roadmap, future state of
product, and influence the
direction from the customers’
perspective.

] charan marwah
ASUG INSTALLATION MEMBER
MEMBER SINCE: 2000

For more information, visit


www.asug.com/InfluenceSAP
Get involved in Influence and make your voice heard by SAP. To participate
in the ASUG Influence program, contact your ASUG Community Facilitator or
SIG Chair about Influence Council activities. Look for opportunities to get your
hands on the next generation of technology with Usability Activities. Ask to
have your senior management team invited to the ASUG Executive Exchange.
] asug influence 11

we are in the loop


you talk. sap listens. everybody wins.

The ASUG Influence program is a vital component of ASUG membership. The program offers a unique opportunity for ASUG
Installation Members to impact existing and future SAP products and services. Leveraging the collective voice of more than
3,000 SAP customer companies and the strong strategic partnership between ASUG and SAP, ASUG Influence is able to
provide members interested in shaping current and future SAP solutions the unique opportunity to provide input directly to
SAP. Whether it is the next product release or SAP’s future strategy, the ASUG Influence model ensures that SAP hears the
collective voice of ASUG members. ASUG, in close collaboration with SAP, provides multiple avenues for members to deliver
direct feedback to help SAP understand and respond to customer needs and interests. Here is a glimpse of how you can impact
the way you use SAP:

Define and Develop Future Solutions developing a more strategic relationship with SAP and helping
other members to save time, save money, and do business
Influence Councils better. This council, formerly the CIO Council, has driven
Members participating in Influence Councils get to present significant change across all levels of SAP with results such as
common challenges to SAP first hand, and propose solutions the joint ASUG and SAP Benchmarking and Best Practices
in the diverse areas of the SAP ecosystem. Nearly 200 such program; transformation of the SAP account relationship; and
Influence Council sessions took place both virtually and the SAP Tiered Model Support Model.
face-to-face last year, impacting critical SAP solution areas
such as SAP Solution Manager, Business Intelligence, Supply
Chain Management, Product Lifecycle Management, and SAP
Influence Goes Global
NetWeaver™. SUGEN
The SAP User-Group Executive Network (SUGEN), a
Usability ACTIVITIES
network of 12 User Group Communities across six continents,
Usability Activities give ASUG members the opportunity
was established in 2007 to foster information exchange
to test new and existing solutions and provide on-the-spot
and best practice sharing among SAP User Groups and to
feedback to SAP developers, product management specialists,
coordinate the collaboration with SAP for strategic topics.
and usability experts. Usability Activities take the form of
SUGEN’s mission is to:
hands-on test drives, focus groups, surveys, and role-based
interviews at ASUG events throughout the year. • Provide SAP with a consolidated view on influence
priorities for SAP products and services.
Focus Groups
• Provide an avenue for the communication of strategic
ASUG introduced the Focus Group concept to the
user group issues to SAP.
Influence model to help SAP and ASUG membership quickly
• Share best practices amongst the user groups in the
collaborate, validate, and prioritize solution and enhancement
network and SAP.
requirements.
• Create and sustain collaborative bodies for the sharing
of information, expertise, and experience users or SAP
The Connections You Want. cannot find anywhere else
The Insights You Need. • Foster international market views, including customers’
short and long term demand drivers, major challenges,
The ASUG Executive Exchange is the premier C-level
and business imperatives
Influence body in the SAP ecosystem. Comprised of IT leaders
from the foremost Fortune 500 and mid-market organizations
leveraging SAP technologies to manage their business, council
members have primary ownership of the SAP relationship
within their company and share the common goals of
] asug and sap benchmarking and best practices 12

we are progressive
how does your organization measure up?
Understand your risks. track value realization.

The ASUG and SAP Benchmarking and Best Practices program provides ASUG Installation
members a tool to set the stage for innovation, measure the value of change, and track
performance after the fact.
What is Benchmarking?
Benchmarking allows you to compare your performance to that of your peers and other SAP users, determine the value of adopting
best practices, understand how IT drives performance, and track performance.

When and Why to Benchmark?


Benchmark your performance prior to a business transformation in order to build a business case; during a transformation or in a
steady-state to compare performance with a set of peers; and after a business transformation to assess the value realization of the
transformation or track performance improvement over time.

What Do Benchmarking and Best Practices Surveys Mean to Members?


Determine where your organization excels and where it needs to improve. Learn about current and emerging best practices. Identify
areas for growth.
• Leverage your results to pinpoint opportunities for cost reduction and increased productivity
• Mitigate IT exposures and risks
• Apply best practices and industry trends to strategic IT planning initiatives
Benchmarking and Best Practices survey participants receive a customized report for each completed survey they submit. The report
provides key findings and detailed survey results. Best of all, this benefit is included in Installation membership fees.

Very valuable information … it is good to see


where we stand with respect to other Best in
Class companies, and to learn about potential
areas of improvement.

] Chantal Gauvreau
ASUG INSTALLATION MEMBER
MEMBER SINCE: 1998
] asug networking 13

we are in on the action


“mr network” has spoken. try it.
get the dialogue going.

As a veteran ASUG member and volunteer, Bob believes networking is very


important, even across the diversity in the SAP ecosystem. “Notwithstanding
size or industry, a debit is still a debit, a credit is still a credit, Accounts Payable
is Accounts Payable, and inventory is inventory” he says. As the IT Director and
Controller at Powell Electronics, Bob has experienced first-hand the benefits of
sharing experiences within his industry and beyond.
He recalls the example of one of his Accounts Payable staff at Powell Electronics
running into a payment proposal problem. She called an individual she had met at an
ASUG event. They spoke the same language and were able to solve the problem over
the phone. To Bob, “that is networking at its finest”.
Then there was the individual he had met at an ASUG Chapter meeting who, as Bob
was finalizing a project implementation plan, told Bob they were wrapping up their
project, and the consultants were ready to roll off to Powell. What’s more, they were
local. That saved Powell 15-20% on implementation costs.
Bob truly believes that ASUG makes it easy to build a peer network through
community benefits like local face-to-face chapter meetings and online access to
ASUG Special Interest Groups. The premier ASUG networking experience is the
ASUG Annual Conference where professionals from across the SAP ecosystem are
brought together under one roof. Bob vouches for the fact that every time he and his
colleagues attend an ASUG event, they learn something new, they learn to be more
efficient, and they extend their peer and vendor network.
Whenever possible, Bob transforms the interaction with other SAP customers into
networking opportunities with an invitation to call, stop in, etc. “You come to Powell,
and I will show you whatever you want to see; and in return I expect the same of
you…” As a result of Bob’s willingness to make a difference for other SAP customers,
Powell received 11 such visits in the past year.
This same theory applies to work too. He encourages all new Powell employees to
take advantage of the company’s ASUG membership benefits. “Even if only to start
a dialogue, it can lead to so much more. I don’t know all the answers but once I start
networking I am sure to find them.”
As for why Bob volunteers for ASUG, he says, “Volunteering is not just personal
networking; it’s networking on behalf of the company you represent. Volunteering is
more than just an opportunity to gain personal insights; it broadens your professional
experience and brings back networking benefits to the company directly and indirectly.
The value of ASUG networking is derived from sharing the wealth of experience
within a community of SAP professionals. For Bob, it’s about giving back to the ASUG
community. ] bob oldrati
ASUG INSTALLATION MEMBER
MEMBER SINCE: 2000
] a partnership of 3: asug, sap, and you 14

One thing you can take to the bank is that by being an ASUG member,
you have unique access to SAP and the ability to shape the solutions
they deliver. Multiple channels are readily available to you to ensure your
voice becomes a part of the “collective voice of the customer” that is
ASUG. And you are heard all the way up to the SAP Executive Board
level – ensuring both your technical and business requirements are met.
This influence not only helps SAP design products and services – but also
in the go–to-market strategy when they are ready for prime time. From
inception to beta to general availability – SAP works with the ASUG
community every step of the way.

Other programs like Benchmarking help members gain visibility as to


where they are today versus their peers, and track their progress over
time. This goes way beyond IT. The focus of the program is to improve
your business from a holistic standpoint, regardless of the size of your
organization, or the industry within which it operates. As we look to
grow our partnership with SAP, we continue to develop joint programs
that add value to your business and make your job as an SAP professional
easier.

SAP is represented on the ASUG Board of Directors and provides


a dedicated liaison team to collaborate with ASUG and support our
programs. SAP enlists product experts who act as points of contact within
its organization to promote ASUG by actively encouraging customer
involvement and providing subject-matter expertise and support to all
ASUG programs.

] gREG PIKE
S V P, G lobal C ustomer C ommunities
A S U G B oard of directors

We at SAP are passionate about doing everything possible to


ensure every customer is a Best-Run Business. Our nearly 20-
year partnership with ASUG and the thousands of professionals
that make up its membership has resulted in unprecedented
levels of success for the entire SAP ecosystem. By actively
engaging with ASUG, we have a clear and sustained
perspective of the needs of our customers and constantly
strive to deliver solutions that exceed their expectations.
] how do I get involved today 15

we are in this for you


be part of the world’s largest group of sap
professionals.

Sign Up for an asug.com Login Scan the Online Communities


Asug.com is your online connection to the ASUG community. Calendar
It only takes a few minutes to open the door to a wealth of With hundreds of virtual and face-to-face events offered each
information and resources. Simply visit asug.com and select year, there’s always something going on at ASUG. Sign up for
“New? Join ASUG Now.” Complete a brief membership events that meet your educational or networking needs and
application form, and you will automatically be sent a login and explore the ASUG expertise and experience.
password to begin accessing the site.
Tour asug.com
Encourage Your Colleagues to Sign asug.com is your online connection to the ASUG community.
Up Too Find tools and resources to support you. Download webcasts
Once your organization is a member, an unlimited number and presentations via the Learning Center. Engage in
of employees can sign up for a login, so be sure to spread the conversations with fellow members via discussion forums,
news among your colleagues. The more individuals from your blogs, and myASUG Network, and take advantage of member-
organization participate, the greater value you’ll gain from your to-member discounts and offers on Marketplace, or test-
membership. drive an SAP trial system via the Demo Service. Expand your
universe by tapping into asug.com.
Customize Your Preferences
What do you want to hear about? Let us know by updating find Your ASUG Champion
your preferences, and we’ll tailor our communications to meet Each ASUG member company has a designated ASUG
your needs. Preferences can be changed anytime by updating Champion to manage the organization’s membership and
your online profile. communicate ASUG updates and activities within the company.
Get to know your ASUG Champion to ensure you’re up-to-
Join Special Interest Groups Aligned date with the latest ASUG news and opportunities.
with Your Interests
With more than 90 Special Interest Groups (SIGs) offering Share Your Time and Expertise
targeted education and networking for specific industries, If you want to take your participation to the next level,
business processes, and technologies, there’s sure to be one consider volunteering with ASUG to share your knowledge
or more communities that map to your interests. Join SIGs and help drive the programming offered to members. For
to receive newsletters, announcements regarding upcoming more information regarding roles and current openings, simply
events, and more. contact volunteers@asug.com.

Connect with Your Local Chapter Expand Your Horizons


You would be amazed to see who is right in your backyard. Tap into an independent source of SAP coverage and analysis
With 37 chapters across the United States and Canada, on ASUGnews.com, or experience ASUG events on our
see who is just around the corner from you by joining your virtual platform ASUGonline.com. Increase your reach into the
local chapter. Take advantage of the robust education and SAP ecosystem and stay informed.
networking opportunities available at Chapter Meetings which
typically take place three to four times per year. ASUG Is Here For You
Not sure what you’re looking for or how to find something?
Just give us a shout – we’re here to help. Contact us at
312.321.5142 or memberservices@asug.com.
] asug impact award 16

ASUG members are continuously faced with the challenge to improve their organization’s
productivity and bottom-line. As members take their SAP systems to the next level, they can gain
competitive advantages by driving greater efficiencies and improving overall business processes.
In 1998, ASUG introduced the Impact Award to recognize the efforts and achievements of our members who have realized
significant business results by running SAP solutions. Each year ASUG awards those organizations that provide the best example of
how they leveraged ASUG and SAP to drive business transformation. Impact Award submissions are evaluated on demonstrated
success by the following six criteria:
• Return on investment generated
• Strategic alignment to goals met
• SAP product scope utilized
• Best practices developed
• Service improvements demonstrated
• Degree of innovation reflected in their approach.

In years past, the number of submissions and the varying degree of business size and scope made the task of selecting winners
extremely difficult. As of 2007, in order to maintain fairness while equaling the playing field to compete for this award, ASUG has
awarded Impact Awards in three separate categories: Large Enterprise, Small to Medium Enterprise, and the Public Sector.
Selecting winners is never an easy task; the quality of submissions increases year after year.

make your impact on the sap ecosystem.

Past Impact Award Winners


Border States Industries, Inc. Network Services Company
City of Houston Newport Corporation
City of San Diego Northrop Grumman Financial Service Center &
Colgate-Palmolive Company Enterprise Solutions Group
Day & Zimmerman Ontario Power Generation
Deluxe Corporation Orange County Public Schools
Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. Pitney Bowes
Government of Canada - IFMS Program Office Powell Electronics
Hewlett Packard SBC Communications, Inc.
Medtronic, Inc. Seattle Public Schools
Monsanto Company Silicon Laboratories
Multiquip Inc. The City of Tacoma
Naval Air Systems Command (U.S. Navy) U.S. Navy
365 100,000
YEAR-round INDIVIDUAL
COMMUNITY MEMBERS

3,000 200
MEMBER FORTUNE 500
COMPANIES MEMBER COMPANIES

90 37
SPECIAL INTEREST LOCAL
GROUPS CHAPTERS
ASUG BENEFITS AT-A-GLANCE

Member-driven educational content


delivered by sap experts

Face-to-face and virtual networking

Performance measurement and


best practices analyses through
benchmarking

sap product and service shaping


through influence

Participation across SAP areas of


interest and geographical proximity

Real-life experience delivered by sap


professionals

MEMBER-TO-MEMBER OFFERINGS AND


ON-DEMAND SAP TRIAL SYSTEMs

INDEPENDENT COVERAGE AND ANALYSIS


OF SAP-RELATED NEWS

Americas’ SAP Users’ Group (ASUG)


401 N. Michigan Avenue
Chicago, IL USA 60611-4267 USA
www.asug.com

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