The SAP Integration and Certification Center (SAP ICC) provides SAP integration services around third-party applications and SAP solutions. As a major asset for the German tech giant, the center enables SAP Partners and independent software vendors (ISVs) to have their solutions certified with the latest SAP technologies.
Established in 1996, SAP ICC has grown steadily to become a global organisation that plays a crucial role in the success of the SAP Partner ecosystem. Recently celebrating 25 years in operations, the center has already performed over 14,000 certifications, with more than 4,000 partners and ISVs relying on its SAP integration services. SAP Chief Partner Officer Karl Fahrbach praised SAP ICC and Partner Innovation Lifecycle Services (PILS) for reaching the latest significant milestone. Commending the team’s commitment to ensuring that SAP Partner success is customer success, he shared:
“For 25 years, the SAP Integration and Certification Center has laid the foundation for a trusted relationship between SAP, partners, and customers by certifying a high-quality ecosystem of partner solutions that integrate with the latest SAP technology.”
During last year’s SAP Global Partner Summit Online, several new enhancements and programs have been announced such as the launch of the premium SAP certification conducted by SAP ICC to allow SAP Partner applications to become an SAP Endorsed App. SAP ICC evaluates the application code and provides customised recommendations for improving and optimising the partner solution. Furthermore, solutions that obtain the SAP Endorsed App certification get a competitive advantage that demonstrates value-added functionalities, a smooth integration, and a secure investment for SAP clients.
Enabling Innovation in the Partner Ecosystem Through SAP ICC’s SAP Integration Services
Following its continuous global expansion, SAP ICC has successfully created new offices across the world to help partners in their respective regions including Australia and New Zealand (ANZ), Canada, China, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Latin America, the Middle East, and the United States. This reflects SAP’s long-standing commitment to assisting customers in reducing implementation effort, enabling innovation, and increasing agility by integrating partner solutions into SAP.
Moreover, the German tech giant supported several businesses in ANZ in their efforts to stay innovative and competitive in their respective industries. In November 2014, SAP Australia launched the SAP HANA Cloud Platform in the region, and SAP ICC was quick to follow SAP’s lead by delivering cloud platform-related services to the region’s software partners. SAP ICC also takes part in various SAP events such as those held by the SAP Australian User Group (SAUG) to connect and guide SAP partners in developing their own intellectual property (IP) and playing a significant role in software innovation.
Additionally, SAP ICC India is a technical and infrastructure support center that offers programs such as the “Co-Innovated with SAP” initiative and SAP S/4HANA certification. It is a part of PILS, which has resulted in thousands of SAP Software Certifications and continues to do so year after year. SAP ICC also worked closely with SAP Startup Studio, an accelerator based out of SAP Labs India, to support co-innovation engagement for start-ups and assist them in obtaining SAP Integration Certificates.
Meanwhile, the recent movement of SAP Intelligent Enterprise, with SAP Business Technology Platform (SAP BTP) as the foundation, is deemed critical in accelerating partner innovation in Japan. The role of SAP ICC also becomes increasingly important in South Korea as certification partners in the region seek to be further certified with cloud-based solutions, given the current cloud environment in the industry.
“As a standard-bearer for partner innovation, SAP ICC is at the forefront of partner success, supporting SAP’s strategy toward partner profitability and providing agility to customers as they become best-run businesses,” Fahrbach maintained.
