When most people think about installed SAP software, they nearly always jump to the uncertainty of the total cost associated with a given deployment, customization and roll-out (not to mention ongoing support). Yet as we all know, installed software can have its benefits, especially when it comes to absolute data privacy/controls, customization, and system-to-system integration. Still, in an increasing number of cases, the SaaS total cost argument is winning out over installed software. Yet a very uniquely packaged offering — a first of its kind — from SAP and Bristlecone in the spend analysis, performance management, diversity and risk areas is attempting to break the total cost mold for non-SaaS software by delivering capabilities through implemented fixed-price bundles.
Bristlecone, an SAP implementation partner, is more than just an SI. They were a key developer of SAP’s Spend Performance Management application, a next generation spend analysis solution. SAP Spend Performance Management combines the IP behind Analytics’, Inc. cleansing and classification strength (acquired by SAP), serious heterogeneous data acquisition capability (from SAP, third-party system and third-party sources), one of the best UIs in the market for data analysis and visualization (which looks completely unlike anything you’ve seen from SAP before) and expanded capabilities beyond basic spend analysis that include risk (including internal risk fields plus external third party risk indicators) as well as rudimentary supplier performance management (SPM) capabilities.
The new offering between Bristlecone and SAP packages these capabilities into a fixed price installed software offering, providing a single price for all associate software, services and content. Customers can choose how much spend they want to put through the system, driving visibility down to the item level. This approach contrasts with certain other solution providers who price spend visibility in whole or in part on enterprise size/total spend. SAP and Bristlecone tier pricing in the following manner:
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