SAP Japan and NTT DATA Begin Building Connectivity Solutions for Enterprise Accounting Systems and Banking Network Services- Implementing Interconnection between SAP^® ERP and NTT DATA's "ANSER^®" -

SAP Japan Co., Ltd. (Headquarters: Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo; President: Garrett Ilg; hereafter "SAP Japan") and NTT DATA Corporation (Headquarters: Toyosu Koto-ku, Tokyo; President: Toru Yamashita; hereafter "NTT DATA") have agreed to complete the interconnection between SAP^® ERP, SAP's integrated enterprise resource planning software, and "ANSER^®*1," NTT DATA's banking network service system, by the end of this year and to start offering implementation services.
As a result, companies using their in-house ERP system of SAP can exchange, through a high-speed dedicated line, banking transaction data with the nation's banks connected to "ANSER". In addition, companies can simultaneously receive real-time banking services^*2 from multiple banks.

So far, the majority of banking services available from domestic banks to companies have not been linked directly to companies' accounting systems. Only a few such services are directly accessible to those accounting systems, which companies individually developed according to their needs at the cost of much time and expense. Thus, much paperwork has yet to be automated in companies. Big enterprises, especially, have to deal with many financing banks and bank accounts and conduct an enormous number of transactions, which makes them face serious problems and tasks such as processing inefficiency and delays, operational mistakes and prevention of fraud. On the other hand, the preexisting ERP systems in companies must handle an increasing variety of roles, including providing internal controls and ensuring compliance with IFRS. They must also adapt to a growing variety of strategies, including new global fund management, Internet transactions and the various account settlement methods involved in these transactions.

Building upon such a situation and in response to the need for a strong platform for direct connections between banking services and accounting systems, SAP Japan and NTT DATA have agreed that both companies will begin to offer connectivity services. To do this, SAP Japan will develop, on the SOA (service oriented architecture)-based integrated SAP NetWeaver^®*3 platform, the functionality to connect SAP ERP directly to "ANSER," and NTT DATA will extend technical cooperation for connectivity.

More specifically, the functionality necessary for access to NTT DATA's "eBAgent^®"^*4 will be built as an interface between the accounting system and "ANSER", using SAP NetWeaver Process Integration, an integrated tool for business process management. Basic workflow templates will be developed for obtaining details on account activities and for performing balance inquiries. Based on these templates, SAP partners will be able to implement their systems in a short period of time. SAP Japan will organize a consultant team, dedicated to offering the connectivity services, that will help, together with NTT DATA, SAP user companies and SAP partners to implement their systems.

These connectivity services will allow SAP user companies to transfer daily data with multiple banks on bank account balances, account activities and results of money transfer automatically to the company's SAP ERP system. As a result, the processes for checking balances against accounting records and reconciling accounts payable and receivable will be automated, which will increase accounting efficiency and prevent operational mistakes and fraud. Through the cooperation between NTT DATA, with its extensive know-how concerning banking systems and SAP Japan , the top ERP vendor, high-quality systems can be built in a short period of time.

The two companies will complete service development and verification by the end of the year and then launch a campaign to promote the services among SAP user companies.

*1 ANSER
"ANSER" (Automatic answer Network System for Electrical Request) from NTT DATA offers automated financial services including: forwarding credit advice to customers, responding to balance inquiries from customers and transferring money to and from the bank accounts of customers.

*2 Banking Services
The banking services are also called electronic banking services or firm banking services. They are available from banks to companies and individuals in their homes via computers and communication lines. Various functions are available with the services including general transfers and income transfers to accounts, individual inhabitant tax payment, and foreign remittance, in addition to the services provided by "ANSER," such as balance inquiries, account activity inquiries and money transfer services. Companies can use these services without visiting bank branches and typically pay bank charges lower than those for over-the-counter transactions. These advantages have rapidly expanded the use of the banking services.

*3 SAP NetWeaver
SAP NetWeaver is a comprehensive and integrated application platform that supports IT system to align with business requirements.
As the technical foundation for a service-oriented architecture (SOA) and SAP Business Suite, SAP NetWeaver helps you evolve your existing IT infrastructure into a more cost-effective platform that improves efficiency, insight, and flexibility. The platform enables you to consolidate heterogeneous systems, applications, and data to simplify the IT environment and reduce operational costs, freeing resources to focus on strategic, innovative solutions.

*4 eBAgent
eBAgent from NTT DATA exchanges data directly with a company's financial accounting system (such as CMS or ERP) via a high-speed dedicated line between LANs. This makes it possible to quickly and automatically offer a variety of one-stop services including money transfer and account activity checks (ANSER services), data (Zengin file) transmission and concentrated fund distribution.

* "ANSER" "eBAgent" is a registered trademark of NTT DATA.
* All other product, service and company names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective holders.
* SAP, the SAP logo, SAP NetWeaver and all other SAP product and service names mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and several other countries.