Inform, Support and Connect
One of IA4SP's operational innovations is a new survey format in the shape of the "IA4SP Trend-o-meter". The results of our first member survey on the assessment of the market situation show: The majority of survey participants assess the situation in the IT market in general and in the SAP market in particular as good to very good, both currently and for the future, and are planning in some cases to significantly increase the size of their team by the end of the year.
Crisis as an opportunity
For many member companies, the Corona crisis was only partially recognizable as such in economic terms. Many customer companies obviously used the past months to push digitization and conversion projects, which had a direct positive impact on SAP service partners in particular.
The majority of partners who were forced to take it easy in the customer environment used the time to restructure and expand their own portfolios and implement planned internal projects.
Although not pandemic-related, but strategically planned, the association also acted in a similar way: In the first half of the year, initiatives were launched aimed at further professionalization and, above all, at clearly sharpening the added value for members and cooperation partners of IA4SP. And the first results are visible both internally and externally.
The most obvious change is the redesigned association logo and the associated new external appearance in terms of form and content on the IA4SP website and in social media. Stronger colors and clearer shapes are intended to underline the new objective of IA4SP: as an influential partner umbrella association to support member companies in a committed and sustainable manner and to jointly develop innovative and powerful answers to the challenges in business.
However, new "paint" does not automatically mean changes under the hood. However, the new slogan of IA4SP points to these changes: Where previously it was "Connecting SAP Partners," our expanded claim is now: Inform, Support and Connect. These three terms represent the pillars on which the association's value-added profile is built.
We continue to see what IA4SP has had on its banner as an umbrella organization virtually since its founding as a foundation and we will strengthen it: As the mouthpiece of the partners in the SAP ecosystem, to expand and intensify communication and close cooperation with SAP, with DSAG and other relevant communities. On this basis are the three pillars: Inform, Support and Connect.
Inform
This pillar comprises all initiatives that provide expert knowledge and "early bird" information. These include Innovation Days, at which committed and competent information is provided and actively discussed on current topics relating to SAP and trends in IT with a clear partner focus.
The next Innovation Day will take place in parallel with the publication of the E-3 Magazine. The IA4SP Partner Info Sessions are a dialogue-oriented format in which presenters, moderators and participants are expected to move from presentation mode to critical-constructive discussion mode as time progresses.
Support
We focus on supporting our members with commercial and organizational offerings. We negotiate offers and specific condition advantages with external tool providers and service providers. A wide range of selected "Partner2Partner offers" provides our members with further interesting opportunities to push their business. In addition, we support the interests of our members through dedicated lobbying.
Connect
Networking has always been a central component within IA4SP. With the member events (online and in person), the member forum and other initiatives that are currently being developed, we want to continue to promote this intensively. And we are especially looking forward to offering presence events again soon in addition to the digital formats.
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