The quality and success of SAP as a provider of enterprise resource planning (ERP) software could be in some way the result of its compatibility with the Apple iPad.

Oliver Bussman, SAP's chief information officer, has spoken of the firm's relationship with the signature Apple tablet and how its workforce has come to rely upon it.

Approximately 12,500 SAP staff have access to an iPad while they are at work, reported Silicon India.

Mr Bussman is said to be a "strong advocator" of the use of tablet devices within any company, as he deems them to be ideal for providing quick analysis, compared to PCs and laptops which are more suited to larger tasks. In an interview with TUAW he explained that it is the view of SAP scientists the mobile and desktop models are converging, and that users will come to expect a smaller device to focus on the data.

The chief went on to note that the iPad is helping SAP overcome a number of concerns, such as the inclusion of development methodologies.

Our partner company, CoreSystems, help us with our SAP Business One implementation on Apple iPad technology. It allows our customers' managers, sales personnel and service representatives to have just the right information they require for their daily work, so that decisions can be made while with customers.

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