Managing Automation - January 2009 - (Page 10) INDUSTRY NEWS FULL COVERAGE MA NEWSLETTER TO SUBSCRIBE GO TO OF EVENTS AND ANALYSIS WWW.MANAGINGAUTOMATION.COM managingautomation.com Alliances, Executive Appointments, Mergers & Acquisitions, Products news For the maonline in perspective BY JEFF MOAD Record APPOINTMENTS Software, Hardware Suppliers Offer Cut-Rate Financing to Stimulate Buying s the worldwide recession continues cover a period of up to 36 months. to squeeze manufacturers — and in Throughout the fourth quarter of 2008, SAP some cases slow their technology offered 0% financing to its customers as part spending — enterprise software what the company called its Best-Run Now initiaproviders have begun to roll out low- or notive. The deal, also made available through ficost financing deals meant to entice customers nance partners, offered 0% financing to buyers of to open their purse strings. SAP software and services over a But not all companies can ex12-month period. SAP also inpect to benefit from the low-cost cented reseller partners to offer financing deals, experts warn. low-cost financing options, said That’s because, in many cases, Jeff Stiles, senior vice president for enterprise software customers SAP’s small and medium enterwill need impeccable credit histoprise marketing. ries to qualify. Similar low-cost financing deals Among technology vendors are available from computer offering limited-time, lower-cost hardware manufacturers Dell and financing deals are SAP, HP. In the 2008 fourth quarter, Microsoft, Infor, Dell Inc., and Dell was offering 0% financing to Gayle Hoshino Hewlett-Packard Co. Recently, large business and institutional for example, Microsoft began offering 0% ficustomers for periods ranging from 12 months nancing to first-time buyers of its enterprise to 48 months. And, in December, HP announced applications, including Dynamics AX, GP, SL, 0% financing on its business technology optiand CRM. Microsoft said the deal, offered mization software, which is typically bought and through financing partners, is available through used by IT departments. March 20, 2009, on software and first-year Some vendors are offering low-cost financing enhancement purchases ranging from $20,000 deals but not heavily promoting the fact. Infor, to $1 million. Microsoft’s 0% financing deals for example, is working with its partner, IBM Alison Smith joined Aspen Technology, Inc. as vice president of marketing strategy and research. BlueCielo ECM Solutions promoted Brian Sallade to chief operating officer. The Fabricators & Manufacturers Association elected Mike Pellecchia, regional manager of MC Machinery Systems, Inc., as chairman. With Ron Rittenmeyer’s retirement as president and CEO of EDS, HewlettPackard Co. restructured the business unit within its Technology Solutions Group and named Joe Eazor senior vice president of EDS. PAS tapped Chris Lyden as president. Schneider Electric North American Operating Division elevated Amelia A. Huntington to chief operating officer NAOD and president of Schneider Electric USA. A CONTRACTS ABB won an $11.5 million automation and power order to upgrade AmerenUE Taum Sauk Pump Storage Hydro plant in Missouri. Brockport Home Systems, a Canadian manufacturer of components for the home building industry, selected Continued on page 13 EAM Systems Expected to Gain Through 2013 NUMBERS Due to high plant maintenance costs and the need to improve key performance indicators, enterprise asset management (EAM) systems for process industries have experienced steady growth since 2003 and will continue through 2013, Frost & Sullivan forecasts. The research firm expects market revenue to increase from $1.19 billion in 2006 to $2.24 billion in 2013, for a compound annual growth rate of 9.4%. To fulfill these expectations, EAM systems vendors will have to offer innovative and cost-effective solutions to multinational companies as well as small and medium-sized businesses. “The ability of EAM systems to reduce plant downtime and the manufacturing costs remains the primary driver for the world EAM systems market,” Frost & Sullivan states in a market report. EAM systems help managers address maintenance issues and manage plant assets optimally, thereby reducing manufacturing costs and improving performance and return on investment. Total Enterprise Asset Management Systems Market: Revenue Forecasts (World) 2,500 Revenues ($ Millions) Revenues ($ Millions) Growth Rate 2,000 1,500 1,000 500 0 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Note: All figures are rounded; the base year is 2006. ma 10 2009 January Source: Frost & Sullivan BY 11% 10% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% THE Growth Rate http://www.managingautomation.com http://WWW.MANAGINGAUTOMATION.COM
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