London - November 16 2005, SAP announced that Axon client, Carpetright, is the winner of its innovative initiative, the SAP Quality Awards. The awards recognise best practice in how customers control and manage quality in SAP implementation and business transformation programmes.

Six companies were short-listed for the award which was launched as part of a wider SAP industry initiative. This is to demonstrate successful implementation through effective management of complexities that come with managing multiple parties and interdependent deliverables. A quality program is an integral part of any business implementation project and a process that the customers need to own and manage. SAP Quality Awards set out to showcase best practice for organisations to aspire to, and to fast track the industry into smoother, more controlled implementations that deliver quicker business benefits with confidence.

“Each of the short-listed submissions was very impressive. Common themes for success included taking active ownership of the programme and demonstrating a full understanding of all aspects of delivery. There are many success factors, but the six short-listed candidates demonstrated that these aspects were non-negotiable. Through quality management the element of ambiguity and luck, leading to error and confusion amongst the multiple parties involved in any business investment is minimized. This leads to a clear route for project success,” explained Dr Svan Lembke, Quality Director, SAP UK and Ireland.

Each of the six short-listed customers was in a league of its own demonstrating outstanding project management with a special emphasis on quality. Candidates for the award included: Carpetright, Electricity Supply Board (ESB Ireland), Glaxo SmithKline (GSK), HM Revenue & Customs, National Grid and the Police Information & Technology Organisation (PITO).

"At Carpetright, quality was more than a methodology. It became an integral part of all our project activities but was also managed as a separate theme. Quality management is similar to risk management. It is part of the project but needs to be monitored formally and has some unique reporting requirements and subsequent activities. With risk management we only avoid the errors we can see, the focus on quality adds a further dimension where we drive delivery towards high standards and thus control success." explains Ian Woosey, IT Director, Carpetright.

“SAP's launch of the Quality Awards has set a new benchmark for how much software firms can do, to help customers deliver successful business solutions and deliver their goals. SAP has gone beyond the call of duty and has demonstrated industry leadership with this highly professional and innovative initiative that has the potential to change the entire industry. I believe tomorrow's customers will work differently with software houses and partners and confidently deliver successful business improvement. I was pleased to have been involved in the award process and experience first hand the excitement that comes with achievement as a result of a controlled approach to quality. I would like to see this practice taken forward and developed by other industry leaders to enhance all multi party implementations,” said Joe Goasdoué, CEO, British Quality Foundation.

“There are many good managers, implementation partners and quality solutions. However, the purpose of the SAP Quality Awards is part of a wider industry initiative to recognise the ability of the customer to manage the intricacies of a complex implementation,” continues Lembke. “This requires collaboration, focus on quality and the customer to take control. No one size of quality management suits all customers and implementations. Customers want to learn from other customers and also from experts to then decide what they can do better in their implementations. SAP believes that we can help by hosting this process of sharing and generating new knowledge to enable success in software implementations.”

Brian Marshall, Retail Director at Axon adds, “This is wonderful recognition for Carpetright. Together we were determined to deliver a programme that would represent a benchmark for the retail industry. Not only has Carpetright won this award but the programme has delivered significant tangible benefits and Carpetright now have a solid foundation on which to manage and grow their business.”

Mark Hunter, Chief Executive of Axon commented: “SAP’s Quality programme has been a real success and this award recognises the achievement of those who have embraced this innovative initiative. It gives me great pleasure to see that two of the six finalists, PITO and Carpetright, were supported through their implementations by Axon. Knowing the benefits that have been delivered at Carpetright, it’s good to see them win this award.”

For further details of SAP’s quality programme please see

http://www.sap.com/uk/company/quality/index.epx