How SAP HANA Addressed Under Armours Corporate Problems - Case Study Example

The paper " How SAP HANA Addressed Under Armours Corporate Problems" is a brilliant example of a case study on information technology. SAP HANA is an internal memory column-oriented, relational management system which is created and managed by SAP incorporation. The software is designed to perform voluminous transactions and complex query processes within a single platform. The software also has an embedded web server and version control repository which are used to develop applications. Hana applications are developed using Java Script and HTML.

HANA offers business intelligence services and facilitates real time responses. The software is popular for streamlining a company’s business operations and helping them achieve operational efficiency and effectiveness. This paper seeks to assert that HANA has helped Under Armour to streamline its operations and increase their efficiency in supply chain management, production and customer relationship management systems. This is achieved by helping the company address the specific problems that hinder its efficiency in the above systems.

Company Background Information Under Armour incorporation is an American based firm that distributes sports clothing and accessories. The company was formed in 1999 by Kelvin Plank started to provide footwear in 2006. The company’s major breakthrough came in 1999 when warner Brothers contracted it to make outfits for two upcoming films. This put the company in the lime light, making it win the outfitter of the year award on the following year. Under Armour is famous for its quality outfits and service delivery.

It has enlarged its operations in Canada, China and 39 US states, where it is famous for its high quality sportswear. Its product line includes TurfGear, Allseason Gear and Street Gear. These products made the firm in the front line as a top performer in the sports apparel industry (Färber et al., 2012). Recently, the company produced Infrared, a new product line that has capability to disseminate and re-circulate heat to make the wearer more comfortable. The company also produced the Under “Armour Scent Control”, which has the ability to prevent wearer’s scent from detection.

Another recent invention is the “Coldblack” shirt that reflects heat to keep sports people cool. These inventions attract new clients because they address a variety of client needs. They have seen the company enlarge its operations and consult software providers such as SAP to upgrade their systems so that they can improve real-time service delivery. Problems Addressed by SAP HANA Under Armour consulted SAP HANA to find a solution to its need for a way to invent new sportswear for athletes, rather than the sweaty cotton T-shirts they wore.

The company needed to re-invent its products so that it could produce better products that addressed different needs of athletes. For example, some athletes needed air-filled sports footwear which were light and comfortable to enable swift movement, while others needed light shorts and t-shirts to increase movement and reduce excess heat. Because of its huge client base and vast operations, it needed a software that could streamline its operations and make it possible for the company to realize the dream of producing superior sportswear that addressed diverse client needs (Färber et al., 2012). The company needed a way to reinvent its products, to increase sales, increase its productivity and remove complications involved in achieving mass production and distribution.

SAP HANA was chosen because it offers business intelligence services that stream line core operations and remove inefficiencies that hinder creativity and smooth operations. Company Results after Using SAP HANA The results of using HANA were incredible, within a short period, the company managed to increase its sales by billion dollars. The sales increased because the company managed to offer products that addressed specific needs of clients at a lower cost due to increased efficiency. The company managed to maintain its supply chain management without stocking too little or too much stock.

This educed its inventory costs, because the company was able to satisfy its demand and fulfill customer orders without delay. SAP HANA provided Under Armour with superior cut edge computing technology that increased business efficiency and intelligence. Using SAP HANA, the company managed to increase customer satisfaction without overstocking its stores (Färber et al., 2012). This was enabled by HANA’s ability to streamline operations to allow for just in time production that meets customers’ orders as and when they need them.

The company increased athlete’s performance, enabling them to have a better connection with their societies and attain fitness goals. The company was equipped with future capabilities to enable it function 24 hours in order to maximize revenue and serve its clients at all times. Using SAP HANA, the company has the ability to personalize its information and advice to clients, therefore facilitating customer satisfaction and the subsequent retention. Conclusion SAP HANA is an internal memory column-oriented, relational management system which is created and managed by SAP incorporation.

The software is designed to perform voluminous transactions and complex query processes within a single platform. The software is popular for streamlining a company’s business operations and help them achieve operational efficiency and effectiveness. Under Armour incorporation is an American based firm that distributes sports clothing and accessories. Under Armour incorporation is an American based firm that distributes sports clothing and accessories. Under Armour incorporation is an American based firm that distributes sports clothing and accessories.

USING SAP HANA, it managed to increase its profits and sales, streamline its operations, achieve efficiency in strategic planning and increase customer satisfaction and retention. SAP HANA provided the company with superior cut edge computing technology that increased business efficiency and intelligence.