The main question of this diploma thesis is: Do business applications increase the value of an enterprise? A business application can be used in several business units such as finance, controlling, selling, sales, stockroom management and so on. One advantage of business applications compared to individual programmed solutions is the efficiency of the business model.

On one hand, the improvement of the value of the enterprise can be analysed by quantitative value drivers such as the idea of shareholder value, according to Rappaport. On the other hand, it can be analysed by the qualitative value drivers such as customer relations, employees, the market, competitive ability, reputations, communication and quality management/processes.

The Swiss Hohl & Co. Corp. has been analysed on a possible impact of their business application on the value of the enterprise. This small and medium enterprise (SME) runs SAP R/3. The company was able to improve their earning before interest and taxes (EBIT) between 3 and 4 percent on the basis of the business application. As a result, the value of the enterprise increase has been calculated by approximately CHF 1'000'000.-. This increase of the value of the enterprise has been confirmed based on the following qualitative arguments:

• Increase of productivity and authority of the customer
• Lower customer service and communication costs
• Increase in the reputation by increased publicity
• Larger attractiveness as an employer
• Higher availability of the information
• Larger acceptance and satisfaction of the employees
• Optimization of the assessment of suppliers
• High level management of accounts receivable
• Increase liquidity by low investment and operating costs
• Central data management improves inconsistency and redundancy

This diploma thesis has been carried out at the University of Applied Sciences in Winterthur, Switzerland, in cooperation with SAP (Switzerland) Corp.