For more than 75 years, Grohe has been giving bathrooms and kitchens around the world a new look through its innovative products. A reflection of its preference for innovative applications and services, Grohe is now applying the cloud-based solutions and business network of Ariba, an SAP Company, to transform its procure-to-pay function and fuel a best-in-class process through which it can drive savings, efficiencies and competitive advantage.

“At Grohe, innovation and technology are part of our DNA and we rely on them not only to deliver quality products to our customers, but to drive unprecedented levels of performance and productivity across our operations,” said Dr. Thomas Schachner, Senior Vice President Global Supply Chain, Purchasing, Quality & Industrial Engineering, Grohe AG. “Through Ariba, we can create an efficient process for procuring goods and services that enables us to control our costs, minimize risk and fuel sustainable growth across our business.”

To achieve its goals, Grohe will leverage the Ariba^® Network and the cloud-based applications delivered on it, including Ariba Procure-to-Pay^™ and Ariba Sourcing™ in conjunction with its SAP system.

“As one of the world’s most recognized and coveted brands, Grohe knows a few things about innovation and high-performance,” said Al Loges, managing director, private equity solutions, Ariba. “By implementing Ariba’s solutions, Grohe can optimize its supply chain, cost structure and performance and continue to set new standards for bath and kitchen design.”

About GROHE

The GROHE Group is spearheaded by Grohe Holding GmbH, Düsseldorf, and comprises Grohe AG, Hemer, Joyou AG, Frankfurt, (fully consolidated since 1 July 2011) and other majority shareholdings of GROHE in foreign markets. Grohe AG is Europe’s largest and the world’s leading provider of sanitary fittings under one brand. As a global brand for sanitary products and systems, GROHE sets standards in quality, design, technology and sustainability, providing water to perfection. With its headquarters in Hemer and Corporate Center in Düsseldorf, the GROHE Group employed some 8,700 people on average worldwide in 2011 (including around 3,200 at Joyou), of whom some 2,400 worked at GROHE in Germany. In 2011, the company’s kitchen and bathroom fittings and showers, automatic fittings for the commercial and contract sectors, and installation and flushing systems generated consolidated sales of €1,165 million. GROHE has six production plants, of which three are located outside Germany, namely in Portugal, Thailand and Canada. The company currently generates 84 percent of its sales outside Germany.

About Ariba, an SAP Company

Ariba is the world’s business commerce network. Ariba combines industry-leading cloud-based applications with the world's largest web-based trading community to help companies discover and collaborate with a global network of partners. Using the Ariba^® Network, businesses of all sizes can connect to their trading partners anywhere, at any time from any application or device to buy, sell and manage their cash more efficiently and effectively than ever before. Companies around the world use the Ariba Network to simplify inter-enterprise commerce and enhance the results that they deliver. Join them at: www.ariba.com

About SAP

As market leader in enterprise application software, SAP (NYSE: SAP) helps companies of all sizes and industries run better. From back office to boardroom, warehouse to storefront, desktop to mobile device – SAP empowers people and organizations to work together more efficiently and use business insight more effectively to stay ahead of the competition. SAP applications and services enable more than 197,000 customers to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and grow sustainably. For more information, visit www.sap.com.

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