Globalisation has increased the rewards for manufacturers who innovate and to get to market first. As a result, more manufacturers are turning to the computer to design, test and refine products and processes "in silicon" before they commit big money to the project.
About 50% of Procter & Gamble's products are developed by outside partners.SAP co-CEO Leo Apotheker used this illustration to highlight the importance of collaborative IT infrastructures in modern business at SAP TechEd in Berlin this month.