Sema joins forces with SAP on software project

SEMA, the information technology and business services group, yesterday said it had formed a strategic alliance with SAP, the German software company, to develop a range of products targeted at the transport industry.

SEMA, the information technology and business services group, yesterday said it had formed a strategic alliance with SAP, the German software company, to develop a range of products targeted at the transport industry.

Sema, which supplies IT services to more than 60 per cent of the UK bus market, aims to expand into the international passenger transit sector by tailoring existing SAP systems to the needs of transport operators. The software will help companies carry out accounting, fuel procurement and fleet management while allowing them to monitor tyre use and speed up turnaround of broken vehicles.

The Anglo-French company will fund the venture through its research and development arm. It aims to launch the first customised product, which is expected to relate to the bus sector, in September and will market the service, while paying an undisclosed licence fee to SAP.

A spokesman for Sema said: "SAP is providing the software package and we are adding functionality related to the transport industry. We hope to recover our investment very quickly." Sema shares yesterday closed up 6p at 1,008p.