Nordic Business Report-November 30, 2006-Rautakesko to implement Accentures retail sector SAP solution (C)1994-2006 M2 COMMUNICATIONS LTD http://www.m2.com Finnish trading house Kesko Corporation said on Thursday (30 November) that its subsidiary Rautakesko has signed an agreement with Accenture on implementing a retail sector SAP solution. Accenture will supply Rautakesko with a new SAP system providing major business benefits to the K-Group hardware and builders supplies stores through more uniform chain operations. The development agreement includes an international application solution, which helps to standardise business processes and improve their efficiency in all countries where Rautakesko operates. Norway will be the first to adopt the new SAP solution which will offer uniform business practices taking the language and culture of seven countries into consideration. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company. The company employs over 140,000 professionals in 48 countries. Rautakesko Ltd is engaged in the hardware and builders supplies and interior decoration trade in Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Baltic countries and Northwest Russia. Rautakeskos net sales totalled EUR1.61bn in 2005. Kesko, headquartered in Helsinki, Finland, provides retail and wholesale trading services in the Baltic Sea area. Kesko operates in Finland, Sweden, Norway, the Baltic countries and Russia. The company has about 2,200 stores engaged in chain operations in seven countries. Kesko is listed on the Nordic Exchange in Helsinki. One British pound (GBP) is worth approximately 1.49 euros (EUR). ((Comments on this story may be sent to [email protected]))