Tuesday, February 28, 2006
SAP - Press Release
SAP - Press Release: "Seeking to meet its increasing personnel requirements amid steady growth in an otherwise volatile Silicon Valley job market, SAP Labs, a subsidiary of SAP AG (NYSE: SAP), today announced �Career Momentum,� a career and recruiting event being held on Tuesday, February 21 with a host of SAP Platform Ecosystem partners. Taking place at the offices of SAP Labs in Palo Alto, the event offers an inroad for software engineers and sales and marketing professionals to explore career opportunities with SAP, SAP Labs and partners including Aztec Software, Bristlecone, Blue Titan, Conformia Software, Gamma Enterprise Technologies, Hyperion, Teradata, Vendavo and Virsa Systems.
�We are sending a strong message to the job market, a message of leadership, growth and new opportunities,� said Aliza Peleg, managing director of SAP Labs. �We are inviting folks around the valley to come see who we are and meet our platform ecosystem partners�because we�re all hiring. We have tremendous momentum in the market place, and Silicon Valley is a vital component of that momentum. With thousands of technology jobs having been consolidated away in the wake of recent corporate acquisitions, the top talent in Silicon Valley is turning to SAP and its partners for career development and success.�
Market consolidation is driving what has been called one of the most significant shifts in technology talent in the history of Silicon Valley as many of the region�s brightest professionals have already joined the ranks at SAP (see related press release, titled �SAP Attracts Top Talent from the Ranks of Chief Rivals,� at www.sap.com/company/press/Press.epx?PressID=4740)."
�We are sending a strong message to the job market, a message of leadership, growth and new opportunities,� said Aliza Peleg, managing director of SAP Labs. �We are inviting folks around the valley to come see who we are and meet our platform ecosystem partners�because we�re all hiring. We have tremendous momentum in the market place, and Silicon Valley is a vital component of that momentum. With thousands of technology jobs having been consolidated away in the wake of recent corporate acquisitions, the top talent in Silicon Valley is turning to SAP and its partners for career development and success.�
Market consolidation is driving what has been called one of the most significant shifts in technology talent in the history of Silicon Valley as many of the region�s brightest professionals have already joined the ranks at SAP (see related press release, titled �SAP Attracts Top Talent from the Ranks of Chief Rivals,� at www.sap.com/company/press/Press.epx?PressID=4740)."
SAP vs. Oracle
SAP vs. Oracle: "It used to be that the ERP market had an 800-lb gorilla, SAP, and a number of smaller competitors. Then Oracle went on a shopping spree, gobbling up companies like J.D. Edwards, PeopleSoft, Siebel, Retek and others. Suddenly, there are two gorillas in the market, along with a whole bunch of customers who now find themselves under the Oracle umbrella. Is this a good thing or a bad thing? So far, customers have been courted by sales reps from both sides and often benefited from having aggressive reps compete over who can offer up the sweetest deal for going all-SAP or all-Oracle. "
Reuters Business Channel | Reuters.com
Reuters Business Channel Reuters.com: "Apotheker downplayed the competition from Oracle, saying that despite all its effort to buy market share, the U.S software company was still lagging significantly behind.
'I think Oracle made a fundamental mistake. They spent 19 billion dollars to be the distant number two,' he said. 'But what counts is facts, and the numbers released to the street, the license sales,' he added, referring to the number of customers who buy licences to use its business applications.
He added that a Chinese software maker might well emerge in the next few years as a more serious threat than Oracle to SAP.
'If you ask me, do I believe there will be a Chinese competitor in a number of years, the answer is yes,' he said. 'Maybe not today, not tomorrow but in five years I can see the emergence of a significant Chinese operator.' Apotheker said.
'I believe China has more potent competitive potential than Oracle,' he added."
'I think Oracle made a fundamental mistake. They spent 19 billion dollars to be the distant number two,' he said. 'But what counts is facts, and the numbers released to the street, the license sales,' he added, referring to the number of customers who buy licences to use its business applications.
He added that a Chinese software maker might well emerge in the next few years as a more serious threat than Oracle to SAP.
'If you ask me, do I believe there will be a Chinese competitor in a number of years, the answer is yes,' he said. 'Maybe not today, not tomorrow but in five years I can see the emergence of a significant Chinese operator.' Apotheker said.
'I believe China has more potent competitive potential than Oracle,' he added."
SAP User Group Opens Up to Attract New Members - Computerworld
SAP User Group Opens Up to Attract New Members - Computerworld: "'The user group has always been the best-kept secret in the entire SAP ecosystem,' said Rod Masney, executive vice president of ASUG. Masney is also global information and technology architect at Owens-Illinois Inc. (O-I), a glass packaging company in Toledo, Ohio. On the Right Track David Dobrin, an analyst at B2B Analysts Inc. in Cambridge, Mass., applauded ASUG's effort to be more vocal and try to attract more members. 'ASUG has been a reasonably effective organization,' Dobrin said last week. 'They've been able to balance all the conflicts pushed onto it in an OK way.' However, he did note that users should be more aggressive in their efforts to get vendors to meet their needs. 'Customers of application vendors are the most supine and forgiving,' Dobrin said, noting that, in general, ERP and CRM users put up with vendor behavior that consumers wouldn't tolerate, particularly the delivery of poorly tested, buggy software. "
Monday, February 27, 2006
SAP plans to expand workforce in E Europe, China as costs rise in India - CEO - Forbes.com
SAP plans to expand workforce in E Europe, China as costs rise in India - CEO - Forbes.com: "SAP AG plans to expand its workforce in Eastern Europe and China as the cost of software developers in India rises, chief executive Henning Kagermann told the Financial Times Deutschland.
'India is slowly getting expensive,' Kagermann said. 'We have decided to hire a certain number there, and then start looking at other locations.' "
'India is slowly getting expensive,' Kagermann said. 'We have decided to hire a certain number there, and then start looking at other locations.' "
Techworld.com - SAP designing new search engine
Techworld.com - SAP designing new search engine: "The search enhancement will allow SAP users to blend searches across unstructured and structured data. SAP now offers search engine technology as part of NetWeaver. It will extend those capabilities for structured search, according to Lothar Schubert, director of SAP NetWeaver."
SAP Executive Resource Center
SAP Executive Resource Center: "Sometimes I think more ink is written about how alleged partners are actually competing � or even outright stabbing each other in the back � than any other subject in the software world. So, in the true spirit of schadenfreude, I'm happy to announce that SAP's newest and potentially most aggressive CRM competitor is none other than its erstwhile partner, Microsoft.
Even more dramatic is that Outlook and the rest of the Microsoft Office suite is the new battleground for these on-again, off-again partners/competitors. That's the same platform that forms the basis for a major point of cooperation, Mendocino, which is designed to put an Office face on SAP's mySAP software, at least in a few initial functional areas. "
Even more dramatic is that Outlook and the rest of the Microsoft Office suite is the new battleground for these on-again, off-again partners/competitors. That's the same platform that forms the basis for a major point of cooperation, Mendocino, which is designed to put an Office face on SAP's mySAP software, at least in a few initial functional areas. "
SAPs Risky Business - Computer Business Review
SAPs Risky Business - Computer Business Review: "CBR Opinion
SAP is in a strong position. It has the advantage over Oracle in terms of clarity of vision and deliverables, which is being demonstrated in its ever improving financials and increasing market share. However, the uncertainties it is facing are serious enough to prevent SAP becoming too comfortable, as evidenced by the company's decision to maintain its guidance through fiscal 2005 despite rapidly rising revenue. Only when it announced end-of-year prelims did SAP say it expected 2005 software revenue growth to come in at 18% against a forecast of 12% to 14% and total revenue to rise by 13% year on year. However, a lot is expected of it. Despite what looks like an enviable position, SAP is staring risk in the face. "
SAP is in a strong position. It has the advantage over Oracle in terms of clarity of vision and deliverables, which is being demonstrated in its ever improving financials and increasing market share. However, the uncertainties it is facing are serious enough to prevent SAP becoming too comfortable, as evidenced by the company's decision to maintain its guidance through fiscal 2005 despite rapidly rising revenue. Only when it announced end-of-year prelims did SAP say it expected 2005 software revenue growth to come in at 18% against a forecast of 12% to 14% and total revenue to rise by 13% year on year. However, a lot is expected of it. Despite what looks like an enviable position, SAP is staring risk in the face. "
Australian IT - Adobe grows since SAP deal (, FEBRUARY 28, 2006)
Australian IT - Adobe grows since SAP deal (, FEBRUARY 28, 2006): "ADOBE Systems, which makes Illustrator and Photoshop graphic arts software, says an agreement with Germany's SAP is helping to increase its sales.
'We've not captured everything yet,' Adobe worldwide field operations president Stephen Elop says.
'It's still at an early stage.'
Adobe is helping SAP develop user-friendly interfaces in business applications, from accounting to human resources. "
'We've not captured everything yet,' Adobe worldwide field operations president Stephen Elop says.
'It's still at an early stage.'
Adobe is helping SAP develop user-friendly interfaces in business applications, from accounting to human resources. "
CIBER Wins Multi-Million Dollar SAP Implementation Contract With NACCO Materials Handling Group: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
CIBER Wins Multi-Million Dollar SAP Implementation Contract With NACCO Materials Handling Group: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "CIBER's Novasoft division will implement mySAP(TM) Supplier Resource Management (mySAP(TM) SRM) software suite, enabling NMHG and its suppliers to collaborate via the Internet to disseminate and respond to purchase orders, requests for quotation, invoices, and shipping notifications. The initiative will also automate bidding, catalogue, and workflow processes and ensure efficient communication between manufacturing, materials management, and procurement. In addition, the project will enable NMHG's Strategic Purchasing Organization to leverage opportunities in indirect spend commodities across all locations in the U.S. and Europe."
Friday, February 24, 2006
Should Siebel customers expect a hike in CRM support costs?
Should Siebel customers expect a hike in CRM support costs?: "Oracle Corp. has said many of the right things in trying to reassure panicked Siebel users since it took over the company this month -- namely, that Siebel will be the centerpiece of Oracle CRM moving forward and that customers will continue to receive lifetime support.
But one question remains unanswered: How will Oracle structure its Siebel support and maintenance program moving forward? In a recent conference call with financial analysts outlining Oracle's plans to cut 2,000 employees and Siebel's Nexus project, Safra Catz, co-President and chief financial officer of the Redwood City, Calif.-based company, indicated change was afoot where maintenance is concerned.
'I think Siebel was raising its maintenance [costs] over time and I'll think you'll see some evening out of that,' Catz said, indicating Siebel kept maintenance and support costs lower than Oracle's structure in order to win new licensing deals. 'Siebel's history was to underprice maintenance.'
For more information
Get all the coverage of Oracle's Siebel acquisition
See what advice PeopleSoft users have for Siebel customers"
But one question remains unanswered: How will Oracle structure its Siebel support and maintenance program moving forward? In a recent conference call with financial analysts outlining Oracle's plans to cut 2,000 employees and Siebel's Nexus project, Safra Catz, co-President and chief financial officer of the Redwood City, Calif.-based company, indicated change was afoot where maintenance is concerned.
'I think Siebel was raising its maintenance [costs] over time and I'll think you'll see some evening out of that,' Catz said, indicating Siebel kept maintenance and support costs lower than Oracle's structure in order to win new licensing deals. 'Siebel's history was to underprice maintenance.'
For more information
Get all the coverage of Oracle's Siebel acquisition
See what advice PeopleSoft users have for Siebel customers"
With MDM, it's all about the journey
With MDM, it's all about the journey: "Large organizations, with all of their complexity and varying business units, may never achieve complete master data management (MDM), but speakers and attendees at this week's Data Warehousing Institute (TDWI) conference say there are plenty of reasons to make the effort anyway.
Speaking to conference attendees, Cliff Longman, chief technology officer of Kalido, a Burlington, Mass.-based MDM software vendor, said that the benefits of MDM, a new discipline that combines software with data governance techniques, are plentiful and have the potential to impact all aspects of an organization from finance and operations to product development and production. "
Speaking to conference attendees, Cliff Longman, chief technology officer of Kalido, a Burlington, Mass.-based MDM software vendor, said that the benefits of MDM, a new discipline that combines software with data governance techniques, are plentiful and have the potential to impact all aspects of an organization from finance and operations to product development and production. "
Thursday, February 23, 2006
Computerworld | User group strengthens ties with SAP
Computerworld User group strengthens ties with SAP: "The Americas' SAP Users' Group is performing a neat balancing act, continuing to boost its ties with SAP while at the same time maintaining its status as an independent, nonprofit, volunteer-run entity, according to ASUG executives. Topping ASUG's list of ongoing concerns is ensuring return on investment (ROI) for SAP software users along with encouraging the vendor to provide a full range of support services.
'We have a very strong partnership with SAP,' Mike Perroni, president of ASUG, said in a recent phone interview. 'From what we've seen in the marketplace, other user groups don't have the same level of partnership that we have.' ASUG is self-funded based on membership dues.
ASUG hasn't been as vocal in the past as other user groups, being less willing to comment publicly on SAP issues. The group has now decided to speak up in the hope of attracting more SAP users to join its ranks, according to Perroni. 'We're definitely in growth mode,' he said.
Established in 1990, ASUG has more than 45,000 individual members and over 1,300 customer and partner companies, according to Perroni, who is also vice president of IT at energy services provider Halliburton. "
'We have a very strong partnership with SAP,' Mike Perroni, president of ASUG, said in a recent phone interview. 'From what we've seen in the marketplace, other user groups don't have the same level of partnership that we have.' ASUG is self-funded based on membership dues.
ASUG hasn't been as vocal in the past as other user groups, being less willing to comment publicly on SAP issues. The group has now decided to speak up in the hope of attracting more SAP users to join its ranks, according to Perroni. 'We're definitely in growth mode,' he said.
Established in 1990, ASUG has more than 45,000 individual members and over 1,300 customer and partner companies, according to Perroni, who is also vice president of IT at energy services provider Halliburton. "
CIOL : Deals and contracts : AXA BS partners with Caritor to implement mySAP ERP
CIOL : Deals and contracts : AXA BS partners with Caritor to implement mySAP ERP: "BANGALORE: AXA Business Services, BPO subsidiary in India of AXA, has selected Caritor to implement mySAP ERP solution.
The implementation will enable AXA BS to integrate their entire HR and Financial processes through HR, Payroll, Finance, Control and Purchase modules and the SAP Portal. AXA Business Services is the BPO arm of AXA France, with 2200 strong workforce in India, Caritor said in a statement. "
The implementation will enable AXA BS to integrate their entire HR and Financial processes through HR, Payroll, Finance, Control and Purchase modules and the SAP Portal. AXA Business Services is the BPO arm of AXA France, with 2200 strong workforce in India, Caritor said in a statement. "
BBC NEWS | Business | In the software crusher
BBC NEWS Business In the software crusher: "Oracle, the US software and database giant, has a tried and tested policy for dealing with uppity rivals: it buys them.
Size is not an issue. Huge firms like Peoplesoft and Siebel have all succumbed to Oracle's advances.
So will Salesforce.com be the next takeover target? 'In this case, I think it would be more fun to crush them,' says Charles Phillips, the president of Oracle.
SALESFORCE.COM
Headquarter: San Francisco
Founded: 1999
Staff: 680
Customers: 20,500
On-demand users: 399,000
Annual sales: $309m
Net profit: $28.5m
Earnings data for financial year to January 2006
Check Salesforce.com's share price
Getting up Oracle's nose is Salesforce.com's founder and boss Marc Benioff, himself a former top executive at Oracle. "
Size is not an issue. Huge firms like Peoplesoft and Siebel have all succumbed to Oracle's advances.
So will Salesforce.com be the next takeover target? 'In this case, I think it would be more fun to crush them,' says Charles Phillips, the president of Oracle.
SALESFORCE.COM
Headquarter: San Francisco
Founded: 1999
Staff: 680
Customers: 20,500
On-demand users: 399,000
Annual sales: $309m
Net profit: $28.5m
Earnings data for financial year to January 2006
Check Salesforce.com's share price
Getting up Oracle's nose is Salesforce.com's founder and boss Marc Benioff, himself a former top executive at Oracle. "
Tuesday, February 21, 2006
� Why pay SAP for software you don't use? | Software as services | ZDNet.com
� Why pay SAP for software you don't use? Software as services ZDNet.com: "I took a lot of heat last week from SAP and its friends over my posting about The scandal of SAP's idle CRM seats. Seems like I struck a raw nerve when I wrote:
'The dirty secret why SAP had to launch an on-demand CRM offering is that its on-premises product is too hard to implement as many as two thirds of the CRM licences SAP has sold are lying idle, according to one estimate.'
First of all I got an email from SAP's PR company stating that my If I were one of those customers, I'd be really fuming by now'accusations and conclusions' were based on 'erroneous information' in the source article at SearchSAP.com that I had linked to. Then a few days later, analyst Josh Greenbaum posted a talkback comment about 'all the errors in your blog' although, as I quickly pointed out, without actually citing any of the errors that he believes it contained (most of his comment fulminates about an alleged misquote in the searchSAP article that I deliberately chose to omit). "
'The dirty secret why SAP had to launch an on-demand CRM offering is that its on-premises product is too hard to implement as many as two thirds of the CRM licences SAP has sold are lying idle, according to one estimate.'
First of all I got an email from SAP's PR company stating that my If I were one of those customers, I'd be really fuming by now'accusations and conclusions' were based on 'erroneous information' in the source article at SearchSAP.com that I had linked to. Then a few days later, analyst Josh Greenbaum posted a talkback comment about 'all the errors in your blog' although, as I quickly pointed out, without actually citing any of the errors that he believes it contained (most of his comment fulminates about an alleged misquote in the searchSAP article that I deliberately chose to omit). "
� SAP's gridless on-demand model | Software as services | ZDNet.com
� SAP's gridless on-demand model Software as services ZDNet.com: "SAP has done its on-demand rivals two great favors today. Not only has it endorsed the on-demand model, it has simultaneously flunked it.
I had been hoping SAP would confound its critics and come up with something daring and innovative in today's launch of its on-demand CRM offering. But the best it could do was 'isolated tenancy'. Not good enough, I'm afraid.
It would be OK if SAP's kindergarten-classIt's all a load of old SoSaaS analysis of where other on-demand models stand today bore any relationship to reality. But like any vendor that doesn't have a proper answer to its competition, the true purpose of SAP's slideware is to make its proposition "
I had been hoping SAP would confound its critics and come up with something daring and innovative in today's launch of its on-demand CRM offering. But the best it could do was 'isolated tenancy'. Not good enough, I'm afraid.
It would be OK if SAP's kindergarten-classIt's all a load of old SoSaaS analysis of where other on-demand models stand today bore any relationship to reality. But like any vendor that doesn't have a proper answer to its competition, the true purpose of SAP's slideware is to make its proposition "
Oracle to snap up messaging software maker | CNET News.com
Oracle to snap up messaging software maker CNET News.com: "The messaging technology from Stockholm, Sweden-based HotSip could potentially make it easier for Oracle business software customers to take advantage of telephone or computer instant-messaging features from within Oracle's existing applications. Oracle announced the acquisition Wednesday.
In the past two years, Oracle has spent some $19 billion buying up rivals to grab a bigger share of the market for software aimed at big businesses that helps automate everything from human resources to accounting to inventory management. "
In the past two years, Oracle has spent some $19 billion buying up rivals to grab a bigger share of the market for software aimed at big businesses that helps automate everything from human resources to accounting to inventory management. "
Expensive data warehouses not always necessary for BI
Expensive data warehouses not always necessary for BI: "At the very least, said Joshua Greenbaum, principal analyst with Enterprise Applications Consulting in Daly City, Calif., companies that must build a data warehouse -- a historical data repository for the purpose of analysis and reporting -- don't need to pour as much money into it as they may think.
'One of the fallacies has been that BI has to start with a very expensive and complex data warehouse,' Greenbaum said in a phone interview. 'There has been a lot of money spent on data warehouses and not necessarily much value gotten out of them.'
Before jumping into a data warehousing project, Greenbaum said companies should first see how far they can get with simple analyses of transactional data -- analyses that do not require large quantities of historical data. "
'One of the fallacies has been that BI has to start with a very expensive and complex data warehouse,' Greenbaum said in a phone interview. 'There has been a lot of money spent on data warehouses and not necessarily much value gotten out of them.'
Before jumping into a data warehousing project, Greenbaum said companies should first see how far they can get with simple analyses of transactional data -- analyses that do not require large quantities of historical data. "
BI and CPM a blockbuster for Universal Studios Hollywood
BI and CPM a blockbuster for Universal Studios Hollywood: "A rainy day is a disappointment for visitors to the Universal Studios Hollywood theme park. It's an even bigger disappoint to the park's management staff.
Taking into account the cost of supplies, labor and lost ticket revenues, a rainy day at the park can put a big dent in the week's profits. A rainy week can affect an entire quarter. That's just one reason why New York-based NBC Universal has optimized its California theme park's operations by implementing business intelligence (BI) and corporate performance management (CPM) tools over the last five years. With the tools, Universal Studios Hollywood can quickly change financial projections and subsequent operational actions. For example, if rain is in the forecast, the park might not staff as many workers and on seasonable days they might extend the park's hours. The project is indicative of a growing trend toward integrated BI and CPM (also called business performance management) systems."
Taking into account the cost of supplies, labor and lost ticket revenues, a rainy day at the park can put a big dent in the week's profits. A rainy week can affect an entire quarter. That's just one reason why New York-based NBC Universal has optimized its California theme park's operations by implementing business intelligence (BI) and corporate performance management (CPM) tools over the last five years. With the tools, Universal Studios Hollywood can quickly change financial projections and subsequent operational actions. For example, if rain is in the forecast, the park might not staff as many workers and on seasonable days they might extend the park's hours. The project is indicative of a growing trend toward integrated BI and CPM (also called business performance management) systems."
SAP INFO
SAP INFO: "In 2004, the company decided to implement mySAP ERP, to create a future-proof basis for its online sales. The solution, which runs on the SAP NetWeaver technology platform, offers an extensive, fully integrated range of functions based on web services, and among other things enables Storopack to connect up its business partners. The priority was the implementation of mySAP Customer Relationship Management, with the focus on internet sales and campaign management.
In January 2005, in close cooperation with the Packaging Division in Germany, Storopack launched a project called �Direkt@Online� with the aim of intensifying the direct and internet business. As a future goal, it was important for the company to fully map the Packaging Guide within SAP and to provide comprehensive marketing and service functionalities. In view of this, the existing store needed to be replaced. One important factor here was the need to run and develop the sales platform in future using the company�s internal SAP expertise. "
In January 2005, in close cooperation with the Packaging Division in Germany, Storopack launched a project called �Direkt@Online� with the aim of intensifying the direct and internet business. As a future goal, it was important for the company to fully map the Packaging Guide within SAP and to provide comprehensive marketing and service functionalities. In view of this, the existing store needed to be replaced. One important factor here was the need to run and develop the sales platform in future using the company�s internal SAP expertise. "
Friday, February 17, 2006
McDermott, Stutz Dish On CRM On Demand
McDermott, Stutz Dish On CRM On Demand: "Q&A: SAP execs Bill McDermott and Bob Stutz discuss the company's CRM on demand game plan and how IBM may fit in despite its friendly relationship with Oracle.
Earlier this month SAP launched its long-awaited CRM on demand offering to both fanfare and speculation that the offering is too little, too late. Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP America Inc., the America's arm of SAP AG, and Bob Stutz, senior vice president of the Product and Technology Group at SAP, sat down with Senior Writer Renee Boucher Ferguson to discuss CRM on demand.
ADVERTISEMENT It should be noted that Stutz, who will lead strategic application development at SAP, was formerly head of application development at CRM software developer Siebel Systems, a company that was acquired by SAP rival Oracle Corp. on Jan. 31. "
Earlier this month SAP launched its long-awaited CRM on demand offering to both fanfare and speculation that the offering is too little, too late. Bill McDermott, CEO of SAP America Inc., the America's arm of SAP AG, and Bob Stutz, senior vice president of the Product and Technology Group at SAP, sat down with Senior Writer Renee Boucher Ferguson to discuss CRM on demand.
ADVERTISEMENT It should be noted that Stutz, who will lead strategic application development at SAP, was formerly head of application development at CRM software developer Siebel Systems, a company that was acquired by SAP rival Oracle Corp. on Jan. 31. "
CXOtoday.com > News > Software > HP SOA To Incorporate Oracle Fusion Middleware
CXOtoday.com > News > Software > HP SOA To Incorporate Oracle Fusion Middleware: "HP and Oracle have announced the next phase of their joint activities to help enterprises align IT resources and investments with business strategies.
HP is planning to incorporate Oracle Fusion Middleware into its Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) portfolio to provide with software that will help automate business processes.
HP is investing in SOA as one of five strategic areas for creating a dynamic computing environment. Since SOA portfolio launch in June 2005, HP has worked with customers to transform their IT environments using SOA-based products and services. "
HP is planning to incorporate Oracle Fusion Middleware into its Service-oriented Architecture (SOA) portfolio to provide with software that will help automate business processes.
HP is investing in SOA as one of five strategic areas for creating a dynamic computing environment. Since SOA portfolio launch in June 2005, HP has worked with customers to transform their IT environments using SOA-based products and services. "
JD Edwards customers positive but wary: ZDNet Australia: News: Software
JD Edwards customers positive but wary: ZDNet Australia: News: Software: "Enterprise application giant SAP wasted no time trying to poach customers of Oracle while its messy US$10 billion acquisition of Peoplesoft dragged on, but a positive response from customers affected by the deal suggest SAP may find the hunting tougher than it thought.
Flush with new customers after a US$18 billion shopping spree that also included retail giant Retek, customer relationship management giant Siebel Systems and a host of open-source companies, Oracle is now focused on helping its newfound customers plan for a future around its upcoming Oracle Fusion Architecture.
Presenting its case to around 400 attendees at the JD Edwards-focused Quest '06 user conference, Oracle promised customers that Fusion would provide a smooth transition, when they are ready, from their legacy applications."
Flush with new customers after a US$18 billion shopping spree that also included retail giant Retek, customer relationship management giant Siebel Systems and a host of open-source companies, Oracle is now focused on helping its newfound customers plan for a future around its upcoming Oracle Fusion Architecture.
Presenting its case to around 400 attendees at the JD Edwards-focused Quest '06 user conference, Oracle promised customers that Fusion would provide a smooth transition, when they are ready, from their legacy applications."
Wednesday, February 15, 2006
Byte and Switch - SAP AG Appoints Field Boss - Storage Networking News Wire
Byte and Switch - SAP AG Appoints Field Boss - Storage Networking News Wire: "SAP AG (NYSE: SAP - message board) today announced the appointment of Bernd-Michael Rumpf as head of Global Field Services. The field services organization comprises all consulting and education services SAP offers around the world. With the appointment, Bernd-Michael becomes a member of the company's Global Field Operations management team, reporting in this capacity to Leo Apotheker, member of the SAP Executive Board and president of Global Field Operations, SAP AG. "
Marc Benioff: SAP Is 'Innovation-Free'
Marc Benioff: SAP Is 'Innovation-Free': "� 'People who haven't followed our company closely often ask, 'Aren't you worried? A company with the resources of SAP can bring so much to this battle.' But that's exactly the problem. Observers tend to overestimate the creativity and innovation that entrenched technology companies can bring to a particular problem and underestimate the effect of business-model conflicts that lurk behind the scenes.'
� 'Let's state it simply: SAP is an innovation-free company. When reporters describe the great innovators of this industry, it's easy to identify the significant contributions of many of the leaders. For Oracle, it's the database; for Apple, the Mac, iPod, and iTunes; for Microsoft, the PC operating system; for Intel, the microprocessor.'"
� 'Let's state it simply: SAP is an innovation-free company. When reporters describe the great innovators of this industry, it's easy to identify the significant contributions of many of the leaders. For Oracle, it's the database; for Apple, the Mac, iPod, and iTunes; for Microsoft, the PC operating system; for Intel, the microprocessor.'"
SAP Referral Sets a Larger Table
SAP Referral Sets a Larger Table: "SAP will launch a formal referral program in March to expand its market reach beyond its traditional partner set, company officials said.
ADVERTISEMENT The referral program, which will provide referral partners 10 percent of the initial license sale of any product the vendor sells a new customer within six months of an introduction, is a means to engage non-traditional SAP partners�those unwilling or unable to make a commitment to SAP's PartnerEdge program--and others, including business consultants and Certified Public Accountants, officials said. "
ADVERTISEMENT The referral program, which will provide referral partners 10 percent of the initial license sale of any product the vendor sells a new customer within six months of an introduction, is a means to engage non-traditional SAP partners�those unwilling or unable to make a commitment to SAP's PartnerEdge program--and others, including business consultants and Certified Public Accountants, officials said. "
Update: Business Objects sweeps up Firstlogic
Update: Business Objects sweeps up Firstlogic: "Business Objects SA has announced a new addition to its rapidly expanding business intelligence (BI) suite.
Business Objects said today it will acquire Firstlogic and its data quality products. Business Objects, a publicly-traded company with dual headquarters in San Jose, Calif. and Paris, will pay approximately $69 million in an all-cash transaction for Firstlogic, a privately-held company headquartered in La Crosse, Wis. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2006. "
Business Objects said today it will acquire Firstlogic and its data quality products. Business Objects, a publicly-traded company with dual headquarters in San Jose, Calif. and Paris, will pay approximately $69 million in an all-cash transaction for Firstlogic, a privately-held company headquartered in La Crosse, Wis. The transaction is subject to regulatory approvals and other customary closing conditions, and is expected to be completed in the second quarter of 2006. "
Webinars - ebizQ
Webinars - ebizQ: "Best Practices for Adopting a Service-Oriented Architecture
Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is rapidly becoming the cornerstone for enterprise infrastructure, bringing cost reductions and increasing IT and business responsiveness. Join us in this webinar series to learn the best practices for adopting a service-oriented architecture. You'll learn how to service enable existing systems, orchestrate web services for building composite applications and monitor your SOA infrastructure for real-time analysis. "
Service-oriented architecture (SOA) is rapidly becoming the cornerstone for enterprise infrastructure, bringing cost reductions and increasing IT and business responsiveness. Join us in this webinar series to learn the best practices for adopting a service-oriented architecture. You'll learn how to service enable existing systems, orchestrate web services for building composite applications and monitor your SOA infrastructure for real-time analysis. "
Line56.com: HP Supports Oracle Fusion
Line56.com: HP Supports Oracle Fusion: "HP and Oracle have long been partners. Recently we spoke to HP about one aspect of this partnership in a world of service-oriented architectures (SOAs).
'We're including Oracle Fusion Middleware in our existing SOA portfolio services,' says Tim Treat, Manager, World-wide Packaged Applications, Enterprise Applications Services, HP Services Consulting & Integration. 'We can manage applications built with Oracle Fusion Middleware.'
Treat's talking about SOA management, which HP provides via its OpenView product line, but there's a services component as well."
'We're including Oracle Fusion Middleware in our existing SOA portfolio services,' says Tim Treat, Manager, World-wide Packaged Applications, Enterprise Applications Services, HP Services Consulting & Integration. 'We can manage applications built with Oracle Fusion Middleware.'
Treat's talking about SOA management, which HP provides via its OpenView product line, but there's a services component as well."
Oracle Targeting Low-End Market - Forbes.com
Oracle Targeting Low-End Market - Forbes.com: "Goldman Sachs analyst Rick G. Sherlund maintained an 'in-line' rating on Oracle, expecting the company's upcoming Fusion product line and acquisitions in the open-source market to help target its low-end market.
'Oracle's upcoming Fusion architecture is as much about integrating Oracle�s middleware software stack to support an emerging new services oriented architecture as it is about delivering an integrated new applications suite,' wrote the analyst in a recent research note. "
'Oracle's upcoming Fusion architecture is as much about integrating Oracle�s middleware software stack to support an emerging new services oriented architecture as it is about delivering an integrated new applications suite,' wrote the analyst in a recent research note. "
Corporate Accounting: Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 future horizons � notes for consultant
Corporate Accounting: Microsoft Dynamics GP 9.0 future horizons � notes for consultant: "� Oracle/Java/EJB/J2EE. Here we have to appeal to our third party programming expertise and knowledge/experience with Oracle Financials/Oracle E-Business Suite/Oracle Applications development and Programming
� SAP MRPs. SAP is another traditional MRP market leader. For years ago SAP purchased Israel made MRP software application, now known as SAP Business One. SAP Business One is seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Office (what is the next step from SAP R/3 mySAP project Mendocino with Microsoft for the next few years), plus SBO is integrated on the Sales and Purchasing transaction consolidation level wit mySAP/SAP/R3. In the case of SAP � you will need customization/integration partner to help you with the above consolidation "
� SAP MRPs. SAP is another traditional MRP market leader. For years ago SAP purchased Israel made MRP software application, now known as SAP Business One. SAP Business One is seamlessly integrated with Microsoft Office (what is the next step from SAP R/3 mySAP project Mendocino with Microsoft for the next few years), plus SBO is integrated on the Sales and Purchasing transaction consolidation level wit mySAP/SAP/R3. In the case of SAP � you will need customization/integration partner to help you with the above consolidation "
SAP Fails To Overturn Oracle's Air Force... - Feb. 10, 2006
SAP Fails To Overturn Oracle's Air Force... - Feb. 10, 2006: "SAP AG (SAP) failed in its efforts to overturn a $88.5 million software contract granted by the Air Force to rival Oracle Corp. (ORCL).
'This morning, GAO issued the protected decision responding to SAP's protests; the protests were denied,' Glenn Wolcott, deputy assistant general counsel at the Government Accountability Office, said in an email to Dow Jones Newswires. He declined to go into further detail.
The contract, which was awarded in October, was suspended pending the outcome of an inquiry into SAP's complaints.
The multiyear contract - an unusually large deal in the current software market - is a plum deal for Oracle and represents an important head-to-head win against SAP. The system provides software that will help the Air Force streamline its weapons logistics operations.
'It's very good news for Oracle and for the taxpayer,' Oracle spokesman Bob Wynne said"
'This morning, GAO issued the protected decision responding to SAP's protests; the protests were denied,' Glenn Wolcott, deputy assistant general counsel at the Government Accountability Office, said in an email to Dow Jones Newswires. He declined to go into further detail.
The contract, which was awarded in October, was suspended pending the outcome of an inquiry into SAP's complaints.
The multiyear contract - an unusually large deal in the current software market - is a plum deal for Oracle and represents an important head-to-head win against SAP. The system provides software that will help the Air Force streamline its weapons logistics operations.
'It's very good news for Oracle and for the taxpayer,' Oracle spokesman Bob Wynne said"
Tuesday, February 14, 2006
RED HERRING | Open-Source Firm Gets $18.5M
RED HERRING Open-Source Firm Gets $18.5M: "Database startup MySQL closed its third round of venture investment Monday, raising $18.5 million from venture capitalists and corporate investors including SAP Ventures, a division of German software giant SAP.
The Swedish company, which sells services and support for its open-source database software, took on investment from Institutional Venture Partners, IntelCapital, Red Hat, SAP Ventures, and Presidio STX, the U.S. investment arm of Tokyo-based Sumitomo.
MySQL CEO M�rten Mickos said the corporate investors were selected because they were the key infrastructure providers for large companies."
The Swedish company, which sells services and support for its open-source database software, took on investment from Institutional Venture Partners, IntelCapital, Red Hat, SAP Ventures, and Presidio STX, the U.S. investment arm of Tokyo-based Sumitomo.
MySQL CEO M�rten Mickos said the corporate investors were selected because they were the key infrastructure providers for large companies."
Firm sees rising interest in managing employee data
Firm sees rising interest in managing employee data: "
When executives at Sears, Roebuck and Co. wanted a better handle on company spending, they first looked at gaining control over the silos of employee data located in multiple systems.
Even well-established companies find the process of managing employee data daunting and expensive.
Martin Sacks,
CEO, HumanConcepts LLC
Growth and changes had contributed to making the company hierarchy difficult to manage over the years. Some executives saw the reporting relationship between employees as a better way to get a handle on the bottom line. "
When executives at Sears, Roebuck and Co. wanted a better handle on company spending, they first looked at gaining control over the silos of employee data located in multiple systems.
Even well-established companies find the process of managing employee data daunting and expensive.
Martin Sacks,
CEO, HumanConcepts LLC
Growth and changes had contributed to making the company hierarchy difficult to manage over the years. Some executives saw the reporting relationship between employees as a better way to get a handle on the bottom line. "
Monday, February 13, 2006
� Chief process disruption innovation officer | Service-Oriented Architecture | ZDNet.com
� Chief process disruption innovation officer Service-Oriented Architecture ZDNet.com: "It may be the biggest change since 'personnel' managers became 'human resource' managers. In SOA nirvana, software developers will become 'composers,' DBAs will become 'repository keepers,' CIOs will become 'chief process innovation officers,' and the rest of us will just be plain old 'disruptive innovators.'
These are the titles SAP board member Shai Agassi says will emerge as a result of the drive to SOA, cited in a recent article by Josh Greenbaum in Optimize. Greenbaum predicts that we're going to see a lot of job titles evolve, but CIO will hang in there � barely: "
These are the titles SAP board member Shai Agassi says will emerge as a result of the drive to SOA, cited in a recent article by Josh Greenbaum in Optimize. Greenbaum predicts that we're going to see a lot of job titles evolve, but CIO will hang in there � barely: "
CBR - ORACLE FUSION SERIES - Computer Business Review
CBR - ORACLE FUSION SERIES - Computer Business Review: "Famous of course for its eponymous database, the reason for Oracle's news-worthiness of late has been its string of high profile acquisitions - PeopleSoft (and JD Edwards), Retek, Siebel and many others.
That acquisitive streak has been so strong, as Oracle fleshes out its enterprise applications portfolio to better attack SAP's hold on the sector, that one could be forgiven for missing the fact that Oracle has also for the past five years being building a middleware platform that is pitted against the likes of IBM, BEA and Microsoft"
That acquisitive streak has been so strong, as Oracle fleshes out its enterprise applications portfolio to better attack SAP's hold on the sector, that one could be forgiven for missing the fact that Oracle has also for the past five years being building a middleware platform that is pitted against the likes of IBM, BEA and Microsoft"
Oracle and HP ink pact to boost developer sales - IT Week
Oracle and HP ink pact to boost developer sales - IT Week: "Oracle and Hewlett Packard (HP) will tomorrow announce a new partnership to jointly target firms building service oriented architectures (SOA).
Under the terms of the agreement, HP will resell Oracle's Fusion Middleware as part of its SOA portfolio and train 6,500 of its services professionals to support the technology."
Under the terms of the agreement, HP will resell Oracle's Fusion Middleware as part of its SOA portfolio and train 6,500 of its services professionals to support the technology."
Four Hundred Stuff--Mixed Reaction to Oracle Fusion from J.D. Edwards Users
Four Hundred Stuff--Mixed Reaction to Oracle Fusion from J.D. Edwards Users: "Users of the J.D. Edwards ERP systems are offering differing views on how Oracle's Fusion application and integration strategy will effect their long-term plans. The software giant says its half-way to completing Fusion, a new suite of Java-based ERP applications that are due to be rolled out in 2007 and 2008. Some J.D. Edwards users are seriously considering making the upgrade, while others have strong misgivings over wildcards in the equation, such as Oracle's commitment to OS/400, DB2/400, and the iSeries.
Oracle has definitely bitten off a big chunk of project management with Fusion, a multi-year plan to build a new ERP system that blends the best of its original E-Business Suite and the various enterprise software products it has acquired, including J.D. Edwards World and EnterpriseOne, PeopleSoft Enterprise, Siebel for CRM, and Retek for the retailing business. "
Oracle has definitely bitten off a big chunk of project management with Fusion, a multi-year plan to build a new ERP system that blends the best of its original E-Business Suite and the various enterprise software products it has acquired, including J.D. Edwards World and EnterpriseOne, PeopleSoft Enterprise, Siebel for CRM, and Retek for the retailing business. "
Oracle(R) Marks A Year Of Success, Details Milestones For Or...
Oracle(R) Marks A Year Of Success, Details Milestones For Or...: "Oracle provided a progress report and outlined the next level of detail for Oracle(R) Fusion Architecture and Oracle Fusion Applications. Executives from the world's largest enterprise software company reaffirmed their commitment to the company's diverse customer base and further defined the roadmap for new functionality that will help customers prepare for the upgrade to Oracle Fusion Applications.
'We are already halfway through the development process of Oracle Fusion Applications, and we remain on track for the 2008 target delivery of the Oracle Fusion Applications,' said Oracle President Charles Phillips. 'Our customers and partners participating on the Fusion Customer Council have been enthusiastic about the significant progress we've made in such a short period of time. We have defined Oracle Fusion Architecture, certified all Oracle applications on our world-class Oracle Fusion Middleware, which includes a set of mature tools that are being used to develop the Oracle Fusion applications. Additionally, we have defined the data model and mapped the functionality that is planned for future releases of Oracle Fusion Applications.' "
'We are already halfway through the development process of Oracle Fusion Applications, and we remain on track for the 2008 target delivery of the Oracle Fusion Applications,' said Oracle President Charles Phillips. 'Our customers and partners participating on the Fusion Customer Council have been enthusiastic about the significant progress we've made in such a short period of time. We have defined Oracle Fusion Architecture, certified all Oracle applications on our world-class Oracle Fusion Middleware, which includes a set of mature tools that are being used to develop the Oracle Fusion applications. Additionally, we have defined the data model and mapped the functionality that is planned for future releases of Oracle Fusion Applications.' "
Oracle outlines Siebel plans - Computer Business Review
Oracle outlines Siebel plans - Computer Business Review: "As it had previously said, the core Fusion CRM features will be based on Siebel functionality, augmented by the most important functions from the Oracle, PeopleSoft, and JD Edwards CRM application set, although these are yet to be defined. While it makes sense from Oracle's point of view and in a development sense, it does spell the end of the non-Siebel CRM applications, or more specifically the principles behind their mode of operation."
Oracle axes 2,000 employees, Nexus
Oracle axes 2,000 employees, Nexus: "One week after Siebel Systems Inc.'s shareholders accepted its $5.85 billion takeover offer, Oracle Corp. issued financial guidance and layoff plans yesterday.
Oracle will lay off 2,000 employees, but will keep 90% of Siebel's product development, product support and sales team, officials said on a Webcast conference call. The best performing CRM salespeople at Oracle will join Siebel's sales team to become a separate CRM sales force within Oracle. A majority of the layoffs will come from the Oracle side of the combined companies. "
Oracle will lay off 2,000 employees, but will keep 90% of Siebel's product development, product support and sales team, officials said on a Webcast conference call. The best performing CRM salespeople at Oracle will join Siebel's sales team to become a separate CRM sales force within Oracle. A majority of the layoffs will come from the Oracle side of the combined companies. "
SAP acknowledges barrier to mySAP CRM implementations
muelSAP acknowledges barrier to mySAP CRM implementations: "SAP surprised analysts and industry observers by targeting its new on-demand CRM product at its most cherished customers � upper middmarket and large enterprises � rather than aiming at the most visible competition, Oracle-Siebel and Salesforce.com.
SAP claims to have 3,000 customers using CRM, but we believe only about a third of those are in full deployment.
Robert Bois,
research director, AMR Research Inc.
While SAP has consistently shown strong licensing revenue growth for mySAP CRM, the software vendor is acknowledging that it is partially trying to address lagging adoption rates for its product and also trying to build a barrier against Oracle's Siebel acquisition treading onto SAP territory.
'The success of the first stages of the CRM journey are most critical,' said Pat Bakey, senior vice president for North American CRM at SAP America Inc. 'We learned that when you get started with a CRM implementation there are different requirements and those requirements weren't capably met by our enterprise offering.'"
SAP claims to have 3,000 customers using CRM, but we believe only about a third of those are in full deployment.
Robert Bois,
research director, AMR Research Inc.
While SAP has consistently shown strong licensing revenue growth for mySAP CRM, the software vendor is acknowledging that it is partially trying to address lagging adoption rates for its product and also trying to build a barrier against Oracle's Siebel acquisition treading onto SAP territory.
'The success of the first stages of the CRM journey are most critical,' said Pat Bakey, senior vice president for North American CRM at SAP America Inc. 'We learned that when you get started with a CRM implementation there are different requirements and those requirements weren't capably met by our enterprise offering.'"
BBC NEWS | Business | Mid-size firms see double squeeze
BBC NEWS Business Mid-size firms see double squeeze: "Globalisation is putting fresh pressure on mid-size firms, with huge companies moving into their markets and ever larger customers dictating prices.
They also face more problems recruiting the right staff to expand, an Economist Intelligence Unit survey suggests.
Small firms provide a disproportionate amount of growth and jobs, but feel 'overlooked' by government, it says. "
They also face more problems recruiting the right staff to expand, an Economist Intelligence Unit survey suggests.
Small firms provide a disproportionate amount of growth and jobs, but feel 'overlooked' by government, it says. "
Oracle cuts 2,000 jobs as part of Siebel deal
Oracle cuts 2,000 jobs as part of Siebel deal: "Oracle Corp on Thursday cut 2,000 jobs in connection with its acquisition of rival software maker Siebel Systems and issued a profit outlook for the remainder of the year roughly in line with Wall Street estimates."
Tuesday, February 07, 2006
Sapping the on-demand party dry?: ZDNet Australia: News: Software
Sapping the on-demand party dry?: ZDNet Australia: News: Software: "Gianforte goes on to justify his claims in four parts: architecture [SAP Sales On-Demand is not mission critical and not up to scratch], revenue recognition [no money upfront which could possibly test SAP's patience], customer success [vendor lock-in doesn't exist in the on-demand world], and complexity of software [self explanatory].
He wrapped up by saying: 'As recent history has proven, on-premise vendors can't successfully make the switch to on-demand. On-demand is becoming the predominant model of delivering enterprise software. Siebel tried to make the switch to on-demand, but couldn't.
'SAP is going to face similar challenges. It is more than a new delivery model, it is a way of thinking, of caring for customers, and a cultural shift that those vendors will have a very difficult time embracing.'
It's now Wednesday and still no word from SAP. Hopefully, this feet-dragging nonsense isn't common practice with customers. If the company wants to play in the on-demand space then it has to get with the program and start walking the walk. Remember, a 200kg gorilla with lipstick and makeup is still a 200kg gorilla."
He wrapped up by saying: 'As recent history has proven, on-premise vendors can't successfully make the switch to on-demand. On-demand is becoming the predominant model of delivering enterprise software. Siebel tried to make the switch to on-demand, but couldn't.
'SAP is going to face similar challenges. It is more than a new delivery model, it is a way of thinking, of caring for customers, and a cultural shift that those vendors will have a very difficult time embracing.'
It's now Wednesday and still no word from SAP. Hopefully, this feet-dragging nonsense isn't common practice with customers. If the company wants to play in the on-demand space then it has to get with the program and start walking the walk. Remember, a 200kg gorilla with lipstick and makeup is still a 200kg gorilla."
Four Hundred Stuff--Mixed Reaction to Oracle Fusion from J.D. Edwards Users
Four Hundred Stuff--Mixed Reaction to Oracle Fusion from J.D. Edwards Users: "Users of the J.D. Edwards ERP systems are offering differing views on how Oracle's Fusion application and integration strategy will effect their long-term plans. The software giant says its half-way to completing Fusion, a new suite of Java-based ERP applications that are due to be rolled out in 2007 and 2008. Some J.D. Edwards users are seriously considering making the upgrade, while others have strong misgivings over wildcards in the equation, such as Oracle's commitment to OS/400, DB2/400, and the iSeries.
Oracle has definitely bitten off a big chunk of project management with Fusion, a multi-year plan to build a new ERP system that blends the best of its original E-Business Suite and the various enterprise software products it has acquired, including J.D. Edwards World and EnterpriseOne, PeopleSoft Enterprise, Siebel for CRM, and Retek for the retailing business.
The software giant raised the hopes of some users last month in San Francisco when it gave a status report on project Fusion, which refers to both the new 'Fusion Applications' under development, as well as various 'Fusion Middleware' and development tools, some of which are available now. "
Oracle has definitely bitten off a big chunk of project management with Fusion, a multi-year plan to build a new ERP system that blends the best of its original E-Business Suite and the various enterprise software products it has acquired, including J.D. Edwards World and EnterpriseOne, PeopleSoft Enterprise, Siebel for CRM, and Retek for the retailing business.
The software giant raised the hopes of some users last month in San Francisco when it gave a status report on project Fusion, which refers to both the new 'Fusion Applications' under development, as well as various 'Fusion Middleware' and development tools, some of which are available now. "
SAP on demand launch also launches raft of questions - Computer Business Review
SAP on demand launch also launches raft of questions - Computer Business Review: "
SAP on demand launch also launches raft of questions
6th February 2006
By Staff Writer
Having teased for the best part of a year, SAP AG has finally revealed the details of its on demand CRM service, filling a gap in its portfolio but delivering something surprisingly limited in scope.
AdvertisementClearly the bulk of the development work has been devoted to building the isolated tenancy model that allows for a master copy of the application but individual databases for each customer, because the service debuted with basic lead, contact and pipeline management capabilities plus sales analytics.
The bigger question is: given SAP's broad expertise and focus on enterprise processes to unite front and back office, why did it opt just for CRM?"
SAP on demand launch also launches raft of questions
6th February 2006
By Staff Writer
Having teased for the best part of a year, SAP AG has finally revealed the details of its on demand CRM service, filling a gap in its portfolio but delivering something surprisingly limited in scope.
AdvertisementClearly the bulk of the development work has been devoted to building the isolated tenancy model that allows for a master copy of the application but individual databases for each customer, because the service debuted with basic lead, contact and pipeline management capabilities plus sales analytics.
The bigger question is: given SAP's broad expertise and focus on enterprise processes to unite front and back office, why did it opt just for CRM?"
BUSINESS
BUSINESS: "The implementation would enable the company to integrate its projects, corporate and operations management into one central ERP (enterprise resource planning) platform. This would ensure the organisation efficiently coordinated such core business processes as financials, supply chain management and business intelligence.
'We have selected SAP R/3 because of its proven systems and good track record in India in the energy sector,' said Y K Modi, CMD, Great Eastern Energy. 'Our company is developing reasonably fast and we therefore took the long term decision to invest in ERP system, which will help us manager our business efficiently for future growth and expansion.' Great Eastern would complete the implementation of SAP R/3 by mid 2006. "
'We have selected SAP R/3 because of its proven systems and good track record in India in the energy sector,' said Y K Modi, CMD, Great Eastern Energy. 'Our company is developing reasonably fast and we therefore took the long term decision to invest in ERP system, which will help us manager our business efficiently for future growth and expansion.' Great Eastern would complete the implementation of SAP R/3 by mid 2006. "
Buying ERP tools to fit the smaller business
... Hospitals, does not like nasty surprises. In fact, he will make every effort to be sure about the long-term viability of an IT supplier before he does business with them.
When Nuffield Hospitals invested in a suite of e-procurement, inventory management and financial accounting applications, for example, Cook and his team rigorously vetted prospective supplier Lawson Software.
'We spent hours on the internet. We ran credit checks on the company. We analysed its recent financial performance, investigated what City and industry analysts were saying about Lawson and ploughed through a mountain of articles from the trade and business press,' said Cook.
The results of that effort were enough to satisfy Cook that Lawson Software was a safe bet, but Cook pointed out that there were never any guarantees.
'Lawson's management is obviously not going to share its long-term plans with us and, of course, it may get snapped up by a larger company - but I am fairly satisfied that I found no early warning signs of that happening,' he said.
Cook is right to be circumspect, especially when it comes to buying mid-market enterprise resource planning applications. Had Nuffield Hospitals bought software from GEAC, JD Edwards, Scala, Intentia or Marcam in the past two years, for example, it would have seen its suppli"
When Nuffield Hospitals invested in a suite of e-procurement, inventory management and financial accounting applications, for example, Cook and his team rigorously vetted prospective supplier Lawson Software.
'We spent hours on the internet. We ran credit checks on the company. We analysed its recent financial performance, investigated what City and industry analysts were saying about Lawson and ploughed through a mountain of articles from the trade and business press,' said Cook.
The results of that effort were enough to satisfy Cook that Lawson Software was a safe bet, but Cook pointed out that there were never any guarantees.
'Lawson's management is obviously not going to share its long-term plans with us and, of course, it may get snapped up by a larger company - but I am fairly satisfied that I found no early warning signs of that happening,' he said.
Cook is right to be circumspect, especially when it comes to buying mid-market enterprise resource planning applications. Had Nuffield Hospitals bought software from GEAC, JD Edwards, Scala, Intentia or Marcam in the past two years, for example, it would have seen its suppli"
Patni partners with SAP to target SMB sector
Patni partners with SAP to target SMB sector: "Mumbai: Patni Computer Systems Ltd entered into a strategic alliance with global IT service provider, SAP to jointly focus on the small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) market in India.
The partnership would address the high-growth SMB segment, having a market potential of over Rs 700 crore and growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 15-20 per cent, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange. Patni would provide end-to-end mySAP ERP solutions with special focus on the rubber and tyre industry and would bundle the SAP license in their service offerings and gain access to SAP best practices, solution maps, business scenarios and marketing collateral for the industry, it said. "
The partnership would address the high-growth SMB segment, having a market potential of over Rs 700 crore and growing at a Compounded Annual Growth Rate of 15-20 per cent, the company informed the Bombay Stock Exchange. Patni would provide end-to-end mySAP ERP solutions with special focus on the rubber and tyre industry and would bundle the SAP license in their service offerings and gain access to SAP best practices, solution maps, business scenarios and marketing collateral for the industry, it said. "
SAP Executive Resource Center
SAP Executive Resource Center: "Executive Question of the Month:
I'd like to hear your predictions. In the next two to three years, who will lead the CRM market: SAP or Oracle?
Return to Table of Contents
Greenbaum: Let me dodge a direct answer this way: What we now know as CRM will be largely irrelevant in three years. 2009 will represent a major inflection point in the enterprise software market. SAP's NetWeaver and Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA) will be largely complete and available, and, assuming somewhat charitably that Oracle meets its own deadlines, Oracle Fusion will also be available. At which point the intersection of enterprise software and business functionality will exist in terms of business processes, not artificial, over-arching software 'stovepipes,' and three-letter acronyms like CRM will largely be irrelevant.
A better question would be: Which vendor will offer the most comprehensive business process library that will allow a company to effectively deal with its customer-related business processes? Of course, I'm going to dodge that one too: We have to wait and see how Oracle will absorb Siebel's technology and how that new functionality will play in the larger Oracle Fusion picture. Right now it's all a little fuzzy. Which means, if I had to base an answer strictly on what is known today, I'd say SAP has the upper hand. But tomorrow is another day, particularly when it comes to Oracle's ever-evolving plans."
I'd like to hear your predictions. In the next two to three years, who will lead the CRM market: SAP or Oracle?
Return to Table of Contents
Greenbaum: Let me dodge a direct answer this way: What we now know as CRM will be largely irrelevant in three years. 2009 will represent a major inflection point in the enterprise software market. SAP's NetWeaver and Enterprise Services Architecture (ESA) will be largely complete and available, and, assuming somewhat charitably that Oracle meets its own deadlines, Oracle Fusion will also be available. At which point the intersection of enterprise software and business functionality will exist in terms of business processes, not artificial, over-arching software 'stovepipes,' and three-letter acronyms like CRM will largely be irrelevant.
A better question would be: Which vendor will offer the most comprehensive business process library that will allow a company to effectively deal with its customer-related business processes? Of course, I'm going to dodge that one too: We have to wait and see how Oracle will absorb Siebel's technology and how that new functionality will play in the larger Oracle Fusion picture. Right now it's all a little fuzzy. Which means, if I had to base an answer strictly on what is known today, I'd say SAP has the upper hand. But tomorrow is another day, particularly when it comes to Oracle's ever-evolving plans."
Oracle takes integrated approach with G-Log buy
Oracle takes integrated approach with G-Log buy: "Less than five months after Oracle revealed plans to gobble up G-Log Inc., a King of Prussia, Penn.-based provider of supply chain management and logistics software, Oracle today announced that it's dropping the G-Log name in favor of Oracle Transportation Management.
Oracle purchased G-Log to address a growing demand for logistics software integration, but obstacles remain in the company's drive to overtake SAP as the overall leader in business applications, analysts said."
Oracle purchased G-Log to address a growing demand for logistics software integration, but obstacles remain in the company's drive to overtake SAP as the overall leader in business applications, analysts said."
Words of welcome from SAP's hosted competition
Words of welcome from SAP's hosted competition: "'Is SAP on the defensive? Are they worried that with few customers actually using their CRM software, and salesforce.com making significant inroads in their customer base, their entire business model may be at risk? People who haven't followed our company closely often ask, 'Aren't you worried? A company with the resources of SAP can bring so much to this battle.' But that's exactly the problem. Observers tend to overestimate the creativity and innovation that entrenched technology companies can bring to a particular problem and underestimate the effect of business model conflicts that lurk behind the scenes. Siebel tried to sell an admittedly inferior on-demand product as an on-ramp to its on-premise system. It appears that on-ramps make road pizza out of your business model.
--Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com "
--Marc Benioff, CEO of Salesforce.com "
SAP's entry muddles the hosted market
SAP's entry muddles the hosted market: "Yet, DuPont is keeping its Salesforce.com seats as well, Michlovich said, citing the application's ease of use and the support it has received from the group using it. Adding SAP's on-demand application provides the benefit of a common data model with the back office applications plus the possibility of a hybrid deployment using both on-premise and on-demand together in the future. Michlovich said the company would make a business decision on whether to extend to a hybrid model in the future.
The hybrid option is an advantage SAP officials stressed continuously at yesterday's event. The hybrid deployment model was one Siebel continuously championed when it rolled out its hosted application Siebel OnDemand in 2003. Siebel has some customers who have begun using on-premise and on-demand together, but the two are not fully integrated. Siebel was formally acquired by Oracle on Tuesday.
'Right now, the company [SAP's new offering] will affect the most is Oracle,' said Liz Herbert, analyst with Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research Inc. 'We still haven't seen Siebel OnDemand and on-premise merge and there's still the integration with Oracle left to go.' "
The hybrid option is an advantage SAP officials stressed continuously at yesterday's event. The hybrid deployment model was one Siebel continuously championed when it rolled out its hosted application Siebel OnDemand in 2003. Siebel has some customers who have begun using on-premise and on-demand together, but the two are not fully integrated. Siebel was formally acquired by Oracle on Tuesday.
'Right now, the company [SAP's new offering] will affect the most is Oracle,' said Liz Herbert, analyst with Cambridge, Mass.-based Forrester Research Inc. 'We still haven't seen Siebel OnDemand and on-premise merge and there's still the integration with Oracle left to go.' "
Monday, February 06, 2006
GEECL signs agreement with IBM Global Services .:. NewKerala - India's Top Online Newspaper
GEECL signs agreement with IBM Global Services .:. NewKerala - India's Top Online Newspaper: "New Delhi: Great Eastern Energy Corporation, engaged in exploring, developing, distributing and marketing the coal bed methane in India, has signed an agreement with IBM Global Services to implement mySAP business suite - SAP R/3, which would enable it to handle expanding operational requirements.
The implementation would enable the company to integrate its projects, corporate and operation management into one central Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, it said in a statement.
Besides, it would also ensure that the organisation efficiently coordinates such core business processes like financial, supply chain management and business intelligence.
'We have selected SAP R/3 because of its proven systems and its good track record in India in the energy sector,' GEECL CMD Y K Modi said.
The company, which presently is exploring and developing production wells for coal bed methane in Raniganj coalfields, West Bengal, would complete the implementation of SAP R/3 by mid 2006, it said. "
The implementation would enable the company to integrate its projects, corporate and operation management into one central Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) platform, it said in a statement.
Besides, it would also ensure that the organisation efficiently coordinates such core business processes like financial, supply chain management and business intelligence.
'We have selected SAP R/3 because of its proven systems and its good track record in India in the energy sector,' GEECL CMD Y K Modi said.
The company, which presently is exploring and developing production wells for coal bed methane in Raniganj coalfields, West Bengal, would complete the implementation of SAP R/3 by mid 2006, it said. "
SAP INFO
SAP INFO: "Transparent HR processes make it easier for companies to fulfill statutory requirements such as Sarbanes-Oxley. Solutions that organize HR data in a clear manner create the transparency that is required to achieve this. This forms the basis for making well-founded decisions and avoiding unnecessary costs.
Inefficient management of HR data can be costly. This is because companies are required to comply with a number of statutory regulations, such as are laid down by Sarbanes-Oxley, Basel II, or in Germany by the KonTraG (German legislation regarding corporate control and transparency) and non-compliance may result in legal consequences. The primary objective of Sarbanes-Oxley, for instance, is to achieve greater transparency in the company. For this reason it must be possible to track business processes and the people involved in them fully and to check the monitoring systems at regular intervals. The Act applies not only to financial departments but also to HR.
Companies should seize the opportunity afforded by this obligation and implement monitoring tools that also increase efficiency in the company. An example of this is a software application for legally compliant organization of HR data. This enables authorized individuals to access information on budget management and report structures at any time. If need be, it is easy to trace which person was responsible for a particular activity. "
Inefficient management of HR data can be costly. This is because companies are required to comply with a number of statutory regulations, such as are laid down by Sarbanes-Oxley, Basel II, or in Germany by the KonTraG (German legislation regarding corporate control and transparency) and non-compliance may result in legal consequences. The primary objective of Sarbanes-Oxley, for instance, is to achieve greater transparency in the company. For this reason it must be possible to track business processes and the people involved in them fully and to check the monitoring systems at regular intervals. The Act applies not only to financial departments but also to HR.
Companies should seize the opportunity afforded by this obligation and implement monitoring tools that also increase efficiency in the company. An example of this is a software application for legally compliant organization of HR data. This enables authorized individuals to access information on budget management and report structures at any time. If need be, it is easy to trace which person was responsible for a particular activity. "
SAP INFO
SAP INFO: "Brewing a high-quality beer takes a lot of effort. And using IT to link the art of brewing tightly with business processes is a special challenge. If it�s mastered, beer lovers and brewers enjoy an equal measure of profit.
Krombacher Brewery in Numbers
A human being can live for about four days without drinking anything. But of course, there are no statistics about how long Germans can last without their favorite drink. In fact, a study conducted by the association of German brewers put the per capita consumption of beer in 2004 at 111.8 liters. That number makes Germany the number two beer-drinking country in the world � right behind Ireland.
Like beer itself, the Krombacher Brewery can�t be taken out of the German brewing landscape. The success of the brewery, which has a market share of about 9 percent, is based upon tradition. The brewery and its 830 employees celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2003. "
Krombacher Brewery in Numbers
A human being can live for about four days without drinking anything. But of course, there are no statistics about how long Germans can last without their favorite drink. In fact, a study conducted by the association of German brewers put the per capita consumption of beer in 2004 at 111.8 liters. That number makes Germany the number two beer-drinking country in the world � right behind Ireland.
Like beer itself, the Krombacher Brewery can�t be taken out of the German brewing landscape. The success of the brewery, which has a market share of about 9 percent, is based upon tradition. The brewery and its 830 employees celebrated its 200th anniversary in 2003. "
InformationWeek | On-Demand CRM | Better Late Than Never? SAP Spices Up On-Demand CRM | February 6, 2006
InformationWeek On-Demand CRM Better Late Than Never? SAP Spices Up On-Demand CRM February 6, 2006: "The contrasts couldn't have been greater. Last week, SAP debuted its long-anticipated on-demand CRM service, just three days after rival Salesforce.com suffered its second service outage in little more than a month. SAP is late to the market, but its approach of running software as a service for customers on dedicated servers is aimed squarely at the reliability glitches that have hit Salesforce recently and might give large customers pause. It all makes for a much more interesting playing field for on-demand CRM.
SAP's announcement also came just days after Oracle closed its $5.85 billion acquisition of Siebel Systems, in which Siebel's on-demand capabilities were part of the attraction. It also was on the heels of Microsoft's second-quarter earnings announcement, in which sales of Dynamics CRM 3.0, which debuted in December, gave its enterprise applications division a financial boost."
SAP's announcement also came just days after Oracle closed its $5.85 billion acquisition of Siebel Systems, in which Siebel's on-demand capabilities were part of the attraction. It also was on the heels of Microsoft's second-quarter earnings announcement, in which sales of Dynamics CRM 3.0, which debuted in December, gave its enterprise applications division a financial boost."
Friday, February 03, 2006
Line56.com: Analyst: SAP On Demand CRM ''Inadequate''
Line56.com: Analyst: SAP On Demand CRM ''Inadequate'': "SAP just debuted an on demand customer relationship management (CRM) product on terms that one analyst, David Bradshaw of Ovum, finds suboptimal. Bradshaw says that the product is 'being launched far too early with an inadequate set of capabilities.'
Bradshaw explains further, saying that the product 'only has salesforce automation [SFA], and even here very few capabilities, such as account and contact management.'
SAP plans to add features on a rolling basis, not just within SFA but also extending out to marketing and services, the other two traditional components of the CRM tripod."
Bradshaw explains further, saying that the product 'only has salesforce automation [SFA], and even here very few capabilities, such as account and contact management.'
SAP plans to add features on a rolling basis, not just within SFA but also extending out to marketing and services, the other two traditional components of the CRM tripod."
MFI stumbles over SAP writ | The Register
MFI stumbles over SAP writ The Register: "MFI Furniture Group has until Tuesday to serve a writ for compensation against IBM before its claim expires.
Former MFI chief executive John Hancock said last summer the company would seek compensation from IBM and other parties involved in the bodged implementation of a �50m SAP system that cost the retailer an additional �30m, was responsible for substantial losses, and the heads of two directors in 2004."
Former MFI chief executive John Hancock said last summer the company would seek compensation from IBM and other parties involved in the bodged implementation of a �50m SAP system that cost the retailer an additional �30m, was responsible for substantial losses, and the heads of two directors in 2004."
SAP Shows Up Late - Forbes.com
SAP Shows Up Late - Forbes.com: "After talking about it for nine months, the German enterprise software giant on Thursday unveiled its long-awaited on-demand offering. It's an extension of its customer relationship management (CRM) software that can be hosted remotely and accessed via the Internet--just like the successful products its competitors already offer.
'We are not a first mover on this, but we are an innovator,' says Shai Agassi, president of SAP's (nyse: SAP - news - people ) product and technology group. 'As a first step, it is a solid one.'
But the company is stepping into a crowded marketplace. Software vendors Salesforce.com (nyse: CRM - news - people ) and RightNow Technologies (nasdaq: RNOW - news - people ) have been making waves with on-demand products, and Siebel Systems, now a part of Oracle (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ), and Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) also have on-demand CRM offerings. "
'We are not a first mover on this, but we are an innovator,' says Shai Agassi, president of SAP's (nyse: SAP - news - people ) product and technology group. 'As a first step, it is a solid one.'
But the company is stepping into a crowded marketplace. Software vendors Salesforce.com (nyse: CRM - news - people ) and RightNow Technologies (nasdaq: RNOW - news - people ) have been making waves with on-demand products, and Siebel Systems, now a part of Oracle (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ), and Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) also have on-demand CRM offerings. "
Optimize Magazine > Other Visions << On-Demand CRM And The CIO >> February 2006
Optimize Magazine > Other Visions <<>> February 2006: "
With SAP's long-awaited on-demand CRM offering finally out, the question of when�or even if�a CIO should get on the on-demand bandwagon has become even more pressing. Does an on-demand capability, particularly in a key area such as CRM, mean a loss of control for the CIO? Or is it an empowering capability that all CIOs should embrace as their own? The fact that SAP�that great empowerer of CIOs�is now offering an on-demand CRM product only sharpens the debate. After all, we're talking about customers here, and for any CIO with the remotest foresight, managing the customer experience is becoming the single most important task in many organizations. So ceding control of that all-important task to outside forces sounds like a defeat, right? No CIOs really care about whether payroll comes under their domain. But give up the customer record and its ever growing role in the supply chain and the financial backbone of the company? Them's fightin' words. "
With SAP's long-awaited on-demand CRM offering finally out, the question of when�or even if�a CIO should get on the on-demand bandwagon has become even more pressing. Does an on-demand capability, particularly in a key area such as CRM, mean a loss of control for the CIO? Or is it an empowering capability that all CIOs should embrace as their own? The fact that SAP�that great empowerer of CIOs�is now offering an on-demand CRM product only sharpens the debate. After all, we're talking about customers here, and for any CIO with the remotest foresight, managing the customer experience is becoming the single most important task in many organizations. So ceding control of that all-important task to outside forces sounds like a defeat, right? No CIOs really care about whether payroll comes under their domain. But give up the customer record and its ever growing role in the supply chain and the financial backbone of the company? Them's fightin' words. "
SAP - Press Release
SAP - Press Release: "Delivering on its commitment to provide enterprise customers with solutions that meet both current and future business needs, SAP AG (NYSE: SAP) today announced an expansion of its market-leading mySAP� Customer Relationship Management (mySAP CRM) solution to include an on-demand option. The SAP� CRM on-demand solution is designed for large and midsize organizations to manage sales, service and marketing in an easy-to-use solution delivered directly via the Internet, offered through a subscription-based licensing model.
SAP has created the first hybrid CRM solution that transcends on-demand and on-premise, while integrating with core enterprise solutions in both deployment models. To facilitate this unique hybrid approach, SAP has pioneered the �isolated-tenancy� model that combines the high availability and low risk of a single-tenancy approach with the efficiencies and deployment speed of a multi-tenancy architecture. As a result, companies can evolve their CRM solution to align with their unique business needs and customer strategies in ways that go beyond the limitations of today�s narrowly focused on-demand �pure plays.�"
SAP has created the first hybrid CRM solution that transcends on-demand and on-premise, while integrating with core enterprise solutions in both deployment models. To facilitate this unique hybrid approach, SAP has pioneered the �isolated-tenancy� model that combines the high availability and low risk of a single-tenancy approach with the efficiencies and deployment speed of a multi-tenancy architecture. As a result, companies can evolve their CRM solution to align with their unique business needs and customer strategies in ways that go beyond the limitations of today�s narrowly focused on-demand �pure plays.�"
RED HERRING | SAP Launches On-Demand CRM
RED HERRING SAP Launches On-Demand CRM: "Peter Graf, executive vice president of SAP product marketing, said the code bases of SAP�s on-demand CRM solution and its packaged solution are the same�unlike Oracle�s�hence customers will be able to integrate data from the two separate systems.
�This removes the incentive for any SAP customer to look elsewhere for an on-demand offering,� said Joshua Greenbaum, analyst with EA Consulting. "
�This removes the incentive for any SAP customer to look elsewhere for an on-demand offering,� said Joshua Greenbaum, analyst with EA Consulting. "
Telecoms and Software News
Telecoms and Software News: "In an interview in today's German edition of the FT, SAP CEO Henning Kagermann speaks at length about SAP's venture into the software-as-a-service market. This is ahead of the formal launch, which takes place today in California in what will be the early evening for most of our readers.
The service will be sold on a per-user price, and will be aimed at enterprises and the upper end of the 'mid-sized' market - still large companies but not 'Fortune 1000' companies. This is an area that Kagermann says is difficult for other vendors (that will be news to salesforce.com!). It will be hosted by IBM, but Kagermann says he wants to have other partners for future products - he says that SAP will try to avoid competition (or perhaps conflict) between hosting partners. This gives us the impression that this will be sold by the partner, not SAP itself. He also said that the service will be compatible with software deployed conventionally, so that customers can switch to running the software themselves internally."
The service will be sold on a per-user price, and will be aimed at enterprises and the upper end of the 'mid-sized' market - still large companies but not 'Fortune 1000' companies. This is an area that Kagermann says is difficult for other vendors (that will be news to salesforce.com!). It will be hosted by IBM, but Kagermann says he wants to have other partners for future products - he says that SAP will try to avoid competition (or perhaps conflict) between hosting partners. This gives us the impression that this will be sold by the partner, not SAP itself. He also said that the service will be compatible with software deployed conventionally, so that customers can switch to running the software themselves internally."
Thursday, February 02, 2006
Can Oracle be unseated as a top SAP database?
Can Oracle be unseated as a top SAP database?: "A recent analyst report out of the UK highlights that not-so-hidden secret about enterprise software: significant portions of the functionality of many implementations are underutilized (read the report here). Surprised? You shouldn't be: significant portions of every piece of software basically lie fallow. Excessive, unused features, many would say, are part of the price of using enterprise software.
When it comes to the database that runs SAP, the one with the best database technology doesn't have to be the winner.
Joshua Greenbaum
principal analyst, Enterprise Applications Consulting
But does it have to be that way?
When it comes to the database that powers your SAP implementation, there's a lot of players interested in challenging that notion, particularly when it comes to the Oracle database you're probably running. SAP is surely interested: in the no-holds-barred competition between the two enterprise software giants, the irksome fact that the Oracle database is behind a significant number of SAP implementations is something SAP would love to change. "
When it comes to the database that runs SAP, the one with the best database technology doesn't have to be the winner.
Joshua Greenbaum
principal analyst, Enterprise Applications Consulting
But does it have to be that way?
When it comes to the database that powers your SAP implementation, there's a lot of players interested in challenging that notion, particularly when it comes to the Oracle database you're probably running. SAP is surely interested: in the no-holds-barred competition between the two enterprise software giants, the irksome fact that the Oracle database is behind a significant number of SAP implementations is something SAP would love to change. "
SAP to Offer On-Demand CRM
SAP to Offer On-Demand CRM: "After months of hinting, SAP AG will announce Feb. 2 its long-awaited platform for on-demand CRM software, at dual events in Palo Alto, Calif., and New York.
But the competition for on-demand customers is fierce. Smaller niche players like Salesforce.com, NetSuite and RightNow Technologies have all been in the on-demand game for half a decadeand each has seen tremendous growth.
At the same time, ever-growing software powerhouse Oracle is expected to close its acquisition of Siebel Systems Jan. 31, after a 2 p.m. ET shareholder vote, where Siebel "
But the competition for on-demand customers is fierce. Smaller niche players like Salesforce.com, NetSuite and RightNow Technologies have all been in the on-demand game for half a decadeand each has seen tremendous growth.
At the same time, ever-growing software powerhouse Oracle is expected to close its acquisition of Siebel Systems Jan. 31, after a 2 p.m. ET shareholder vote, where Siebel "
Wednesday, February 01, 2006
Australian IT - Safe Passage strengthens SAP (Kelly Mills, JANUARY 31, 2006)
Australian IT - Safe Passage strengthens SAP (Kelly Mills, JANUARY 31, 2006): "THE local arm of German software giant SAP has turned its war of words against Oracle into firm numbers on its balance sheet, signing two customers from Australia and New Zealand to its Safe Passage program.
The program was launched in January last year and has won several customers.
It is billed as an easy migration path to SAP for users of Oracle's PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards and Siebel product lines.
New Zealand company Foodstuffs South Island, and an Australian mining operator are two of the 10 deals signed in the Asia-Pacific region. "
The program was launched in January last year and has won several customers.
It is billed as an easy migration path to SAP for users of Oracle's PeopleSoft, J.D. Edwards and Siebel product lines.
New Zealand company Foodstuffs South Island, and an Australian mining operator are two of the 10 deals signed in the Asia-Pacific region. "
SAP faces ESA crunch year - Computer Business Review
SAP faces ESA crunch year - Computer Business Review: "With the ESA vision announced just two years ago, and the technology needed to enable it still being developed, it is early days, but SAP is confident about its progress. Mr Kagermann pointed out that, during 2005, NetWeaver software revenue amounted to E480 million ($584 million), and 30% of that was from standalone NetWeaver sales. In addition, he said the company has logged 1,150 R/3 contract conversions.
However, those figures represent a tiny proportion of the customer base of close to 30,000 and the company's overall 2005 software license revenue of E2.78 million ($3.14 million). SAP's main challenge during 2006 will be to persuade more customers to start adopting the new technology. The risk is that if adoption is slower than anticipated, it will give Oracle time to catch up."
However, those figures represent a tiny proportion of the customer base of close to 30,000 and the company's overall 2005 software license revenue of E2.78 million ($3.14 million). SAP's main challenge during 2006 will be to persuade more customers to start adopting the new technology. The risk is that if adoption is slower than anticipated, it will give Oracle time to catch up."
Oracle adds pieces to retail suite
The war over dominance in the retail sector between Oracle Corp. and SAP AG continues in 2006, with Oracle making the first move by acquiring technology in recent weeks to bolster its industry specific suite.
This product will complement Oracle's workforce management offering by providing customers a complete suite to manage time and labor, absences, and now scheduling to meet a forecasted workload demand.
DJ Chhabra,
vice president of Human Capital Management, Oracle Corp.
Software vendors have targeted retail as a potential area for growth as retailers have been streamlining antiquated IT systems to better integrate and build customer facing functionality around core systems. License revenue in the retail industry grew 21% from 2004 to 2005, according to Boston-based AMR Research.
Retail executives are gathering this week at the National Retail Federation Conference in New York City. They are paying close attention to the major ERP vendors and a slew of best of breed vendors that offer specific functionality for niche retail operations."
This product will complement Oracle's workforce management offering by providing customers a complete suite to manage time and labor, absences, and now scheduling to meet a forecasted workload demand.
DJ Chhabra,
vice president of Human Capital Management, Oracle Corp.
Software vendors have targeted retail as a potential area for growth as retailers have been streamlining antiquated IT systems to better integrate and build customer facing functionality around core systems. License revenue in the retail industry grew 21% from 2004 to 2005, according to Boston-based AMR Research.
Retail executives are gathering this week at the National Retail Federation Conference in New York City. They are paying close attention to the major ERP vendors and a slew of best of breed vendors that offer specific functionality for niche retail operations."
Oracle further unwraps Fusion, nips at SAP
Oracle further unwraps Fusion, nips at SAP: "Oracle Corp. dug deeper into its Fusion project this week, outlining what the company has done over the last year to launch middleware components and develop new applications using technology from its nearly $19 billion in acquisitions.
Even though the task Oracle has is more complicated in that they have to integrate applications from multiple acquisitions, they will achieve a more open kind of environment.
Paul Hamerman,
vice president of enterprise applications, Forrester Research Inc.
Oracle put nearly a dozen executives on stage during an event in San Francisco designed to give a one year update of the project. Executives described the company as making great progress, building a new set of applications called Fusion on top of its middleware infrastructure layer using the Oracle database as the foundation. The entire Fusion package would be services-enabled and allow customers tie in legacy systems and third party applications"
Even though the task Oracle has is more complicated in that they have to integrate applications from multiple acquisitions, they will achieve a more open kind of environment.
Paul Hamerman,
vice president of enterprise applications, Forrester Research Inc.
Oracle put nearly a dozen executives on stage during an event in San Francisco designed to give a one year update of the project. Executives described the company as making great progress, building a new set of applications called Fusion on top of its middleware infrastructure layer using the Oracle database as the foundation. The entire Fusion package would be services-enabled and allow customers tie in legacy systems and third party applications"
One year later, Oracle touts progress of Fusion
One year later, Oracle touts progress of Fusion: "Oracle executives took to the stage at San Francisco City Hall yesterday to reassure customers and investors that the year-old Fusion initiative -- Oracle's effort to combine the spoils of more than a dozen high-profile acquisitions -- is making progress.
The executives said Oracle will unveil its first full-fledged Fusion applications as scheduled in 2008 and this year will release three new sets of applications with Fusion application integration and workflow tools, including Oracle E-Business Suite 12, PeopleSoft 9 and J.D. Edwards 8.12.
'Oracle is halfway to Fusion,' said Oracle president Charles Phillips, who appeared first to summarize the progress of Fusion thus far. 'One year later, half the job is done and it's the toughest half.' "
The executives said Oracle will unveil its first full-fledged Fusion applications as scheduled in 2008 and this year will release three new sets of applications with Fusion application integration and workflow tools, including Oracle E-Business Suite 12, PeopleSoft 9 and J.D. Edwards 8.12.
'Oracle is halfway to Fusion,' said Oracle president Charles Phillips, who appeared first to summarize the progress of Fusion thus far. 'One year later, half the job is done and it's the toughest half.' "
destinationCRM.com: Siebel Shareholders Approve the Oracle Takeover
destinationCRM.com: Siebel Shareholders Approve the Oracle Takeover: "Siebel Systems shareholders today overwhelmingly endorsed Oracle's $5.85 billion takeover proposal that was announced in September 2005. Of the stockholders voting, 98.73 percent approved the acquisition, which represented 67.12 percent of outstanding shares of common stock. The meeting at which the announcement was concluded with a brief, emotional statement from Tom Siebel, chairman of Siebel's board of directors."
CBR - ORACLE FUSION SERIES - Computer Business Review
CBR - ORACLE FUSION SERIES - Computer Business Review: "Famous of course for its eponymous database, the reason for Oracle's news-worthiness of late has been its string of high profile acquisitions - PeopleSoft (and JD Edwards), Retek, Siebel and many others.
That acquisitive streak has been so strong, as Oracle fleshes out its enterprise applications portfolio to better attack SAP's hold on the sector, that one could be forgiven for missing the fact that Oracle has also for the past five years being building a middleware platform that is pitted against the likes of IBM, BEA and Microsoft. "
That acquisitive streak has been so strong, as Oracle fleshes out its enterprise applications portfolio to better attack SAP's hold on the sector, that one could be forgiven for missing the fact that Oracle has also for the past five years being building a middleware platform that is pitted against the likes of IBM, BEA and Microsoft. "
Oman Polypropylene selects Satyam for mySAP� suite implementation | Satyam Computer Services
Oman Polypropylene selects Satyam for mySAP� suite implementation Satyam Computer Services: "Satyam Computer Services Ltd. (NYSE:SAY) has announced that it has entered into an agreement to implement mySAP� ERP Suite at Oman Polypropylene L.L.C. (OPP), a joint venture between Oman Oil Co, Gulf Investment Corporation and LG International."
SAP to bolster support program with new hires
SAP to bolster support program with new hires: "SAP said Tuesday it plans to bolster its revamped support program with new hires in addition to shifting internal employees to reinforce its maintenance and support organization.
Our support professionals will be coming through the ranks of support delivery and some of them will come from the consulting operations.
Greg Pike,
senior vice president of Active Global Support, SAP America Inc.
SAP spokesman Jim Dever said additional hires would be needed to sustain its support organization after rolling out a new premium support option. He didn't elaborate on how many new support personnel would be hired, but said the focus would be on improving customer support in all areas."
Our support professionals will be coming through the ranks of support delivery and some of them will come from the consulting operations.
Greg Pike,
senior vice president of Active Global Support, SAP America Inc.
SAP spokesman Jim Dever said additional hires would be needed to sustain its support organization after rolling out a new premium support option. He didn't elaborate on how many new support personnel would be hired, but said the focus would be on improving customer support in all areas."
Weblogs
Weblogs: "Well, the SAP NetWeaver components themselves evolved from the new dimension product names and were rolled into SAP NetWeaver in 2003. Unfortunately for historians the actual SAP NetWeaver component names also evolved in the short 3 years too � more times than Prince has changed his name! Did someone get paid per name change?
I�ll endeavor to explain the rationale for sending the components to the branding graveyard in the sky later in the post mortem at the end of the blog.
So moving on, here are the terms that will no longer be used going forward for describing SAP NetWeaver;
SAP NetWeaver Application Server (formerly SAP Web Application Server � SAP Web AS)
SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence (formerly SAP Business Information Warehouse - SAP BW)
SAP NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure (formerly SAP Exchange Infrastructure - SAP XI)
SAP NetWeaver Portal (formerly SAP Enterprise Portal � SAP EP)
SAP NetWeaver Mobile Infrastructure (formerly SAP Mobile Infrastructure � SAP MI)
The astute readers will notice that SAP NetWeaver MDM escaped the axe, but this is only temporary until it is rolled into the SAP NetWeaver synchronized release and that�s a blog of its own on its roadmap!"
I�ll endeavor to explain the rationale for sending the components to the branding graveyard in the sky later in the post mortem at the end of the blog.
So moving on, here are the terms that will no longer be used going forward for describing SAP NetWeaver;
SAP NetWeaver Application Server (formerly SAP Web Application Server � SAP Web AS)
SAP NetWeaver Business Intelligence (formerly SAP Business Information Warehouse - SAP BW)
SAP NetWeaver Exchange Infrastructure (formerly SAP Exchange Infrastructure - SAP XI)
SAP NetWeaver Portal (formerly SAP Enterprise Portal � SAP EP)
SAP NetWeaver Mobile Infrastructure (formerly SAP Mobile Infrastructure � SAP MI)
The astute readers will notice that SAP NetWeaver MDM escaped the axe, but this is only temporary until it is rolled into the SAP NetWeaver synchronized release and that�s a blog of its own on its roadmap!"
