Thursday, December 14, 2006
Infor Targets SAP, Oracle in Midmarket
Infor Targets SAP, Oracle in Midmarket: "Fast-forward to 2006: Infor has bought 19 software applications companies and is on the hunt for more. Its acquisition of SSA Global in August catapulted the company to the third-largest ERP provider in the world, behind SAP and Oracle, respectively.
ADVERTISEMENT With its combined acquisitions Infor now has 70,000 customers, 8,100 employees and $2.1 billion in annual revenues. But the company has some major hurdles to overcome if it wants to be considered a top tier provider for the midmarket—Infor's sweet spot. Chief among them is interoperability between its many products, and overcoming the perception that it is a software provider engrossed with acquisitions rather than customer success. "
ADVERTISEMENT With its combined acquisitions Infor now has 70,000 customers, 8,100 employees and $2.1 billion in annual revenues. But the company has some major hurdles to overcome if it wants to be considered a top tier provider for the midmarket—Infor's sweet spot. Chief among them is interoperability between its many products, and overcoming the perception that it is a software provider engrossed with acquisitions rather than customer success. "
SAP rings up a retail win
SAP rings up a retail win: "In addition, Sport Chalet is no Wal-Mart. When dealing with vendors, Wal-Mart can dictate how vendors present information and follow processes. A retailer the size of Sport Chalet 'has to be able to handle however each vendor works,' explained Kaminsky. And the company deals with over 1,200 of them.
Sport Chalet worked with BearingPoint in the vendor selection process. One major task the companies undertook early on was documenting Sport Chalet processes against leading practices.
Because of this upfront effort, the company will be able to map its process against SAP for Retail's capabilities, and it expects many of them to fit. In fact, Kaminsky estimates that Sport Chalet has put three months of work into this already. Partially due to this head start, Sport Chalet has set an aggressive implementation goal of 10 months. "
Sport Chalet worked with BearingPoint in the vendor selection process. One major task the companies undertook early on was documenting Sport Chalet processes against leading practices.
Because of this upfront effort, the company will be able to map its process against SAP for Retail's capabilities, and it expects many of them to fit. In fact, Kaminsky estimates that Sport Chalet has put three months of work into this already. Partially due to this head start, Sport Chalet has set an aggressive implementation goal of 10 months. "
Enterprise Systems | SAP: Once-and-Future Analytic Powerhouse?
Enterprise Systems SAP: Once-and-Future Analytic Powerhouse?: "Enterprise resource planning (ERP) giant SAP AG probably isn’t the first name that comes to mind when you think of business analytics, but—if SAP officials have their way—it soon will be. After all, they argue, SAP generates and (to a degree) 'owns' much of the data that third-party analytic tools mine for information. That gives it priority-of-place (i.e. first dibs) if nothing else.
Nor is SAP a slouch in the analytics market, officials contend, citing the company’s ongoing analytics push (http://esj.com/business_intelligence/article.aspx?t=y&EditorialsID=7537) and its surging growth in International Data Corp.’s recent business analytic market surveys. For the record, SAP grew its analytic business by 21.1 percent in 2004 and by 15 percent in 2005. That gave it the third-fastest growth rate in both years, behind only Microsoft and Cognos Inc. (in 2004), Microsoft and Business Objects SA (in 2005). "
Nor is SAP a slouch in the analytics market, officials contend, citing the company’s ongoing analytics push (http://esj.com/business_intelligence/article.aspx?t=y&EditorialsID=7537) and its surging growth in International Data Corp.’s recent business analytic market surveys. For the record, SAP grew its analytic business by 21.1 percent in 2004 and by 15 percent in 2005. That gave it the third-fastest growth rate in both years, behind only Microsoft and Cognos Inc. (in 2004), Microsoft and Business Objects SA (in 2005). "
Tuesday, December 12, 2006
Oracle(R) Technology Network Community Surpasses Five Million Members: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance
Oracle(R) Technology Network Community Surpasses Five Million Members: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance: "Celebrating more than a decade of providing highly productive tools and technologies to the developer community, Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL - News) today announced that Oracle® Technology Network (OTN) now has more than five million worldwide members. Exemplifying Oracle's commitment to facilitating application development and working closely with the development community, OTN is a free resource that provides one of the largest and fastest growing communities of developers, architects and database administrators with technology downloads and information they need to build, deploy, manage and optimize applications."
AccMan / SAP makes strange sounds
AccMan / SAP makes strange sounds: "Will Shai’s strategy pay off? SAP has a lot of competitors in its sights that have established and well oiled distribution channels. It is working on that. But then it has to get through the public perception of SAP as a player for the large company alone. At least that’s what it thinks it has to do. You may have noticed its recent TV advertising, which I first saw on late night Sky Sports.
Personally, I think it’s a waste of money. Do the general public care about SAP? I doubt it very much. The people who really care are other vendors, their distribution channels, industry observers and blog readers. SAP would be far better served connecting to ‘on the ground influencers’ who could tell the SAP story for it. These people need some nurturing because those I know about wonder whether SAP is fit for purpose at a price point they can sell to clients. "
Personally, I think it’s a waste of money. Do the general public care about SAP? I doubt it very much. The people who really care are other vendors, their distribution channels, industry observers and blog readers. SAP would be far better served connecting to ‘on the ground influencers’ who could tell the SAP story for it. These people need some nurturing because those I know about wonder whether SAP is fit for purpose at a price point they can sell to clients. "
» SAP going after mid-market with new ERP suite | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
» SAP going after mid-market with new ERP suite Between the Lines ZDNet.com: "In mid-2007, the company is expected to release a new version of its All-in-One suite, based on SAP's mySAP ERP 2005 and NetWeaver platform. Currently in testing with some customers, the new suite, likely to be called All-in-One 2007, will be available as on premises, on demand or in a plug-and-play appliance. SAP will launch the new All-in-One initiative with manufacturing verticals. 'We are taking something proven that exists in the market and seeing if we can put in package and serve risk averse people,' Agassi said.
The goal of new suite is to dramatically reduce what Agassi called a tax–across technology, operations, technology, user training, integration and infrastructure–on implementing and running ERP applications. 'We want to figure out a way to bring down the cost of operations by a factor of 5x to 10x,' Agassi said. A company should be able to set up the software in one week, cost half of what it costs today and have a flexible deployment model (customers can build their own composites on top of it), as well as predetermined roles and an event-centric user experience, Agassi said. '"
The goal of new suite is to dramatically reduce what Agassi called a tax–across technology, operations, technology, user training, integration and infrastructure–on implementing and running ERP applications. 'We want to figure out a way to bring down the cost of operations by a factor of 5x to 10x,' Agassi said. A company should be able to set up the software in one week, cost half of what it costs today and have a flexible deployment model (customers can build their own composites on top of it), as well as predetermined roles and an event-centric user experience, Agassi said. '"
» SAP rolls out first enchancement package for mySAP ERP | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
» SAP rolls out first enchancement package for mySAP ERP Between the Lines ZDNet.com: "SAP will continue to develop enhancement packages for mySAP ERP 2005 through 2010. At that point, the various enchancement packages, as well as new core processes, will be rolled into a new version of the ERP suite, said Shai Agassi, SAP president of the Products & Technology Group. Below is a roadmap of the enhancement package delivery plan."
» SAP bets on enterprise SOA, but are customers ready? | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
» SAP bets on enterprise SOA, but are customers ready? Between the Lines ZDNet.com: "“Enterprise SOA is available today, and SAP is the only company that can provide it,” Kagermann claimed. “All of this is in place, nothing is missing.” SAP enterprise SOA strives to follow all the latest themes of software today–horizontal, open, integrated, standardized, lower TCO, embedded services (such as compliance and analytics), and lighter weight.
“We take 50 percent of the upgrade cost away,” Kagermann said, applying the enterprise SOA approach to ERP software, and without major disruption to customers operations. However, he didn’t say how SAP would make that happen, especially related to migrating data and dealing with customizations. "
“We take 50 percent of the upgrade cost away,” Kagermann said, applying the enterprise SOA approach to ERP software, and without major disruption to customers operations. However, he didn’t say how SAP would make that happen, especially related to migrating data and dealing with customizations. "
IT Business
IT Business: "Kagermann said that customers will be able to build on the mySAP ERP 2005 platform without fear of obsolescence. Based on a services-oriented architecture approach, the company plans to release add-ons over the next few years that will improve that platform but won't require a deep investment.
SAP announced the first of its enhancement packages for mySAP ERP on Monday with improvements in human capital management, financials, adaptive manufacturing and, for retail customers, demand management and point-of-sale integration"
SAP announced the first of its enhancement packages for mySAP ERP on Monday with improvements in human capital management, financials, adaptive manufacturing and, for retail customers, demand management and point-of-sale integration"
SAP CEO: Two-thirds of customers will be on SOA by 2010
SAP CEO: Two-thirds of customers will be on SOA by 2010: "'Enterprise SOA is available today from SAP,' Kagermann told an assembly of partners, press and IT and financial analysts. SAP customers range from Cisco, EDP and Colgate-Palmolive Company to Kagermann's 'favorite customer' -- a 15-seat installation at a winery.
'SAP is the only company that can provide [enterprise SOA],' he said. 'In 2006, we have shipped all the products to make this happen. Now, as we approach 2007, enterprise SOA is proven, it's risk-less, it's there.'
SAP has set its sights on bringing enterprise SOA to the midmarket in 2007, Kagermann said. Additionally, by 2010, the company aims to have two-thirds of its installed base using enterprise SOA.
While Kagermann went so far as to call SAP the best ERP solution ever, it's not all bluster"
'SAP is the only company that can provide [enterprise SOA],' he said. 'In 2006, we have shipped all the products to make this happen. Now, as we approach 2007, enterprise SOA is proven, it's risk-less, it's there.'
SAP has set its sights on bringing enterprise SOA to the midmarket in 2007, Kagermann said. Additionally, by 2010, the company aims to have two-thirds of its installed base using enterprise SOA.
While Kagermann went so far as to call SAP the best ERP solution ever, it's not all bluster"
SAP goes modular on ERP | The Register
SAP goes modular on ERP The Register: "SAP plans to deliver between two and three enhancement packages per year which it said would deliver innovations in areas like the interface and management and co-ordination of business processes, through the creation of what SAP calls 'business scenarios.' These scenarios can be integrated with applications like Microsoft's Office through the companies' Duet software. Also planned in each enhancement package will be the usual slew of feature updates.
SAP introduced the update package and five-year upgrade roadmap strategy this summer. The goal is to get all of SAP's existing 35,000-strong customers on the latest, 'SOA-ready' version of its ERP platform, launched this summer, while also expanding the customer base to 100,000 by 2010. It's believed the best way to achieve this isn't to throw out a major new version of its products every two years, the usual release cycle, which could cause confusion and end up meaning customers run different versions of its software."
SAP introduced the update package and five-year upgrade roadmap strategy this summer. The goal is to get all of SAP's existing 35,000-strong customers on the latest, 'SOA-ready' version of its ERP platform, launched this summer, while also expanding the customer base to 100,000 by 2010. It's believed the best way to achieve this isn't to throw out a major new version of its products every two years, the usual release cycle, which could cause confusion and end up meaning customers run different versions of its software."
SAP Enhances MySAP ERP
SAP Enhances MySAP ERP: "The idea with the so-called enhancement packages is to allow users to upgrade functionality on an as-needed and somewhat continual basis, and at the same time maintain a stable core ERP system. SAP officials said Dec. 4 that the next big ERP 'core' release will come in 2010. It will include all the enhancement packages it puts out between now and then, as well as some new features.
'We respond to business innovation at customer sites,' said Shai Agassi, president of SAP's Product and Technology Group, at a press luncheon. 'My big view is more functionality on key processes that are not there today.' "
'We respond to business innovation at customer sites,' said Shai Agassi, president of SAP's Product and Technology Group, at a press luncheon. 'My big view is more functionality on key processes that are not there today.' "
SDA Asia Magazine::Features::SAP Charts Road Map for mySAP ERP, Maintains Stable ERP
SDA Asia Magazine::Features::SAP Charts Road Map for mySAP ERP, Maintains Stable ERP: "The idea with the so-called enhancement packages is to allow users to upgrade functionality on an as-needed and somewhat continual basis, and at the same time maintain a stable core ERP system.
According to SAP, the contents of first enhancement package includes:
Innovations in mySAP ERP Human Capital Management
Innovations in mySAP ERP Financials
Innovations for the industries
Demand management and POS integration for the retail industry
Innovations for adaptive manufacturing
SAP intends to deliver two to three enhancement packages per year. These can contain both functional and technical enhancements as well as enterprise services for mySAP ERP. Each enhancement package will also include enterprise services for a particular business scenario, the definition of these services in the enterprise service repository, and applications consuming those services—including composites where available and all the documentation required for customers to get up and running quickly. This documentation is being delivered via an interactive Wiki format. "
According to SAP, the contents of first enhancement package includes:
Innovations in mySAP ERP Human Capital Management
Innovations in mySAP ERP Financials
Innovations for the industries
Demand management and POS integration for the retail industry
Innovations for adaptive manufacturing
SAP intends to deliver two to three enhancement packages per year. These can contain both functional and technical enhancements as well as enterprise services for mySAP ERP. Each enhancement package will also include enterprise services for a particular business scenario, the definition of these services in the enterprise service repository, and applications consuming those services—including composites where available and all the documentation required for customers to get up and running quickly. This documentation is being delivered via an interactive Wiki format. "
Monday, December 11, 2006
WebWire® | Oracle® Technology Network Community Surpasses Five Million Members
WebWire® Oracle® Technology Network Community Surpasses Five Million Members: "Celebrating more than a decade of providing highly productive tools and technologies to the developer community, Oracle today announced that Oracle® Technology Network (OTN) now has more than five million worldwide members. Exemplifying Oracle’s commitment to facilitating application development and working closely with the development community, OTN is a free resource that provides one of the largest and fastest growing communities of developers, architects and database administrators with technology downloads and information they need to build, deploy, manage and optimize applications. "
SDA Asia Magazine
SDA Asia Magazine: "Oracle and i-flex had also unveiled in October the certification of i-flex applications with Oracle Application Server 10g, a component of Oracle Fusion Middleware. This certification is said to enable financial services companies to increase their capacity for growth and gain insight into their businesses, without significant financial or resource commitments, through the use of Service-Oriented Applications and business processes. The certification is part of Oracle's strategy to create a suite of business applications for the financial services industry, as per the statement issued by the companies.
Further, IBM, Oracle and i-flex solutions said they will collaborate to provide joint banking customers with infrastructure, services, and support for enterprise applications, core banking, and risk management."
Further, IBM, Oracle and i-flex solutions said they will collaborate to provide joint banking customers with infrastructure, services, and support for enterprise applications, core banking, and risk management."
Brief: SAP Charts Plan To Triple Its Customer Base - Industries News by InformationWeek
Brief: SAP Charts Plan To Triple Its Customer Base - Industries News by InformationWeek: "Every vendor's chasing the midmarket--Oracle's already big there, Microsoft is making a push with its Dynamics apps, and smaller vendors are entrenched with their vertical industry offerings. And there are wild cards like Workday, the startup by PeopleSoft founder Dave Duffield that pitches ERP as a hosted service. While CRM On Demand is SAP's only software-as-a-service offering, it said last week it's mulling such a model for its midmarket product. Reaching that market will take a new sales approach--SAP execs expect 60% of deals in the future will be closed by resellers, compared with just 15% today.
Like other vendors, SAP promises simplicity. Its mySAP 2005 runs on the NetWeaver platform, based on a service-oriented architecture. SAP says it won't upgrade mySAP until 2010, instead offering 'enhancement packages' from which customers can add features without changing the core system"
Like other vendors, SAP promises simplicity. Its mySAP 2005 runs on the NetWeaver platform, based on a service-oriented architecture. SAP says it won't upgrade mySAP until 2010, instead offering 'enhancement packages' from which customers can add features without changing the core system"
Innovators & Influencers: Big Software Ambitions - News by InformationWeek
Innovators & Influencers: Big Software Ambitions - News by InformationWeek: "Now that Wookey is overseeing Fusion, a set of Java applications that combines the best of PeopleSoft, JD Edwards, and Siebel, his market leadership aspirations might be within sight. But with Oracle trailing SAP by a wide margin, well, you know what they say about wishes: Be careful.
Wookey's reputation hangs on whether he can deliver the apps on schedule in 2008 and with enough functionality to satisfy each customer base. Everything's on track, he assured an Oracle OpenWorld audience in October. "
Wookey's reputation hangs on whether he can deliver the apps on schedule in 2008 and with enough functionality to satisfy each customer base. Everything's on track, he assured an Oracle OpenWorld audience in October. "
Sunday, December 10, 2006
» SAP promises to deliver ‘Big SOA’ — then what? | Service-Oriented Architecture | ZDNet.com
» SAP promises to deliver ‘Big SOA’ — then what? Service-Oriented Architecture ZDNet.com: "SAP's intentions are ambitious — Agassi plans to move 10,000 customers running on SAP's SOA-enabling NetWeaver middleware platform within the year. Agassi told Dan that by that time SAP expects to have reached a tipping point, in its favor, for its services-enabled ERP platform and ecosystem, through its base of mySAP ERP 2005 customers, Web services and xApps.
Can they do it, logistically? I think they can. But the $64 million (or make that billion) question is, should SAP competitors be running scared, or is SAP running scared? "
Can they do it, logistically? I think they can. But the $64 million (or make that billion) question is, should SAP competitors be running scared, or is SAP running scared? "
Is SAP eyeing ERP SaaS?
Is SAP eyeing ERP SaaS?: "If SAP does offer an on-demand ERP application specifically for the midmarket, it will suggest a slight shift in strategy. With the release of Sales On-Demand, SAP was still be targeting large enterprises, with the on-demand application for use by smaller divisions that need to get ramped up quicker and as a 'hybrid' option, allowing customers to utilize both on-premise and on-demand tools. The move would also bring SAP into more direct competition with NetSuite, which offers both CRM and ERP via SaaS and is reportedly preparing to go public, and Workday, an on-demand start-up offering ERP applications and founded by former PeopleSoft Inc. chief Dave Duffield.
Whatever the delivery model, Kagermann said the product will aim to cover all midmarket industries across the globe. The ultimate goal for All-in-One is to allow a $100 to $200 million business to set up a system in one week that cuts operation costs in half, and provides an easy-to-use, event-centric user experience, Agassi said. He conceded that SAP has not reached that point but he does think All-in-One has made significant strides. "
Whatever the delivery model, Kagermann said the product will aim to cover all midmarket industries across the globe. The ultimate goal for All-in-One is to allow a $100 to $200 million business to set up a system in one week that cuts operation costs in half, and provides an easy-to-use, event-centric user experience, Agassi said. He conceded that SAP has not reached that point but he does think All-in-One has made significant strides. "
Bloomberg.com: News
Bloomberg.com: News: "``It's clear that we peaked in 2006,'' Heinrich, who joined SAP in 1987 when the company had 400 workers, said yesterday at the company's headquarters in Walldorf, near Frankfurt. ``We're currently looking at all environments for efficiency increases. Otherwise we won't meet our targets.''
The plan complements Chief Executive Officer Henning Kagermann's push to add small- and medium-sized customers, which demand fewer sales people, and comes after the 3,000 engineers SAP hired over the past two years developed new software that let smaller companies customize their needs in managing tasks such as accounting and payroll. Kagermann wants to triple SAP's total number of clients to 100,000 by 2010. "
The plan complements Chief Executive Officer Henning Kagermann's push to add small- and medium-sized customers, which demand fewer sales people, and comes after the 3,000 engineers SAP hired over the past two years developed new software that let smaller companies customize their needs in managing tasks such as accounting and payroll. Kagermann wants to triple SAP's total number of clients to 100,000 by 2010. "
SDA India :: Features :: EMC Delivers Building Block for Enterprise SOA from SAP
SDA India :: Features :: EMC Delivers Building Block for Enterprise SOA from SAP: "The addition of EMC technology to Fujitsu Siemens Computers' FlexFrame storage line-up is part of the company's strategy to identify the most popular solutions for the data centre and ensure they are supported. EMC and Fujitsu Siemens Computers have a reseller, OEM and services relationship that began 1997.
FlexFrame for mySAP Business Suite will enter pilot production in February 2007 and full production in M"
FlexFrame for mySAP Business Suite will enter pilot production in February 2007 and full production in M"
Information Architecture > Service Oriented Architectures > SAP releases first series of mySAP 2005 ERP upgrade
Information Architecture > Service Oriented Architectures > SAP releases first series of mySAP 2005 ERP upgrade: "Released Monday, the first SAP enhancement package for mySAP ERP 2005 is centered around delivering new general-purpose human capital management (HCM) and financials features and specific functionality for the retail and manufacturing industries.
On the HCM side, SAP is offering new capabilities to monitor service level agreements, while on the financials front, the vendor has beefed up its credit and collection management reporting and analytics. For retailers, SAP has drawn on its 2005 purchases of retail software vendors Triversity and Khimetrics to integrate their respective point-of-sale and pricing optimization technologies into mySAP ERP 2005. On the manufacturing front, the company is bringing manufacturing execution systems and work instructions along with quality management into its ERP software. "
On the HCM side, SAP is offering new capabilities to monitor service level agreements, while on the financials front, the vendor has beefed up its credit and collection management reporting and analytics. For retailers, SAP has drawn on its 2005 purchases of retail software vendors Triversity and Khimetrics to integrate their respective point-of-sale and pricing optimization technologies into mySAP ERP 2005. On the manufacturing front, the company is bringing manufacturing execution systems and work instructions along with quality management into its ERP software. "
The Village View: Oracle extends Enterprise SSO with acq.... uh partnership
The Village View: Oracle extends Enterprise SSO with acq.... uh partnership: "When I read that Oracle was making an announcement around 'extending' their Single Sign-On offering I assumed that meant another acquisition. Seems they are taking a page out of the SAP book and going the partnership route.
Oracle today announced the Oracle Enterprise Single Sign-On Suite, delivering enterprise authentication and single sign-on for mainframe, client/server and Web applications. The Suite, a component of Oracle Identity Management...[r]esulting from its partnership with Passlogix, enable[s] customers to access... applications and systems using a single identity and password and automatically provision users based on a common, secure infrastructure.
This partnership follows several identity management-related acquisitions made earlier to build out its Oracle Identity Management solution:"
Oracle today announced the Oracle Enterprise Single Sign-On Suite, delivering enterprise authentication and single sign-on for mainframe, client/server and Web applications. The Suite, a component of Oracle Identity Management...[r]esulting from its partnership with Passlogix, enable[s] customers to access... applications and systems using a single identity and password and automatically provision users based on a common, secure infrastructure.
This partnership follows several identity management-related acquisitions made earlier to build out its Oracle Identity Management solution:"
SAP CEO: Two-thirds of customers will be on SOA by 2010
SAP CEO: Two-thirds of customers will be on SOA by 2010: "Enterprise SOA is available today from SAP,' Kagermann told an assembly of partners, press and IT and financial analysts. SAP customers range from Cisco, EDP and Colgate-Palmolive Company to Kagermann's 'favorite customer' -- a 15-seat installation at a winery.
'SAP is the only company that can provide [enterprise SOA],' he said. 'In 2006, we have shipped all the products to make this happen. Now, as we approach 2007, enterprise SOA is proven, it's risk-less, it's there.'
SAP has set its sights on bringing enterprise SOA to the midmarket in 2007, Kagermann said. Additionally, by 2010, the company aims to have two-thirds of its installed base using enterprise SOA. "
'SAP is the only company that can provide [enterprise SOA],' he said. 'In 2006, we have shipped all the products to make this happen. Now, as we approach 2007, enterprise SOA is proven, it's risk-less, it's there.'
SAP has set its sights on bringing enterprise SOA to the midmarket in 2007, Kagermann said. Additionally, by 2010, the company aims to have two-thirds of its installed base using enterprise SOA. "
CRM Today: SAP Continues to Deliver on the Value of Enterprise SOA
CRM Today: SAP Continues to Deliver on the Value of Enterprise SOA: "Continuing to deliver on its commitment to enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA), SAP AG has announced the availability of the first SAP enhancement package for mySAP™ ERP and disclosed further details of innovations being delivered under its evolved road map for mySAP ERP. The first enhancement package is now available to customers running mySAP ERP 2005 as part of their license and maintenance agreement.
This first enhancement package makes SAP one of the first vendors to fully leverage enterprise SOA for both software design and delivery. Customers can now consume new functionality and enterprise services in a continuous fashion, allowing them to drive business process innovation while maintaining the stability of their core enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The announcement was made at SAP’s fourth annual Analyst Summit, being held in Las Vegas, December 4-5. "
This first enhancement package makes SAP one of the first vendors to fully leverage enterprise SOA for both software design and delivery. Customers can now consume new functionality and enterprise services in a continuous fashion, allowing them to drive business process innovation while maintaining the stability of their core enterprise resource planning (ERP) system. The announcement was made at SAP’s fourth annual Analyst Summit, being held in Las Vegas, December 4-5. "
Wednesday, December 06, 2006
SAP Summit '06: enhancing mySAP ERP
SAP Summit '06: enhancing mySAP ERP: "The enhancement package released this week addresses mySAP ERP Human Capital Management, mySAP ERP Financials and the retail and manufacturing industries. Human Capital Management enhancements include service-level agreements monitoring and analytics for employee interaction. Improved credit and collection management is the main thrust of the financials enhancements, including credit report monitoring, collections management analytics and enterprise services to integrate external credit information providers.
SAP has also integrated the point-of-sale and pricing optimization of recent acquisitions Triversity and Khimetric, respectively, into mySAP ERP 2005 for the retail industry. Manufacturing additions to the ERP suite include manufacturing execution systems (MES), manufacturing work instructions and quality management. "
SAP has also integrated the point-of-sale and pricing optimization of recent acquisitions Triversity and Khimetric, respectively, into mySAP ERP 2005 for the retail industry. Manufacturing additions to the ERP suite include manufacturing execution systems (MES), manufacturing work instructions and quality management. "
SOA governance key at Gartner
SOA governance key at Gartner: "Plummer's final suggestion was to eliminate 'suite' thinking altogether. Suites tend to woo a customer into the idea that they are getting a lot, whether or not it is appropriate for the needs of the business. He suggested to focus more on capabilities of a product in relation to specific needs. Titov agreed stating, 'No vendor has it all. You want SOA your way, not a vendor's way.' Eliminating 'suite' thinking, according to Plummer, allows for a more organic business processes that can deliver a better ROI. "
» SAP going after mid-market with new ERP suite | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
» SAP going after mid-market with new ERP suite Between the Lines ZDNet.com: "In mid-2007, the company is expected to release a new version of its All-in-One suite, based on SAP's mySAP ERP 2005 and NetWeaver platform. Currently in testing with some customers, the new suite, likely to be called All-in-One 2007, will be available as on premises, on demand or in a plug-and-play appliance. SAP will launch the new All-in-One initiative with manufacturing verticals. 'We are taking something proven that exists in the market and seeing if we can put in package and serve risk averse people,' Agassi said.
The goal of new suite is to dramatically reduce what Agassi called a tax–across technology, operations, technology, user training, integration and infrastructure–on implementing and running ERP applications. 'We want to figure out a way to bring down the cost of operations by a factor of 5x to 10x,' Agassi said. A company should be able to set up the software in one week, cost half of what it costs today and have a flexible deployment model (customers can build their own composites on top of it), as well as predetermined roles and an event-centric user experience, Agassi said. '"
The goal of new suite is to dramatically reduce what Agassi called a tax–across technology, operations, technology, user training, integration and infrastructure–on implementing and running ERP applications. 'We want to figure out a way to bring down the cost of operations by a factor of 5x to 10x,' Agassi said. A company should be able to set up the software in one week, cost half of what it costs today and have a flexible deployment model (customers can build their own composites on top of it), as well as predetermined roles and an event-centric user experience, Agassi said. '"
