Tuesday, May 15, 2007
Business Two Zero » Blog Archive » Kagermann’s keynote - numbers and confidence at the speed of change
Business Two Zero » Blog Archive » Kagermann’s keynote - numbers and confidence at the speed of change: "Henning Kagermann seemed slightly nervous for the first few words of his keynote speech at SAPPHIRE 07 yesterday, almost as if he had so much to say but wasn’t sure where to start. That thought soon disappeared as he got in to his stride, and seemed much more animated than I’ve seen him before. By the end he even had the confidence to admit some of SAP’s mistakes back in the 90s - out of control implementations, lack of product quality in that period, and not enough executive level attention on the large implementations that went wrong. The overall message was that they’ve learned from the past and applied that experience to their next wave of innovation. Back in the 90s R/3 and Business Process Reengineering provided standardised processes and delivered economies of scale. The next wave of SAP’s products to the 2010s are all about Business Network Transformation and Enterprise SOA. "
- "Custom Code Over My Dead Body" (Sapphire, Vienna) - Home - Rearranging the Deck Chairs: IT Project Failures
- "Custom Code Over My Dead Body" (Sapphire, Vienna) - Home - Rearranging the Deck Chairs: IT Project Failures: "From the perspective of project success and failure, which is the focus of this blog, Pascal made a few important points:
Simplification. The future holds smaller, increasingly well-defined products tailored to the needs of specific groups of companies and industries. The assumption here is that SAP software embodies a rich set of carefully-researched best practices, which the great majority of SAP customers will find very workable. These “prescriptive solutions” trade flexibility for simplicity, which SAP believes is in the best interests of it’s market. Basically, it’s the old 80/20 rule in action.
“Custom code over my dead body.” Pascal believes strongly (I am definitely understating here) that SAP customers should virtually never write custom code. Custom code in a packaged solution creates a variety of evils, which taken together lead to cost and time over-runs downstream, aside from increased development costs and risks during the project. During the discussion of custom code, he asked the rhetorical question, “Would you customize your telephone?”. I understood this to mean that a well-defined solution, performing more or less as the user requires, should not need be redesigned by customers in the field. I do agree with this point, by the way."
Simplification. The future holds smaller, increasingly well-defined products tailored to the needs of specific groups of companies and industries. The assumption here is that SAP software embodies a rich set of carefully-researched best practices, which the great majority of SAP customers will find very workable. These “prescriptive solutions” trade flexibility for simplicity, which SAP believes is in the best interests of it’s market. Basically, it’s the old 80/20 rule in action.
“Custom code over my dead body.” Pascal believes strongly (I am definitely understating here) that SAP customers should virtually never write custom code. Custom code in a packaged solution creates a variety of evils, which taken together lead to cost and time over-runs downstream, aside from increased development costs and risks during the project. During the discussion of custom code, he asked the rhetorical question, “Would you customize your telephone?”. I understood this to mean that a well-defined solution, performing more or less as the user requires, should not need be redesigned by customers in the field. I do agree with this point, by the way."
Monday, May 14, 2007
SAP still on track with A1S | InfoWorld | News | 2007-05-14 | By John Blau, IDG News Service
SAP still on track with A1S InfoWorld News 2007-05-14 By John Blau, IDG News Service: "Henning Kagermann, CEO of SAP, referred to development issues with the new software, code-named A1S, as 'normal.'
'As long as the product is not volume-ready, we'll have problems every day,' Kagermann said Monday at a news conference during the Sapphire customer event in Vienna.
Rumors have abounded in the market that SAP may have to push the launch of A1S to a later date due to unforeseen challenges in developing -- and supporting -- the new on-demand offering.
A1S will target midmarket customers who seek an inexpensive, easy-to-deploy, low-risk suite of business applications including ERP (enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relationship management) and SCM (supply chain management). The hosted application, to be available as a monthly subscription, will give smaller, cost-sensitive companies the flexibility to set up and test the software on their own before deciding to make a purchase, using a 'try, run and adapt' model.
A1S is a 'very important event' for SAP, said board member and president of global field operations Leó Apotheker. 'It's not just a new project,' he said, but 'a whole new business model.'
A number of select customers have already tested the product and more will join the testing over the months ahead, according to Apotheker.
The company is still 'testing, refining and adjusting' on the product development side and 'doing all the things we need to do on the business model side' to have the product ready for a commercial launch in the first quarter of next year, he said. "
'As long as the product is not volume-ready, we'll have problems every day,' Kagermann said Monday at a news conference during the Sapphire customer event in Vienna.
Rumors have abounded in the market that SAP may have to push the launch of A1S to a later date due to unforeseen challenges in developing -- and supporting -- the new on-demand offering.
A1S will target midmarket customers who seek an inexpensive, easy-to-deploy, low-risk suite of business applications including ERP (enterprise resource planning), CRM (customer relationship management) and SCM (supply chain management). The hosted application, to be available as a monthly subscription, will give smaller, cost-sensitive companies the flexibility to set up and test the software on their own before deciding to make a purchase, using a 'try, run and adapt' model.
A1S is a 'very important event' for SAP, said board member and president of global field operations Leó Apotheker. 'It's not just a new project,' he said, but 'a whole new business model.'
A number of select customers have already tested the product and more will join the testing over the months ahead, according to Apotheker.
The company is still 'testing, refining and adjusting' on the product development side and 'doing all the things we need to do on the business model side' to have the product ready for a commercial launch in the first quarter of next year, he said. "
» WSJ: SAP struggles with globalization | Between the Lines | ZDNet.com
» WSJ: SAP struggles with globalization Between the Lines ZDNet.com: "To be sure globalization is never easy due to cultural barriers and worker fear. But the WSJ story also hints at how the recently departed Shai Agassi was often in the middle of a tug of war between American, Indian and German developers.
SAP adopted English for meetings even at its German headquarters. Veteran German developers chafed at the move and worried about quality. American developers, based in Palo Alto, Calif., worried SAP wasn't moving fast enough. These cultural issues were compounded because product development was spread around the globe and run by Agassi, who seemed aloof to his German workers.
As a result, traditional SAP programs clashed with Agassi's baby, NetWeaver. The Journal story also details how clashes even spilled out to the newspapers in German. Last year, SAP hosted a town-hall meeting over the 'Americanization of SAP.'
Whether these issues are globalization growing pains or something more serious remains to be seen. SAP's top brass–Henning Kagermann and Hasso Plattner and now Leo Apotheker–remain committed to globalization. After all, they have no choice.
But now that Agassi is gone the messaging becomes more difficult. The Journal noted that Kagermann and Plattner are now trying to convince U.S. developers that the company won't become Walldorf-centric again. How convincing that message is will be critical since SAP will need all the developers it can get to combat Internet-based software models and build next-generation SAP apps."
SAP adopted English for meetings even at its German headquarters. Veteran German developers chafed at the move and worried about quality. American developers, based in Palo Alto, Calif., worried SAP wasn't moving fast enough. These cultural issues were compounded because product development was spread around the globe and run by Agassi, who seemed aloof to his German workers.
As a result, traditional SAP programs clashed with Agassi's baby, NetWeaver. The Journal story also details how clashes even spilled out to the newspapers in German. Last year, SAP hosted a town-hall meeting over the 'Americanization of SAP.'
Whether these issues are globalization growing pains or something more serious remains to be seen. SAP's top brass–Henning Kagermann and Hasso Plattner and now Leo Apotheker–remain committed to globalization. After all, they have no choice.
But now that Agassi is gone the messaging becomes more difficult. The Journal noted that Kagermann and Plattner are now trying to convince U.S. developers that the company won't become Walldorf-centric again. How convincing that message is will be critical since SAP will need all the developers it can get to combat Internet-based software models and build next-generation SAP apps."
ZDNet India - Technology News, Insight, Reviews of PC Hardware, Gadgets, Gizmos, Mobile Phones, Video Reviews, Software Downloads, Open Source and Gaming
ZDNet India - Technology News, Insight, Reviews of PC Hardware, Gadgets, Gizmos, Mobile Phones, Video Reviews, Software Downloads, Open Source and Gaming: "Oracle has announced that leading Independent Software Vendors (ISVs) across India and Asia Pacific have deployed more than 200 solutions on Oracle Fusion Middleware.
India and other Asia Pacific ISVs representing a variety of industries including Financial Services, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Retail, Pharmaceuticals, Health Care and Public Sector have turned to Oracle Fusion Middleware to deliver more comprehensive offerings for their targeted markets. "
India and other Asia Pacific ISVs representing a variety of industries including Financial Services, Telecommunications, Manufacturing, Retail, Pharmaceuticals, Health Care and Public Sector have turned to Oracle Fusion Middleware to deliver more comprehensive offerings for their targeted markets. "
SAP's Plan to Globalize Hits Cultural Barriers - WSJ.com
SAP's Plan to Globalize Hits Cultural Barriers - WSJ.com
To get more global, SAP AG hired thousands of programmers in countries such as the U.S. and India. It assigned them to key projects that almost all had been handled from its home base in the small town of Walldorf, Germany. It adopted English for corporate meetings, even in headquarters. SAP recruited hundreds of foreign managers, and non-Germans made up half the company's top ranks by last year, up from one-third in 2000. The newcomers sought to inject a faster pace and open SAP's insular culture ...
To get more global, SAP AG hired thousands of programmers in countries such as the U.S. and India. It assigned them to key projects that almost all had been handled from its home base in the small town of Walldorf, Germany. It adopted English for corporate meetings, even in headquarters. SAP recruited hundreds of foreign managers, and non-Germans made up half the company's top ranks by last year, up from one-third in 2000. The newcomers sought to inject a faster pace and open SAP's insular culture ...
Globes [online] - Udi Ziv follows Shai Agassi out of SAP
Globes [online] - Udi Ziv follows Shai Agassi out of SAP: "In the aftermath of the well-publicized departure of SAP executive board member Shai Agassi, the Israeli in charge of products and development, shocks at the company are continuing. Sources inform ''Globes'' that Udi Ziv, who founded and consolidated SAP’s Israeli development center and is responsible for its small and medium business (SMB) unit, is also leaving the company.
Ziv departure is apparently indirectly related to the departure of Agassi, since he has been considered one of Agassi’s associates since they co-founded TopTier Software, which SAP AG (NYSE; XETRA:SAP) acquired in 2001. "
Ziv departure is apparently indirectly related to the departure of Agassi, since he has been considered one of Agassi’s associates since they co-founded TopTier Software, which SAP AG (NYSE; XETRA:SAP) acquired in 2001. "
The Four Hundred--IBM Readies Project Kobe to Speed SAP Deployments on System i
The Four Hundred--IBM Readies Project Kobe to Speed SAP Deployments on System i: "To that end, IBM's European System i team has initiated Project Kobe, which is not about getting excellent Japanese beef imported into Germany or getting L.A. Laker shooting guard Kobe Bryant, whose parents actually named him after that beef when they saw it on a menu prior to his birth. Project Kobe, according to Shearer, aims to reduce the time to install a suite of SAP software on the i5 platform from a matter of weeks to a few days. Presumably, these timeframes are for relatively simple SAP installations.
SAP is, of course, still at work on its future ERP suite aimed at SMB customers, known by the code-name A1S, which could have some software-as-a-service delivery methods as well as functionality, packaging, and pricing that are suitable for small and medium businesses. In March, the rumors had it that A1S delivery was being delayed, but SAP explained that it had always intended for a stepped rollout of the product, starting at the end of 2007 or perhaps the beginning of 2008. In the meantime, SMB shops are being sold the All in One variant of the SAP suite.
Such a delivery would, of course, roughly coincide with when the Power6-based System i servers are expected to be launched. But that timing is actually just a coincidence. Given the midrange bend to the System i customer base and IBM's desire to be the easiest and quickest platform on which to deploy SAP and the popularity of the i5 platform at manufacturers and distributors in Europe, you can bet Project Kobe is also focusing on making the i5 competitive on A1S workloads, too."
SAP is, of course, still at work on its future ERP suite aimed at SMB customers, known by the code-name A1S, which could have some software-as-a-service delivery methods as well as functionality, packaging, and pricing that are suitable for small and medium businesses. In March, the rumors had it that A1S delivery was being delayed, but SAP explained that it had always intended for a stepped rollout of the product, starting at the end of 2007 or perhaps the beginning of 2008. In the meantime, SMB shops are being sold the All in One variant of the SAP suite.
Such a delivery would, of course, roughly coincide with when the Power6-based System i servers are expected to be launched. But that timing is actually just a coincidence. Given the midrange bend to the System i customer base and IBM's desire to be the easiest and quickest platform on which to deploy SAP and the popularity of the i5 platform at manufacturers and distributors in Europe, you can bet Project Kobe is also focusing on making the i5 competitive on A1S workloads, too."
Bloomberg.com: Germany
Bloomberg.com: Germany: "Walldorf, Germany-based SAP may open the center in the coming two to three years, Kagermann told journalists at a meeting in Vienna yesterday, before SAP's annual Sapphire customer conference which starts today.
``You have to distribute around the world for proximity to clients and in places where you feel you can attract the next generation of engineers,'' he said.
Almost 30 percent of SAP's 40,000 employees are software engineers at one of SAP's eight global laboratories. SAP, whose software helps companies manage tasks such as accounting and payroll, has accelerated investments to win smaller clients and slow an advance of rival Oracle Corp. in the $56 billion market.
Russia belongs to a group of countries commonly called the BRIC, which includes Brazil, India and China, where the economies are growing faster than in the U.S. and western Europe. Outside Germany, SAP has set up software laboratories in Bulgaria, Hungary, China, India, Israel, the U.S. and Canada.
``If you look at R&D, we're now 65 percent of capacity in Walldorf,'' Kagermann said. ``It's pretty good to see one third outside.'' "
``You have to distribute around the world for proximity to clients and in places where you feel you can attract the next generation of engineers,'' he said.
Almost 30 percent of SAP's 40,000 employees are software engineers at one of SAP's eight global laboratories. SAP, whose software helps companies manage tasks such as accounting and payroll, has accelerated investments to win smaller clients and slow an advance of rival Oracle Corp. in the $56 billion market.
Russia belongs to a group of countries commonly called the BRIC, which includes Brazil, India and China, where the economies are growing faster than in the U.S. and western Europe. Outside Germany, SAP has set up software laboratories in Bulgaria, Hungary, China, India, Israel, the U.S. and Canada.
``If you look at R&D, we're now 65 percent of capacity in Walldorf,'' Kagermann said. ``It's pretty good to see one third outside.'' "
SAP CEO says has not had any takeover approaches | News | Mergers/Acquisitions | Reuters
SAP CEO says has not had any takeover approaches News Mergers/Acquisitions Reuters: "'No,' Kagermann replied when asked at the start of this week's event in Vienna whether SAP had been approached because of its currently low share price. A spokesman said Kagermann was referring to the last few months.
Kagermann added he believed growth in the software sector was poised to take off as new methods of interweaving software coincided with firms looking at business processes that cross sectors rather than being focused on their own industry.
'I believe this can kick off larger growth rates,' Kagermann said. 'We believe we are seeing a similar wave to what we saw at the beginning of the 90s.
Kagermann added he believed growth in the software sector was poised to take off as new methods of interweaving software coincided with firms looking at business processes that cross sectors rather than being focused on their own industry.
'I believe this can kick off larger growth rates,' Kagermann said. 'We believe we are seeing a similar wave to what we saw at the beginning of the 90s.
Mainstream matters - a blog from computing.co.uk
Mainstream matters - a blog from computing.co.uk: "Included in this is the new Fusion Applications line, so if a customer just wanted to migrate financials or HR, for example, and leave manufacturing planning where it is while they gain experience and confidence with the new architecture, Oracle will support them in doing that.
OK, so this is a bit of a simplification and in practice, with customisations and so on, there will always be development and integration work to be done, but again, this shouldn’t be any different to migrations that would have taken place anyway.
The bottom line is that when you consider Oracle’s Fusion Applications and Applications Unlimited strategies together, it all looks eminently sensible, and actually very empathetic to customer concerns and needs. Provided Oracle continues to work through plans with customers on a case by case basis, as it has been doing, it can hopefully keep everyone moving forward positively and gain or retain hearts and minds.
The only question then remaining is whether it can deliver on the promise of the ambitious Fusion Applications programme, but that’s a whole separate discussion."
OK, so this is a bit of a simplification and in practice, with customisations and so on, there will always be development and integration work to be done, but again, this shouldn’t be any different to migrations that would have taken place anyway.
The bottom line is that when you consider Oracle’s Fusion Applications and Applications Unlimited strategies together, it all looks eminently sensible, and actually very empathetic to customer concerns and needs. Provided Oracle continues to work through plans with customers on a case by case basis, as it has been doing, it can hopefully keep everyone moving forward positively and gain or retain hearts and minds.
The only question then remaining is whether it can deliver on the promise of the ambitious Fusion Applications programme, but that’s a whole separate discussion."
Germany's SAP Acquires Wicom, MaXware
SAP (nyse: SAP - news - people ) said it bought Trondheim, Norway-based MaXware, which makes identify software and Espoo, Finland-based Wicom Communications, which makes Internet communication software.
The purchase prices were not disclosed.
Walldorf-based SAP said MaXware's software will be integrated into its own NetWeaver software platform to increase its security while Wicom's software will be used to upgrade its customer service offerings.
SAP also said it would start working with U.S. technology company SunGard on jointly developing software for the banking industry.
From: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/05/14/ap3716810.html?partner=alerts
The purchase prices were not disclosed.
Walldorf-based SAP said MaXware's software will be integrated into its own NetWeaver software platform to increase its security while Wicom's software will be used to upgrade its customer service offerings.
SAP also said it would start working with U.S. technology company SunGard on jointly developing software for the banking industry.
From: http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/05/14/ap3716810.html?partner=alerts
Labels: SAP Acquisitions
Thursday, May 10, 2007
destinationCRM.com: SAP Will Buy OutlookSoft to Boost Its CPM Credentials
destinationCRM.com: SAP Will Buy OutlookSoft to Boost Its CPM Credentials: "The OutlookSoft acquisition also adds another longtime Oracle foe to SAP's team. OutlookSoft has been run for the past two years by Phil Wilmington, a former PeopleSoft executive who participated in an unsuccessful effort to prevent that software maker from being taken over by Oracle.
SAP's CPM arsenal now resembles a three-legged table, says Sheina. 'SAP can now boast a power triangle of financial products for CFOs,' she says. From a competitive perspective, Sheina says 'both companies are looking to grow their market share in more corners of the enterprise applications space, but in contrasting ways. SAP is executing a series of small tuck-in acquisitions of niche players, such as Pilot, to flesh out the white spaces in its product lines. Oracle is going after the larger blockbuster deals, such as Hyperion.'"
SAP's CPM arsenal now resembles a three-legged table, says Sheina. 'SAP can now boast a power triangle of financial products for CFOs,' she says. From a competitive perspective, Sheina says 'both companies are looking to grow their market share in more corners of the enterprise applications space, but in contrasting ways. SAP is executing a series of small tuck-in acquisitions of niche players, such as Pilot, to flesh out the white spaces in its product lines. Oracle is going after the larger blockbuster deals, such as Hyperion.'"
IDC eXchange » Blog Archive » SAP Shifts from Evolution to Revolution for the SMB Long Tail
IDC eXchange » Blog Archive » SAP Shifts from Evolution to Revolution for the SMB Long Tail: "Needless to say, I think Henning would agree that the assessment he gave me in 2005 has become obsolete. Will SAP’s attempt at revolution be revolutionary enough?SAP’s journey down the SMB Long Tail is based - as it must be - on a revolutionary, not an evolutionary, game plan. But given whom SAP is likely to meet on that journey - including not only a goodly number of very cost-conscious, technophobic SMB prospects, but also very disruptive competitors like Google, Yahoo and eBay (never mind the relatively more conventional competitors salesforce.com, SugarCRM, Intuit, and maybe even a radicalized Microsoft, once it decides what to do about SaaS) - it’s going to be interesting to assess whether SAP’s attempt at revolution is revolutionary enough, as it tries to concurrently manage its traditional business, as it must, on an evolutionary path. "
SAP says to put up "massive fight" in Oracle suit | Reuters.com
SAP says to put up "massive fight" in Oracle suit Reuters.com: "In a speech at the German company's annual shareholders' meeting on Thursday, Henning Kagermann said: 'We will put up a massive fight against the accusations that have been made.'
Oracle has filed a lawsuit against SAP for corporate theft, alleging that employees of one of SAP's subsidiaries in Texas illegally used customer log-ins to steal software and other material from Oracle's password-protected Website.
The subsidiary, TomorrowNow, specialises in customer service for clients using PeopleSoft and JD Edwards software. Both are now part of Oracle, which has been on an acquisition spree.
Kagermann said: 'SAP respects the protection of intellectual property. At the moment we are investigating every single claim in the lawsuit and composing the defence that we will file with the court.'
'Even if Oracle portrays it differently in its petition, we believe what this is about is an attempt to make it more difficult for third parties to provide service and support for Oracle software,' he added."
Oracle has filed a lawsuit against SAP for corporate theft, alleging that employees of one of SAP's subsidiaries in Texas illegally used customer log-ins to steal software and other material from Oracle's password-protected Website.
The subsidiary, TomorrowNow, specialises in customer service for clients using PeopleSoft and JD Edwards software. Both are now part of Oracle, which has been on an acquisition spree.
Kagermann said: 'SAP respects the protection of intellectual property. At the moment we are investigating every single claim in the lawsuit and composing the defence that we will file with the court.'
'Even if Oracle portrays it differently in its petition, we believe what this is about is an attempt to make it more difficult for third parties to provide service and support for Oracle software,' he added."
Sun simplifies SAP at Al Batha Group - Technology - ArabianBusiness.com
Sun simplifies SAP at Al Batha Group - Technology - ArabianBusiness.com: "Sun's N1 Advanced Architecture provides a methodology and suite of tools to help organisations centralise and automate their data centre functions.
Oomen added: 'As we operated in a heterogeneous business environment, we needed a solution to simplify our SAP solution, better utilise hardware resources and improve service levels.'
The deployment took three months, and Oomen said it had improved performance during peak hours. "
Oomen added: 'As we operated in a heterogeneous business environment, we needed a solution to simplify our SAP solution, better utilise hardware resources and improve service levels.'
The deployment took three months, and Oomen said it had improved performance during peak hours. "
Ballmer: Submit and OBA-y | The Register
Ballmer: Submit and OBA-y The Register: "Duet is a joint project of SAP and Microsoft which integrates Office as a front end 'business process' for SAP. Ballmer said he met SAP CEO Henning Kagermann ten days ago to express his concerns.
But the project's failure to take off as hoped didn't hamper Ballmer's sunny (and unsurprisingly, loud) outlook on the future of OBAs with Office 2007.
'We see a real opportunity for business solutions to marry software and services with popular Office applications that run on the desktop,' Ballmer said.
He believes users too, want to jump at the chance to take information from other programs 'into the comfort' of Microsoft Office.
OBAs aren't new to the Office suite, but have been more richly integrated into the Office 2007 lineup. Microsoft sees it as a major selling point to IT exec crowd."
But the project's failure to take off as hoped didn't hamper Ballmer's sunny (and unsurprisingly, loud) outlook on the future of OBAs with Office 2007.
'We see a real opportunity for business solutions to marry software and services with popular Office applications that run on the desktop,' Ballmer said.
He believes users too, want to jump at the chance to take information from other programs 'into the comfort' of Microsoft Office.
OBAs aren't new to the Office suite, but have been more richly integrated into the Office 2007 lineup. Microsoft sees it as a major selling point to IT exec crowd."
Wednesday, May 09, 2007
Fujitsu to buy SAP?
SAP closed 0.57 eur, or 1.63 pct, higher at 35.63 eur amid market speculation Japan's Fujitsu is preparing a 48 eur a share bid for the German business software maker.
'I can't confirm the name but we're seeing a lot of interest on the back of the rumour,' said a London-based dealer.
Commentators said a bid for SAP would allow Fujitsu to gain a foothold in Europe by giving them the opportunity to bundle their hardware with the German company's software and sell the package via SAP's distribution network.
An SAP spokesman declined to comment on the matter.
From: http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/05/09/afx3702867.html
'I can't confirm the name but we're seeing a lot of interest on the back of the rumour,' said a London-based dealer.
Commentators said a bid for SAP would allow Fujitsu to gain a foothold in Europe by giving them the opportunity to bundle their hardware with the German company's software and sell the package via SAP's distribution network.
An SAP spokesman declined to comment on the matter.
From: http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2007/05/09/afx3702867.html
Labels: SAP Fujitsu acquisition
Tuesday, May 01, 2007
Oracle Integrates Siebel CRM for E-Business Suite
Oracle Integrates Siebel CRM for E-Business Suite: "The Siebel CRM On-Demand Integration Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite is a part of the latest version of Siebel CRM On Demand. The solution enables customers to dramatically speed the implementation of end-to-end business processes and derive more value from their existing Oracle software.
The Siebel CRM On Demand Integration Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite is also a key component of the Oracle Application Integration Architecture. Using a common object model and an open, Business Process Execution Language based platform, Oracle delivers pre-built integration across Oracle ERP, CRM and industry applications through this architecture.
Customers and partners can use these comprehensive integration capabilities to easily and quickly establish deep integration between Siebel CRM On- Demand with other applications and systems. "
The Siebel CRM On Demand Integration Pack for Oracle E-Business Suite is also a key component of the Oracle Application Integration Architecture. Using a common object model and an open, Business Process Execution Language based platform, Oracle delivers pre-built integration across Oracle ERP, CRM and industry applications through this architecture.
Customers and partners can use these comprehensive integration capabilities to easily and quickly establish deep integration between Siebel CRM On- Demand with other applications and systems. "
Oracle Forms New Business Unit - Forbes.com
Oracle Forms New Business Unit - Forbes.com: "The new global business unit, headquartered in New York City, will be headed by i-flex solutions Chairman Rajesh Hukku.
'Oracle (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ) is already No. 1 in ERP and CRM applications for the financial services industry. With our majority investment in i-flex, we now have the world's top ranked solution for banking,' said Charles Phillips, president of Oracle.
The new unit will centralize and coordinate Oracle's current and future financial services application assets. It will bring together applications from i-flex, including FLEXCUBE, Reveleus, Mantas, DayBreak, Insure3, with Oracle's product suite."
'Oracle (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ) is already No. 1 in ERP and CRM applications for the financial services industry. With our majority investment in i-flex, we now have the world's top ranked solution for banking,' said Charles Phillips, president of Oracle.
The new unit will centralize and coordinate Oracle's current and future financial services application assets. It will bring together applications from i-flex, including FLEXCUBE, Reveleus, Mantas, DayBreak, Insure3, with Oracle's product suite."
Software Safari - Premium Blog on Application Software: Sapphire Conclusions #1
Software Safari - Premium Blog on Application Software: Sapphire Conclusions #1
Conclusions
Annual events, like Sapphire, cause all of us to reflect on the changes over the last year and beyond. They make us take note of progress and new market conditions. Specific to the SAP customer, I must conclude that:
- The high-end customers are, surprisingly, unchanged. I’m not sure they’ve gotten more or less sophisticated. However, the point may be moot as there are so few large firms left that aren’t SAP customers.
- Prospects of the small business persuasion are quite different from the traditional SAP buyer. I’m still not convinced that SAP is totally ready to attack this space. Yes, it’s lining up channel partners; however, I’m more concerned that SAP’s big, expensive image will bleed into and stall sales in the low-end of the marketplace.
- Some prospects will still be attracted to other solutions. SAP competitors who are attractive to Innovative and Early Adopter segments (e.g., Workday) will continue to find opportunities to compete. The speed with which these firms are delivering new solutions to the marketplace will likely give them an advantage.
- ORCL customers, no matter how good Fusion is/becomes, will be more vulnerable to defection to SAP than vice versa. Too many ORCL customers still refer to the software they use by its pre-acquisition name (e.g., Datalogix, JDEdwards, Peoplesoft) and their loyalty to ORCL may be suspect to some degree. SAP customers have clearly drunk the Kool-Aid and won’t be changing for the most part. Think of SAP customers as 3rd generation Republicans while Oracle/PeopleSoft users are ‘Independents’.
Conclusions
Annual events, like Sapphire, cause all of us to reflect on the changes over the last year and beyond. They make us take note of progress and new market conditions. Specific to the SAP customer, I must conclude that:
- The high-end customers are, surprisingly, unchanged. I’m not sure they’ve gotten more or less sophisticated. However, the point may be moot as there are so few large firms left that aren’t SAP customers.
- Prospects of the small business persuasion are quite different from the traditional SAP buyer. I’m still not convinced that SAP is totally ready to attack this space. Yes, it’s lining up channel partners; however, I’m more concerned that SAP’s big, expensive image will bleed into and stall sales in the low-end of the marketplace.
- Some prospects will still be attracted to other solutions. SAP competitors who are attractive to Innovative and Early Adopter segments (e.g., Workday) will continue to find opportunities to compete. The speed with which these firms are delivering new solutions to the marketplace will likely give them an advantage.
- ORCL customers, no matter how good Fusion is/becomes, will be more vulnerable to defection to SAP than vice versa. Too many ORCL customers still refer to the software they use by its pre-acquisition name (e.g., Datalogix, JDEdwards, Peoplesoft) and their loyalty to ORCL may be suspect to some degree. SAP customers have clearly drunk the Kool-Aid and won’t be changing for the most part. Think of SAP customers as 3rd generation Republicans while Oracle/PeopleSoft users are ‘Independents’.
