SAP Announces Improvements In Its Products And Attract New Customers

SAP BusinessObjects Data Services and BusinessObjects Data Federator, which are now more integrated into the SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse, can supply all the business processes into reliable data.

To provide organizations a reliable information base, intended for all of their key processes and decision-making, SAP AG announced enhancements to SAP software BusinessObjects Data Services and SAP BusinessObjects Data Federator, which are an integral part of SAP BusinessObjects management information.

These solutions are compatible with both environments SAP and non-SAP and SAP customers see their compatibility is strengthened through integration with SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse (SAP NetWeaver BW). Whatever the underlying system, SAP provides business information whose reliability is assured, allowing them to successfully launch initiatives in areas such as decision analysis, management of customer relationship management (CRM), the Resource Planning (ERP), the chain management (SCM), migration of systems and data governance. The significant growth of its customer base and strong recognition of the sector to illustrate how the market dominance of SAP BusinessObjects Information Management gives business users the ability to have integrated data and accurate and timely.

In a world accumulating huge amounts of data and many disparate sources, it is more important than ever to rely on the accuracy and timeliness of corporate information. The growth of organizations, internal and external, has exacerbated the challenge. The SAP BusinessObjects information management continue to help companies manage this problem by enabling them to ensure the availability, integrity and transparency of all their data, regardless of their origin and format.

SAP Abandons The Classic Accommodation

The hosting business outsourcing solutions historic SAP is transferred to T-Systems. Application SaaS Business ByDesign is not affected by the operation.

T-Systems is preparing to hand over the hosting business of SAP in Europe. Subject to the approval of competition authorities, the transaction is expected to close early October 2009. The applications of nearly 90 clients, now housed at SAP, will then be transferred to plants in the SSII. The release of T-Systems does not specify if those used by SAP are concerned.

The subsidiary of leading Telecom company said that this operation is part of its building strategy around SAP environments. Recently, it has won a huge contract integration and outsourcing services for the SAP ERP supplier of Continental, and resumed business consultancy Logica's SAP in Switzerland. In contrast, SAP continues to operate the lodging its application in SaaS Business ByDesign. Internal source, the search for partners to ensure that service should not start before 2010.

Evolution Is The Vital To Succeed In Business

Why "Evolution" is therefore vital to the success of your business?

• It effectively enhances the quality and traceability of information and greatly improve its customer support.
• It eliminates the time wasted on repetitive data entry in several applications by centralizing the data.
• It reduces operating costs by reducing the use of applications on the side desk and server.
• It protects against unauthorized access through a basic structure of highly encrypted data.
• It provides access to data in real time, online or offline, to ALL members of your teams by consolidating information in a collaborative environment safe and confidential.

PLM Integration With ERP Products

All this contributes to a reduction in Time To Market, to improve the quality and speeding up the innovation. More broadly, according to a study by consulting firm CIMdata, the major benefits associated with the implementation of PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) and its integration with the ERP show:

• A reduction of 10% to 70% of process changes
• A reduction of 50% to 80% of the journals of research projects
• A reduction of 75% to 90% in information retrieval
• A reduction of 15% to 70% of design time
• A reduction of 75% of the time, cost and errors associated with re-keying data from one system to another.
• A 75% reduction in costs related to errors of nomenclature, the latter being created once and then managed consistently between systems.
• A 15% reduction in storage costs related to the creation of new components, thanks to a better understanding of the pieces already exist and can be reused directly in the design.

PLM Places A Major Role In ERP Product

The tendency to incorporate a brick PLM (Product Lifecycle Management) in ERP solution is strong. Customers have realized the importance of complementary applications in their information system and the benefits of a link with data and documents generated in the study phases such as with CAD.

The multitude of data and documents that circulate within the company, Maybe Word and Excel documents, PDFs, emails, reports or report must be structured in a single repository, secure and shared so provide access to good information in minimum time. The traceability of information and compliance documentation processes are crucial for developing its know-how and markets.

What does a PLM solution to ERP users?

• A complete PLM solution with functions of GOL, PDM, workflow, document management projects, ...
• A single document repository associated with the items and classifications
• The integration between Design Chain and Supply Chain
• Removing duplicates and multiple arrest of technical data
• The possible access to documents directly from the card section of the ERP
• The collaboration between technical teams
• Traceability and secure access to all data and documents
• Recovery data directly from CAD to ERP
• The accelerated process for managing changes (ECO, ECR, ECN)
• Automatic generation of technical documents, records, Ranges, Etc. ...

SaaS Model Requires A Specific Platform To Exist

The computer saw the pace of change announcements and Buzz, which makes it difficult to differentiate a true revolution of a simple evolution. At one time it was thought that a software package integrated with a monolithic view, will meet the needs of the business, and now the leaders of the ERP SAP to Oracle through Miscrosoft we "cram" lectures on the virtues of SaaS, or even launch offers "real" in this model (SAP, ...).

SaaS stands for Software as a Service. This is a technology of providing services or software through the Web rather than through a desktop application or client-server. The SaaS concept, emerged in the early 2000s, is promoted to take the place of the Application Service Provider (ASP).

SaaS will offer us a new generation of software, modular and flexible, organized into reusable business services, configurable, accessible via the Web (or simply via the corporate network), while respecting the contract a SLA and QoS.

Crisis Virtual SAP

The German press, notably by the voices of co-founders of SAP, excessive measures that may conceal other intentions.

End of January 2009, SAP released strong financial results for fiscal 2008, hailed by the business press: 14% increase in turnover, 1.88 billion euros in net profit, 1.84 billion of cash flow (free cash flow), and an operating margin of 24.6%. Where others open the champagne, SAP talks about crisis and poured into catastrophic. By the end of 2008, SAP prepared by the spirits of drastic cost reductions that have affected the working conditions of many employees. In discussing the possible use of more stringent measures (if necessary), SAP made a diversion and refuses its employees a clear justification of its real motivations.

SAP Attack SaaS

A provider of accounting software online, has refuted claims the CEO of SAP, the software online is "more expensive and risky" than traditional desktop software.

SAP is a leading global provider of management software. End of last year, it began testing its own products "SaaS Business by Design ", but they found it difficult to migrate its existing portfolio in SaaS and could not find the right format to make it profitable.

Mark Davies, Director of e-ECONOMIC said: I am perplexed by comments from SAP. SAP has obviously thought it was desirable to get involved in SaaS, yet less than a year later, they began to complain. If experiencing difficulties in implementing its business model to SaaS, is one thing, but to absorb the entire principle of SaaS is misleading to consumers and patently false!.

According to Gartner, more than one third of all software will be delivered by SaaS within 3 years and a recent McKinsey report said that 61% of CIOs considering SaaS. The service charge is SAP raise 30% last year. In a recession, companies will seek to reduce costs and increase efficiency in every way possible, and the costs and benefits of SaaS are difficult to deny. Based on comparisons of prices of a number of major suppliers of traditional accounting software, small businesses can save an average of up to 59% on the cost basis of accounting software using an online solution instead of traditional software.

SAP Business Objects Aims To Revolutionize The Business Intelligence

SAP has announced a new tool that will "revolutionize" Business Intelligence and therefore how to consult and work with data. Finding of SAP is that current tools may be a bit too sharp for some users and for others not enough time. With SAP BusinessObjects Explorer you can view your data at the speed of your thinking (Delivers Insight at the Speed of Thought).

On the video of the annual conference "Saphire 09" demo to explore is presented (going in the 24th minute). Navigation is really different from a normal BO. The user parameter over his pictures or graphics it just goes on Explorer and click on headings, graphic objects and updates itself. We are in a consultation tour of the data with some latitude but always within a defined framework.

The benefits highlighted are speed and ease of use (it's true that it has no complicated area) for the end user. In addition you will also have an iPhone application available for access your data anywhere.

When I see that I can not help but say that is better for the user but at the setting there must be a job. He must think the analysis and data in early to ensure optimum utilization and ensure good service. Also with this tool what about further analysis that are needed some time to study a situation and bring a new light. Unless explore really can do what I do not know (which I doubt) it would end up with users to master BO and BO Explorer and other using only BO Explorer.

SAP Market leads In Business Intelligence

The market for Business Intelligence has increased by 21.7% in 2008 compared to 2007 to reach 8.8 billion dollars. SAP's are 23.8% of this big cake way ahead of SAS and Oracle are both at 14.6%.

Decomposition of the BI market in 2008:

• SAP (23.8%)
• SAS Institute (14.6%)
• Oracle (14.6%)
• IBM (11.3%)
• Microsoft (7.7%)
• MicroStrategy (3.2%)
• Other (24.7%)

Optimize The SAP With Solutions "Network Application Services" Cisco

On June 30, during a seminar on Cisco solutions to optimization and application acceleration, we dealt with the presence of SAP solutions that are more specific to this environment.

Cisco provides networking solutions for optimizing access to applications such as SAP. This network architecture provides a business transformation practical applications by allowing the centralization of resources in consolidated data centers, while providing remote users use fluid bricks Application of SAP. This architecture allows for improved application performance, improved availability and increased security while reducing operating costs.

Oracle, SAP Up And Down

The figures come out, and Oracle announced a net profit up 35% to 1.03 billion for its third quarter compared to last year (for a 27% increase in revenue to 4.41 billion dollars). These results have exceeded expectations of analysts and Oracle.

While at the same time, SAP announced a net profit down 16% to 204 million for its first quarter compared to last year (for a 3% drop in revenue to 2.4 billion euros). This decrease is mainly due to falling sales of software by 33% to 418 million euros.

SaaS Has Attracted 61% Of Companies

SaaS means Software as a Service. The software is online and the customer pays according to its use. The SaaS software are often (not always) cheaper. In times of crisis, they turn out to release because of low cost. Also in times of crisis, companies are not likely to make wholesale changes in their management systems. It will therefore opinion for small changes in the application of media applications such as human resource management and customer relationship management. Places where you can have a return on investment (ROI).

Apart from my part, I deal almost exclusively with small businesses. Their goals to improve very significantly the business processes in very cheap.

It is true that the ERP, Enterprise Resource Planning are more complex. By cons, for SMEs, development of such customized applications can be very profitable. When one focuses on what a company really needs and that we want to develop an application that will fully support optimal processes, technology, SaaS or Cloud Computing can make miracles.

The SaaS Model Requires A Specific Platform To Exist

SaaS stands for Software as a Service. This is a technology of providing services or software through the Web rather than through a desktop application or client-server. The SaaS concept, emerged in the early 2000s, is promoted to take the place of the Application Service Provider (ASP).

At one time it was thought that a software package integrated with a monolithic view, will meet the needs of the business, and now the leaders of the ERP SAP to Oracle through Miscrosoft we "cram" lectures on the virtues of SaaS, or even launch offers "real" in this model (SAP, ...).

SaaS will offer us a new generation of software, modular and flexible, organized into reusable business services, configurable, accessible via the Web (or simply via the corporate network), while respecting the contract a SLA and QoS. According to the report, emerging platform wars in enterprise software, market size for SaaS could reach 37 Billion dollars over the next 5 years.

The move towards SaaS, according to the report it is unavoidable, the movement is initiated, the race between publishers is launched, is to know (the evil one who can guess ...) how long will it take to settle in scheme Standing and the list of "lucky survivors", and the pretender to the throne. SaaS has significant impact on software vendors, who have a "launch window" limited their offers to migrate to a SaaS model or risk being wiped out by competition from new entrants.

"The road to SaaS", it recalls the ads at the time of passage of the mainframe to client / server two-tier, or the long transition from client / server to n-tier architectures, whether rich client or light, long before the advent of AJAX and mashups then, what will that characterizes this "new version of Paradigm Shift".

Governance To Discover For SAP

SAP will have to address potential conflicts of interest between its partners and its own ambitions. Asked about possible differences between players in the market and SAP, on the occasion of a new version could literally wiped off the map all the partners who offer a process covered by the basic package, the head is reassuring: We think in fact in this case, For example we might offer our partners a new commitment to 12 months forcing us not to launch the process directly competing offers. This is a point still under consideration.

The next update of SAP ByDesign, version 2.5, is expected in the third quarter of 2009. It will be the first to benefit from a global launch. However, it must wait until 2010 to witness the launch of the bid cloud of SAP.

A Logical Extension Of Business In SAP

There are to date more than 400 applications developed for Business One partners, argues Luis Murguia, senior vice president of SAP for Europe. Since the advanced warehouse management to enterprise resource planning to farm salmon, from the rum distillery, the most diverse solutions have emerged about Business One. There on the market today to a war between ecosystems. And it is he who will have the expertise to win this war. This ecosystem, SAP will attempt to recreate in its cloud offering.

Few details have filtered to date on the Saas platform and development environment that will provide SAP partners. We are currently experimenting C # Ruby but no decision has been taken on the language to be supported. It will be anyway a scripting language. This added that the aspect of business data, the object model is in line with the work of UN/CEFACT in which SAP is involved.

Like Apple's App Store, SAP will resigns supreme on the marketplace and decide who has the right to commercialize an application and can not do?

It is a volume market. All publishers can publish their applications on our marketplace. There will be no exclusive to anyone. The only constraints are the rules of implementation that we set. For applications running on our platform, we must learn how the software is built and ensure its quality. Similarly, if an editor extends the original data model of ERP, it must develop the game of Web Services that will be necessary to access and manipulate this data.

SAP Preparing A Cloud To Expand Its SaaS Offering

On the model of Salesforce's, SAP is developing its cloud offering to create and support an ecosystem of partners around its ERP for SME, SAP Business ByDesign. It was during a European event dedicated to SMEs, senior vice president in charge of SAP's strategy of SMEs has missed the information: "We will provide a development environment for SAP Business ByDesign".

Not only it will soon be possible to develop applications for SAP Business ByDesign, but it will run on the platform Saas SAP. Finally, a marketplace will be launched for the publishing partners can market their achievements.

SAP is now on the market for SaaS solutions for SMEs since the launch of SAP Business ByDesign in 2007. If the commercial debut of its ERP system have been difficult, SAP believes more than ever in its offering and recently announced at Sapphire 2009, its version 2.0. An important development in terms of user interface and functionality.

But it was in 2010 that SAP Business ByDesign will know his true revolution. The ERP giant will expand the number of countries where supply is available, but above all he is planning to open its Saas platform to third party publishers. They will publish extensions to Business ByDesign to extend its functional coverage, to meet specific needs, a step he took on Business One, its software package for SMEs.

Integration Of SAP BW And BO

The announcement of the Roadmap has generated many responses from customers.

Two cases illustrate this property:

The first concerns those who have invested reporting solutions Business Explorer and not wishing to invest on additional licenses BO. According to the survey by VISEO with USF in 2008, the majority of customers recognize the quality of RB solutions (including formatting and user self), but are not ready to short term invest in these solutions benefit.

The second is that SAP customers must present a choice of solution. Among the criteria often expressed is the incorporation of BO with their BW DataWarehouse. Integration is possible with more or less effort in projects, but the platforms are often separated. This platform independence is an argument to convince non-SAP customers to implement without having to install NetWeaver.

For example, it is possible to generate BO universe from BEX queries or to unify the management of users, but with servers and BW BOE separated. Sometimes the point is more subtle: BPC NetWeaver released version, but the specific InfoCubes PCBs will currently not compatible with the Query Designer. This temporary lack of integration can also have the perverse effect of bringing the tools non-SAP system landscape, a prior dedicated.

The integration between all the solutions is of course expected to run. Meanwhile, the number of CIOs polled in the survey VISEO-USF no plans to introduce a non-integrated solution in the short term, preferring, for example Integrated Planning to PCBs.

SAP BI RoadMap

Reporting solutions from Business Objects as a basis for future development (WebIntelligence, Crystal Xcelsius, Voyager). The best of Business Explorer Analyzer will be combined to create the future analysis tool, "Pioneer" for 2010.

The Enterprise Data Warehouse from BW will be developed, as well as tools such as Data Integrator, BI-Accelerator and Visual Composer. Chances to integrated planning will always be developed and integrated end to PCB, if you believe the information from informal development. Other solutions are maintained and continue to be delivered with NetWeaver for 8 years, but will no longer be developed: Business Explorer Analyzer, Web Application Designer.

Two offers now exist simultaneously: The basic package (equivalent to 7.0 BW) and the premium package includes the basic package and solutions BO.

Offer "Financial Performance Management" provides solutions that are reminiscent of the perimeter of SEM but with an ergonomic and user autonomy never reached (BPC, SSM, PCM ...). Through these ads, SAP, with its technical and functional expertise, intends to use its position as world leader in the BI offer a combination of the "best of both worlds."

What Effects For Microsoft?

It is the first time a major publisher announced that it reduces the wing in the coveted field of Business Intelligence, which all analysts are predicting it will be one of the main engines of growth information. This perspective is also the origin of concentrations, including the acquisition of Business Objects by SAP is one of the most prominent.

While Microsoft continues to invest and develop its offering integrated BI SQL Server, which is experiencing strong gains in market share. The withdrawal of PerformancePoint however, may have unexpected effects.

First, competition is very strong in this area, all editors have made sure to offer tenders related to performance management, and more or less integrated into their business intelligence solutions in the strict sense. Microsoft's argument on the clarity of its roadmap and integration of its offerings can no longer play. It remains as arguments the quality of supply, integration with MS Office or low cost to meet strict reporting and analysis. The first risk for Microsoft is losing potential customers attracted by publishers making an offer wider and designed to evolve.

Nevertheless, it is certain that the market share of Microsoft in the field of Business Intelligence will continue to grow. Customers wishing to implement a BalancedScorecard or structured budget process will likely appeal to publishers of complementary solutions, which began to appear after the announcement of Microsoft. This is where SAP may play the card BPC (Business Planning and Consolidation). Indeed, the solution ex-Outlooksoft bought in 2007, and ever developed, based on the integrated Microsoft SQL platform. True to its logical platform, NetWeaver version (integrated BW) will be released this year.

It is therefore ironic that this decision makes SAP the publisher natural solution planning integrated Microsoft BI offering. This would enable SAP to gain a foothold in new customers and extend a little more dominance in this area.

Managing Permissions Roles To The SAP Users

Managing permissions in SAP NetWeaver BI can restrict user access. These limitations apply to both the possible actions (or launch a state change, etc.), functional domains available (represented by cubes), and the scope of analysis (such society, country, etc.).

In general, the assignment of permissions to users is not direct but passes through objects called "Roles". Indeed, a role for combining users, permissions and menus. It is often too complex to assign and track users directly with permissions because the number of combinations to process and lack of user-friendly graphical interface.

Thus, the role will bring together a set of users with the same need analysis, a user can belong to multiple roles. A user assigned to a role can run the state and access to performance indicators.

The Management Organization:

A solution exists yet in SAP NetWeaver BI, to assign positions and not users. This feature allows you to manage a hierarchy of positions and assign users to those positions, according to the reporting period. This management can be supported by human resources in ERP, and duplicated in all systems, or run directly into BW.

Positions are assigned to roles and not directly to users. A change in position does not require changing the allocations to authorities: the user automatically inherits the permissions associated with his position.

From a technical standpoint, the tree management positions and organizations can be achieved by the transaction PPOCW. The positions are then assigned to roles in the transaction PFCG (for extended), in the "User" button and "Organizational Mgt". The assignment of the user's position is performed by the transaction SU01.

The Security Risks Factors:

This system provides general satisfaction because it simplifies the assignment in the original draft. However, it has a major drawback: it merges the individual and the position it occupies in the organization. Maintenance requires translating the actual position of the user roles to provide the necessary permissions.

However, permission management is rarely managed by human resources, but directly between business and IT services. This produces long-term some complexity in the permissions, or a lack of visibility and gaps for authorization. A recent study moreover demonstrated that among the risks in poorly managed companies are primarily the fault of security.

Features Of Xcelsius

Among the different ways of information, the dashboards are a priori more obvious and simple. These indicators represent the key graphs and tables. The most common tool to do this is Excel, which provides flexibility of implementation but prohibits implementation in a complex environment, and automatically shared.

Xcelsius is the leading tool for SAP Business Objects to do so. It is not only the range, but it is presented by SAP as one whose possibilities will be developed in the future. The feature of Xcelsius is that it was originally created to allow a graphical representation of the modeled data in an Excel spreadsheet. Its name comes from the integration between Excel and return chart.

Main Features of Xcelsius in version XI R3:

• The data used by the graphics are ultimately stored in an Excel integrated, which allows great flexibility, modeling of complex calculations and powerful interactions with the user.
• This is an open solution that can be supplied by several sources, such as the universe via LiveOffice or web services.
• It can be used standalone or with a BOE server (for access via the portal Infoview).
• The result is represented by a Flash file that contains the objects, connections, modeling, Excel, etc.. This file is portable and can be integrated both into a ppt presentation on a html page.
• The dashboard can be composed of many elements interacting with each other, and which may set the behavioral format .. (lists, buttons, tables, etc., etc.).
• Rendering in flash is very good and allows for example animations, interactions, selections, etc..
• Creating a dashboard is made by KeyUsers and not by users themselves.

Server Visualization Benefits For Businesses

The idea of this concept rests on the possibility of dispersing an information system infrastructure around the world. So, shared computing power and memory of computers and servers located anywhere in the world. These virtual resources are linked through the Internet and thus created a huge computer network and scalable. This computing can be dissociated from one approach to SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture).

The computing power and storage of information is offered as an on-demand service, companies no longer need to own servers so it could cause a reduction in investment of computer equipment. In case of failure or incident, a virtual server can be moved almost instantly. The material is then shared.

The de-materialization of material adds another dimension. The engine power is optimized in the sense that if a deterioration of response time to a server, it is possible to switch dynamically to a physically more powerful machine, see if need to go through another provider.

The advantages for the user:

With this concept, information systems are considered a service, the user now has more concern for the operating systems. The agility and flexibility of this service allows the user to have full power and high availability of information it wishes in a timely manner without spending unnecessarily high costs in units of power and storage misused as we can do with computers owned enterprises.

SAP Web Applications Runs

Once the applications are built, it is possible to execute in the SAP Portal which particularly in management of business roles and access rights. It is also possible to run the Web Dynpro in on-line mode on mobile. To migrate an interface "PC" to interface "Mobile", it should only adjust the interface.

Some things to remember about the architecture development NWDI (Netweaver Development Infrastructure). It built around several components:

• CBS - (This is the part that will build your archive)
• CMS - (This is the part that will transport components of your environment to another)
• DTR - (Which is the repository will store your developments and manage the version)
• LTC - (It is here that you will define your configuration and WAS systems, use ECC)

NWDS (Netweaver Development Studio): This is the development environment, it is actually an eclipse of SAP, i.e., it incorporates all IDEs necessary for the proper development of WD's.

SAP WORLD

SAP offers through the SAP NetWeaver platform all the components necessary to build a Web application and its exposure mode Intranet or Internet. SAP provides various tools for developing user interface WEB application.

• Web Dynpro - ABAP: Web Dynpro proposes a model of modeling language (metamodel) for the uniform construction of all user interface that accelerates development. Web Dynpro strictly separates the presentation layer and business data (MVC). SAP Web Dynpro technology communicates with Adobe Flex / Flash and allows the construction of interfaces 2.0.


• Web Dynpro - JAVA: The major differences with the version of ABAP, The development environment is not the same one side Java based on NWDI and NWDS unlike the WD ABAP it is via the SE80, Access to data is native.


• VISUAL COMPOSER: Visual Composer allows you to compose applications without requiring to code. Ergonomics is based on standard flash libraries. The possibilities of implementations are limited to the models provided by SAP.


• BSP - HTMLB: This technology combines the ABAP programming languages, HTML and javascript. It is very open and allows all the creative liberties on SAP WebAS. It is possible to develop using the MVC but not an obligation. The technology exists on installer's. It is to recommend for further development of a Web application on SAP.

Trends In The Evolution Of Business Intelligence

First, publishers trend to provide users with greater autonomy. From a DataWarehouse structured, each user must construct its statements independently. This concerns the reporting and additional applications such as budgeting. This trend is not without risk (inconsistent statements, management of entitlements, performance, no "single vision of truth" ...) but meets a real need from users.

Then, business intelligence has long been isolated from other applications because it was using specific tools. The user prefers yet have access to only one application giving everything, be it ERP, Mails, BI, etc.. These include that the proposed SOA including Visual Composer, a development tool (included in NetWeaver) that allows to build composite web applications. Thus, a user can fully analyze data from BW, place an order, read their emails and follow a work flow within a single page. Each page element is interacting with others.

Other trends include a special performance optimization of restitution by storing data from Data Warehouse (BI-Accelerator, BusinessObjects Explorer), the application of BI to non-quantitative data (social networks analysis text search on documents, etc.) and the arrival of BI solutions as SaaS (Software As A Service On-Demand, etc.).

Finally, we observe growing importance of the dimension "trade" in the draft decision. This was illustrated by the purchase of BO by SAP, and Hyperion by Oracle.

The Future Of Business Intelligence

The needs for business to know their environment and to identify opportunities and risks has given rise to practices of economic intelligence. Analyze the legal, fiscal, geopolitical, financial and especially trading is widespread. Now it combines the concept of risk management, which is a natural extension.

Business intelligence is a simplified yet vital economic intelligence. It is to monitor the performance of business processes, and compare them to the market (benchmark) and predetermined objectives (budget). For example, we wish to know the growth of a market segment and compare it to competitors.

Often there is confusion between the practices and objectives of business intelligence and tools to implement to achieve this. Indeed, monitor performance requires first to be able to collect raw data, wherever they are, and present them to users in the form that suits them to the best. The business intelligence tools fulfill this task, and there are usually three levels:

• Data collection and processing into usable information is provided by ETL (extraction, transformation, loading).
• Storage and modeling in a form compatible with the tools of recovery are provided by the DataWarehouse
• The return on the screen of the user reporting tools - dashboards, analysis in Excel or in Web reports in a list, etc.

BI solution without the need for analysis is covered by static states reporting to the ERP or by statements prepared manually in Excel, which have many disadvantages (preparation time, errors, cumbersome files, no sharing, no access self-service, etc.).

Business Intelligence is booming is because companies have realized the need to provide all the latest information and more personalized as possible. Knowledge of information is a condition of performance and survival in a complex and highly competitive.

Integration Into SAP Portal

The Integration Kit provides a planned iView to display content BOE. It is easy to embed Crystal Reports, Travel, Web Intelligence and Xcelsius. Simply choose the iView "Standard BusinessObjects Enterprise Report" and the ID information of the BOE report.

The integration kit can also enrich the Knowledge Management Portal SAP. A new menu bar is been added and allows the creation of new documents Voyager, Web Intelligence, or even display MyInfoview as would a user from the portal Infoview BOE.

This feature facilitates the centralized management of security. Portal Business Objects Enterprise important roles and users of SAP. Upon connection, BOE check authorizations in the SAP system to allow access to the user reporting.

This does not set the proper permissions to BOE, but to leave the SAP server to verify the existence of the user.

The SAP Integration Kit has been developed by Business Objects before its acquisition by SAP. The aim was to give the possibility to use the BW data in each tool. As you can see, the solution depends on the tool (through the universe generated from a query Bex, by direct use of query Bex by webservice, etc.). The future of SAP's flagship tool in multivariate analysis. Scheduled for 2010, this tool based on a combination of Voyager (analysis mode Web BO) and Bex Analyzer (Excel analysis of SAP) and can directly read a cube SAP BI or any other non-SAP data.

The Integration Of SAP NetWeaver BI and Business Objects

This part is designed for SAP customers wishing to make and distribute their reporting on the data stored in SAP solutions using BusinessObjects tools. The main potential of this integration are,

Return of SAP NetWeaver BI data:

1. Crystal Report:

Crystal Reports is the tool of choice for layouts graphics. In its latest version can even embed Flash documents (.swf) which allows the integration of files built in Xcelcius.

Given the historical links between Crystal and SAP NetWeaver BI, Crystal is the best tool integrated. The integration kit gives it a toolbar similar to that of the Bex Analyzer. SAP users find the same interface for the selection of their applications (bookmarks, history, role and infoarea).

Integration is made possible by the direct use of BW queries in the body of the state.

2. Universe Designer:

The Universe Soundtrack trades are views of the database where certain filters, rules management and permissions are predefined manner transparent to end users. They use these Universe data source for analysis from other reporting tools.

The integration kit can quickly convert a query or a cube in BW Universe. The recommendation is to use queries in source so enjoy browsing capabilities (attribute, calculated ratios, variables) and performance optimization of queries.

The universe can be used by both Web Intelligence, Crystal Xcelsius, or (via a web service).

3. Web Intelligence:

Web Intelligence is the Universe Soundtrack available to users. Accessible from the Web Portal for Business Objects (called Infoview), it allows users to choose their data self-service in a friendly environment. After selecting the universe, the user can format, apply filters, add graphics, etc..

In case integration with BW through the use of the universe based on BW.

4. Xcelsius:

Xcelsius allows you to create dashboards with a good graphics rendering from a source of data imported into an Excel internal Xcelsius. This tool is based on Flash and Flex technology from Adobe. Simply place objects (tables, graphs, Selectors, Gauges, Sliders, cards ...) and associated data from the Excel sheet. It is possible to make objects interact with each other.

The feeding data through a Web Service from such a universe based on a BW query, or LiveOffice. The Web service is generated by the tool "Query as a Web Service".

Scope & Limits of BusinessObjects Explorer

The first is that the version in-memory is based on data from BW, which is not surprising since BW DataWarehouse is traditional and highly popular of SAP customers. SAP provides end-year to extend the BI Accelerator, all databases. Business Objects (BO) Enterprise version has a broader base, but still limited to structured data in the form of universe.

The second lies in the simplicity of the tool. By simple, we obviously do not meet all the needs of users, including formatting and navigation. These are covered by other solutions (including Xcelcius and Webi in BO solutions or WAD and Bex for BW). Users will be annoyed to have to change the solution according to their need.

Finally, the very process of analysis by search engine can have drawbacks, because it means that we know in advance where the information will take the relevant decision. This is often the case, and we need to do is a detailed state of emergency (reporting officer) or a state comprehensive and highly structured, is a real engine of decision support that connects several objects according to rules of business management.

In conclusion, BusinessObjects Explorer brings real changes in research decision-making information. However, if it allows quick access to accurate quantitative information, it must be supplemented by statements or navigational charts, according to the needs and profile of users. It will be interesting to see how users will adopt this solution and how it will evolve over the integration of SAP and Business Objects tools.

BusinessObjects Explorer

Business Objects Explorer allows you to search a data set through a search engine and lists.

There are now two versions: the version associated with the BI-Accelerator, which enables to store data BW InfoCubes to be accessed instantly. And the integrated version to BusinessObjects Enterprise, the BO server, based on the structure, data and permissions universe.

There is also another version called "on-demand", accessible by Internet at https://create.ondemand.com/ explorer who offers particular interest to test the solution free service. The data selected will automatically appear in a format pre-defined and somewhat customizable graph and table.

A new analysis approach:

The planned integration with data lists in ALV (ABAP List Viewer), well known among users of SAP GUI will also undertake analysis and research so friendly on the selected data. This has also merged the interests of ERP and BI tools. Thus, this solution corresponds to a true vision from the editor - a research tool and standard analysis of relevant information for all users.

Effects Of RoadMap In BI

Effects of RoadMap and Perspectives:

A relational database management system is that the Roadmap contains the promise of long stability and charge for the basic package, which tends to appeal to some CIOs who know the charge related to media packages and upgrades.

In addition, developers of Business Explorer had made a powerful solution regarding such structures queries or navigation integrated into Excel. Business One has nevertheless a clear superiority in particular for formatting or autonomy of users.

The SAP will promote solutions BO (Business One) is therefore facing a Business Explorer widely used and offering good value for money and a lack of evolution finally over perceived as a guarantee of stability.

This vision is well understood in the short term, as between a solution but kept frozen and other evolving and incorporating features requested, we can easily imagine that the second will win eventually.

The influence of the editor in search of growth and integrators looking for opportunities is obvious. But the current betting is that SAP user influence in demand for autonomy and tools easy to use (and somewhat concerned by the issues of integration, platform or upgrade), will become predominant in choice of solutions.

The Evolution Of Business Intelligence At SAP

Evolution Of Business Intelligence:

Business Intelligence has been central of discussions and studies that since the acquisition of Business Objects by SAP.

The original offer ("Business Information Warehouse" released in 1999) was a platform for the multivariate analysis included among the "new dimensions", reflecting the diversification of SAP solutions to complement of ERP (PLM , CRM, SCM, etc.).

The solution "Strategic Enterprise Management", Integrated with BW in the same year, presented an innovative vision of Planning, Consolidation, Balanced Scorecard and management indicators.

The arrival of the NetWeaver platform technology and brought a new perception of the integration of applications, people, processes and data through an approach to SOA and web portal built.

However, business intelligence has so far positioned relatively marginal compared to engines of SAP activity, primarily the ERP.

Business Intelligence in the heart of the SAP strategy:

Since the version 7.0 of BW, the decision has taken a significant extent, meet the increasing demands of customers and market outlook. The acquisition of Outlook Soft and Business Objects have confirmed the strong guidance of SAP. Proof is the number of speeches and workshops on this topic at SAP events.

SAP NW Resumes All Technologies

SAP NetWeaver resume all technologies and strategies:

• Business Services - (Pre-packaged, Business Packages, Web ...)
• Standards and open technology - (industry standards, interoperability, industry standard ...)
• ABAP and JAVA technologies - (SAP kernel, portal, eCommerce, services and developments)
• Security - (Identity, authorization, encryption, SSO, Network Security ...)
• Internationalization - (multilingual adaptation process to the country, legal obligations ...)
• Interoperability with market tools - (Microsoft. NET, IBM WebSphere ...)
• Monitoring and Diagnostics environments - (BI Solution Manager and Alerting, Monitoring ...)

This unique platform for application integration to unify and to exploit synergies between people, processes, information (structured and unstructured) and ensures a better infrastructure management SAP share the same base (MySAP Business Suite, SAP CRM, SAP SRM, SAP ECC ...).

SAP NetWeaver Offers

SAP NetWeaver is the technical platform upon which is common to all of the applications offer SAP Business Suite. It includes an offer of Process Integration EAI / ESB (SAP PI), an offer of Business Intelligence (SAP BI ), offers a Master Data Management (SAP MDM) offers a portal (SAP EP) and offering mobility. This base is open to industry standards and delivers SAP solutions to be interoperable with other environments and technical applications (eg: Microsoft. NET, Sun Java EE, IBM WebSphere, Oracle / BEA).

• Finally, SAP Netweaver provides enterprises a robust and stable foundation for SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) by providing a particular integrated development environment for building composite applications.

SAP BI - Business Intelligence

SAP BI (Business Intelligence) is the SAP solution dedicated to reporting the decision-making built around a data warehouse tools and restitution. These tools allow both the development of multidimensional analysis that flexible dashboard complex combination of multiple functional areas and integrate seamlessly within the supply SAP Netweaver.

Functional content are pre-configured, application models, tools for extracting, processing, loading data, simulation tools and planning... are all key elements that make SAP BI solution powerful.

Main Strengths Are: a unique enterprise reporting and aligned with indicators and criteria for analysis and validates, shared by all functions production of performance indicators to high value added for faster and more reliable decision making in SAP BI solutions.

SAP Enterprise

SAP enterprise resource planning (ERP - Enterprise Resource Planning) and managing the lifecycle of products (PLM - Product Lifecycle Management) offering capacity planning and integration of world class professional services the operations, finance, product development, management of human capital and central services. The suite of applications can integrate and automate the tasks of procurement, logistics and product development functions in the processing and reporting for financial transactions.

In Networks SAP offers many advantages:

• Improved productivity - By speeding up the WAN for Operations and NetWeaver application modules, workers spend less time waiting and can access information quickly.

• Scalability of SOA - Companies can build a SOA (Service-Oriented Architecture) while ensuring access to the latest data and improving application performance.

• Financial savings on bandwidth - SAP appliances significantly reduce the use of bandwidth during operations SAP NetWeaver, enabling companies to save on the network while reducing traffic on the WAN.

SAP NetWeaver

SAP NetWeaver is a web application platform and open integration that companies can use to align business processes and enterprise information across all services. This platform is based on service-oriented architecture (SOA) and uses open standards to allow integration of information from virtually from any source. While this solution provides a solid platform to align IT infrastructure with corporate goals, environments around the world may have poor performance over the WAN.

SAP appliances have been certified as SAP integration and can accelerate their applications running on SAP NetWeaver WAN. SAP can help companies looking to the future seeking to adopt an SOA. SAP NetWeaver actually help such companies to achieve their goal of scalability while significantly reducing the time required to perform the task of SAP.

The deployment of SAP solutions in SAP environments can cause response time of under two to ten times faster. Given that more and more SAP environments operate a web service or SOA using SAP NetWeaver, SAP NetWeaver can offer significant benefits for traffic XML, HTTP and HTTPS. SAP NetWeaver has also granted the status of SAP certified integration. SAP has integrated the their appliances in the laboratory of co-innovation (COIL) and tested the SAP technology to prove interoperability with its products.

SAP With The DataBase MySQL

SAP says its Database Is MySQL:

German has sold the commercial rights to its open source RDBMS Swedish, and both companies are jointly preparing the next version of MySQL.

Companies MySQL AB and SAP have made public agreement technological and commercial, under which the first distribute the open source RDBMS (SAP-DB) of the second.

This alliance is significant because, remembrance of Swedish is other than the business entity associated with the community responsible for the famous database open source, and that German specialist in the software package are implemented in the world of big business.

The partnership also aims to define the collaboration of both companies around the development of next generation RDBMS MySQL, which promises to be fully interoperable with SAP. Particular, MySQL may gain the few functions that prevent some projects to use this solution: stored procedures, views, full SQL syntax, triggers ... According to an open letter to SAP developers that ultimate goal of marriage is to achieve at least 4th place DBMS the most recognized business, alongside Oracle, SQL Server, DB / 2 and Sybase.

The agreement also provides for the integration of supply SAP-DB in the family of MySQL products under a new license (GPL) and a new name (TBD), this clearly marking the shift in activity from SAP on enterprise applications such as R / 3.

Client Benefits On Implementing SAP

• Reduced system complexity SAP increased its minimum and its flexibility.
• With maximum efficiency, to cost transparency and flexibility, operation of SAP becomes one budget-making quality.
• The components of modern infrastructure adapted our centers Calculation guarantee operation without incidents of SAP platform.
• In addition to high availability and low response times, they support including solutions adapted the banking and meet security requirements highest.
• If they are SAP Service Partner and Hosting with a Customer Certified Center of Competence (CCC SAP), have access at any time of recent developments of SAP.
• Ensuring system availability, response time and assistance consistent with Service Level Agreement.

SAP Basis

One of the biggest advantages of SAP is its adaptability and integration with other systems and software. Software BASIS is an intermediary that links a database with a system. SAP Basis Administrators configure systems during phases of facilities and improvements. The shortage of qualified personnel is growing which allows experts SAP Basis find working conditions very interesting. About SAP Basis jobs SAP BASIS jobs are becoming more common, and promise excellent opportunities. Several of its SAP jobs require candidates Polyglot. Their roles typically consist to install, troubleshoot, archive, improve system performance. The SAP Job Board offers its services to numerous companies, which need professionals to implement SAP BASIS SAP applications and support their growth.

A Simple And Powerful Solution For SMEs - SAP Business One

SAP Business One is simple, efficient and tailored to the needs of SMEs. Very economical for those who wish to take advantage of features simple and powerful and very easy to use intuitive because, SAP Business One covers the business needs of SMEs, such as accounting, finance, the maintenance of accounts, customer relationship management, the purchases and sales, logistics and tree products, and reporting.
Its advanced customization options enable it to match your actual activity. Its interface is very friendly. Not only does this solution offers quick and easy access to all information of your company, but it also provides the statements and documents necessary for taking decision at all levels. In a few clicks, you access a tool to support effective and efficient daily operations. SAP Business One is integrated with the office tools MS Excel and MS Word.

Success in SMEs:

SAP Business One includes 13 modules that extend its functionality beyond its primary administrative function, and streamline all your business processes.

These modules are:

• Financial Accounting
• Sales Administration
• CRM
• Purchases
• Partners
• Banking
• Inventory Management
• Final assembly
• Work flow
• Management Control and Management Project
• Reporting Dashboards
• Service management and service
• Personnel Administration