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.