SAP's Year-End Model Sports a Facelift

BOSTON -- Among several announcements in a multi-hour presentation, SAP Chief Executive Officer Henning Kagermann unveiled the company's revamped CRM application at the fifth annual SAP Influencer Summit here today. As a theme running through the event, Kagermann and other company executives stressed the importance of services-oriented architecture (SOA) in keeping up with the increased speed of change in the business environment. SAP's NetWeaver platform, the central component of its various enterprise applications suites, is backbone upon which the company plans to accomplish this, according to data presented at today's keynote address. Since the introduction of NetWeaver in 2003, the platform has some 30,000 implementations worldwide, generating revenue of approximately 585 million euros for SAP. More than 2,000 enterprise services, provided by more than 1,000 developers, are available, including 500 new options developed this year. Even the size of the Influencer Summit has grown in its five years, according to Peter Graf, executive vice president of global marketing for SAP. What was a group of 30 industry influencers in 2002 had grown to 340 today, he noted. SOA was at the core of each of the morning's addresses, but SAP CRM 2007's new user interface was the practical advance attendees could point to. No longer relying on the much-maligned SAP graphical user interface (GUI), the model unveiled today is a Web-based, role-oriented interface that allows the user to configure and personalize the workspace, while leaving the platform untouched and stable. As shown, the interface was clean -- perhaps even a little sparse -- and clear, with a left-hand navigation section and drag-and-drop customization such as one might find on Facebook. Other features within SAP CRM 2007 include:

• Pipeline Performance Management: Interactive solution includes "what-if" modeling, real-time examination and manipulation of data, and improved resource management;
• Business Communications Management: Complete Internet-Protocol-based contact center solution, with multichannel inbound and outbound capabilities, able to serve multiple locations including home-based agents;
• Real-Time Offer Management: Guidance system that aids with recommendations; cross-sell, upsell, retention, and marketing messages, based on session information, agent skills, and offer value;
• Trade Promotion Management and Market Development Funds: Centralized management of all trade fund budgeting, allocation, utilization, and expensing, with finance system integration; and
• Service Parts Management: Provides oversight for supply, inventory, and deployment of service parts, whether in a warehouse, a service truck, or back-ordered.

Though the news SAP presented was about its technology platform, Kagermann reminded the gathering that a platform has no purpose if it's not doing something for customers. "People don't buy tools; they hire tools to do a job," he said. "You don't go to a hardware store to buy a drill; you go there to buy a hole." Analysts indicated that SAP's efforts were emblematic of the direction in which enterprise software is headed industrywide. "The next generation of CRM applications will be designed to appeal to sales, marketing, and customer service professionals," Ed Thompson, vice president and distinguished analyst at research firm Gartner, said in a statement. "But they will also be able to support multiple different user interfaces with a clear emphasis on usability and ease of configuration for all types of users...[and will also be able to] integrate more easily to form end-to-end processes to appeal to both business users and IT." Related articles: SAP's Midmarket Design SAP Business ByDesign is the company's new on-demand midmarket product; much of its success hinges on SAP's channel strategy. A Shift in SAP's Growth Strategy: Buy Big to Get Bigger The company's planned acquisition of analytics powerhouse Business Objects represents the largest in company history. Feature: The 2007 Market Awards: Enterprise Suite CRM SAP is named a Leader, but falls short of reaching the category's top spot. SAP to Acquire Business Objects The friendly takeover folds new business intelligence capabilities into one of the leading enterprise software platforms; amidst differing opinions, rumors loom of a counteroffer from Oracle or IBM. SAP Tucks-In Another Acquisition The German software maker adds BPM functionality to its portfolio by acquiring Indian-based YASU. SAP Sounds Off on SOA and Collaboration SAPPHIRE '07: The business software giant highlights its enterprise services strategy and champions the importance of business network transformation. On the Scene: SAP Continues Its Enterprise SOA Push SAPPHIRE '06: The enterprise software company underscores its on-demand CRM capabilities while continuing with its enterprise services architecture approach. CRM Vendors Get SOA Happy Leading CRM software vendors are looking to build out service oriented architecture to increase the flexibility of solutions, which will lead enterprises slowly but steadily to integrate SOA. For CRM, ERP, and SCM, SAP Leads the Way The on-demand delivery model, focus on the midmarket, and continued consolidation are some of the common threads in these markets today.

Related Articles

SAP Declares "ByDesign Is Here" (Sort Of)

SapphireNow '10: SAP's co-CEOs deliver back-to-back keynote addresses celebrating not only their first 100 days at the helm, but also the general availability of on-demand offering Business ByDesign 2.5 — two months from now.

SAP Insists "Mobile Is the New Desktop"

SapphireNow '10: SAP executives explain the recent Sybase acquisition and set a date for the general availability of on-demand software Business ByDesign 2.5.

CIO vs. CFO: The C-Suite Deathmatch

SAPPHIRE '09: Experts attempt to dispel stereotypes about the battles that rage over technology-purchasing decisions.

The 2008 CRM Market Awards: Influential Leaders -- Bill McDermott

The Rock: Bill McDermott -- president and chief executive officer, SAP Americas & Asia Pacific Japan.