SAP Keeps Traction On Some Tires Of Its Omni-Wheel-Drive
Part 2: Challenges and User Recommendations
P.J. Jakovljevic - June 7, 2002

Strategies

It has also become obvious that SAP’s software solutions outside its core ERP system can attract customers even beyond its install base on a stand-alone basis. After years of wavering, SAP's SCM, CRM, portal and PLM applications seem to be adequate and comparable with the functionality of best-of breed specialists, which means a potential revenue stream through new products and services in the future, if not necessarily these days. At least, they may be enough to somewhat freeze the markets and slow down the sales cycles of niche specialist vendors. Today, companies are focused to leverage the existing technology and applications inside their organizations first, and only then to extend them outward to trading partners. SAP seems to be positioned well to oblige these in their endeavors. Its recent strides in portals and BI may also indicate that SAP has been espousing it as an enabler of understanding of business activity rather than a business activity-monitoring tool. Evolving from transaction-crunching, data-specific systems to information-rich decision support systems (DSS) is a way to go, as BI is getting increasingly embedded into day-to-day enterprises’ operations...