Since SAP considers its service-oriented architecture (SOA) platform well-established, with more than 6,000 productive customers, the company is now turning its attention to convincing customers that SAP is the logical master platform for expansion beyond the traditional core of enterprise resource planning (ERP). To this end, SAP is now focusing on assisting users in relieving the cost and complexity of integration (including process integration, data and information integration and technology integration) while still enabling the agility and flexibility promised by SOA. Growth in the SAP solution portfolio as a result of the latest Sapphire announcements includes:

• New tools and solutions that extend the suite (for example, a new version of CRM and integration with RIM)
• New technologies to support manipulation and extension of the suite (for example, business process management and composition development tools)
• New support offerings (such as Enterprise Support) to assist clients in managing the expanding and diverse portfolio of SAP offerings

SAP's proposition for incremental (as opposed to mass change) client investment comes just as many of its clients are increasingly focusing on making tactical investments. New clients buy SAP as part of their effort to solve integration issues created by a diverse software portfolio of solutions acquired over the years. SAP installed-base users seek to improve operational efficiency by consolidating instances, technologies, and by making incremental investments to solve business issues. The incremental offerings announced at Sapphire are worthy of evaluation against best-of-class competitors.

SAP and its users now face the challenge of managing an increasingly complex portfolio of products that serve both the IT organization and an ever-wider array of business users. SAP will require new skills in sales, support and service — thus, its release of the Enterprise Support offering.

Bron: Gartner.com