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SAP AG (FWB:SAP, NYSE: SAP) is the largest European software enterprise, with headquarters in Walldorf, Germany. SAP was founded in 1972 as Systemanalyse und Programmentwicklung by five former IBM engineers in Mannheim, Germany. The acronym was later changed to stand for Systeme, Anwendungen und Produkte in der Datenverarbeitung ("Systems, Applications And Products in Data Processing") and since the 2005 annual general meeting the company's official name is just SAP AG.
SAP Software (also SAP Business One, SAP Financials, mySAP) is a software company that develops accounting software, CRM Software and ERP software. SAP Software offers a wide variety of accounting and ERP system ranging from Small Business Software to Enterprise ERP Software.
SAP's products focus on ERP, which it helped to pioneer. The company's main product is SAP R/3; the "R" stands for realtime data processing and the number 3 relates to a 3-tier architecture: database, application server and client (SAPgui). SAP R/3's predecessor was R/2 which ran on a Mainframe architecture.
Other major product offerings include Advanced Planner and Optimizer (APO), Business Information Warehouse (BW), Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Supply Chain Management (SCM), Supplier Relationship Management (SRM), Human Resource Management Systems (HRMS), Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Exchange Infrastructure (XI), Enterprise Portal (EP) and Knowledge Warehouse (KW).
The APO name has been retired and rolled into SCM. The BW name (Business Warehouse) has now been rolled into the SAP NetWeaver BI (Business Intelligence) suite and functions as the reporting module.
The company also offers a new technology platform, named SAP NetWeaver. While its original products are typically used by Fortune 500 companies, SAP is now also actively targeting small and medium sized enterprises (SME) with its SAP Business One and SAP All-in-One.
Reportedly, there are over 100,800 SAP installations at more than 28,000 companies. SAP products are used by over 12 million people in more than 120 countries.
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Expert Advice
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Implementing CDI risks
Jill: Thanks for the clarity you've provided on the differences between CDI and other technologies. My company is currently evaluating CDI vendors. My business people are afraid of implementing CDI risks building a new data silo. Is this true?
Reconciled data
Jill: You keep saying that CDI delivers de-duped, standardized, "reconciled," integrated data to other applications. But what do you mean by the word "reconciled?" Is this the same thing as "managed?"
Making the most of your enterprise data warehouse
Jill: I just read Chapter 6 of your new book on data governance and I've copied it for my entire staff to read. We're currently a data administration team that focuses pretty exclusively on our company's enterprise data warehouse. I think we could be doing bigger things. Could we migrate to be a corporate data management team?
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Industry News
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SAP, MySQL patch critical database flaw
A flaw in the SAP MaxDB database could create a buffer overflow allowing a hacker to execute arbitrary code.
Special report: SAP, Microsoft Duet unveiled
Get the latest news and information about Duet, the jointly developed SAP-Microsoft product. Listen to an audio download about the technology or take our quiz.
True IT blooper #64: Pain in the password
An IT pro watches an end user simplify and nullify a secure password scheme by leaving her information in the log on fields for the next morning.
Podcast: SAP pros feud in ongoing talent war
Employers are shopping for the right SAP talent to manage projects. Find out which job skills and certifications are rising in value, according to data from Foote Research LLC.
Podcast: Mastering business intelligence and data management
Hear who is leading in the business intelligence market and get some best practices in this overview of business intelligence and master data management for SAP customers.
Podcast: SAP, Microsoft Duet costs, viability explained
Jim Murphy of AMR Research discusses a recent survey in which SAP customers saw the value in Duet, but said it isn't ready for prime time.
Firm selects SAP over Oracle for retail operations
SAP's latest customer is one of the first U.S.-based retailers with no manufacturing operation, signaling SAP's rise in the industry, according to analysts.
SAP xApp vendor sees future in composite applications
Smaller vendors such as MCA Solutions fill gaps in either SAP horizontal or specific verticals with composite applications, according to an analyst from Forrester Research Inc.
Oracle upgrades PeopleSoft CRM separate from Fusion
Oracle is following through on its pledge to continue enhancing PeopleSoft products with the release of PeopleSoft CRM 9.
Special Report: Duet in a nutshell
Duet, the jointly developed SAP-Microsoft product formerly known as "Mendocino," is unveiled. Get the basic information you need to know about it here.
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Recent Blogs
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Choosing storage solutions for your application
Brett P. Cooper, a director at Intermine Inc. is on the Expert Answer Center to talk about choosing the right storage solutions that fit your needs. From price and affordability all the way down to R&D timescales, he will cover all that you need to know about maximizing storage capabilities. If you have any questions for Brett, be quick! He's only on call here on the Expert Answer Center until Friday, August 25.
CRM
Paul Greenberg is the president of The 56 Group, LLC. He will be writing about the 21st Century version of CRM in his blog during his two-week stint on the EAC. Paul's talking about the future of CRM, CRM 2.0. So be sure to check out his blog and ask him your own questions. But be quick, though. His time on the EAC ends on Friday, August 11.
Open source strategies
Maria Winslow will answer your questions about developing an open source strategy, best practices in Windows to Linux migration and evaluating the budgetary impact of open source.
Mobile computing
Tim Scannell, Modezilla.com editorial director, will be adding to his blog every day for his two weeks as Featured Expert on the Expert Answer Center -- from June 5-16, 2006. Stay tuned on how to get the most out of your mobile workforce.
SAP careers
Jon Reed will post an entry each day of his two weeks as featured expert on the Expert Answer Center from May 22 - June 2, 2006. Learn how to help your SAP career by reading his blog!
VoIP
Russell Shaw will be blogging daily about VoIP -- from the basics to more meaty information -- during his two weeks as Featured Expert on the Expert Answer Center (from May 8-19, 2006). Don't miss the conversation!
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