SAP unveils major update

SAP has launched an Innovations 2010 initiative to expand the functionality of much of its business software portfolio and improve the delivery model to avoid business disruption.

The company made the announcement at its Sapphire Now showcase for business managers.

The new portfolio includes enhanced features for SAP Business Suite, BusinessObjects and NetWeaver.

Business Suite is an integrated enterprise application designed to work with other SAP and non-SAP software.

BusinessObjects offers a range of analytic tools and business intelligence functions, while NetWeaver is a service-oriented architecture technology.

The biggest feature upgrade is a "switch on" option designed to ensure that system upgrades do not disrupt mission-critical business practices.

SAP claimed that this stops companies incurring operating expenses which may otherwise arise from business disruption due to systems upgrades and having to integrate disparate applications into their IT frameworks.

The Innovations 2010 directive has four strategic focal points: helping businesses become 'leaner'; harnessing the power of social communities; transforming business models for growth; and speeding business information for better decision making.

"With Innovations 2010, we are evolving our delivery model as we add to the breadth and depth of industry processes and embedded analytics," said Richard Campione, executive vice president and general manager for line-of-business solutions at SAP.

"Each customer can create and evolve a unique solution landscape that helps them distinguish themselves within their industry.

"And they have the investment security and peace of mind that it's all synchronised and orchestrated in a unified manner and can continually and cost-effectively be adapted to changing business needs."