SAP (System Analyse und Programmierung) is the largest German software company and the world market leader for
EnterpriseResourcePlanning software.
SAP was founded by
HassoPlattner and other former workers of
IbmCorporation in 1972.
See
http://www.sap.com
See the
Harvard Business Review article mentioned on
FairProcess for an anecdote on how SAP laid off employees without creating backlash, thus turning the company around to profit.
SAP Enterprise software Timeline
R3 -> R3 Enterprise (?4.6D) -> ?Net
Weaver
ServiceOrientedArchitecture according to SAP
Its next generation architecture is called "Enterprise Services Architecture", constructed on top of
NetWeaver. Challenges for a successful execution include:
- ability to modularize their ERP offerings
- ability to get a successful and diverse partnering program
- ability to provide infrastructure tools (e.g. in development, data management, etc)
See
http://www2.cio.com/analyst/report3659.html
SapCorporation QuickQuestions
Q What is the name given by
SapCorporation for its
ServiceOrientedArchitecture based product that will replace the legacy SAP R3? Is it My
Sap or Net
Weaver? And where is a good weblink to get an overview and commentary made by Industry observers?
A Supposedly, "SAP
NetWeaver is the technical foundation of mySAP Business Suite solutions, SAP xApps composite applications, partner solutions, and customer custom-built applications. It also enables Enterprise Services Architecture, SAP's blueprint for service-oriented business solutions."
SAP R3 and beyond
SAP
NetWeaver is actually the technology behind the mySAP ERP offering. SAP R3 itself was driven by "SAP Basis". There was an intermediate offering called "SAP R3 Enterprise" which has a Web application server engine at its heart that replaced the "SAP Basis". See a SAP Q & A at
http://www.sapinsideronline.com/searchspi/search.htm?page=article&key=37900&query_text=mySAP+ERP for a clarification with diagrams (circa 2004).
CategoryCompany