|
| Recent
Articles |
Comparisons of SAP and Peoplesoft ERP Software
Can one software maker do it all well? There are many software development companies in the industry that are still striving to release a single, complete, successful product of outstanding quality and usability.
Configuration Management Metrics
Like my friend the IT Skeptic, I am interested in getting more emprical in my ITSM approaches. In particular, I want to focus on metrics that indicate results, not just activity. (Results don't have to be financial.)
How To Negotiate And...
There are many sources of information on how to select and implement software, but there is little information on how to negotiate and make the purchase of the...
ERP: Discrete Vs. Process
One of the saddest things is a manufacturer who chooses an ERP software system that does not a fit with what they do. For example, a...
Business Intelligence...
Companies are using business intelligence software for more than simple data mining. They're using it to identify hot sellers, cut costs and...
Exposing The Hidden Costs Of Putting Off Your ERP...
It's very easy for business managers to put off an enterprise application upgrade. The tendency is to only look at the immediate and obvious impact on cash flow. There are other factors so often overlooked that...
A Non-value-add Critique Of The Value Chain Concept
Recently I've become aware of a value chain critique called "value network." As stated on Wikipedia, "The value networks model challenges the traditional notion of a value chain. Historically we have been in an...
|
|
06.29.07
Is SAP Getting Sapped By Oracle?
 By
Sandra Noble
I got training in SAP Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) system years ago when it was on a mainframe platform - version R/2.
At that time the Germans who came to the US to teach, emphasized that the name was "S, A, P". They were aware of the negative connotations of the word sap in the United States.
The Players
The letters S, A, P stand for some German words. At this point, knowing what those letters mean, is as irrelevant as knowing what IBM stands for. (By the way, I just learned that SAP was started by former IBMers). SAP was founded in Germany in 1972. It had become greatly successful and respected in the European market before it made any serious inroads in North America.
Oracle Corporation, a US company, leads the way in the home grown variety of enterprise-wide software. At its start in 1977, the focus was on database solutions. It took close to 20 years before a reasonable facsimile of an ERP system was produced.
Both companies started with ERP systems which handled basic business functions such as order entry, accounts receivable, production, inventory, purchasing and accounts payable - all integrated with a financial backbone. Now their offerings have expanded to include ERP off-springs like Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Business Intelligence, and Supply Chain Management (SCM) to name a few.
The Definitions
At dictionary.com, I looked up definitions for sap. The two definitions I would have given:
1) to undermine;weaken or destroy insidiously - with Synonyms: impair, enfeeble, deplete, exhaust, enervate
2) Slang. a fool; dupe.
But two other definitions surprised me:
1) Fortification. a deep, narrow trench constructed so as to form an approach to a besieged place or an enemy's position
2) Fortification.
a. to approach (a besieged place or an enemy position) by means of deep, narrow trenches protected by gabions or parapets.
b. to dig such trenches in (ground).
Which sap is SAP?
The Challenges:
* SAP corporation is still the leader in the ERP space, but Oracle is gaining ground.
* Turnover in SAP's top ranks is worth noting and watching
* SAP is sticking to old ways of doing things - ways that have been successful in the past.
* They have evolved from mainframe R/2 to client server SAP R/3 and then to enterprise version mySAP. Now, SAP is giving more attention to "software as a service" to try to capture more of the midsize market. Are they committed to operating in that space?
The Approach
Oracle is building approach / attack trenches by acquiring companies that make Oracle a more comprehensive solution provider. Is SAP impaired by this? An April 2007 InformationWeek article talks about SAP's CEO Kagermann and his strategies for the future. SAP did not capture the lead position by being a fool. They cannot and should not be discounted. SAP is still a force to be reckoned with.
About the Author:
Noble & Associates Consulting which specializes in IT Needs Assessments, software evaluation, ERP (Oracle, SAP & other) implementation and we're the cure for Post Implementation Distress. Get the *FREE* report, "8 Tips for Selecting Software" by visiting http://www.SoftwareSelectionHelp.com/.
|
