Enterprise application software specialist SAP (NYSE: SAP) announced two new offerings that are designed to deliver the benefits of the company s HANA platform, a combination of in-memory data management software and SAP partner hardware, to small to medium-size businesses (SMBs). With analytics powered by HANA for the SAP Business One application and HANA Edge edition, SMBs can leverage in-memory technology from SAP.

HANA is designed to improve decision-making and increasing the speed of existing processes and accessing large amounts of data in shorter periods of time. HANA Edge edition is globally available via enabled and authorized partners. The platform aims to provide midmarket companies with real-time access to information tailored to their individual requirements. 

Analytics powered by HANA for SAP Business One are intended to provide a cost-effective combination of a special product version of HANA designed with the needs of small businesses in mind. Targeted at companies using Business One, the channel-only solution aims to offer a small-scale, easy-to-use HANA-based application including operational reporting with the company's Crystal Reports software. Ramp-up is planned to begin at the end of February, with general availability planned for later in 2012.

"Analytics powered by HANA for SAP Business One will offer customers the flexibility to create interactive reports and run ad-hoc analysis faster than before," said Ketan Solanki, consulting manager at Evolution Future Solutions, an Australia-based SAP channel partner delivering Business One. "Another major advantage is the access to relevant information in seconds with freestyle search, with the ability to navigate through various business objects from SAP Business One without having to move from screen to screen due to it all being included in the current cockpit. We expect that customers will benefit from tremendously improved productivity."

HANA Edge edition is an indirect offering compiled specifically for reselling in the midmarket. The software targets SAP customers in the midmarket -- typically those running the company's Business All-in-One solution. An additional value proposition is offered when the version of HANA for midsize companies is bundled with the company's BusinessObjects Edge Business Intelligence (BI) software, with the combination delivering insight in real time to midsize organizations.

"Small enterprises have Big Data issues also," said Donald Feinberg, vice president and distinguished analyst at IT research firm Gartner. "Big Data is not only large volumes of data but also includes the variety and complexity of the data. Looking at content such as audio, video, text, documents, small enterprises have as much Big Data as large enterprises. Solutions for small enterprises must address the issues of Big Data."

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