NEW YORK -- SAP used a high-profile presentation to unveil
version 4.0 of its business intelligence (BI) and enterprise information
management (EIM) solutions from its SAP BusinessObjects platform, in a bid to
compete more heartily in the enterprise against Oracle, IBM, Microsoft and
other tech giants. In keeping with current trends, the updates emphasize
support for mobile devices and information from social networks.
"Being able to engage people, and react instantly to a
problem or opportunity, is what we're here to talk about," Steve Lucas, SAP's
general manager and global head of business analytics, told an audience
gathered in a Times Square hotel. "You want information now, immediately, as it
happens."
How people consume their business intelligence has changed,
he added. Now, the paradigm is shifting towards mobile. Hence, SAP's latest
offerings include support for devices such as the BlackBerry Torch, the
upcoming BlackBerry PlayBook tablet, and the iPad.
The rise of social networking has also complicated life for
any number of businesses, whose short-term fortunes can sometimes rise or fall
based on a single Tweet gone viral. Many of SAP's rivals, notably
Salesforce.com, have introduced features into their CRM platforms and other
offerings that allow employees to monitor Twitter and similar services in real-time.
For more, read the eWeek article: SAP Updates Leverage Mobility, Twitter, Tablets, BI.
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