SAP's BusinessObjects Platform Gets Twitter, Mobility and BI Enhancements

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.