Expected in mid-2007, the company was non-committal in terms of the actual release date and said it would be introduced worldwide throughout 2007. In the light of lower-than-expected license revenues for the first quarter, the company needs something fresh to invigorate license sales, and the mid-market offering is the most likely candidate.
The suite will act as a showcase for SAP’s SOA design work because in addition to being built on mySAP ERP 2005 and NetWeaver, which embody SAP’s enterprise SOA approach, the new All-in-One will also feature SAP’s promised new interface, which is designed to be more PC-like and easier to navigate, as well as streamlined business scenarios, enhanced analytical reporting, and integrated CRM functionality.
With 9,000 existing All-in-One customers, SAP is anxious not to frighten them off, while simultaneously encouraging them to upgrade to the new version, so it is describing the new All-in-One as the SOA entry point for mid-market companies.
SAP is also introducing a series of programs and tools to make it easier for its partners to transition existing All-in-One implementations to the new version and build new functionality for vertical market segments. The company hopes to address the needs of micro verticals through its partners.
