Microsoft will now offer SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation as the preferred solution for customers running their business applications on the Microsoft platform.
The new partnership between Microsoft and SAP is what SAP have described as a ‘commitment to customers around the globe using the Microsoft platform to tap the business value of SAP BusinessObjects applications’
The companies are currently identifying potential targeted go-to-market initiatives to accelerate the adoption of SAP BusinessObjects Planning and Consolidation among the Microsoft user base, as well as the SAP BusinessObjects Edge Planning and Consolidation application among small to midsize organizations.
The companies are also planning to collaborate to further optimise these solutions for the Microsoft platform to deliver performance for customers at a lower cost of ownership.
The companies aim to help customers tap the business value of a best-in-class application to perform efficient and effective planning, budgeting and forecasting and deliver a faster, more compliant financial close.
John Hagerty, vice president and research fellow at AMR Research said SAP are being forthright with their objectives.
“SAP has taken an aggressive stance that its business planning and consolidation product from the SAP BusinessObjects portfolio can be used by all firms, not just SAP customers,” he said.
“The company commits to continued development and support with Microsoft’s product stack. Existing customers and prospects should rest assured they can choose the technical platform that makes most sense for them.”
Tom Casey, general manager, SQL Server Business Intelligence, Microsoft Corporation said SAP’s planning and consolidation solution is delivering value for MS customers.
“The application takes advantage of the latest available versions of Microsoft Office 2007, including integration with Microsoft Office Excel 2007 and Microsoft SQL Server 2008, enabling customers to use the familiar tools they work with every day while benefiting from the features of Microsoft SQL Server 2008 database and SQL Server Analysis Services,” Casey said.
