Users should continue to reflect the Business Suite as a rental solution from SAP. The new cloud - based forms offer their own in-memory database platform HANA. Details such as the pricing yet let the software giant, however, open.
SAP ongoing
restructuring of its software portfolio in the direction of cloud computing
moving forward. After the German software giant already has its in-memory
database for rental from the IT cloud offering with the HANA platform, now
followed by other application packages. User could in future also SAPs most
important business software solution "SAP Business Suite ", order and
use on the basis of Hana Enterprise Cloud in a subscription model, according to
an official communication from Walldorf.
"This is a
significant step in the transformation SAPs," said SAP's board member and
technology chief Vishal Sikka’s latest initiative. The new offering underscores
the cloud commitment of Germany's
largest software maker. Sikka also announced, with a global network of its own
data centers and additional migration services for its clients to accelerate
its cloud plans. The manager promised the users more choice in relation to the
compilation of business applications as well as a significantly simplified
operation of the business software landscape.
SAP cloud offer
details remain open
Apart from the
mere announcement of the latest SAP foray to date remains, however, not very
concrete. The "SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud" offers future applications
such as the "SAP Business Suite", the “SAP Business Warehouse"
and the "SAP HANA Platform" in a subscription model, according to the
announcement SAPs. The software will operate safely in the regional SAP data
centers around the world. Users could here let their business-critical
applications running in a private managed cloud environment. Further details,
such as dependencies between certain modules or release conditions of cloud
-powered software components as well as for Pricing remained the SAP
responsible or guilty.
But just the
financial details should the user companies particularly interested. Because
the transition to the cloud does not necessarily mean that the software is
operating effectively. SAP had recently announced the pricing for its
cloud-based HANA platform known - and has it well within himself. Including
computing infrastructure and HANA database will be due depending on additional
options between about 4,600 and $ 87,700 per month. While there are
opportunities for SAP customers to transfer existing licenses to the cloud and
to take individual software components that will be in the future based in the
cloud, from the on-premise maintenance? The extent to which the customer
benefits from the fact, however, is likely to depend in large parts on the
individual negotiation skills.
Customizing can
cause problems in cloud migration
In addition,
several questions remain open. Thus we read in the recent SAP announcement that
existing maintenance contracts possess also migrated to the cloud applications
continue to be valid. As a rental model fits with maintenance fees that SAP
Manager will still have to explain in detail. It remains to also consider,
entire customer installations transfer into the IT cloud easily. SAP itself
says that there could be some limitations, especially in connection with the
customer-or product-specific configurations at one point or another.
To pave the way
for customers to cloud, SAP plans to offer additional services. The in-house
service department will offer special cloud transformation services to convert
existing SAP applications into the SAP HANA Enterprise Cloud. The leg also
consider the integration of on-premise software or other SAP cloud solutions
such as the acquired Success Factors Human Resources applications (HR ) and
also purchased cloud-based procurement platform, Ariba. More than 15,000
specialists stood According to SAP ready to assist customers in their cloud
plans.
The software
manufacturer builds for its cloud strategy also its data centers continue. Worldwide
there are currently 16 facilities, so those responsible from Walldorf. It was
not until the beginning of April they had taken for the Asia-Pacific region,
the first two data centers in Tokyo and Osaka in operation. All
SAP data centers were working with in-memory technology and high -end servers
to ensure the high standards of business critical workloads. With data centers
globally distributed SAP plans for its customers, whilst also ensuring that
regional and national rules for compliance are met.
SAPs path to the
cloud remains stony
With his
announcement, now offer the business suite for rental, SAP underlines although
its cloud ambitions. However, there remains a long way. It is clear that
customers want cloud-based on-demand software, said Steve Lucas, president of
platform solutions from SAP. It will, however, take until the change had taken
place over a wide area in the market. Many users are still skeptical to
outsource mission-critical applications and data to the cloud. According to a
survey of the German-speaking SAP User Group (DSAG ), only three percent of the
400 surveyed IT managers want to make this year IT funds for SAP's cloud
offerings loosely. In addition was observed that SAP offers are not necessarily
set when users interested in cloud solutions found DSAG CEO Marco Lenck. Users
of SAP's on-premise software analyzed their requirements in detail and then
analyzed the products that fit their landscape - with different software and
cloud providers.
Also for SAP
itself is the shift to the cloud is anything but simple. It is the major
software vendors such as Microsoft, Oracle and SAP have a hard time to solve
their dependence on traditional licensing maintenance business with which they
have earned over the past decades a lot of money. The provider must be
satisfied with much lower margins in the cloud business. This is about
operational efficiency and mass. And also the flagship company of the IT cloud
does not always simple. Cloud pioneer Salesforce.com, which with its CRM
solutions in recent years, although got off to a rapid revenue growth, writes
today in the red.
However, the SAP
as well as the other software grandees will remain no choice but to continue
ride on the cloud train - also because the traditional business with on-
premise software is proving increasingly difficult in the saturated markets of
Western economies, and companies to become more responsive, especially in the
rapidly developing markets in Brazil, China and India in the direction of cloud
offerings - but want to invest little money.
Ambitious goals
with cloud solutions
The SAP
executives pursue nonetheless ambitious goals. Already next year they intend to
implement two billion euros with cloud offerings - that would be ten percent of
the targeted 2015 total sales of 20 billion euros. In return, the software
specialists from Baden, however, would have to
increase significantly. Last year, SAP reportedly stood over 700 million euros
in cloud revenue impact. This would require almost a tripling of cloud revenue
in order to achieve the self- designated benchmark until next year.
