Enterprise Resource Planning Giants Eye the Shop Floor (TEC)

Because production systems on the shop floor are typically not synchronized and integrated with the planning ones, there is a lack of timely and accurate information that results in disconnected business processes.

Microsoft Business Solutions Turns Profitable (TechWeb)

Microsoft Business Solutions (MBS), the enterprise applications arm of Microsoft Corp., got a boost on Thursday when the software company released earnings for fiscal second quarter, which ended Dec. 31.

Buzzword: Axapta

SAP vs. Oracle battle gets bloodier (CNN.com)

The long-building rivalry between the two software sellers heats up in a brutal fight for software-maintenance dollars.

RedPrairie Will Gain Leading WMS Technology With MARC Global (Gartner)

The acquisition of MARC Global will give RedPrairie market-leading warehouse management system (WMS) functionality. But it will also bring significant technology integration and product rationalization problems.

ERP-markt rooskleurig, vooral voor Microsoft (AG)

ERP-markt rooskleurig, vooral voor Microsoft

De ERP-markt ziet er voor de leveranciers rooskleurig uit, concludeert AMR Research uit onderzoek. Meer dan 70 procent van de bedrijven is van plan dit jaar zijn ERP-uitgaven te verhogen.
"Uit ons onderzoek blijkt dat er een flinke stijging in de ERP-uitgaven aankomt in 2006. Met bedrijven van allerlei grootte die hun ERP-budget verhogen, wordt het voor de topleveranciers op dit gebied een mooi jaar", aldus analist Jim Shepherd van AMR.
Gevraagd naar de leverancier van hun voorkeur gaf het grootste percentage respondenten overigens aan voor Microsoft Business Systems te kiezen. Oracle en SAP kwamen respectievelijk op de tweede en derde plaats. (Freek Blankena)
De ERP-markt ziet er voor de leveranciers rooskleurig uit, concludeert AMR Research uit onderzoek. Meer dan 70 procent van de bedrijven is van plan dit jaar zijn ERP-uitgaven te verhogen.

ERP's Inventory Benefits (Line56)

The tale of SAP customer Universal Instruments emphasizes the core value(s) of ERP

SAP's 2005 (Line56)

A solid year for enterprise applications giant; prospects for 2006 and beyond

IBM and PTC Partner on PLM (AMR)

IBM and PTC will jointly pursue Product Lifecycle Management (PLM) opportunities in new markets and on selected accounts. While IBM and PTC have worked together on implementation and outsourcing arrangements in the past, this is the first time the two have aligned to jointly sell PLM applications to new customers. The relationship reflects changes within IBM’s approach to deliver on customer PLM requirements, as the IBM PLM group seeks to deliver a total package of software, hardware, and services.

SAP Tops the $10B Mark, Eyes $70B Market (AMR)

On Wednesday morning, SAP posted its financial results for the year ending December 31. Total revenue came in at Euro 8.51B, or $10.47B (based on $1.23/Euro exchange rate). This is a 12% gain from last year. Software revenue was Euro 2.78B ($3.42B), up 15% in constant currencies.

SAP leads Europe higher (FT)

European stocks advanced on Wednesday, lifted by strength in the technology sector, rumours of banking consolidation and a surge in German business confidence. The Eurofirst 300 index gained 14.04 points or 1.1 per cent, to 1,291.18.

SAP expects to double revenues in four years (FT)

SAP, the world’s largest business software maker, expects products scheduled for launch in the next two years to more than double core revenues from software sales and maintenance contracts by 2010.

Supply Chain Integration in China, Part II

A look at the supply chain issues, strategies, and technologies in play in China, from the perspective of foreign multinationals as well as Chinese companies

Supply Chain Success Revisited (Line56)

More proof that an efficient supply chain means bottom line business success; the case of AMR's Top 25

Supply Chain Integration in China, Part I (Line56)

A look at the supply chain issues, strategies, and technologies in play in China, from the perspective of foreign multinationals as well as Chinese companies

Oracle Acquires 360Commerce (Line56)

Yet another retail acquisition for Oracle

Oracle Aquires 360Commerce: The Retail M&A Frenzy That Just Won’t Quit (AMR)

Oracle is purchasing privately held 360Commerce as part of its ongoing strategy to deepen and broaden its retail software portfolio through acquisition. Deal terms were not disclosed. While Oracle is not expected to make a broad public announcement about the deal at the National Retail Federation (NRF) show in New York this week, the deal will likely generate most of the buzz at the show.

How SAP Customers Can Manage Enterprise Architecture, Part 1: The Challenge (AMR)

Who needs enterprise architecture? You will, SAP customers will, everyone will. Why? Take a look into the average IT department at any enterprise anywhere around the globe first thing tomorrow morning. What will you see? You will find an X amount of separate IT projects, each of which can be viewed as a discrete bucket. There will be lots of buckets for enterprise architecture software packages, and a chain of buckets for bespoke software development.

Oracle Acquires Temposoft (Line56)

Adding to retail portfolio with workforce management functionality; aligns with demand forecasting in retail

SAP partners add more vertical applications for SMBs (InfoWorld)

Partners of SAP (Profile, Products, Articles) AG have launched 39 new mySAP All-in-One software packages tailored for small and medium-size businesses (SMBs) in specific vertical markets, SAP announced Wednesday.

ERP Today: No Safe Haven? (BCG)

For years, Small & Medium Businesses (SMB) have followed the lead of the larger corporations
in terms of how and what to select regarding ERP systems. That leadership role is currently
faltering.

SAP Boasts a Strong Q4 (Red Herring)

The software giant says strong software sales helped it beat analysts’ expectations.

SAP said Tuesday its fourth-quarter revenue will exceed its prior forecasts thanks in large part to an 18 percent rise in software sales over the year-earlier quarter.

View The Key Factors For SMB ERP Market Vendors to Be Successful and Analysis of the Standard For SMB Businesses to Choose ERP Vendors (Business Wire)

SMB businesses involved in this study are high-level small and medium-sized businesses. Among the four types of SMB businesses defined, the starting ones, the entry-level ones, the mid-level ones and the high-level ones. The other three types have not been covered in this study because they have not applied management software, stand-alone version management software or network version individual services management software and ERP.

Silver Creek Systems Noted in Product Information Management Magic Quadrant

LOUISVILLE, Colo., Jan. 10 /PRNewswire/ -- Silver Creek Systems, a
provider of enterprise data usability solutions, was noted in Gartner's Magic
Quadrant for Product Information Management 2005, published Dec. 30, 2005 by
Gartner Analyst, Andrew White.

Keyword: PIM

ERP Underused and Difficult (Line56)

European ERP experiences as reported by PMP Research highlight both challenges and opportunities for vendors; despite everything, ERP still foundational

A New Year’s Prediction and Wish (AMR)

As we look ahead to a new year, my prediction is winning businesses will be the heroes of the next decade. I’m not talking about celebrity CEOs—I’m talking about the quietly competent practitioners who will dominate the global supply chain to meet demand whenever and wherever it exists. They will be the heroes because, as global business further develops, it will be in the interest of these winning businesses to solve global problems.

In fact, it is their ability to address these problems as supply chain leaders that will distinguish these companies from their competitors. A stretch? Maybe. But it’s no coincidence that supply chain leaders like Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Procter & Gamble (each featured on “The AMR Research Supply Chain Top 25 for 2005” performers list) were among the first to meet the needs of the victims of Hurricane Katrina.

Insights Into Supply Chain Innovation in Europe (AMR)

Working with top universities, publications, IT vendor consultants, system integrators, and directly with top retailers and manufacturers, AMR Research has identified the top supply chain innovators in Europe. Supply chain innovators stand apart from the rest, showing more than a 30% reduction in finished goods inventory and a 25% improvement in on-time delivery.