SAP on the Cloud

SAP Cloud Blog Has Transitioned to the SAP Community Network

November 2, 2012 by Brad Smith

The SAP Cloud Blog has served as a great forum for expert insights, news, and analysis regarding all things SAP Cloud. It is now time for us to embark on a new journey, where we will be publishing even more fresh content utilizing the SAP Community Network and we certainly hope you will join us!

All content that has been published prior to today will remain active and viewable on this platform. Therefore, please feel free to continue researching and reading some of the great entries we have been able to publish – all thanks to our amazing team of contributors.

For more information on how to stay up-to-date with the latest and greatest surrounding SAP Cloud Solutions, you can simply click here to get started on the SAP Community Network.

Also we have several presences on Social Media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Linkedin, SlideShare, and YouTube – and we would love to stay connected with you. For your convenience, a direct link to each profile has been provided below:

• SAP Cloud Solutions Facebook
• @SAPCloud Twitter
• SAP Cloud Solutions Linkedin
• SAP Cloud Solutions SlideShare
• SAP Cloud Solutions YouTube

If you have any questions about how to stay in contact please feel free to leave a message in the comment field of this post with any concerns you may have, or feel free to contact Schalk Viljoen, Senior Director, Business Development at SAP (email: schalk.viljoen@sap.com)

It has been a great run, but it is certainly far from over as we are dedicated to bringing you fresh, insightful, valuable content.

Yours Truly,

SAP Cloud Media Team

Adding on New Capabilities with SaaS – Part III of Turning Cloudy Chaos into an IT Strategy

October 10, 2012 by Greg Chase

This blog continues the discussion started in Part I of Turning Cloudy Chaos into an IT Strategy and Part II – Retreading Existing Systems to Leverage Cloud Technology.  In this blog we examine how Software as a Service fits into a hybrid IT Strategy for cloud computing.

If your company has extensive investments in on premise ERP such as SAP Business Suite, then pursuing an add-on approach with Software as a Service can be an agile way for your company’s departments to roll out new systems of engagement to users. Such a strategy should consider the business needs being solved in relation to other needs within the company such as information management and integration of business processes.

Figure 1: SAP’s vision of end-to-end business processes supported by both on premise and cloud-based applications.

[Source: SAP]

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SAP Financials OnDemand .. A Primer

October 5, 2012 by Brad Smith

Guest Blog Post by Christian Horak, Global Head of Solution Marketing for SAP Business ByDesign, SAP Financials OD at SAP AG

Hello Folks,

Maybe you have heard that we are just about to launch an exciting new member of the SAP Cloud family at SAPPHIRE NOW in Madrid in November. As we gear up for this launch, I am writing a series of blogs to formulate my thoughts about the solution.

Today I’d like to give you a basic primer on what SAP Financials OnDemand is all about and provide you with a Sneak Preview.

I think the first thing to address is the role of a modern finance department and what issues and challenges they face today that prompted us to develop a brand new solution for this space. (more…)

Will New EU Standards Boost Cloud Take-up?

September 28, 2012 by Berni Maguire

A new strategy to be announced by the EU this week is expected to encourage greater use of cloud computing technology to provide a range of benefits to businesses throughout the continent.

The positives of cloud computing are clear, as a study of the market produced by the European Commission (EC) earlier this year found businesses stand to benefit from reduced costs in areas such as capital expenditure. The EU noted this results in lower barriers to entry, provides the ability to bring new products to market more quickly and frees small and medium-sized enterprises to focus on innovation.

This week, the EC will set forth its plans for developing cloud technology, which it claims could boost the cumulative gross domestic product of the 27-nation bloc by almost €1 trillion (£795 billion), a well as creating 3.8 million jobs by 2020, according to a report seen by the Wall Street Journal.

Standardisation

One of the key aims of the new policy document will be to increase standardisation of the various cloud computing solutions currently in use around the continent. It noted that although suppliers have make efforts to improve this, a lack of industry-wide certification means “clouds may develop in a way that lacks interoperability, data portability and reversibility, all crucial for the avoidance of lock-in”.

This may therefore be highly useful to enterprises that are looking to improve the agility of their small business IT solutions by investing in cloud-based technology that enables them to rapidly scale their operations up. As the continent emerges from recession, this is likely to be a key advantage for companies seeking to expand their business.

Simplified regulations

The fragmented nature of the European cloud market also poses legal and regulatory difficulties, particularly for firms looking to do business across borders within the bloc. By developing consistent requirements for contracts and service level agreements, this could greatly reduce the level of complexity organisation have to deal with, which could help get them up and running with advanced cloud solutions faster.

It will seek to bring together expertise from across the industry to develop common procedures for procuring cloud solutions in a transparent way, which could benefit businesses of all sizes.

With 20 years experience providing customers with high-quality IT systems, Nouveau Solutions offers an unparalleled level of technical expertise and service and is focusing on building long-lasting relationship with customers. Visit our website at www.nouveau.co.uk to find out what solutions such as SAP Business ByDesign could do for your business.

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About the Author

Berni Maguire is a Marketing Manager for Nouveau Solutions Ltd.  With over 20 years’ experience of working in the IT industry within both UK and European roles, Berni has worked with leading business-intelligence vendors, Cognos and MicroStrategy, to start-up organisations such as Marimba.  Within these organizations, Berni has held a variety of roles, from marketing communications, channel marketing and business development roles.

In her current role Berni is responsible for the marketing at Nouveau.  She is responsible for identifying emerging trends in the IT marketplace and looking for new opportunities and tactics to take the company message out to the market.  Berni is particularly interested in the shift from traditional marketing methods to utilizing social media platforms for building relationships and value with clients, suppliers and partners alike.

Why the Cloud Won’t Save Your Business

September 19, 2012 by Andrew S. Baker (ASB)

All of the hype and hoopla that has attended cloud computing is finally dying down.  We’re almost in the place where cloud computing is no longer being suggested as the miracle cure for what ails business. However, just in case you’re in an organization that thinks that the cloud will solve all of your problems, here are the top 5 reasons why it won’t: (more…)

Cloud Marketing: Don’t Fear the Hype

September 19, 2012 by Alec Wagner

We’ve all been there before—trapped in a conference room during a dull marketing presentation that inspires yawns, makes your eyes glaze over, and completely tune out. Cloud marketing presentations are no exception when it comes to inspiring ennui and boredom. But have you sat through a cloud vendor’s snooze-fest and been jarred back to consciousness by your internal early-warning system? Lori Janjigian at Focus was curious about what red flags folks are seeing, so she asked: “What are the top three things that scare you in the marketing presentation of a vendor providing cloud services?”

Stop snoring, wipe the drool from your chin, and be on the lookout for these warning signs… (more…)

Get the FUD Out of Here: Assuaging IT’s Cloud Concerns

September 19, 2012 by Alec Wagner

There’s no doubt that cloud adoption is on the uptake in both enterprises and SMBs alike. But along with a move toward cloud adoption, many businesses are facing resistance from the IT department. Why are some IT workers dragging their feet when it comes to embracing cloud computing? How can IT leaders dispel the fear, uncertainty, and doubt (FUD) that surrounds The Cloud, and what advice should they give to IT workers who feel threatened by cloud adoption? Experts shared their lists of top tips when asked the question, “What are your top tips for IT workers who feel threatened by the move to Cloud Computing?” (more…)

The Cloud by Any Other Name

September 19, 2012 by Alec Wagner

Since its inception, The Cloud (as a term) has been bandied about and attached (as a definition) to any number of concepts. But, has The Cloud been become the New Coke of its generation? Or, more accurately, has it become a generic term that once had the cachet of a brand-name (think Kleenex)? That’s the concept behind a question from Lori Janjigian at Focus, who asked: “Given how tired we all are of cloud-this and cloud-that, what new names would you use for marketing cloud-based services?”

So, what’s in a name? Is it that “The Cloud is a cloud is a cloud”? With all apologies to Gertrude Stein, the experts at focus.com seemed to feel that renaming The Cloud would be reinventing the wheel. The Cloud, indeed, is the cloud—and we’re stuck with the name. But there are some ways to stand out in a crowded market without having to come up with a new name. (more…)

Scientific Study About the Success of Cloud Products – Please Participate by November 15th!

September 17, 2012 by Brad Smith

Guest Blog Post on behalf of Henning Schmitz

SAP is supporting scientific research and would like to highlight an interesting study.

The Chair of Information Systems Management at the University of Bayreuth is conducting an empirical study with the focus on “Success Factors of Cloud Enterprise Systems”, in which customers of SAP Cloud Products can participate.

Mr. Sebastian Walther is investigating with this study, which success factors of cloud enterprise systems really matter in the eyes of the clients. The survey is designed for top management, line of business managers, IT executives, and IT personnel and can be filled out by several persons working in the same company. The project is part of Mr. Sebastian Walther’s doceoral thesis.

Customers of SAP Business ByDesign or other SAP Cloud Products are invited to take part in this study by filling out the online survey by November 15, 2012. The time to answer all questions of the survey is estimated to be at around 10 minutes.

Participants who provide their mail address will receive an exclusive executive summary with the results of the study after it has been finished.

To access the survey: http://tinyurl.com/9vgdg8s.

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Sebastian Walther is a research associate at the Institute of Information Systems Management of the University of Bayreuth. Here you can access Sebastian Walther’s page at University of Bayreuth.

Things About Cloud We Take for Granted

August 16, 2012 by Alec Wagner

Crystal-ball gazing is always a fun pastime, and can make for some pithy punditry—and there’s no shortage of Monday morning quarterbacks in the tech world, from sage thought-leaders to naysaying curmudgeons. When will Apple release the next iPhone? When will Google buy (fill in the blank)? When will Facebook dump Timeline? Predictions about The Cloud are especially fun to bandy about, as prognostications can take real flights of fancy. Case in point: Ben Kepes—commentator, adviser, cloud computing analyst, blogger, and CloudU curator—got said crystal ball rolling at Focus.com when he asked, “What are the top 10 things about cloud we’ll all take for granted in three years?”

Let the soothsaying begin! (more…)