Business Objects to Help SAP Target Business Users
SAP also extended its reach into the mid-market for ERP (enterprise resource planning) applications in September with the launch of a hosted ERP software suite called SAP Business ByDesign. The suite has been launched in the U.S., China and Germany, with launches in some other countries planned for the first quarter of next year, said Clas Neumann, president of SAP Labs India. The lab in Bangalore was involved in developing the product.
Business ByDesign is distinct and addresses a very different market from SAP's top-end Business Suite and other business applications, Sikka said.
Partners such as system integrators will start customizing the application for users at the user interface and reports levels, but SAP does not have any plans at this point to let partners host and offer the applications, according to Neumann. "This is a product we will host for now, as we want to move very slowly to make sure everything is right," Sikka said.



