Comments on: Wolfgang Hilpert and Thomas Vollmering on NetWeaver BPM #sapphire09 http://www.column2.com/2009/05/wolfgang-hilpert-and-thomas-vollmering-on-netweaver-bpm-sapphire09/ BPM, Enterprise 2.0 and technology trends in business. Fri, 19 Mar 2010 10:19:34 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: Sandy Kemsley http://www.column2.com/2009/05/wolfgang-hilpert-and-thomas-vollmering-on-netweaver-bpm-sapphire09/comment-page-1/#comment-11226 Sandy Kemsley Thu, 14 May 2009 17:58:25 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2009/05/wolfgang-hilpert-and-thomas-vollmering-on-netweaver-bpm-sapphire09/#comment-11226 They do expose a lot of information: since 6.0 (I think), the core SAP ERP system has exposed much of their functionality through web services. As they build out their NetWeaver BPM functionality, they'll be tying that closer to BPM processes (that's part of what I saw in the discussion with Wolfgang and Thomas) so that actions in the ERP become just like services to be included in an orchestration. The key thing to keep in mind about SAP and their development of NetWeaver BPM is that although it looks and feels much like a pure-play BPMS, they are not trying to be the best BPMS on the market: their goal is to be the best BPMS for existing SAP customers. They do expose a lot of information: since 6.0 (I think), the core SAP ERP system has exposed much of their functionality through web services. As they build out their NetWeaver BPM functionality, they’ll be tying that closer to BPM processes (that’s part of what I saw in the discussion with Wolfgang and Thomas) so that actions in the ERP become just like services to be included in an orchestration.

The key thing to keep in mind about SAP and their development of NetWeaver BPM is that although it looks and feels much like a pure-play BPMS, they are not trying to be the best BPMS on the market: their goal is to be the best BPMS for existing SAP customers.

]]> By: Scott Francis http://www.column2.com/2009/05/wolfgang-hilpert-and-thomas-vollmering-on-netweaver-bpm-sapphire09/comment-page-1/#comment-11222 Scott Francis Wed, 13 May 2009 22:15:54 +0000 http://www.column2.com/2009/05/wolfgang-hilpert-and-thomas-vollmering-on-netweaver-bpm-sapphire09/#comment-11222 I am torn about these ERP-specific BPM options - on the one hand, SAP and Oracle are in a fantastic position to really provide useful BPM technology on top of their stack... but on the other hand, it is destined to be "stuck" on their platform, rather than being applicable to other platforms or independent processes. What I'd really like to see them do is to EXPOSE the information they have about their processes in a consumable way (Wf-XML perhaps?) so that not only can their own bpm tools make use of SAP/Oracle, but others' BPM tooling can further leverage those into higher-level or external processes. I am torn about these ERP-specific BPM options – on the one hand, SAP and Oracle are in a fantastic position to really provide useful BPM technology on top of their stack… but on the other hand, it is destined to be “stuck” on their platform, rather than being applicable to other platforms or independent processes.

What I’d really like to see them do is to EXPOSE the information they have about their processes in a consumable way (Wf-XML perhaps?) so that not only can their own bpm tools make use of SAP/Oracle, but others’ BPM tooling can further leverage those into higher-level or external processes.

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