This post is part of our ReadWriteEnterprise channel, which is a resource and guide for IT managers and technologists in the Enterprise. The channel is sponsored by Intel. As you're exploring solutions for your enterprise, check out this helpful resource from our sponsors: All New 2010 Intel Core vPro Processors and Microsoft Office 2010: Your Best Choice for Business PCs
When we talk to companies, you get a sense of what matters to them, what is the future and how the organization in question fits into the market.
At the SAP Sapphire Now press conference this morning, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Overall, the actual production at Sapphire Now is outstanding. It's a co-conference, being held here in Orlando and Frankfurt. Virgin Founder Richard Branson took the stage in Frankfurt but the quality of the video feed here in Orlando was crystal clear. During the press conference, Co-CEOs Bill McDermott and Jim Hagemann Snabe took turns answering questions back and forth from the two locations.
The production of the event gives us a sense that SAP is energized, a more confident company since CEO Leo Apotheker resigned and SAP returned to the Co-CEO structure.
But we also hear language that makes it a bit unclear how the Sybase acquisition fits with the company's plan.
But, overall, we are curious about the executive team and the role of SAP CTO Vishal Sikka.
The Sybase acquisition will be shepherded by Sikka and SAP Chairman Hasso Plattner. On Wednesday, Plattner will go on stage with Sikka to present the vision for the in-memory technology capabilities that come with SAP and Sybase together.
That's a sign of what is really happening at SAP. Plattner is deep in the game and the company has two CEO's. In the middle is Sikka who is guiding the technology, defining and clarifying what the acquisition means. He reports to Plattner, which shows the leverage he has in the organization.
In all of this is a shift in the organization, another reorganization as we have heard some analysts lament about.
After the press conference we talked to some of the more seasoned analysts who cover SAP. They are still unclear, too, and talk with a bit of frustration about the company and its number of re-organizations. But perhaps we will get a better picture on Wednesday when Plattner and Sikka take the stage.
[Disclosure: SAP paid for a plane ticket and hotel room for Alex Williams to attend the the SAP Sapphire Now conference in Orlando.]
Share
Facebook
Comments
Subscribe to comments for this post OR Subscribe to comments for all ReadWriteEnterprise posts
Yeahhhhh, let's see, Oracle is the #1 DB for SAP implementations, DB2 is second, MS/SQL is third, and then there is everything else.
Let's see, Oracle says they spend around $2B/year on R&D; for their flagship database. About 7 years gross revenue for Sybase's database. What is that of SAP's net?
Oh, yeah, and Oracle has been investing like that for a while. And $10B worth of allied tech stack investement.
Crazy to compete there. Even MS has basically thrown in the towel.
-AC
Very informative and trustworthy blog. Please keep updating with great posts like this one. I have booked marked your site and am about to email it to a few friends of mine that I know would enjoy reading