SAP Business ByDesign integrated with Google Search

The SAP World Tour began today at the Birmingham NEC

SAP has integrated its Business ByDesign management suite with Google's search technologies to give business users fast access to enterprise data, as well as external data from within the end-to-end application suite "in just one click".

The company said that customers could now access Google Search, News, Finance and Maps through the Business ByDesign interface.

The announcement was mode at the SAP World Tour, which kicked off at the Birmingham NEC today.

Stephen Read, UK director of small to medium sized enterprises (SMEs) at SAP, told delegates that enterprise collaborative solutions and content management are the top IT department priorities.

"There will be a lot more from SAP in this area," Read promised.

SAP also announced Business ByDesign integration with other web services vendors, including Business Wire, Falk Online, GoYellow.de, Hoover's, MapQuest.com, Morningstar and Navteq Map24.

Bruno Bourguet, European sales vice president at Navteq, which provides digital maps and content for navigation and location-based services, claimed that combining its services within Business ByDesign allows users to be more productive.

The integration will allow BusinessByDesign users to map and route customers, suppliers and other contacts worldwide, he explained.

"Our web services can, for instance, be used by sales representatives to gather prospect information, and plan the ideal route for their sales trips with just one click," said Bourguet.

SAP claimed that it will expand the number of preconfigured web services with the next release of Business ByDesign, planned for the third quarter of 2009.

"Including preconfigured third-party web services is a valuable enhancement to SAP Business ByDesign as it improves user productivity and user experience," said Hans-Peter Klaey, SAP president of SME.

"This is yet another step forward for SAP Business ByDesign in meeting the needs of midsize companies looking for an integrated and complete on-demand business solution for their entire operation."

A survey of 200 business users in the UK, carried out by SAP and unveiled at the customer event, found that only 14 per cent of respondents had enough access to real-time data, despite half believing that clarity of information will be instrumental in helping them to survive the downturn.