Microsoft and SAP have announced Duet Enterprise, a business tool that blends SAP and SharePoint data to increase staff and department productivity, according to the pair.

Duet Enterprise has been designed to improve interoperability between the systems, making them easier to use, Microsoft said.

"Duet Enterprise will empower people to blend SAP data and processes with SharePoint content and collaboration tools to increase personal and team productivity across the PC, phone and browser," said Pascal Gibert, director of Duet product management at Microsoft.

"We heard from customers a strong desire to generate more value from existing IT investments. Historically, customers who integrated SharePoint and Office with SAP applications faced a number of challenging tasks, including authentication between SharePoint and SAP services, and the building and deployment of combined services and solutions."

Rather than spend time tinkering with integration, developers and business users will be able to quickly build solutions specific to their needs, and will have their efforts supported by both parties, according to Gilbert.

"We are in alignment across our organisations on the topics that are important to our customers," he added. "Because we work together closely, we can respond to challenges quickly, and customers can be confident that they have the support they need, when they need it, from two industry leaders."

Duet Enterprise is expected in the second half of 2010.