Business Objects, SAP offering for SMBs

BOSTON, USA: Business Objects, an SAP company, announced that both new and existing customers of the SAP Business One application can receive a basic version of Crystal Reports software, the de facto standard in reporting.

Only months since the acquisition closed, today SAP and Business Objects debuted the first integrated solution specifically engineered and packaged to meet the needs of small businesses. This unified step forward underscores the companies' commitment to empowering and supporting small and midsize companies in their business intelligence strategies, with the ability to use Business Objects solutions seamlessly with data and content from SAP Business One. The announcement was made at the Business Objects Influencer Summit, being held in Boston on Aug. 12.

Better insight into business processes is critical to growth for all customers, regardless of size. To address this need, Business Objects and SAP have created an integrated solution that gives small businesses the ability to make informed business decisions based on trusted data.

With this basic version of Crystal Reports, business users can conveniently connect to data from the SAP Business One application and access data regarding all critical business functions; customers can then more easily create reports and represent data in visually compelling formats using one fully integrated system.

By adding the industry's leading business intelligence capabilities to SAP Business One, customers will be able to gain greater insight into specific areas such as finance or supply chain operations, empowering them to make better business decisions and close the loop between their business strategy and execution.

For example, a growing consumer-packaged goods company may rely on SAP Business One to manage its sales operations. By adding Crystal Reports, this customer gains real-time visibility into the company's proximity to sales targets or opportunities that may exist for further expansion. New Opportunities for Partners

Crystal Reports 2008 Visual Advantage allows users to report and analyze information gathered from more than 35 data sources. With Xcelsius Engage 2008, business professionals at small businesses and midsize companies will be able to create exciting dashboards and data presentations from a variety of data sources, and end users can share these dashboards live with their respective teams.

Crystal Reports Server 2008 allows companies to manage and share secure reports over the Web. With these solutions, users gain a broader view of their business performance and can take control of their corporate data by managing, sharing and delivering interactive reports on- demand across their organizations.

"At Business Objects, our mission is to transform the way the world works by connecting people, information and businesses," said Marge Breya, general manager and executive vice president, Business Intelligence Platform, Business Objects, an SAP company. "All companies, regardless of size, are looking to eliminate 'knowledge shadows' in order to simplify the decision-making process.

Today's announcement is an important step forward in helping small businesses and midsize companies extend all information to all people, and ultimately close the gap between strategy and execution. The new combined offering will give small and midsize companies the business intelligence tools they need to transform their organizations and outmaneuver the competition."