IT and business organization in sync

This means a whole new dimension is emerging for ERP systems. If the workflow engine could be configured from the outside and this could be achieved according to a graphical representation of business processes, it would be a milestone in the evolution of ERP systems. Then, a business process design tool like the Aris Toolset supplied by IDS Scheer would not simply be a graphical instrument for business processes that can be used along with ERP systems, but it could be the central configuration element of the ERP or business backbone system of a company. Problems with communication between the business and IT sides could be reduced considerably. But even if SAP offers the Aris Toolset as an integrated component of SAP NetWeaver, we are still some months away from realizing this vision. Users should follow this innovation attentively but should not expect perfect integration right from the start. ERP and tool suppliers are covering completely new ground, and they need time to find their footing. Large ERP manufacturers evidently need to control their infrastructure components too. The infrastructure components determine the fundamental architecture of the ERP systems, but at the same time they also restrict them. This means that ERP manufactures that opt for the exclusive use of an infrastructure package of a third-party supplier are more or less at their mercy. The fundamental application possibilities are defined in the basic architecture, which is in turn increasingly influenced by the infrastructure. SAP has acquired a clear leadership position in realizing this vision, which still eludes other ERP providers. Reworking the classic SAP system, however, requires full commitment from the entire organization. SAP Executive Board member Peter Zencke has personal experience in the ERP world, both the old and the new, and can bridge the gap between the two. He is responsible for the central architecture, and liaises between the technology area, sponsored by SAP Executive Board member Shai Agassi, and the business application area, sponsored by Chairman and CEO of SAP Henning Kagermann. Zencke’s responsibility for SAP’s Enterprise Services Architecture is central to the reorganization of the massive SAP R/3 program block. Now, without a standardized architecture, such a mammoth project simply can’t work.