HANOVER, Germany, March 4 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Further enabling customers to realize the benefits of enterprise service-oriented architecture (enterprise SOA), SAP AG and IDS Scheer today announced an expansion of their strategic partnership that will enable customers, for the first time, to take a model and process-centric approach to the implementation of service-enabled business applications from SAP. Through the integration of the Enterprise Services Repository of SAP NetWeaver(R) and ARIS technology from IDS Scheer (also available through SAP as SAP enterprise modeling applications by IDS Scheer), customers will be able to more quickly identify opportunities to better meet the shifting needs of the business and deliver rapid, tangible return on investment. The announcement was made at CeBIT 2008, the world's leading information technology showcase, being held in Hanover, Germany, March 4-9.

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Building upon a long-standing strategic partnership focused on developing tools that enable the understanding, documentation and analysis of stable business processes, the integration brings together the modeling capabilities of the industry-leading ARIS product family with SAP's robust repository of enterprise services to create a conceptual business blueprint for enterprise SOA.

"Services repositories play a pivotal role in organizations for the governance of a large-scale SOA," said Paolo Malinverno, vice president of research, Gartner. "Business-level modeling capabilities tightly integrated with the services and other reusables managed in such a repository allow much better alignment between business and IT."

Released in 1992, ARIS from IDS Scheer is a tool set enabling the discovery, documentation, analysis and optimization of stable, well-understood business processes. Enterprise Services Repository from SAP, developed in close collaboration with IDS Scheer, is a central library where all enterprise service metadata is illustrated and explained, enabling the reuse of enterprise services for modeling and composing new applications. Now, with ARIS technology integration, Enterprise Services Repository users can more clearly visualize, understand and describe their enterprise SOA, including areas built upon SAP solutions as well as areas built in-house or through third parties.

"The integration of ARIS technology with the Enterprise Services Repository of SAP NetWeaver allows customers to access SAP's modeled process components and enterprise services, for the first time, from a business process analysis environment," said Wolfram Jost, executive board member, IDS Scheer AG. "These are true benefits for companies that constantly thrive to improve their business performance. The benefits include a more flexible design of business processes and a deeper understanding of what SAP's service-enabled business applications provide from a business process perspective, combining business process execution with enterprise services. It is a great opportunity for both SAP and IDS Scheer."

Unlike other repository solutions, this integration now enables a combined business and technical view on a company's services-oriented architecture. Users will have visibility into a variety of scenarios including the harmonization and standardization of heterogeneous IT landscapes and the implementation of specific process innovations enabled by enterprise services.

"SAP delivers value to customers by providing innovative and strategic solutions that enable these companies to harness their full business potential and support them in adapting to changing business requirements," said Peter Zencke, executive board member, SAP AG. "Co-innovation together with technology leaders like IDS Scheer is a critical element to that strategy, and we are proud of the continuing evolution of this long-standing relationship."

Via reseller agreement, ARIS is available from SAP as SAP enterprise modeling applications by IDS Scheer. The latest release of the Enterprise Services Repository of SAP NetWeaver is currently available to ramp-up customers and is scheduled to be generally available in the third quarter of 2008.

SAP solutions for companies of all sizes can be seen at Booth D12 in Hall 4, at CeBIT 2008, being held March 4-9, 2008.

About SAP

SAP is the world's leading provider of business software*. Today, more than 46,100 customers in more than 120 countries run SAP(R) applications -- from distinct solutions addressing the needs of small businesses and midsize companies to suite offerings for global organizations. Powered by the SAP NetWeaver(R) technology platform to drive innovation and enable business change, SAP software helps enterprises of all sizes around the world improve customer relationships, enhance partner collaboration and create efficiencies across their supply chains and business operations. SAP solution portfolios support the unique business processes of more than 25 industries, including high tech, retail, financial services, healthcare and the public sector. With subsidiaries in more than 50 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges, including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol "SAP." (Additional information at http://www.sap.com/)

(*) SAP defines business software as comprising enterprise resource planning and related applications such as supply chain management, customer relationship management, product life-cycle management and supplier relationship management.

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