SAP unveils Net strategy -- Congratulations, it's a portal!

At its European user conference, SAP has unveiled its new Internet strategy, focusing on end-user ease of use and links to B2B services and products.

At the heart of the "mySAP.com" strategy is a portal which will offer views of data from R/3 systems and front-office applications, as well as link buyers and sellers in an online B2B directory. MySAP.com also will include an applications hosting service, as well as personalized business content like yellow pages and supplier catalogs for specific vertical markets, business partner directories and job listings.

Services offered on the B2B directory include travel services, mobile communications, secure messaging and shipping management. The directory will also link to the Microsoft Network (MSN) and Microsoft Commerce Server. Big names lining up to sell their services on mySAP.com include IBM, FedEx, Dell and Compaq, according to Hasso Plattner, SAP co-Chief Executive.

Paul Keller, ERP director at Allied Signal, said mySAP.com's E-commerce and business content will help his company get more out of its ERP investment.

MySAP.com is expected to be available in Q3'99