Andreas Zilch, executive board member at Experton Group, complimented SAP on its “brilliant move.” Zilch explains: “The move gives SAP control of the premier buyer-supplier network, which it can tightly integrate into its supply chain applications. This will give SAP a strong chip to play when dealing with Oracle.” The market will change, predicts Zilch.

Experton Group: Tight Integration with SAP Supply Chain Possible

He’s right, say the other analysts. SAP is strengthening its own position vis-à-vis Oracle and Microsoft. But here, too, we must remember not to jump the gun. “The balance of power on the global market will basically stay the same. It’s not the case that SAP is now pulling ahead of its competitors,” explains Frank Niemann, principal consultant for Software Markets at Pierre Audoin Consultants (PAC). Deloitte’s Fey likewise predicts, “There won’t be any noticeable shifting of power on the world market among enterprise software providers.”

Lünendonk: Huge Potential for Efficiency in Logistics Processes of Large Enterprises

Spies of IDC prefers to look at things from a user perspective: “We are seeing increased motivation among former Ariba customers to implement SAP software.” According to Hartmut Lüerßen, partner at Lünendonk, “The purchasing and logistics processes of large enterprises harbor great potential for efficiency gains, particularly in the automation and digital linking of their ecosystems, which are made up of suppliers, business networks, customers, and logistics companies. Large corporations and conglomerates invest enormous sums of money to reorganize these processes.” Lüerßen further: “SAP can now deliver a new and complementary solution for mapping cross-company business processes.”

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