SAP, Accenture Launch New Mobility Solutions

New enterprise mobility solutions will be offered by SAP AG and Accenture, as announced at the Sapphire Now event for SAP customers. Sybase said the solutions will let companies implement a mobility strategy quickly. Included in the rollout is the Sybase Unwired Platform 2.0, and a new app that accesses SAP's CRM application.

SAP AG and Accenture are joining forces to create new enterprise Relevant Products/Services mobility Relevant Products/Services solutions, using the next generation of the Sybase Unwired Platform, new mobile Relevant Products/Services apps Relevant Products/Services from SAP, and new solutions developed with Accenture Mobility Services. The initial targets will be the oil and gas, utilities and consumer-products industries.

The announcement was made at the Sapphire Now event for SAP customers, currently taking place in Orlando, Fla. Dr. Raj Nathan, executive vice president and chief marketing officer of SAP-owned Sybase, said the new mobile solutions "will drastically reduce the costs and time needed for organizations to implement a mobility strategy."

Making Mobile a Priority

The companies cited a 2010 Forrester Relevant Products/Services Research survey which found that more than 60 percent of companies are making mobile applications a priority.

Included in the rollout are the release of the Sybase Unwired Platform 2.0 and an updated version of the software Relevant Products/Services development kit (SDK). Upgrades to the platform include native app development, a hybrid web container for customized application Relevant Products/Services development, cross-platform support Relevant Products/Services, a single sign-on for SAP systems, and encrypted web storage Relevant Products/Services and data Relevant Products/Services transmission.

The new mobile apps build on the updated Unwired Platform. One of the new products is a SAP Field Service mobile app designed to provide access Relevant Products/Services to assignments, service Relevant Products/Services orders, and service confirmation, in the field. It also provides out-of-the-box access to the SAP customer-relationship-management application, with instant field assignment alerts, enhanced service-order management, integration with a mapping service, and service order debriefs.

Features in a new SAP Retail Execution mobile app include retail visit management and scheduling, survey and auditing tools, customer account management, and product management. A Work Order mobile app provides work orders, technical object management, inventory information, and business Relevant Products/Services partner information.

Other mobile apps in development are ones for human resources, procurement, finance and sales.

Accenture's Services

The companies said their solutions include an "actionable plan and road map" to use Accenture's mobility consulting services to increase productivity Relevant Products/Services, reduce costs, and increase revenues, as well as software services for application development that utilize the Unwired Platform to deploy Relevant Products/Services mobile functionality.

Existing Accenture Mobility Services will be offered, as well as Mobility Consulting Services for Enterprise Strategy, Mobility Software Services for Application Development, Mobility Business Integration Services for Field Force Transformation, and Mobility Managed Services for Mobile Application and Device Management.

Integration Services for Field Force Transformation is designed to bring "technician-focused" tools to the field and reengineer front-office practices. Managed Services for Mobile Application and Device Management offers a company-specific application catalog, device Relevant Products/Services security Relevant Products/Services, and remote, over-the-air mobile-device management capabilities.

Accenture is a global Relevant Products/Services management consulting, technology Relevant Products/Services services, and outsourcing company with a workforce of more than 215,000 in more than 120 countries. SAP's enterprise application software products and services have more than 170,000 customers worldwide.