Ascential Software and SAP AG Sign Global Reseller Agreement
WESTBORO, Mass.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--April 30, 2001--
-- Ascential DataStage(R) to Provide Data Integration Platform for mySAP(TM) Business Intelligence Users Worldwide --
Ascential(TM) Software and SAP AG (NYSE ADR: SAP) today announced that they have signed a worldwide reseller agreement through which SAP and the newly-announced subsidiary, SAP Portals will resell Ascential DataStage(R) as a data integration platform for mySAP(TM) Business Intelligence (mySAP BI) customers. By providing customers with a scalable solution to extract data from systems like Oracle, Siebel, etc., and XML, Web Servers, all databases and mainframe sources, and integrate that data into SAP(R) Business Information Warehouse (SAP BW) environments, SAP will help customers increase operational efficiency, improve business results, and extend the use of SAP BW as an enterprise data warehouse solution.
"Our research clearly indicates that enterprises crave the ability to leverage pre-defined data warehouse solutions such as SAP BW as the basis for enterprise-wide analytics," said Doug Laney, vice president, Application Delivery Strategies, META Group. "Opening the data floodgates with a tool like DataStage should eliminate the architectural dilemma SAP customers previously have faced."
With today's announcement, DataStage becomes part of the mySAP Business Intelligence framework, enabling companies to build enterprise data warehouse solutions that include data from virtually any source including enterprise applications, web and e-mail logs, XML or e-business data, legacy systems, open warehouse data stores, flat files and mainframes. Under terms of the agreement, SAP will resell DataStage on Windows NT/Unix, a series of packaged application connectors, and the DataStage Load Pack for SAP BW.
"Today's global business environment is synonymous with competition and change, requiring companies to have rapid access to business information in order to make more informed decisions. DataStage's integration and scalability capabilities enable mySAP BI customers to support additional data sources and expand their use of SAP BW as an enterprise data warehouse solution," said Klaus Kreplin, senior vice president of Business Intelligence and Workplace, SAP AG. "The integration of mySAP BI and DataStage provides our customers with a single solution to load, combine and access information from virtually any data source into a target mySAP BI solution."
mySAP Business Intelligence is a comprehensive set of solutions designed to help customers gather information, turn information into knowledge, and navigate the business successfully. Delivered via the role-based mySAP Workplace so that users can access it anytime and anywhere, the mySAP Business Intelligence includes a range of solutions in areas such as data warehousing, knowledge management, CRM Analytics, Supply Chain Analytics, e-Analytics, HR Analytics, Financial Analytics and PLM Analytics.
"The enhancement of SAP's BW with Ascential's tools enables SAP to create a truly omni-warehouse environment inside BW and to have a complete data warehouse inside the SAP framework," said Bill Inmon, partner, BillInmon.com. "By providing customers with the ability to go back to old legacy systems and access the data in a native format using Ascential's technology, SAP has extended their position into being a full-fledged data warehouse player."
Danish pharmaceutical and healthcare giant Novo Nordisk is currently using the new integrated solution. "The key benefit in using Ascential DataStage alongside SAP BW is the ability to import historical data from our old data warehouse and integrate it with non-SAP solutions," said Henrik Deleuran Mueller, manager of data warehousing, Novo Nordisk. "We now have a total data warehouse solution that allows us to import information regardless of its source. With 14,000 employees supporting products all over the world, this is invaluable--we can consolidate our data globally, which has a huge impact on speed of access and productivity levels."
"As the world's leading provider of e-business, SAP is at the forefront of helping companies leverage their information to succeed in the new economy," said Pete Fiore, president, Ascential Software. "We are pleased SAP has selected us to help drive that vision and are confident that our data integration platform will be a key component of SAP BW, empowering SAP's customers worldwide to better manage the confluence of ERP, legacy and e-commerce systems. We are excited about the opportunity this relationship represents and we look forward to working with SAP and their customers worldwide."
About Ascential Software
Ascential Software, Inc. is the leading provider of Information Asset Management solutions to the Global 2000. Customers use Ascential products to turn vast amounts of disparate, unrefined data into reusable information assets that drive business success. Ascential's unique framework for Information Asset Management enables customers to easily collect, validate, organize, administer and deliver information assets to realize more value from their enterprise data, reduce costs and increase profitability. Headquartered in Westboro, Mass., Ascential has offices worldwide and supports more than 1,830 customers in such industries as telecommunications, insurance, financial services, healthcare, media/entertainment and retail. Ascential is an independent operating company of Informix Corporation (NASDAQ:IFMX) and can be found on the Web at ascentialsoftware.com.
About SAP
SAP is the world's leading provider of e-business software solutions. Through the mySAP.com(R) e-business platform, people in businesses around the globe are improving relationships with customers and partners, streamlining operations, and achieving significant efficiencies throughout their supply chains. Today more than 13,000 companies in over 100 countries run more than 30,000 installations of SAP(R) software. With subsidiaries in over 50 countries, the company is listed on several exchanges including the Frankfurt stock exchange and NYSE under the symbol "SAP." (Additional information at sap.com)
This press release contains forward-looking statements based on beliefs of SAP management. Any statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts are forward-looking statements as defined in the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The words "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "plan," "project," "should," "will" and similar expressions as they relate to SAP are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such statements reflect the current views and assumptions of SAP, and all forward-looking statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties that could cause results to differ materially from expectations. The factors that could affect future SAP financial results are discussed more fully in SAP filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"), including the SAP Annual Report on Form 20-F for 1999 filed with the SEC on April 7, 2000. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of their dates. SAP undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements.
(c)2001 Ascential Software, Inc. All rights reserved. Ascential(TM)is a trademark of Ascential Software, Inc. and may be registered in other jurisdictions. The following are trademarks of Informix Corporation or its affiliates, one or more of which may be registered in the U.S. or other jurisdictions: DataStage(R).
Copyright (c) 2001 SAP AG. SAP, mySAP, and other SAP products and services mentioned herein are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and several other countries. Other product or service names mentioned herein are the trademarks of their respective owners.
CONTACT:
Ascential Software
Barbara Petrocelli, (508) 366-3888 x3009
barbara.petrocelli@ascentialsoftware.com
or
Miller Consulting Group
Dan Martin, (617) 262-1800 x223
dan@millergrp.com
or
SAP AG
Ralf Nitsch, +49 6227 7-61138
ralf.nitsch@sap.com
or
SAP Americas Press Office, +1 (610) 661-3200
or
SAP America,
Jason Loesche, +1 (610) 661-8541
j.loesche@sap.com
KEYWORD: MASSACHUSETTS
BW2611 APR 30,2001
11:19 PACIFIC
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