IBM, SAP detail 'Atlantic' collaborative app
New app will integrate Lotus Notes software with the SAP Business Suite
January 22, 2008 (Computerworld) -- IBM and SAP AG are building an application aimed at making it easier for customers to bring their SAP data into their Lotus Notes collaboration systems.
In an announcement yesterday at IBM's Lotusphere 2008 user conference in Orlando, IBM and SAP debuted plans for a jointly developed application code-named "Atlantic" that will integrate IBM Lotus Notes software with the SAP Business Suite.
The result, according to the two companies, will be the ability to bring up SAP data within the Lotus Notes 8 desktop, making it easier for users to do their work and enhance the return on investment that businesses have made on IBM and SAP products.
In the past, businesses had to use special tools to do custom integration between the SAP data and Lotus Notes, or they had to use a product called Notes Access for SAP that provided some capabilities, said Sean Poulley, vice president of business development strategy for IBM Lotus. With the new application, the integration of the two products will be complete, Poulley said.
"Customers made it clear that they wanted to see the companies do a joint product for better integration and support," Poulley said. "This is the first joint software product that IBM and SAP have built together."
Atlantic, which has not been given a release name, is expected to be launched sometime in the fourth quarter, Poulley said. Pricing has not been established.
By bringing the two applications together in a more unified way, users will get improved access to critical business information, according to the two companies.
"We're creating a richer collaboration environment," Michael Rhodin, general manager of IBM Lotus Software, said in a statement at Lotusphere. "Businesses are looking to find better ways to collaborate and manage their business processes. This IBM-SAP solution addresses both challenges in one seamless package for millions of users."
Vishal Sikka, SAP's chief technology officer, said in a statement that the joint product "is a great example of how SAP enables our customers to empower their users by providing easy access to SAP business processes and data through productivity tools and user interfaces of their choice. Furthermore, it reaffirms the strong commitment we have to our partnership with IBM."
The first version of Atlantic will include support for SAP workflows, reporting and analytics, and the use of roles from within the Lotus Notes client, the companies said. Tools are also planned for additional collaborative and offline capabilities.