Database giant Oracle Corp has integrated its suite of customer relationship management (CRM) applications with SAP’s R/3 ERP software. The Redwood Shores, California-based Oracle said it has developed a special application, the Oracle Application InterConnect, that will provide out-of-the-box integration between its CRM and SAP’s ERP applications.
For the first time, SAP users will have access to an integrated CRM and an electronic commerce solution that will allow them to globally expand their sales reach, retain profitable customers and quickly realize return on investment, said Mark Barrenechea, senior VP, Oracle CRM Products division. He added that the initial release, due out this Summer, will provide integration with Oracle Service and Oracle Internet Commerce, two applications in Oracle’s CRM suite. Integration with the sales and marketing modules will be added in the fall and call center integration will be complete by the end of the year.
Previously, SAP R/3 users wishing to implement CRM applications could only do so through expensive and lengthy custom integration projects with various niche CRM applications, Oracle said. Although SAP has been promising its own CRM suite, the German software giant is yet to deliver. Earlier this week analyst firm AMR Research said SAP had confirmed its CRM products would not ship until much later in 1999, if at all. Apparently the delay is down to the fact that SAP has had more difficulty with remote synchronization than it expected.
AMR Research said its expects that SAP may also be reconsidering web-based deployment of CRM rather than client/server technology. Oracle said its Application InterConnect provides pre-configured mapping to enable SAP users to define the points of integration necessary between front and back-end applications. Additionally, since the integration module comes from Oracle and not a third party middleware solution, users will benefit from a single point of contact for licensing, service, support and upgrades, the company said. Oracle added it would add integration with other ERP vendors’ software if the market demands it, but at the moment it’s only seeing demand from SAP customers. Pricing was not available.
