Under the current arrangement, Software AG resells Fujitsu’s BPM, while Fujitsu resells Software AG’s CentraSite enterprise service bus, which Software AG calls a service orchestrator. More than just go-to-market, the relationship has also involved joint product development, where each has integrated its product with the other’s.
To date, according to Hiro Makita, senior director of product management for Fujitsu Software’s American unit, both have roughly 60 joint customers. He estimates that Software AG has accounted for just over half the sales to date.
According to Makita, his firm’s product is significantly different than what webMethods currently offers. Makita claimed that webMethods’ BPM lacks the functionality of Fujitsu’s. Their workflow provides very simple routing, as opposed to our product which has the complete life cycle of design through integration, automation, analysis, and optimization.
While downplaying webMethods’ BPM product, Makita said Fujitsu was very interested in the BAM technology, which would indeed complement CentraSite. Through this acquisition, if we could have access in integrating BAM via the Software AG side, that could be something that we might be very interested in.
Makita also added that, should Software AG decide to use the Infravio registry inherited through the webMethods acquisition, that would fit in with its strategy of working alongside other UDDI registries.
We were informed by Karl-Heinz Streibich [Software AG CEO] before the announcement. That’s the level of strategic relationship we have, said Makita.
