More business is being conducting anytime, anywhere via high-powered increasingly user-friendly mobile devices operating on ever-faster and increasingly more reliable wireless networks. Winning or sealing the deals that depend on information and the right offers presented by CRM systems can no longer wait for salespeople to get back to home base.

 

To make salespeople more productive, SAP and Sybase Inc. have devised two new solutions for mobile workers to carry out key business and CRM processes. Built on the Sybase Unwired Platform, the mobile solutions extend SAP Business Suite applications, including SAP Customer Relationship Management. They also can be customized to tap into a variety of back-end data sources: databases, Web services, files and any enterprise application that leverages service-oriented architecture.

 

The new offerings include:

--Sybase Mobile Sales for SAP (News - Alert) CRM, which automates sales processes, increases productivity and enhances customer service by equipping sales professionals with access to SAP CRM 2007 through smartphones such as iPhones and Windows Mobile devices

--Sybase (News - Alert) (News - Alert) Mobile Workflow for SAP Business Suite, which enables mobile workers to complete business processes – such as workflow items and alerts, time recording and travel requests that require immediate action – through a familiar and secure e-mail inbox

 

The new solutions’ releases are well-timed. The population of mobile workers and the number of personally owned devices entering the enterprise is growing exponentially says both firms. They point to industry analyst group IDC (News - Alert) which reports that “the worldwide mobile worker population is set to increase from 919.4 million in 2008, accounting for 29 percent of the worldwide workforce, to 1.19 billion in 2013, accounting for 34.9 percent of the workforce.”

 

These mobile productivity applications are built by Sybase to meet the needs of SAP customers, are fully certified and supported by both SAP and Sybase. They tap the Sybase Unwired Platform and the SAP NetWeaver technology platform. SAP and Sybase intend to continue co-innovation efforts to broaden development of mobile applications and devices, which will increase the value of investment in SAP business software.

 

“Over the last few years, we have seen significant shifts in the expectations of end users and their relationship with enterprise software,” said Kevin Nix, senior vice president, Business Solutions and Technology, SAP AG. “The new generation of business users demands immediate access to SAP solutions anytime, anywhere using mobile devices. Our partnership with Sybase allows us to deliver instant value to people everywhere to help maintain relationships with customers, partners and suppliers and make quick on-the-go decisions, on the device of their choice.”

 

“We are extremely pleased to deliver on our highly collaborative co-innovation partnership with SAP with the release of our joint mobile CRM and workflow solutions,” said Gary Kovacs (News - Alert), senior vice president, Markets, Solutions & Products, Sybase.

 

“Millions of SAP users around the world now have secure and fast access to critical business information, along with the ability to complete time-sensitive business workflow processes, all from their mobile device of choice,” he said. “Additionally, for customers requiring highly customized mobile SAP applications, Sybase offers the most comprehensive mobility expertise and mobile enterprise application platform for rapid development and deployment of custom mobile solutions and provides extensive service support through a thriving partnership ecosystem.”