Codestone

Enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems from SAP, which could include SAP Business One, are to combine more effectively with business-to-business (B2B) infrastructures over the next 12 months.

This is the opinion of Dennis Gaughan at AMR Research, who noted that many firms are looking to consolidate or upgrade their current B2B processes as part of an ERP project.

He remarked: "AMR Research expects 2010 to be the year where SAP [articulates] much more comprehensive B2B strategies than [it has] to date."

According to Mr Gaughan, this will be driven by the fact that ERP’s market penetration is so deep that SAP is beginning to place increasing focus on niche applications, which will require more data from external sources and enhanced synergy with B2B products.

Last month, Robert Mick of IT consultancy ARC Advisory Group said that recent proposals being put forward by SAP regarding their ERP software has been "on the right track".