Implementing an ERP solution such as SAP can create enormous business value for enterprises. However, the inherent complexity that exists with integrating business processes and disparate IT systems holds significant risk.
Compuware Corporation provides a full range of data migration and testing tools for the SAP environment, ensuring that SAP implementations and upgrades can be executed with minimum risk.
According to Fred Braby, SAP business partner manager at Compuware Corporation SA, data migration is a key requirement for any growing business. "But integrating disparate systems, most of which were not designed to interoperate requires migration of data and intellectual capital residing in legacy systems to achieve consistent enterprise-wide data systems," he says.
Compuware has developed a solution that automates data migration to the SAP environment, mitigating the risk of integration.
Called Compuware File-AID/Express, it`s a reliable means of transforming and migrating data between these heterogeneous environments, obviating `traditional` integration methods that required programmers to write bespoke programs to perform these transformations.
"Previous methods consumed valuable time and resources, and required developers with extensive knowledge and expertise in various database environments - skills that are expensive and scarce in the SAP environment. Yet with SAP applications controlling business-critical functions such as billing and inventory across highly complex company structures, effective functioning of these applications is directly linked to company income," says Braby.
By controlling the risks associated with conversion and integration, File-AID/Express helps to ensure SAP integration project quality and assists it to stay on time and within budget.
In addition, Compuware has developed a solution which addresses the need for SAP application testing. The company`s TestParter tool is certified by SAP, and provides exhaustive testing of applications to guarantee they will function appropriately in production environments.
"Compuware also recently announced an alliance with Intellicorp - a vendor focused on optimising enterprise business processes - to provide an integrated quality assurance solution for managing lifecycle events for SAP R/3 installations," adds Braby.
The Compuware/IntelliCorp solution addresses the needs of SAP customers performing upgrades to newer versions of SAP R/3, including Enterprise. It automates the task of understanding unique implementations of the SAP R/3 solution and leverages that understanding to drive the testing process.
Organisations benefit from dramatically reduced timeframes for completing analysis and testing of the upgrade, while the accuracy and objectivity of the testing process is significantly increased.
"Compuware, a SAP Software Partner, delivers a full offering of application testing and performance solutions to give companies peace of mind when embarking on what can be a harrowing ordeal - implementing an enterprise-wide SAP system. It`s accepted that the risks are very real; with Compuware solutions, we believe the rewards of a successful ERP solution are within far easier reach," Braby concludes.
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Compuware Corporation, a multibillion-dollar company, provides business value through software and professional services that optimise productivity and reduce costs across the application lifecycle. Meeting the rapidly changing needs of businesses of all sizes, Compuware`s market-leading solutions improve the quality, ease the integration and enhance the performance of distributed, e-business and enterprise software. For more information about Compuware, please contact the South African subsidiary on +27 (0)11 516-2900 or visit Compuware SA on the World Wide Web at http://www.compuware.co.za.
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