Dimension Data`s middleware partner, Germany-based Software AG, has been named by International Data Corporation (IDC) as the leading international * message-orientated middleware (MoM) supplier in a market otherwise dominated by US companies.
If US companies were included, Software AG would still be at number two, meaning that only one other company worldwide is posting higher MoM revenues than Software AG.
Software AG has almost doubled its share of the MoM market over the last year. In a study of the middleware market during 1999, IDC calculates that revenues in this sector grew by 28.8 percent overall. At 53 percent, Software AG`s MoM revenue grew about twice as fast over the same period.
Dimension Data has partnered with Software AG in sub-Saharan Africa for almost three decades.
"Industry analysts estimate 80 percent of the data and logic that drives e-business resides in legacy application software," says Renee Pattle, solutions manager: business integration at Dimension Data i-Commerce. "So middleware has an essential role to play in bridging the gap between New Economy and legacy solutions.
"Software AG`s middleware solution is one of the enablers in Dimension Data`s interactive commerce strategy, which seeks to maximise the mutual value of e-commerce and customer relationship management (CRM)," she says.
"Software AG`s middleware solution enables companies to tap into customer information residing in legacy systems and integrate this with e-commerce solutions, for effective interactive commerce," says Pattle.
Software AG continues to grow its business in South Africa at an annual rate of nearly 25 percent. Locally, Software AG`s products are well represented in the top sector of the corporate market, with clients such as Standard Bank, MTN, Credit Guarantee, Eskom and central, local and provincial government.
For 1999, IDC put total revenue for middleware and businessware products at 2.7 billion dollars and predicts that this figure will grow by 255 percent to 9.7 billion dollars by 2004.
This growth in the middleware market is driven by the trend towards application integration in electronic business - because a versatile middleware architecture is vital for extensive electronic business environments of this kind.
The middleware market is divided into segments, all growing at different rates. Compared with the businessware management systems segment, growth in the message-oriented middleware segment is particularly impressive.
Last year, vendors in the MoM segment generated total revenues of 383 million dollars, up 31.5 percent on 1998 figures. IDC also predicts future growth of 29 percent year on year for this market segment.
"Message-oriented middleware is about much more than just data access. It lets different applications communicate," explains Pattle. "Software AG`s EntireX middleware allows enterprises to standardise their business processes, making them easier to integrate with those of their partners.
"This means that EntireX will continue to be the key technology for business-to-business and business-to-customer solutions into the future."
* By `international`, IDC means all suppliers with company headquarters outside the USA.
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Dimension Data
Dimension Data is a leading global network services and i-Commerce solutions provider, focused on enabling enterprises, telecommunications service providers and new economy companies to communicate and transact effectively in an e-enabled environment.
Listed on the London Stock Exchange, Dimension Data is ranked in the FTSE 100 and operates in over 30 countries on six continents. The Group has achieved a compound annual growth rate in US dollars of 78% in revenue and 38% in basic earnings per share over the past two years.
Software AG
Software AG, Darmstadt, Germany, is Europe`s largest system software provider and a major global player offering cutting edge technology for data management and electronic business. Since 1998 the company has focused its development activities on XML products for the Internet. With more than 2,700 employees and representatives in 60 countries, Software AG achieved sales revenue of Euro 366 million in 1999. Its distribution and technology partners include market leaders such as IBM, Microsoft and SCO as well as innovative IT solutions providers like Extensibility, Softquad and Instranet. Software AG`s products control the central IT processes of thousands of renowned companies worldwide. Some examples of these are Lufthansa, British Sky Broadcasting, ZDF, Dresdner Bank AG, Deutsche Bahn AG (German Rail), BP and VIAG Interkom. Software AG is listed on the Frankfurt Stock Exchange (MDAX, Security identification number 724260 / SOWG.F).
SAG`s Internet site address is www.softwareag.com