Next Wave Software`s Bentley Connector solution for mySAP.com

Next Wave Software, a member of Next Wave Holdings, recently announced the development of its mySAP.com integration package.

"In the mySAP Product Lifecycle Management arena, the company will particularly support the management of engineering content within the context of the `create, manage, publish` continuum for plant and asset-centric industries," Werner Simpson, Next Wave Software MD advises.

"Our intention is to improve the entire design process by integrating Microstation design elements with the SAP R/3 Enterprise arena," Simpson explains.

Distributed and sold by Bentley Systems Inc under an exclusive distribution agreement, Bentley Connector for mySAP.com is aimed at improving the design and estimating process, connecting Bentley Microstation design objects to the applicable SAP business data objects.

These business objects can now be accessed directly by the designer without leaving the familiar Microstation environment. Similarly, the properties of the Microstation graphical elements can be changed from within the SAP solution. Bills of Material can be generated from Microstation and passed to the SAP solution for procurement and reservation purposes.

"The power of the new solution is unrivalled, and represents a quantum leap in the SAP-CAD integration environment," says Tex van Deventer, managing director of Bentley Systems Africa.

"The Interface is so easy that most Microstation users can start to reap the benefits after less than a day`s training," says Van Deventer. "And as most of the larger organisations in the world use both Microstation and SAP systems, this product is ideally positioned to offer great benefits on a global scale."

Trek to the summit

00Days

:

00Hrs

:

00Min

:

00Sec

"However, these elements already existed in electronic form in the original model, as well as materials and equipment within the SAP solution. Therefore, what we have done is to bind the design and procurement worlds together. And, as designers tend to be infrequent SAP system users, they can now access SAP Materials Management directly from within Microstation," says Simpson.

"This means higher efficiency and drastically reduces the errors encountered," he emphasises.

"When we began to plan the design of this product we needed to understand the problems encountered by Bentley and SAP R/3 customers," says Simpson. "Our primary aim was not to build a complex and difficult-to-maintain interface into the SAP system, but a product that would add real value to the customer. Our design team is familiar with the practical problems involved with working in two disparate environments where it is necessary to keep swapping between them to accomplish the desired results," he comments.

Bentley Connector for mySAP.com is a comprehensive solution, certified by SAP for the SAP 4.7 release. "The development of these world-class products here in SA is a tremendous achievement for us. We are also extremely proud of our relationship with Bentley Systems, a leading worldwide provider of AEC engineering software; as well as with SAP, who have also supported all of our efforts.

"As a result of the success to date of this solution in the local market, SAP AG has invited Next Wave Software to further discuss development projects aimed at further strengthening their relationship. This will take place in Germany later this month," Simpson advises.

"N^2 Consulting, which is the delivery route to market of Next Wave Software`s solutions, is the only service provider to offer a complete, end-to-end lifecycle data management solution for complex engineering content across the entire value chain," he concludes.