Sybase SA has released Sybase Enterprise Portal 2.0 (EP), an extensible portal environment that meets the evolving requirements of global e-business to maximise existing IT assets, extend the enterprise to trading partners and expand the reach of e-business to mobile users.
Analysts predict the global enterprise portal market will reach $2 billion by 2003. By adding mobile and wireless portal access and business-to-business integration, Sybase is responding to market demand for portal solutions that extend company reach beyond traditional corporate borders in order to speed up e-business processes and lower costs.
The new version of EP offers integration to include trading partners, exchanges and mobile users for personalised access to portal-based information, applications and services anytime and anywhere.
Sybase EP 2.0 is designed to help organisations increase their return on technology investments by improving efficiencies and productivity through a core e-business infrastructure that companies can add to as their needs evolve. Extensions for linking mobile and wireless devices to the portal and business-to-business integration of e-marketplaces and trading partners supplement the core e-business infrastructure and portal services provided by EP. These new features give users immediate access to the information and applications they need and automate transactions and processes that were previously completed manually.
"As demands placed on enterprise portals become more complex and sophisticated, the requirement for a powerful, flexible data management and integration platform becomes critical," says Julie Tomlinson, Sybase SA marketing manager. "Portal frameworks, such as Sybase's, that can bundle secure, scalable access to a variety of applications and information sources while delivering contextual relevance to users will be the long-term winners."
"Sybase EP allows users to unlock vast information stores in a nimble and cost-effective manner," adds Tomlinson. "Utilising Sybase EP's business-to-business extensions and the mobile and wireless features, users have secure access to critical, up-to-date information and can file reports efficiently through mobile devices."
Businesses today face the challenges of empowering mobile workers from the CEO down with the information they need to be most effective and productive. Addressing this need, Sybase's mobile and wireless technology provides end-to-end integration of the enterprise portal to portable devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs) or mobile phones. The technology provides "always available" access to enterprise data and applications, enabling mobile workers to be equally productive when working online or offline. Mobile extensions to EP also deliver wireless messaging and mobile Internet browsing to expand the reach of e-business initiatives.
In addition to bringing enterprise applications to mobile users, Sybase EP customers can use the mobile features of EP 2.0 to send action items, reminders or notifications to the mobile devices of employees, partners and customers for more efficient project management and improved customer relationships.
The business-to-business extensions available in Sybase EP 2.0 allow customers to automate business processes with trading partners and to participate fully in the growing number of e-marketplaces and exchanges. These capabilities help companies realise the cost-savings promised by e-marketplaces and exchanges by automating transactions between the enterprise and multiple exchanges or trading partners. Trading partners can automate access to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, customer relationship management (CRM) systems or other shared information and applications.
The business-to-business extensions offered with Sybase EP 2.0 allow partners with different technologies to integrate systems without dedicating additional personnel or increasing costs.
Portal services offered with EP 2.0 provide personalised access to information and applications located throughout the enterprise in an easy-to-use environment. Advanced features like automated currency conversion and language translation to fully enable self-service in a multinational environment are also included. Customers benefit from these features through better content management capabilities and personalised access in a global environment. This allows businesses to leverage existing technology assets and broaden the use of applications to extend business reach, add new revenue streams and improve customer satisfaction.
"EP 2.0 streamlines business processes by integrating hundreds of systems and presenting a company's customers, partners and employees with a secure, personalised view,'" concludes Tomlinson. "It enables companies to offer superior service and opens up new options for adding wireless service in the future."
Share