CEBIT 99: SAP adds partners to technology maps

Building on a commitment made to users in December, SAP announced said it has delivered 7 of 19 planned technology maps for users in the vertical markets the company targets, such as banking. Those blueprints, called SAP Solution Maps Edition 99, are now available on the company_s Web site. The other 12 will come out later this year, SAP said. At CeBit 99 today, SAP unveiled maps for banking, high-tech, media, retail, consumer products, oil and gas, and higher education and research industries. Last year, the company released its first blueprints publicly and offered detailed information to approximately 200 customers on a pilot basis. Now, all blueprints--along with pilot users_ comments--are available on SAP_s Web site, indexed by geographic area. The information provided has been expanded to include roadmaps for SAP_s partner vendors as well, said Udo Edelmann, SAP_s director in the firm_s chemical/pharmaceutical division.