For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The Forrester Wave™: Business Performance Solutions, Q4 2009

IBM Cognos, Oracle, SAP, And SAS Lead, With Clarity Systems In Close Pursuit

by Paul D. Hamerman, November 19, 2009

In Forrester's 89-criteria evaluation of business performance solutions (BPS) vendors, we found that IBM Cognos, Oracle, SAP, and SAS Institute led the pack because of their breadth of functionality and strength of their business intelligence (BI) foundations. . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The State Of ERP 2009: Market Forces Drive Specialization, Consolidation, And Innovation

by Paul D. Hamerman, November 2, 2009

As the enterprise resource planning (ERP) software market struggles against an unprecedented tide of economic woes, strategic opportunities are surfacing for customers. Soft market conditions mean fewer deals for vendors and better deals for buyers of . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

TechRadar™ For BP&A Professionals: Financial Management Applications, Q2 2009

Essential Business Needs Drive High Levels Of Value And Adoption

by Paul D. Hamerman, June 30, 2009

Financial management applications range from essential and ubiquitous tools for accounting and financial reporting to specialized solutions for optimizing process efficiency and cash flow. Compliance is a major requirement underlying several of the solutions, . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Accounting Systems: The Nucleus Of Your Recession And Recovery Command Center

by Paul D. Hamerman, March 24, 2009

As corporate and government organizations battle the current economic crisis, the finance department holds the keys to controlling costs, assessing performance, managing risks and compliance obligations, and forecasting expected results. At the heart . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

SAP Harmonizes Portfolio With Business Suite 7

But The Value Proposition Will Not Resonate Until The Global Economy Is Back In Tune

by Paul D. Hamerman, R "Ray" Wang, March 17, 2009

From its New York City-based global marketing HQ, SAP publicly launched Business Suite 7 on February 4, 2009. Key elements of the product launch include a synchronized release strategy, value scenarios, lower entry-point pricing, deeper Business Objects . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Third-Party Apps Maintenance Rebounds

Recession Pressures Renew Interest In Support Alternatives

by Paul D. Hamerman, February 18, 2009

As the recession squeezes IT budgets, business process and applications professionals are looking more closely at the value of vendor support contracts and exploring alternatives. One cost-savings alternative is third-party support, where fixes and compliance . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Choosing The Best Fit Finance Transformation Providers For Your Enterprise

by Paul D. Hamerman, February 13, 2009

A successful finance transformation provides a framework to improve finance functions and business efficiency but also overall enterprise performance. Even though enterprises must take ownership of a financial transformation project, the process of finance . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Trends 2009: Enterprise Applications/ERP

Application Strategies Evolve For Leaner Sustainability

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, February 13, 2009

The lingering impact of the recession in 2009 will motivate business process and applications professionals to focus on value-based strategies for lower operating costs and smaller projects with quicker returns. As enterprise applications vendors face . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Microsoft Ditches PerformancePoint Product

Performance Monitoring Is A Bonus For SharePoint; Look Elsewhere For Planning

by Paul D. Hamerman, January 29, 2009

In a surprise move, Microsoft announced that it is changing its strategy with respect to the hotly contested business performance solutions (BPS) market. After investing in developing and launching Microsoft Office PerformancePoint Server 2007 (PerformancePoint), . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Human Resource Management Economic Downturn Insights  (224 KB PPT)

by Paul D. Hamerman, Elisse Gaynor, January 22, 2009

Human resources data highlights from Forrester¿s November 2008 Global Economic Downturn Insights Online Survey.

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Human Resource Management

by Zach Thomas, Paul D. Hamerman, Claire Schooley, January 21, 2009

The most important investments that businesses and government organizations make are in their people. In addition to direct expenditures on compensation and benefits, organizations invest in technology, outsourcing, professional services, and learning . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Business Performance Solutions: Clash Of The Titans

The Market Remains Vibrant Following Vendor Consolidation

by Paul D. Hamerman, January 20, 2009

Business performance solutions (BPS) — a software category consisting of applications for budgeting, forecasting, financial reporting, profitability analysis, and performance measurement — has seen dramatic growth and vendor consolidation over the past . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Building Your HRM Applications Strategy

by Paul D. Hamerman, December 19, 2008

Despite the variety of innovative application technologies available, most organizations are hampered by the lack of a coherent human resource management (HRM) applications strategy. The applications footprint to manage the variety of HRM needs, from . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Trends 2009: Financial Performance Management

Macroeconomic Conditions Present Challenges And Opportunities

by Paul D. Hamerman, Scott Tiazkun, November 21, 2008

Financial management professionals stand in the spotlight as the economic downturn continues and companies cope with weaker demand, price pressures, rising costs, and credit constraints. Amidst this bleak macroeconomic picture, executives will look to . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Trends 2009: Human Resource Management

Talent Strategies Adjust To The Business Climate

by Paul D. Hamerman, Zach Thomas, November 21, 2008

Human resource management (HRM) will be a key area of focus in 2009 as companies and government organizations put in place strategies to cope with the economic crisis and recovery. The so called "war for talent" is on the backburner as the focus shifts . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: Enterprise Apps Vendor Selection

Forrester's Reference Tool For Applications Decisions

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, November 11, 2008

Choosing the right vendor remains a critical success factor for every enterprise's business success. Consolidation in the vendor market, a plethora of deployment options, and the progression to a next generation of applications built with service-oriented . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Inquiry Spotlight: Human Capital Management Application Strategies

by Paul D. Hamerman, Zach Thomas, Elisse Gaynor, November 3, 2008

With a diverse market of solutions comprised of well-known enterprise resource planning (ERP) vendors, best-of-breed point solutions, and outsourcing options, human resources/human capital management (HR/HCM) has been the topic of more than 100 IT client . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Which Has The Better Apps Strategy: Oracle Or SAP?

Oracle's Bold Next-Generation Play Versus SAP's Less Disruptive Path

by John R. Rymer, Paul D. Hamerman, R "Ray" Wang, October 31, 2008

A key decision criterion for enterprise applications is how compelling and clear the vendor's vision for the future is. Oracle's vision for the future of its apps business is now clearer and more compelling than that of archrival SAP. But Oracle's biggest . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

The Forrester Wave™: Human Resource Management Systems, Q4 2008

Lawson Software, Oracle, SAP, And Ultimate Software Lead The Pack

by Paul D. Hamerman, October 28, 2008

In Forrester's 104-criteria evaluation of human resource management system (HRMS) vendors, we found that Oracle and SAP continue to be the leading options for large multinational enterprises, with Lawson Software and Ultimate Software also placing among . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Inquiry Spotlight: ERP Strategies

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, Elisse Gaynor, October 17, 2008

Although originally finding a home with manufacturing, today's $38.3 billion enterprise resource planning (ERP) market proves that it has become the transactional centerpiece for most enterprises. As the technology has grown out from finance to also encompass . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

SAP's Business ByDesign Faces Delayed Ramp-Up

by Paul D. Hamerman, July 1, 2008

SAP's ambitious new software-as-a-service (SaaS) enterprise resource planning (ERP) offering, SAP Business ByDesign, is targeted at small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs) and features an innovative configuration capability and a try-before-you-buy selling . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Topic Overview: ERP Applications 2008

Forrester's Reference Guide For Navigating The Ever-Expanding World Of ERP

by R "Ray" Wang, Paul D. Hamerman, June 24, 2008

Enterprise applications suites, commonly known as enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems, represent the transactional backbone for most enterprises and comprise a variety of applications for finance and administration as well as industry-specific . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

ERP Applications 2008: The Battle Goes Vertical

ERP Vendors Refocus On Industry And Midmarket Strategies

by Paul D. Hamerman, June 23, 2008

The enterprise resource planning (ERP) market continues to mature at the upper end as the two titans — Oracle and SAP — look to extend their footprints in multinational enterprises. Industry functionality is becoming paramount for success in the ERP market, . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Lawson Steps Up Its Game

New Offerings Focus On Streamlined Usability And Information Access

by Paul D. Hamerman, R "Ray" Wang, April 30, 2008

The Lawson Conference and User Exchange (CUE) in March 2008 showcased some new product capabilities as well as a strengthened outlook for the applications vendor, following a difficult acquisition of Swedish-based Intentia. Lawson appears to be hitting . . .

For Business Process & Applications Professionals

Measuring And Aligning Business Performance

Are You Ready To Take Business Results To The Next Level?

by Paul D. Hamerman, April 2, 2008

Today's concerns about a weakening economy might serve as a wake-up call for companies and government organizations to be more focused on monitoring business results and taking appropriate actions to keep the business on track. Despite a large body of . . .