Wednesday, April 19, 2006

More on Invensys InFusion Received a comment on a previous post on the InFusion announcement. Here's the post: I've got some news for Invensys, any SAP integration strategy predicated on SAP NetWeaver (as theirs claims to be) is going to neither "easy" nor "cheap". Today, SAP has 110,000+ SAP R/3 installations of which only 2,500 are reference-able NetWeaver installations - do the math. Even if SAP gives NetWeaver away for free, it's a long, costly and complicated process to implement it. In general, throwing XML at SAP R/3 and calling it an integration strategy is like trying to get into a building by smashing thru a side wall. If you try hard enough you'll probably get in, but to qualify as a "strategy" you probably ought to figure out how to use the front door. This is probably a valid point. I didn't ask the question in public, because what are they really going to say? But I think the numbers this person (nameless, but a soccer person, so not all bad) cites are a little misleading. Automated integration with SAP is a very new process. I doubt that many have finished projects. On the other hand, every automation company I talk with is trying to do this. If you are not, then you'll be left behind. Personally, I'd rather see it with standards than with specially developed software. I did point out the obvious to Mike Caliel and Mike Bradley--that if this new product is going to succeed, it must be easy to use and install. 5:01:42 PM    comment []

Baltimore I can't believe it's the end of the day on Wednesday already. It's taken me three days in my office to get the desk straightened out, email answered and a bunch of interviews for my June story on new manufacturing strategies. I'm learning a lot that I'll be sharing later. After three days in Boston for the Invensys announcement, I got one night at home, then drove to Baltimore to take a few days of vacation with my wife. The Baltimore Inner Harbor is a great place to visit. Although we're not baseball fans, we spent an enjoyable (well mostly except for the guy who couldn't hold his beer, lost track of the times he needed out) evening at the ball park. There are a couple of things that are "must see" events. We spent several hours (and if I'd been alone I could spend a couple of days) at the Maryland Science Center. There are so many interactive things for kids of all ages to play with to discover again the joys of science. They had a great display (it's a traveling exhibit, don't know where it will be next) on the Wright brothers. I grew up close to Dayton, Ohio and have always heard a lot about them. One of the first biographies I ever read was about them and how they learned engineering. You could actually lie down and simulate flying their early airplanes. Great stuff. Then there is the National Aquarium. Another great learning experience. Great frogs! I'm finishing up a lot of soccer referee assigning this week before I head over to Hannover Sunday. Any referees out there want an exciting weekend in Sidney, Ohio? I can probably still find a spot in our youth tournament. 4:53:20 PM    comment []