Microsoft and SAP are rolling out the latest edition of Duet, the joint software application the two companies developed to enable users to access SAP business processes through Microsoft Office applications.
The two companies announced Version 1.5 of Duet Nov. 16 at Microsofts TechEd IT Forum show in Barcelona, Spain. Version 1.5, targeted for release in the summer of 2007, will include tools for configuring and customizing Duet scenarios to more closely match each users own work situation. Version 1.0 came with five prepackaged scenarios: Leave Management, Time Management, Organization Management, Reports & Analytics and Budget Monitoring. New scenarios expected in Version 1.5 will include processes for purchasing management and recruiting.
Microsoft and SAP executives outlined a 12-month road map for Duet, which includes upgrades in the form of value packs that bring support for the 2007 Office System, add more scenarios, bring better platform capabilities and add language support.
One such value pack will add three new scenarios to the Duet mix: Travel Management, for easier travel planning and expense approval; Sales Management, for access to customer contact information and sales-based analytics; and Demand Planning, for easier planning using Microsoft Excel.
“Our growing partnership with SAP reflects our commitment to helping information workers today who expect their disparate systems to work together in a more seamless and simplistic manner,” said Parichay Saxena, general manager of development at Microsoft, in Redmond, Wash. “Early customer interest and adoption further supports our plans to jointly deliver new product capabilities—both business scenarios and customization tools—in 2007 and beyond.”