SAP, Microsoft Ready Product For Data Integration

SAP and Microsoft spent the past year developing software that funnels SAP data into Microsoft desktop applications. And now your cost: $125 per PC.

The companies last week introduced Duet, software that ties business data from SAP's accounting, human resources, and inventory applications to Microsoft's Outlook E-mail program. Duet eventually will share SAP data with other Office apps, too. Formerly code-named Mendocino, Duet will be available next month from Microsoft, SAP, and their channel partners.

Microsoft client-access licenses for Duet will list at $125. Customers also will need licenses for mySAP ERP 2004, Microsoft Office 2003 Professional Edition or higher, and Windows Server and Exchange Server.

Using Duet, employees will be able to monitor budgets, track billable hours, manage vacation schedules, and conduct performance reviews from Outlook while pulling data from SAP applications. Duet can be used to set up folders in Outlook that let multiple workers subscribe to reports from SAP apps. SAP marketing VP Kevin Fliess expects Duet to get SAP's back-office applications "into more information workers' hands."

--With Laurie Sullivan