SAP and Adobe Join Forces for Virtual Learning

by SAP AG

Companies Advance Rapid Training with New SAP(R) Enterprise Learning Environment, Combining Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Connect(TM) Professional with SAP Learning Solution

SAP AG and Adobe Systems Incorporated today announced their collaboration on a new product, SAP(R) Enterprise Learning environment, designed to help companies drive continuous employee education more efficiently and cost effectively than with traditional in-person training. SAP Enterprise Learning creates a unique learning environment through the combination of SAP Learning Solution with Adobe(R) Acrobat(R) Connect(TM) Professional -- a scalable, highly customizable, extensible Web conferencing solution. SAP Enterprise Learning environment is scheduled for availability in Q3 2007 with the next SAP enhancement package for SAP ERP. The announcement was made at SAPPHIRE(R) '07, being held in Atlanta, Georgia, April 22 - 25.

SAP Enterprise Learning environment will help enable organizations to more easily conduct, measure and track virtual classes while allowing employees to collaborate in real-time with instructors and other learners. SAP and Adobe also announced that they have entered into a global reseller agreement that allows SAP to market and sell Acrobat Connect Professional as a standalone solution for enterprise-class Web-conferencing and collaborative communication.

"SAP Enterprise Learning underlines the unparalleled value of the SAP ecosystem of co-innovation, empowering our customers with new ways of solving long-standing challenges," said Jim Hagemann Snabe, general manager of SAP Business Suite and corporate officer of SAP AG. "Whatever their industries or sizes, our customers share a common need: to train employees continually and cost effectively. By combining the rich and appealing user experiences enabled by Adobe with the comprehensive learning solution from SAP, the new SAP Enterprise Learning environment helps customers achieve this while also accelerating knowledge transfer throughout the enterprise."

As an integral part of an organization's human capital and knowledge management strategy, the new SAP Enterprise Learning environment can help drive more effective employee development through the efficient delivery of training and education. With Acrobat Connect Professional as part of the new SAP Enterprise Learning environment, companies can gain a comprehensive virtual learning environment that combines the benefits of employee training in a classroom environment with highly engaging online training functionality. Employees will be able to easily search for and enroll in virtual classes that include engaging course content, such as animations, videos, interactive polls and simulations. Additionally, instructors can easily schedule and enroll learners in virtual classroom sessions, and then automatically track who attended the class and how long they participated in the session. Because the sessions are based on Flash(R) software, instructors can be confident that learners will be able to enter the virtual classroom easily, without cumbersome downloads or distractions.

"Entering this partnership with SAP allows Adobe to significantly expand on the capabilities and reach of the HCM [human capital management] solution to very broad audiences in the world's best run businesses," said Tom Hale, senior vice president, Knowledge Worker Business Unit at Adobe. "We are excited to further our partnership with the worldwide leader in business software solutions, and to see Acrobat Connect Professional supporting the integrated talent management capabilities in SAP Business Suite."

Adobe and SAP are building on their successful collaborations in the area of SAP Interactive Forms by Adobe as well as innovative and engaging SAP user interfaces leveraging Adobe Flex(TM) technology. In addition, SAP will resell the entire range of Acrobat Connect Professional Web conferencing capabilities, which can enable SAP customers to reduce travel costs, improve employee communication and engage with their value chain more effectively. SAP will leverage its worldwide sales force and dedicated global SAP Education team to extend the collaborative capabilities of SAP's enterprise solutions, offering customers a leading platform for enterprise-class Web-conferencing and collaborative communications.