HP Enters Enterprise Application Integration Consulting Market - Company Business and Marketing

Edge: Work-Group Computing Report, Dec 27, 1999

Hewlett-Packard Company Tuesday announced that it has established a new consulting-service portfolio focused entirely on enterprise application and process integration. The new HP service portfolio will help customers integrate their heterogeneous business applications and processes, such as enterprise resource planning to supply- and demand-chain management, to deliver a seamless environment that uses the Internet to maximize productivity.

HP is leveraging more than 10 years of experience in enterprise application integration (EAI) software and services to provide companies with a flexible environment that has the supportability, manageability and high availability necessary for the Internet age. HP developed specific EAI services, work-flow processes and software -- such as its leading-edge HP Changengine -- because EAI has become a critical piece of business strategy for every company moving onto the Internet.

"HP Consulting is bringing the value collaboration network to companies, which is the next wave of Internet business," said Ulrich van der Meer, worldwide manager, Extended Manufacturing, HP Consulting. "Our new EAI service portfolio is an essential component of HP's e-services vision. Businesses are struggling to manage the multiple applications in their companies. HP can integrate those applications and develop the appropriate processes to manage them use them as they were intended -- to streamline processes; facilitate inter- and intra-company collaboration; improve customer interactions; and most importantly, provide a competitive advantage."

Best-in-class Partners

HP will leverage products from BEA Systems and services from International Systems Group (ISG), a consulting firm that specializes in delivering EAI solutions using leading-edge Internet and middleware technologies (www.isg-inc.com).

ISG and HP will share best practices, and the two companies will collaborate on projects and work side-by-side during various customer engagements.

"To successfully implement an e-commerce EAI solution, such as ISG's E(2)AI framework, companies need to build a solid platform that integrates their existing applications, and adapt new business requirements and processes at Internet speed," said Max Dolgicer, technical director, ISG. "The combination of ISG's proven methodology and expertise in EAI and HP Consulting's technology resources and global reach provides our clients with a best-of-breed solution."

HP will continue to leverage BEA's eLink suite of EAI solutions as part of the overall HP EAI service portfolio. BEA was HP's first strategic technology partner in this space.

"BEA's strong technology enables businesses to move to the Web with confidence and a proven set of solutions," said Barbara Britton, president, BEA e-Commerce Integration Division. "The BEA eLink suite of products, known for their reliability, scalability and ease of use, combined with HP Consulting's expertise in EAI, will help smooth the way for HP customers to integrate applications within their businesses and across the Web."

With BEA eLink, companies can integrate the key processes, platforms and applications in their back- and front-office environments, as well as rapidly integrate with other businesses to quickly capitalize on e-commerce opportunities.

Successful EAI Projects: Unilever Foods Europe and Cargill, Inc. "As we were looking into consolidating our buying power at a European level, we realized that we needed to integrate our infrastructure as well," said Stephan Juergensen, head of the process information team supply chain ice cream and frozen food Europe, Unilever Foods Europe. "We were looking for a strong partner to help us address this challenge. HP Consulting's knowledge of ERP systems and enterprise application integration made it a perfect candidate. HP's help in this project was key in allowing us to stick to our ambitious time table, which was to finish the European rollout before the year 2000."

"HP Consulting helped us with tools and methodologies for our Enterprise Application Integration Center of Expertise," said Linda Ergen, manager, Enterprise Application Integration Center of Expertise, Cargill, Inc. "This has given us a head start in integrating our own applications. We are now going to use that advantage to link with our trading partners across the Internet."

Hewlett-Packard Company -- a leading global provider of computing and imaging solutions and services for business and home -- is focused on capitalizing on the opportunities of the Internet and the proliferation of electronic services.

HP plans to launch Agilent Technologies as an independent company by mid-calendar 2000. Agilent consists of HP's test and measurement, semiconductor products, chemical analysis and healthcare solutions businesses, and has leading positions in multiple market segments.

HP has 83,200 employees worldwide and had total revenue from continuing operations of $42.4 billion in its 1999 fiscal year. Information about HP, its products and the company's Year 2000 program can be found on the World Wide Web at http://www.hp.com.