SAP ties up with Informatica

SAP is to include data federation tools from Informatica with some of its enterprise resource planning and analytics products to help customers analyse data stored in third-party or legacy systems.

Under the terms of their agreement, SAP will embed Informatica's PowerCentre, PowerExchange and Metadata Manager software into its performance management and business analytic applications and the NetWeaver platform for master data management and business intelligence.

"This agreement with Informatica will enhance and extend SAP's business solutions and allow our customers to access this best-in-class technology to further SAP's goal: driving unparalleled visibility and management across an enterprise," said Nimish Mehta, senior vice president, Enterprise Information Management, SAP.

The agreement with Informatica should make it easier for SAP to sell into large client accounts without having to partner with potential rivals like Oracle. But SAP's 40,000-plus installed base make the company an enticing partner for Informatica, which has approximately 2,285 customers.

"With the continually increasing fragmentation of corporate data, there is more need than ever before to integrate, transform and manage corporate information effectively," said Paul Hoffman, executive vice president, Informatica. "Our OEM relationship with SAP will help ensure that customers have access to Informatica's best-in-class software to connect their business data – regardless of the source – into their SAP business applications."