Enterprise Software Vendors Hold the Key
How does that pan out in real terms? We apply an understanding of user roles and business context to create a solution that supports high-quality personalized searches for content residing in SAP enterprise applications and other systems. The software leverages user metadata, business logic and security mechanisms in SAP backend systems—optimizing searches for structured and unstructured content.
When you launch a search, your metadata is automatically loaded from your SAP applications, meaning the software “knows” your role from the very outset. So if you’re a marketing professional, your queries will only return marketing-relevant results. And if you’re an IT manager, running the same search as your colleague will generate a very different hit list, in tune with your very different needs.
But there’s more to enterprise search than just unearthing facts and figures. Information workers must be able to act on the results of their queries. A solution that is intrinsically aware of your role and the associated business objects will not only return relevant data, but also intelligently propose related actions.
For example, if you’re a sales professional looking for a specific order, the software uses your metadata and your particular business context to predict appropriate next steps—displaying these as links next to your hit list. So you can jump directly to the enterprise application to change the order, confirm it, display the individual products it contains and so on—all with point-and-click simplicity, and without having to repeatedly start searching from scratch.
Seamless Integration with Business Intelligence
When it comes to informed decision-making, business intelligence (BI) systems are without doubt the most important tools in today’s enterprises. However, providing all information workers with straightforward access to these invaluable resources is far from easy. One major obstacle to widespread adoption of BI is the challenge of pinpointing the right analytics and reports. Untrained users face an uphill struggle to determine if the particular information they’re looking for actually exists. And once this hurdle has been cleared, they all too often find they lack the specialized skills required to quickly call up and execute the relevant report.
The way to overcome these issues is by seamlessly integrating your enterprise search solution with your business intelligence software. This will ultimately make finding and accessing BI resources as simple as performing a Web search. Moreover, users will be able to run reports and analytics directly from their hit list by clicking on the corresponding link—putting high-quality, actionable information at employees’ fingertips.
Given the highly sensitive nature of data stored in backend systems, effective protection against unauthorized access is essential. However, the highly dynamic and granular security mechanisms of enterprise applications pose major challenges for search tools—which have to take complex safeguards into account, while supporting fast, personalized queries. Using existing security concepts, you can ensure that users never stumble upon information they are not authorized to view.
The Gateway to Structured and Unstructured Content
The approach outlined above is not confined to data in enterprise applications. User roles and business context can also be deployed to sharpen searches for unstructured information. The problem with conventional text-based Web-search methods is that they cannot reliably determine the business relevance of results—for instance, because commonly used algorithms are simply inappropriate to information stored within the enterprise. By contrast, a solution that took your role into account would be able to rank all hits according to relevance—irrespective of whether the content involved is structured or unstructured.
An effective enterprise search solution has significant benefits for C-level executives and employees alike. By providing simple, secure access to mission-critical data, the software allows senior managers to empower information workers to make informed decisions, while enforcing corporate security policies. And more widespread usage of data from backend systems means a greater return on investment in enterprise applications—without the expense of end-user training.
For staff, the greatest benefits lie in more straightforward interaction with enterprise software, plus direct navigation to backend transactions—increasing productivity and satisfaction. In this way, the enterprise software vendor’s expertise can make a decisive contribution to transforming the ideal of enterprise search into a reality.
SAP® NetWeaver Enterprise Search
SAP is the world’s largest business software company. Delivering on its commitment to empowering information workers, SAP has created SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Search. This cutting-edge solution enables people throughout an organization to retrieve and utilize mission-critical data from corporate and external sources. SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Search provides simple, secure, role-based access to enterprise applications, as well as to information and processes in SAP and non-SAP software. Built on a
deep understanding of user roles, business models and security, the solution delivers highly relevant results—and can suggest actions relevant to the specific user and his or her business context. By leveraging the security mechanisms of SAP enterprise applications, the software ensures sensitive corporate data can only be viewed by authorized users. SAP NetWeaver Enterprise Search gives employees powerful functionality at the click of a button—improving decision making, while saving time and money.
Founded in 1972 as Systems Applications and Products in Data Processing, SAP is the recognized leader in providing collaborative business solutions for all types of industries and for every major market.
Serving more than 38,000 customers worldwide, SAP is the world’s largest business software company and the world’s third-largest independent software provider overall. We have a rich history of innovation and growth that has made us a true industry leader. Today, SAP employs more than 39,300 people in more than 50 countries. Our professionals are dedicated to providing the highest level of customer service and support. To find out more, visit www.sap.com/enterprisesearch.
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