We will Do Away with Middleware: PeopleSoft

With an investment of

approximately $30-40 million over the next two years, the center would initially

employ 300 people by this year-end. Excerpts of a conversation with Sathya

Mitra of Cyber News Service: 

l What

does "beginning of the end of middleware" imply?



This is one of the biggest goals of PeopleSoft. We are looking to do away with a
major chunk of middleware connecting applications from different vendors.

Application companies like us act like we are still in the Cold War era.

PeopleSoft aims at changing this scenario by establishing a close link with the

competition and creating not only software standards but also consolidating

existing enterprise applications. This thought becomes comprehensive when one

understands that cut-throat competition has already ensured very few players out

there who produce standard software that holds credibility among customers. It

is with such corporate that PeopleSoft will form bonds and consequently decrease

the role played by middleware to a huge extent.

l

On the TOE initiative...



There are three main components to TOE, all of which look at making the entire
process of software installation, configuration and integration a less

cumbersome and more affordable prospect. The first one looks at decreasing the

implementation time for any software package. The second one is about

maintaining the ERP applications. The third component would be Relevant

Navigation, an assurance of increased usability, wherein when information is

sought from one application, the software is intelligent and integrated enough

to derive pertinent data from other applications too. It’s a matter of

evolution, of becoming better and consequently improving the customer’s

experience with the software.

l Tell

us about AppConnect...



Today’s customer is interested in two things — cutting cost and getting
better RoI. However, most customers do not get all of their software needs from

one vendor alone. By joining forces with one another and making applications

that can integrate with one another, we are just ensuring that the customer can

choose the best in each segment without worrying about spending on integrating

or changing the entire process chain. AppConnect will help achieve that

co-ordination.

l Can

initiatives like AppConnect replace middleware in the long run?



TOE has been launched because we believe that the future will be driven not by
additional features but by smarter applications that work with each other

better. PeopleSoft has enough faith in the concept to invest millions of dollars

in its development.

This is not the first time people are scoffing at our

ideas. So don’t take the cynics too seriously.

l What

work will the development center in Bangalore offer?



The center will offer remote configuration capabilities while driving down the
cost and time required for implementations and upgrades. As a result, customers

can implement PeopleSoft software faster and at a reduced cost. The facility is

being set up in partnership with Hexaware and will be operational from June

2003.

l Whyhave

you chosen a partner , when most MNCs are setting up individual development

centers?



People in the past have come to India and badly burnt their fingers trying to
set up a center here. Hexaware fits in right there — they have the local

knowledge and expertise. We’ll give them the specs and they will do the job-

from hiring people to setting up the office.

Sathya Mitra



CNS