SAP NetWeaver® is the platform that provides the shared technology foundation for SAP business applications. In addition, SAP NetWeaver provides optional technology components that allow customers to extend the reach of SAP applications to more people as well as new devices and consumption models, to integrate SAP applications and processes into heterogeneous landscapes, to extend existing SAP processes, to compose new processes than span SAP and non-SAP applications, to securely manage and deliver information and to holistically manage the lifecycle and infrastructure of the SAP applications.

Based on the principles of a service-oriented architecture (SOA), SAP NetWeaver helps organisations optimise the return on their SAP investment and of their existing applications by allowing customers to evolve their current IT landscapes into flexible business process platforms that close the gap between insight and action. An open technology platform, SAP NetWeaver is based on industry standards and can be extended with commonly used development tools such as Java Platform, Enterprise Edition (Java EE).

SAP NetWeaver 7.3 Ramp-Up targets both, existing SAP NetWeaver customers (upgrade and new installations), and also new customers. SAP NetWeaver 7.3 will deliver a consolidated release for all NetWeaver installation thus allowing customers to harmonise their SAP NetWeaver hub installations in their landscapes.

From January 2011 Birchman began development in SAP NetWeaver 7.30 Composite Environment as an SAP ramp-up partner.

From the point of view of Birchman the new Enhancements in SAP NetWeaver 7.3 include:

• Greatly enhanced Java support: Java EE5 certified, Java-only ESB and JMS pub/sub capabilities
• Reusable business rule sets with Microsoft Excel integration
• Enhanced standards support (WS Policy 1.2, SOAP 1.2, WS Trust 1.3, Java SE 6, JSR 168/286, WSRP 1.0, SAML 1.0/2.0)
• Tighter integration between SAP NetWeaver Business Warehouse and SAP BusinessObjects
• Individual and team productivity enhancements in the SAP NetWeaver Portal